Patent ID: 12255280

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in such a manner that the technical idea of the present invention may easily be carried out by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, elements unnecessary for describing the present invention will be omitted for clarity, and also like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

Lamination Apparatus According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention

As illustrated inFIG.1, a lamination apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is configured to thermally bond an electrode assembly in which electrodes and separators are alternately stacked. The lamination apparatus comprises a transfer member110to transfer the electrode assembly10, a support member120to support each of the outermost top and bottom surfaces of the electrode assembly10transferred by the transfer member110, a heating member130to heat the electrode assembly10supported by the support member120, and a moving member140to move the heating member in a direction away from the electrode assembly10.

The transfer member110transfers the electrode assembly10, in which the electrodes and the separators are alternately stacked, to a rolling member150via the heating member130. For example, the transfer member110is provided as a transfer roller or a conveyor belt to transfer the electrode assembly at a predetermined time and interval.

The transfer member110further comprises an electrode transfer part and a separator transfer part, which respectively transfer the electrodes and the separators. The electrode transfer part comprises a first electrode transfer part111that transfers a first electrode11and a second electrode transfer part113that transfers a second electrode13. The separator transfer part comprises a first separator transfer part112that transfers a first separator12and a second separator transfer part114that transfers a second separator14.

As described above, the transfer member110may sequentially laminate the first electrode11, the first separator12, the second electrode13, and the second separator14, which are transferred through the electrode transfer part and the separator transfer part, to manufacture the electrode assembly10. The manufactured electrode assembly10is transferred to the rolling member150via the heating member130.

The transfer member110further comprises a first cutter115that cuts each of the first electrode11transferred by the first electrode transfer part111and the second electrode13transferred by the second electrode transfer part113into a predetermined size.

In addition, the transfer member110further comprises a second cutter116that cuts the electrode assembly10, which is bonded through the rolling member150, into a predetermined size. The second cutter116cuts the separator between the electrodes corresponding to each other, which are provided in the bonded electrode assembly10, to obtain an electrode assembly10having a predetermined size.

The support member120is configured to support the electrode assembly transferred by the transfer member110. The support member120has a rectangular plate shape and supports each of the outermost top and bottom surfaces of the electrode assembly10. In particular, the support member120may press the electrode assembly10within a range in which the transferring of the electrode assembly10by the transfer member110is not interfered. Thus, the electrode assembly10transferred by the transfer member110may be significantly prevented from being tilted.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the support member120may comprise a metal plate121having thermal conductivity. Thus, the support member120may transfer heat capacity transferred by the heating member130to the electrode assembly10as is to effectively heat the electrode assembly10. In other words, even though the support member120is disposed between the electrode assembly10and the heating member130, the electrode assembly100may be stably heated.

The metal plate121may have a thickness of 2 mm to 10 mm, and more particularly, a thickness of 3 mm to 5 mm. When the metal plate121has a thickness of 2 mm or less, although heat of the heating member130may be reliably transferred to the electrode assembly10without loss of heat capacity, the metal plate121may be easily bent. When the metal plate121has a thickness of 10 mm or more, although the bending of the metal plate121is solved, the loss of the heat capacity may occur, and accordingly, it is difficult to stably heat the electrode assembly10.

In addition, the metal plate121may have an opening groove121ain an outer surface thereof, which does not face the electrode assembly10. Thus, the thickness of the metal plate121, where it supports the electrode assembly10, may be decreased due to the opening groove121a, and the heat may be transferred to the electrode assembly10without a loss. An edge of the metal plate121, where the electrode assembly10is not supported thereby, may have an increased thickness to prevent the metal plate121from being deformed.

The metal plate121may have a rectangular frame shape. Thus, the metal plate121may stably support the electrode assembly10and also stably heat the electrode assembly10because the heat capacity of the heating member is transferred as is to the electrode assembly10.

The support member120may further comprise a heat-resistant plate122on an inner surface of the metal plate, on which the electrode assembly10is supported. The electrode assembly10may be supported on the heat-resistant plate122to prevent the electrode assembly from being damaged. Particularly, the heat-resistant plate122may be provided in the form of a film, and thus, be applied or attached to the inner surface of the metal plate121to improve convenience and efficiency of usage.

The support member120may have an area greater than an area of the electrode assembly10. Thus, the support member120may stably support the entire top or bottom surface of the electrode assembly10.

The heating member130may be disposed outside the support member120to heat the electrode assembly10supported by the support member120. In particular, the heating member130may be closely attached to the outside of the support member120. Thus, the heat capacity of the heating member130may be more stably transferred to the electrode assembly10.

The heating member130may be a heating device that generates heat by power supplied from the outside.

The moving member140may be configured to separate the electrode assembly from the heating member to prevent the heat source of the heating member from being transferred to the electrode assembly10. The moving member140moves the heating member130in a direction away from the electrode assembly10supported by the support member120. In other words, referring toFIGS.2and3, the moving member140may move the heating member130in an upward or downward direction that is away from the electrode assembly10. Thus, the moving member140may block or minimize the transferring of the heat source of the heating member130into the electrode assembly10to prevent the electrode assembly10from being heated by the heating member130.

In other words, as illustrated inFIG.2, the moving member140allows the heating member130to be closely attached to the outside of the support member120when the transfer member110operates to allow the heating member130to stably heat the electrode assembly10supported by the support member120.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the moving member140moves the heating member130in the direction that is away from the electrode assembly10to prevent the electrode assembly10from being heated by the heating member130when the transfer member110is stopped, thereby preventing deformation and defects of the electrode assembly10from occurring.

Accordingly, although the heat source of the heating member is maintained as is, the electrode assembly may be prevented from being heated by the heating member130.

Further, the support member120may support the electrode assembly10even though the heating member130is moved. Thus, the electrode provided in the electrode assembly10may be prevented from being tilted between the separators.

Thereafter, when the transfer member110is restarted, the moving member140may allow the heating member130to return to its previous position. Thus, the electrode assembly10may be reheated without a waiting time, thereby improving continuity and efficiency of the operation.

The rolling member150may be provided in a pair to press-roll the top and bottom surfaces of the electrode assembly10that is heated by the heating member130. Thus, the electrode and the separator, which are provided in the electrode assembly10, may be bonded to each other to improve bonding therebetween.

Thus, the lamination apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that when the transfer member110is stopped, the heating member130is moved in the direction away from the electrode assembly10by the moving member140. Thus, the electrode assembly10may be prevented from being heated by the heating member130to prevent the deformation and the defects of the electrode assembly from occurring. Particularly, the heat capacity of the heating member may be maintained. Thus, when the transfer member is restarted, and the heating member is disposed at its previous position by the moving member140, the electrode assembly may be reheated without an additional waiting time, which improves the continuity and efficiency of the operation.

Hereinafter, a lamination method using the lamination apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Lamination Method According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention

As illustrated inFIG.5, a lamination method according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a transfer step (S10) of transferring an electrode assembly10through a transfer member110, a support step (S20) of supporting each of top and bottom surfaces of the electrode assembly10transferred by the transfer member110, a heating step (S30) of heating the electrode assembly10supported by the support member120with a heating member130provided outside the support member, and a bonding step (S40) of rolling and bonding the electrode assembly10heated by the heating member130through a rolling member150.

In the transfer step (S10), the electrode assembly10is transferred to the rolling member150via the heating member130by the transfer member110. The transfer member110further comprises an electrode transfer part and a separator transfer part, which respectively transfer electrodes and separators to allow the electrodes and the separators to be alternately stacked. The electrode transfer part comprises a first electrode transfer part111that transfers a first electrode11and a second electrode transfer part113that transfers a second electrode13. The separator transfer part comprises a first separator transfer part112that transfers a first separator12and a second separator transfer part114that transfers a second separator14.

Accordingly, in the transfer step, the first electrode11, the first separator12, the second electrode13, and the second separator14may be transferred to be sequentially stacked to manufacture the electrode assembly10, and the manufactured electrode assembly10is transferred to the rolling member150via the heating member130.

In the transfer step (S10), a first cutter115for cutting each of the first electrode11and the second electrode13, which are transferred, into a predetermined size is used. The first electrode11and the second electrode13, each of which is cut into the predetermined size by the first cutter115, are alternately stacked together with the first separator12and the second separator14to manufacture the electrode assembly10.

In the support step (S20), each of the outermost top and bottom surfaces of the electrode assembly10that is transferred in the transfer step (S10) is supported by the support member120to prevent the electrode assembly10from being tilted.

In the heating step (S30), the electrode assembly10supported by the support member120is heated to increase the temperature through the heating member130provided outside the support member120.

The bonding step (S40), the electrode assembly10heated by the heating member130is press-rolled by the rolling member150to improve bonding between the electrode and the separator, which are provided in the electrode assembly10.

Further, in the bonding step (S40), a second cutter116for cutting the bonded electrode assembly10in a predetermined size is provided. The second cutter116cuts each of the first separator12and the second separator14, which are disposed between the electrodes corresponding to each other, to manufacture the electrode assembly having a predetermined size.

In particular, as illustrated inFIGS.3and4, a non-heating process (S35) in which the heating member130is moved in a direction away from the electrode assembly by a moving member140, when the transfer member110is stopped, to prevent the electrode assembly10from being heated by the heating member130may be further performed between the heating step (S30) and the bonding step (S40).

In other words, the non-heating process (S35) is performed to prevent one electrode assembly10from being continuously heated by the heating member130when the transfer member120is stopped. The heating member130may be moved in the direction away from the electrode assembly10, supported by the support member120, by the moving member140, and thus, even though heat capacity of the heating member is maintained, a heat source of the heating member130may be effectively prevented from being transferred to the electrode assembly10to prevent deformation and defects of the electrode assembly10from occurring.

Even though the heating member130is moved, the support member120may support the electrode assembly to prevent the first electrode11and the second electrode13, which are provided in the electrode assembly10, from being tilted.

Particularly, the support member120may transfer the heat capacity transferred from the heating member130to the electrode assembly10as is through a metal plate121having thermal conductivity. Thus, the electrode assembly10may be stably heated.

In addition, the support member120may prevent the electrode assembly10from being damaged, due to a heat-resistant plate122disposed on an inner surface of the metal plate121.

As illustrated inFIG.2, a reheating process (S37) in which the heating member130returns to its previous position when the transfer member110is restarted to reheat the electrode assembly10, supported by the support member120, by the heating member130is further performed between the non-heating process (S35) and the bonding step (S40).

In the reheating process (S37), when the transfer member110is restarted to transfer the electrode assembly10, the heating member130is returned to its previous position by the moving member140. In particular, since the heat capacity of the heating member130is maintained, the electrode assembly10being transferred may be reheated without an additional waiting time to improve continuity and efficiency of an operation.

Hereinafter, in descriptions of another embodiment of the present invention, constituents having the same configuration and function as the abovementioned embodiment have been given the same reference numeral in the drawings, and thus duplicated description will be omitted.

Lamination Apparatus According to Second Embodiment of the Present Invention

As illustrated inFIG.6, a lamination apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a support member120′. The support member120′ comprises a heat-resistant plate122′ that supports the electrode assembly and a metal plate121′ that is disposed on an outer edge of the heat-resistant plate122′, by which the electrode assembly10is not supported, and which allows the stiffness of the heat-resistant plate122′ to be increased.

In other words, the support member120′ comprises the metal plate120′ on only the edge of the outer surface of the heat-resistant plate122′. Further, the support member120′ may be provided on only two sides that face each other of the heat-resistant plate122′. Thus, the heat-resistant plate122′ may increase in stiffness, and the heat capacity transferred by the heating member130may be effectively transferred to the electrode assembly10without a loss of the heat capacity, thereby stably heating the electrode assembly10.

Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein. Various modifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims of the invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in the scope of the present invention.