Patent Description:
A lithium secondary battery, which is capable of being charged and discharged, is appropriately used as a built-in battery cell, since it is unnecessary to replace a battery cell, and functional improvement, such as stability improvement and capacity increase, has been rapidly achieved. Accordingly, kinds of devices to which the lithium secondary battery is applied have gradually increased.

For example, the lithium secondary battery has been widely used as an energy source for wireless mobile devices, which are small multifunctional products, or wearable devices, which are worn on bodies, and has also been used as an energy source for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles presented as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles, which cause air pollution.

An electrode assembly of the lithium secondary battery is classified depending on the structure of an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode. Typically, the electrode assembly includes a stacked type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which one or more positive electrode plates and one or more negative electrode plates are stacked in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween, a stacked and folded type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which stacked type unit cells, each of which includes a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, are wound using a separation sheet, a laminated and stacked type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which stacked type unit cells, each of which includes a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, are stacked in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween, and a jelly-roll type electrode assembly, which is configured to have a structure in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet are wound in the state in which a separator is interposed therebetween.

A process of manufacturing an electrode including the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes a step of coating the remaining part of an electrode sheet wound in the form of a roll, excluding a part at which an electrode tab is to be formed, with an electrode agent, a step of drying and rolling the electrode agent, a step of slitting the electrode sheet, and a step of notching the slit electrode sheet into unit electrodes.

In order to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll during manufacture of the electrode, the electrode roll is stored and transported in the state in which a tape is attached to a start portion or an end portion of the electrode roll. In addition, the tape must be removed such that the electrode roll, to which the tape is attached, is unwound so as to be used in an electrode manufacturing process. A worker is needed in order to attach and remove the tape. However, the state in which the tape is attached and removed may not be uniform depending on skill of the worker, which may delay the electrode manufacturing process.

In connection therewith, <CIT> (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document <NUM>) discloses a sewing machine including a rotary unit configured to rotate a paper roll and a tape removal unit configured to remove a winding fixing tape used to fix a winding end of the paper roll.

The tape removal unit of Patent Document <NUM> is used to remove a tape, a tip of which is bent such that adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other, wherein a bent portion of the tape is lifted using a tape scraper and the paper roll is further rotated in a winding direction in the state in which the bent portion is supported, whereby the tape is removed from the paper roll.

However, the tape removal unit of Patent Document <NUM> includes a frame constituted by a post portion and a beam portion. Since the tape removal unit is configured to have a structure in which the paper roll is disposed in the frame in order to remove the tape, the size of the paper roll may be limited. In addition, the paper roll may be damaged while the bent portion of the tape is lifted using the tape scraper.

Therefore, there is a high necessity for an apparatus capable of removing a tape attached to an electrode roll in order to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll, wherein the apparatus is applicable to the electrode roll irrespective of the size of the electrode roll and is capable of automatically removing the tape from the electrode roll without a worker.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape removal apparatus capable of automatically removing a tape attached to an electrode roll, thereby improving productivity of an electrode manufacturing process.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention as defined in the independent claim <NUM> provides a tape removal apparatus for removing a tape attached to an electrode roll, the tape removal apparatus including a sensing unit configured to sense the tape attached to the electrode roll, an injection unit configured to inject air toward the tape, a support unit configured to support a non-adhesive portion of the tape, and a gripper, together with the support unit, configured to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape. The gripper is movable upwards and downwards, leftwards and rightwards, and forwards and rearwards. The gripper is configured to move toward the non-adhesive portion of the tape located at an outer surface of the support unit to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the sensing unit may be configured to sense the color of the tape.

The tape removal apparatus according to the present invention may further include a rotary roll configured to rotate the electrode roll, wherein the sensing unit may sense the tape attached to an end of the electrode roll when the electrode roll is rotated by the rotary roll, and the injection unit may inject air when the sensing unit senses the tape.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the tape may include an adhesive portion attached to an end of the electrode roll, and the non-adhesive portion extending from the adhesive portion, the non-adhesive portion not being attached to the electrode roll, and the injection unit may inject the air between the non-adhesive portion and the outer surface of the electrode roll.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the rotary roll may be movable upwards and downwards, and the non-adhesive portion of the tape is located on one surface of the support unit when the rotary roll may be moved downwards.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the gripper may include a sensor configured to sense the non-adhesive portion of the tape.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the rotary roll may be rotated in the state in which the non-adhesive portion of the tape is fixed by the support unit and the gripper, whereby the adhesive portion of the tape may be removed from the electrode roll.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the number of the tapes may be equal to the number of the injection units and the number of the grippers, and the number of the tapes may be two or more.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the position of the injection unit may be adjustable.

In the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention, the injection unit may include a structure capable of adjusting the direction in which air is injected.

As is apparent from the above description, a tape removal apparatus according to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which an electrode roll is fixed to a rotary roll movable in an upward-downward direction and in which a gripper is moved toward a tape attached to the electrode roll, whereby it is possible to use the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention irrespective of the radius of the electrode roll.

In addition, a part of the tape includes a non-adhesive portion, which is not attached to the electrode roll, and air is injected toward the non-adhesive portion in order to separate the tape from the electrode roll, whereby it is possible to prevent damage to the electrode roll in a process of separating the non-adhesive portion from the electrode roll.

In addition, all numeric ranges include the lowest value, the highest value, and all intermediate values therebetween unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a set of front views showing an operation process of a tape removal apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, which shows a process of removing a tape attached to an electrode roll, the electrode roll <NUM> may be rotated in a state of being mounted to a rotary roll <NUM>. A tape attachment direction is set depending on a winding direction of the electrode roll <NUM>. The electrode roll <NUM> of <FIG> is shown as being wound in a counterclockwise direction.

The electrode roll <NUM> may be an electrode roll before punching is performed to form electrode tabs or an electrode roll in the state in which electrode tabs are formed.

A tape <NUM> configured to prevent unwinding of the electrode roll <NUM> is attached to an end of the electrode roll <NUM>.

As described above, the tape removal apparatus removes the tape attached to the electrode roll. Specifically, the tape removal apparatus includes a sensing unit <NUM> configured to sense the tape <NUM> attached to the electrode roll <NUM>, an injection unit <NUM> configured to inject air toward the tape <NUM> such that a non-adhesive portion of the tape <NUM> is separated from the outer surface of the electrode roll, a support unit <NUM> configured to support the non-adhesive portion separated from the outer surface of the electrode roll by the air, and a gripper <NUM> configured to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape <NUM> together with the support unit <NUM>.

View (a) of <FIG> shows the state in which the electrode roll <NUM> having the tape <NUM> attached thereto is disposed above the tape removal apparatus, wherein the electrode roll is rotated in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction such that the sensing unit <NUM> senses the position of the tape <NUM>.

The sensing unit <NUM> may sense the color of the tape <NUM>. The sensing unit <NUM> may include an ultraviolet sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, or a vision sensor, which may be selectively disposed, depending on the color added to the tape or the kind of a light-emitting material added to the tape.

View (b) of <FIG> shows the state in which the tape <NUM> is disposed above the sensing unit <NUM>. Specifically, the tape <NUM> may be located in a state of deviating from above the sensing unit <NUM> such that the tape <NUM> is located in a direction in which air is injected from the injection unit, as shown in View (c) of <FIG>.

That is, the injection unit injects air between the non-adhesive portion of the tape and the outer surface of the electrode roll such that the non-adhesive portion is separated from the electrode roll.

View (d) of <FIG> shows the state in which the electrode roll is moved downwards in a y-axis direction such that the non-adhesive portion separated from the electrode roll is located on one surface of the support unit <NUM>.

View (e) of <FIG> shows the state in which the gripper <NUM> is moved toward the support unit <NUM> in an x-axis direction in order to fix the non-adhesive portion of the tape.

At this time, an adhesive portion of the tape is in a state of being attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll, and only the non-adhesive portion of the tape is separated from the electrode roll and is then fixed between the support unit and the gripper. Consequently, unwinding of the electrode roll is prevented by the adhesive portion attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll.

View (f) of <FIG> shows a process in which the adhesive portion of the tape is removed from the outer surface of the electrode roll while the electrode roll <NUM> is rotated in the clockwise direction, wherein the electrode roll, from which the tape has been removed, may be moved upwards in the y-axis direction.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of (a) of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the electrode roll <NUM> is in a state of being wound in the counterclockwise direction, wherein the tape <NUM> is fixed to the end of the electrode roll by attachment.

The sensing unit <NUM>, the injection unit <NUM>, and the support unit <NUM> are disposed on the upper surface of a base unit <NUM>. The support unit <NUM> is configured to have a structure in which the support unit protrudes upwards such that the non-adhesive portion of the tape is disposed at the support unit.

The sensing unit <NUM> is disposed at a part of the upper surface of the support unit <NUM>. While the electrode roll <NUM> is rotated in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, the sensing unit <NUM> rapidly senses the position of the tape attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll <NUM>.

Although <FIG> shows the state in which the linear sensing unit <NUM> is disposed so as to be equal to the length of the support unit <NUM> in a z-axis direction, the sensing unit <NUM> may protrude farther than the upper surface of the support unit, or a plurality of sensing units may be disposed in a state of being spaced apart from each other.

The injection unit <NUM> is disposed at one side of the support unit <NUM> and the sensing unit <NUM>. An injection port <NUM> of the injection unit <NUM> is disposed so as to face the electrode roll <NUM>, and the injection unit <NUM> may have a structure in which the direction in which air is injected is adjustable. For example, in the case in which the electrode roll is wound in the clockwise direction, the injection unit <NUM> may be mounted again such that the injection port <NUM> is open in a direction opposite the support unit <NUM>, although <FIG> shows that the injection port <NUM> is open in a direction toward the support unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of (c) of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the sensing unit <NUM> senses the tape attached to the end of the electrode roll rotated by the rotary roll. When the sensing unit <NUM> senses the position of the tape <NUM>, the injection unit <NUM> injects air.

The tape <NUM> includes an adhesive portion <NUM> attached to an end of the electrode roll and a non-adhesive portion <NUM> extending from the adhesive portion <NUM>, the non-adhesive portion <NUM> not being attached to the electrode roll. The injection unit <NUM> injects air between the non-adhesive portion <NUM> and the outer surface of the electrode roll <NUM>. At this time, the non-adhesive portion <NUM> is separated from the outer surface of the electrode roll <NUM>.

Two tapes <NUM> are attached to the electrode roll. Two injection units <NUM> are provided such that air can be injected toward the two tapes. The number of injection units <NUM> may be equal to the number of tapes <NUM> attached to the electrode roll <NUM>. The position of the injection unit <NUM> is adjustable such that the injection unit is disposed so as to face the tape <NUM>. The injection unit may be moved in the z-axis direction.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of (d) of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the non-adhesive portion <NUM> of the tape is disposed on one surface of the support unit <NUM> while the rotary roll <NUM>, which fixes and rotates the electrode roll <NUM>, is rotated in the clockwise direction.

The rotary roll <NUM> may be moved upwards and downwards in the y-axis direction such that the non-adhesive portion <NUM> of the tape is disposed on one surface of the support unit <NUM>. Alternatively, the base unit <NUM> and the support unit <NUM> may be separated from each other, and the support unit <NUM> may be moved upwards in the y-axis direction.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of (e) of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the gripper <NUM> is moved toward the non-adhesive portion <NUM> of the tape such that the non-adhesive portion is fixed to the support unit.

The gripper <NUM> may be mounted to a transfer unit <NUM>. The transfer unit <NUM> may be moved in a direction toward the base unit <NUM>, and additionally the gripper <NUM> may be moved toward the non-adhesive portion <NUM> on the transfer unit <NUM>.

The gripper <NUM> may be provided with a sensor <NUM> configured to sense the non-adhesive portion of the tape such that the gripper <NUM> is moved toward the non-adhesive portion of the tape. The sensor <NUM> may sense the non-adhesive portion <NUM> in the same manner as the sensing unit <NUM> provided at the upper surface of the support unit <NUM>.

In accordance with the independent claim <NUM>, the gripper <NUM> is movable forwards and rearwards in the x-axis direction, upwards and downwards in the y-axis direction, and leftwards and rightwards in the z-axis direction. Two grippers may be independently moved in directions indicated by arrows shown in <FIG>.

Movement of the gripper <NUM> is not particularly restricted. The gripper <NUM> itself may be moved upwards and downwards. Alternatively, unlike what is shown in <FIG>, a base plate, which is a separate member, may be moved upwards and downwards in the state in which the gripper is mounted to the base plate.

Two tapes are attached to the electrode roll <NUM> of <FIG>, and two grippers <NUM> are provided such that the grippers are attached to the two tapes, respectively, in order to fix the tapes.

That is, the number of grippers and the number of injection units may be equal to the number of tapes. It is preferable for the number of tapes to be two or more such that the electrode roll can be stably fixed by the tapes.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of (f) of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the transfer unit <NUM>, to which the gripper <NUM> is mounted, is moved in a direction toward the base unit <NUM> such that the base unit <NUM> and the transfer unit <NUM> abut each other.

The gripper <NUM> is further moved in a direction indicated by an arrow so as to abut the tape, and the tape may be fixed between the support unit <NUM> and the gripper <NUM>.

In this state, the adhesive portion <NUM> of the tape may be removed from the electrode roll <NUM> while the rotary roll <NUM> is rotated in the clockwise direction.

The rotary roll <NUM> that fixes the electrode roll <NUM>, from which the tape has been completely removed, may be moved upwards so as to become far from the support unit <NUM>, and the electrode roll <NUM> may be moved so as to be used in another process.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a tape removal apparatus according to another embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an electrode roll <NUM> has a structure in which the electrode roll is wound in the counterclockwise direction, unlike the electrode roll <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

When compared with the electrode roll <NUM>, therefore, the direction in which a tape is attached to the electrode roll <NUM> is changed. The injection direction of the injection unit <NUM> is opposite the injection direction of the injection unit <NUM> such that air can be injected between a non-adhesive portion of the tape and the electrode roll <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a sensing unit <NUM> senses the tape <NUM> attached to the electrode roll <NUM>, air is injected in order to separate a non-adhesive portion of the tape from the electrode roll, the non-adhesive portion separated from the electrode roll by the air is disposed between a support unit <NUM> and a gripper <NUM>, and an adhesive portion of the tape is separated from the electrode roll while the electrode roll <NUM> is rotated, in the same manner as described with reference to <FIG>.

As described above, the tape removal apparatus according to the present invention may remove the tape attached to the outer surface of the electrode roll in an automatic manner such that the electrode roll can be used. Since an electrode manufacturing process is performed without stopping, it is possible to prevent reduction in productivity.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will thus appreciate that various applications and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A tape removal apparatus for removing a tape (<NUM>) attached to an electrode roll (<NUM>), the tape removal apparatus comprising:
a sensing unit (<NUM>) configured to sense the tape (<NUM>) attached to the electrode roll (<NUM>);
an injection unit (<NUM>) configured to inject air toward the tape (<NUM>);
a support unit (<NUM>) configured to support a non-adhesive portion (<NUM>) of the tape (<NUM>); and
a gripper (<NUM>), together with the support unit (<NUM>), configured to fix the non-adhesive portion (<NUM>) of the tape (<NUM>),
wherein the gripper (<NUM>) is movable upwards and downwards, leftwards and rightwards, and forwards and rearwards, and
characterized in that the gripper (<NUM>) is configured to move toward the non-adhesive portion (<NUM>) of the tape (<NUM>) located at an outer surface of the support unit (<NUM>) to fix the non-adhesive portion (<NUM>) of the tape (<NUM>).