Apparatus and method for manufacturing battery cell

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a battery cell, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a battery cell, wherein a pressing jig provided with a semi-elliptical pressing part presses the battery cell to remove air bubbles from the battery cell.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a battery cell by removing air bubbles of the battery cell, the method comprising: filling an electrolyte into the battery cell having an electrolyte filling path formed on one side or both sides thereof; pressing with a pair of pressing jigs so that the air bubbles formed by the electrolyte filling are discharged to the outside through the electrolyte filling path, wherein pressure is applied sequentially from a central portion of the battery cell to first and second peripheral portions, the first and second peripheral portions being located on opposite sides of the battery cell; and removing the electrolyte filling path and sealing the battery cell after the pressing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein pressing with the pair of pressing jigs is performed for a predetermined time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein pressing with the pair of pressing jigs further applies a predetermined amount of heat when pressing the battery cell.

4. A method for manufacturing a battery cell by removing air bubbles of the battery cell, the method comprising: discharging a gas generated through a formation process from inside the battery cell having a gas discharge path formed on one side or both sides thereof; pressing with a pair of pressing jigs so that the air bubbles remaining on the inner surface of the battery cell is discharged to the outside of the battery cell, wherein pressure is applied sequentially from a central portion of the battery cell to first and second peripheral portions, the first and second peripheral portions being located on opposite sides of the battery cell; and removing the gas discharge path and sealing the battery cell after pressing with the pair of pressing jigs is performed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein pressing with the pair of pressing jigs is performed for a predetermined time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein pressing with the pair of pressing jigs further applies a predetermined amount of heat when pressing the battery cell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments may be understood in more detail from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a structural view of an apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a pressing-jig pressing step in a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Hereinafter with reference to the features disclosed in the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail. However, the present disclosure is not restricted or limited by the exemplary embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

(7) Although the terms such as “first” and “second” are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from other components. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. In the following description, the technical terms are used only for explaining a specific exemplary embodiment while not limiting the present disclosure. The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless referred to the contrary.

(8) Terms used in the present invention is selected as general terms as widely used as possible while considering functions in the present invention, but these may be changed according to intent of a person skilled in the art, a precedent, an advent of new technique, or the like. In addition, in a specific case, there are terms arbitrarily selected by applicants, and in this case, the meaning of the terms will be described in detail in the corresponding description part of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the terms used in the present disclosure should be defined on the basis of the meanings the terms have and the contents of the entirety of the present disclosure rather than defined by simple names of the terms.

Embodiment 1

(9) Next, an apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment will be described.

(10) An apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment has a semi-elliptical pressing part under a general pressing jig such that air bubbles of the battery cell may efficiently and quickly be removed.

(11) FIG. 1 is a structural view of an apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

(12) Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is configured to include a pair of pressing jigs 120 each having a semi-elliptical pressing part on a contact surface contacting a battery cell 110 to apply a pressure on the upper and lower portions of the battery cell and a support part 130 which fixes the battery cell 110 between the pair of pressing jigs 120.

(13) The pair of pressing jigs 120 are devices which press the battery cell 110 with a predetermined pressure so that the air bubbles of the battery cell are discharged.

(14) Each of the components of the apparatus for manufacturing the battery cell will be described below in more detail.

(15) First, since the battery cell 100 generally uses a lithium-based secondary battery, the structure of the battery cell is configured in a shape in which a plurality of positive electrodes (e.g., aluminum foils) and a plurality of negative electrodes (e.g., copper foils) are laminated with separators disposed therebetween, and a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab are respectively welded to the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes and are then enclosed and sealed with an aluminum pouch.

(16) In the battery cell 110 with such a structure, air bubbles are formed on an inner surface of the battery cell due to various factors, and it can be considered that the air bubbles are generally formed between the electrodes and the separators.

(17) In addition, the air bubbles are mainly formed in an assembly process and a formation process among the manufacturing processes of the battery cell.

(18) In addition, each of the pair of pressing jigs 120 may have a semi-elliptical pressing part on the contact surface contacting the battery cell 110 and be configured as one pair so as to apply pressures to the upper and lower portions of the battery cell 110.

(19) In addition, since air bubbles are generally formed more easily on a central portion than on edge portions of the battery cell, the pressing parts of the pair of pressing jigs 120 are formed in semi-elliptical shapes so as to apply a stronger pressure to the central portion than to the peripheral portions.

(20) In addition, since the pair of pressing jigs 120 use a lower pressure than a typically used pressure due to the semi-elliptical shape, the amount of electrolyte discharged during pressing for removing the air bubbles may be reduced.

(21) Also, the pair of pressing jigs 120 are provided in sizes larger than the size of the battery cell, such that the entire surface of the battery cell may receive pressure by a single press.

(22) In addition, the pressing part of the pair of pressing jigs 120 may be formed of a pliable, elastic silicon-based rubber material such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and also be formed of a heat conductive material, such as a mixture of a flexible, elastic conductive filler and rubber, in order to transfer heat more effectively.

(23) As such, when the pair of pressing jigs 120 are formed of a flexible, resilient material, the pressure of the pressing jigs 120 during pressing may be sequentially and globally applied from the central portion to the edge portions of the battery cell 110.

(24) Also, the pair of pressing jigs 120 may additionally generate heat and apply not only a pressure but also heat when the battery cell is pressed, and thus allow the air bubbles formed on the inner surface of the battery cell to be effectively removed.

(25) Also, the pair of pressing jigs 120 may apply a pressure by the operations of upper and lower hydraulic cylinders, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

(26) In addition, the support part 130 is a device which fixes the battery cell between the pair of pressing jigs 120, and grips and fixes wide side surface portions of the battery cell, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

(27) Accordingly, the support part 130 allows the entire surface of the battery cell to be pressed while preventing the battery cell from deviating when the battery cell is pressed.

Embodiment 2

(28) Next, a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment will be described.

(29) A method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is a battery cell manufacturing method including a step of removing air bubbles that are formed in the battery cell when an electrolyte is filled in the battery cell.

(30) FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment.

(31) Referring to FIG. 2, in a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, an electrolyte is firstly filled into a battery cell having an electrolyte filling path formed on one side or both sides thereof (an electrolyte filling step: S210), and when the electrolyte is completely filled, a pressing jig squeezes the battery cell (a pressing-jig pressing step: S220) so that air bubbles formed in the battery cell when the electrolyte is filled is discharged.

(32) In addition, after pressing with the pressing jig, the electrolyte filling path is removed, and the battery cell is sealed (a battery cell sealing step: S230).

(33) In general, the manufacturing processes of the battery cell are roughly divided into three processes, such as an electrode process, an assembly process, and a formation process, and air bubbles are usually formed in the assembly process and the formation process.

(34) Accordingly, the first exemplary embodiment will discuss a method with which a battery cell is manufactured by removing air bubbles formed in an electrolyte filling step during the above-mentioned assembly process.

(35) Each of the steps of the method for manufacturing the battery cell will be described below in more detail.

(36) The electrolyte filling step S210 is a step in which an electrolyte is filled into the battery cell by using the electrolyte filling path formed on one side or both sides of the battery cell.

(37) During the assembly process, this step is performed after a notching step in which unnecessary portions are removed from the electrodes, a stack and folding step in which positive electrode materials, separators, and negative electrode materials are alternately laminated and then folded multiple times based on the battery capacity, or a winding step in which electrodes and the separators are overlapped and rolled, and a packaging step in which the assembly is enclosed with an aluminum film packaging material.

(38) Accordingly, the structure of one battery cell is completed when the electrolyte is filled and then sealed.

(39) In addition, a lithium salt-based material is generally used as the electrolyte, and hexafluoride lithium phosphate (LiPF.sub.6) is mainly used.

(40) In addition, the electrolyte filling path may be formed on only one side for easy sealing or also be formed on both sides facing each other for quick filling of the electrolyte.

(41) When the electrolyte filling path is formed on both sides, the electrolyte filling path is configured such that air may be discharged from the inside but liquid may be prevented from being discharged so that the electrolyte already filled may not be discharged through the electrolyte filling path.

(42) In addition, the pressing-jig pressing step S220 is a step in which after the electrolyte filling step S210 is performed, a pair of pressing jigs 120 are pressed so that air bubbles formed in the battery cell 110 are discharged to the outside.

(43) This pressing-jig pressing step S220 will be described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

(44) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a pressing-jig pressing step in a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

(45) Referring to FIG. 3, firstly, at the moment when the pair of pressing jigs 120 initially contact the battery cell, air bubbles formed on a central portion are displaced to peripheral portions as the pressing parts formed on a lower portion of the pressing jigs press the central portion of the battery cell (a central portion pressing step: (a) of FIG. 3).

(46) Then, since the pair of pressing jigs 120 are made of a flexible, elastic material, the pressure of the pressing parts is sequentially applied from the central portion of the battery cell to peripheral portions, and the air bubbles displaced to the peripheral portions in the central portion pressing step (a) of FIG. 3 are gradually displaced to edges of the battery cell and discharged to the outside (a peripheral portion pressing step (b) of FIG. 3).

(47) As such, the contact surfaces of the pressing parts are expanded from the central portion of the battery cell to the peripheral portions and allow the air bubbles to be discharged to the outside.

(48) In addition, the pressing parts of the pair of pressing jigs 120 may be formed in semi-elliptical shapes, and thus, the air bubbles may effectively be removed even when a smaller pressure is applied than a typical pressing jig.

(49) Thus, in the pressing-jig pressing step S220, the pair of pressing jigs 120 are pressed for a predetermined time, and the time may be set inversely proportional to the applied pressure.

(50) In addition, the number of times repeating the pressing-jig pressing step S220 is set to two times or more in the first exemplary embodiment to effectively remove the air bubbles, and to less than 7 times to reduce a lead time. The value is not limited thereto, but may be changed according to a user.

(51) Also, the pair of pressing jigs 120 in the pressing-jig pressing step S220 may allow the air bubbles to be effectively removed by applying not only pressure but also a predetermined amount of heat.

(52) In addition, the air bubbles discharged to the outside by being pressed in the pressing-jig pressing step S220 are discharged to the outside through the electrolyte filling path.

(53) Also, in the pressing-jig pressing step S220, the pair of pressing jigs 120 may apply a pressure by the operations of upper and lower hydraulic cylinders, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

(54) In addition, the battery cell sealing step S230 is a step in which the electrolyte filling path is removed and the battery cell is sealed after the pressing-jig pressing step S220 is performed.

(55) In a general method of sealing the battery cell, the battery cell is sealed by thermally fusing an aluminum film packaging material constituting the outer portion of the battery cell.

Embodiment 3

(56) Next, a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment will be described.

(57) A method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with the exemplary embodiment is a method in which the battery cell is manufactured such that air bubbles formed in the battery cell during a formation process are removed.

(58) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment.

(59) Referring to FIG. 4, the method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with the exemplary embodiment firstly discharges the gas generated during a formation process from the inside of the battery cell 110 having a gas discharge path on one side or both sides thereof (a gas discharge step: S410), and squeezes the cavities remaining after discharging the gas to be discharged to the outside of the battery cell 110 by a pressing jig (a pressing-jig pressing step: S420).

(60) After performing the pressing-jig pressing step S420, the gas discharging path is removed and the battery cell is sealed (a battery cell sealing step: S430).

(61) Each of the steps of the method for manufacturing the battery cell will be described below in more detail.

(62) The gas discharging step S410 is a step in which the gas generated through the formation process is discharged from the inside of the battery cell 110 having the gas discharge path on one side or both sides thereof.

(63) This is a degassing step in which the battery cell is subjected to formation while the charge/discharge of the assembled battery cell is repeated during the formation step, and the gas generated in the battery cell during the formation is discharged.

(64) In addition, the gas discharge path may be formed on only one side for easy sealing or also be formed on both sides facing each other for prompt discharge of the gas.

(65) In addition, the gas discharge path is configured such that liquid is prevented from being discharged from the inside so that the already filled electrolyte may not be discharged.

(66) The gas which was not discharged in the gas discharge step S410 remains on the inner surface of the battery cell and forms air bubbles, and the air bubbles degrade the battery cell performance and reduce the service life of the battery cell.

(67) Thus, the pressing-jig pressing step S420 in which the battery cell 110 is pressed by a pair of pressing jigs 120 is performed, and this will be described in more detail below.

(68) The pressing-jig pressing step S420 is a step, in which the pressing jigs are pressed so that the air bubbles remaining after the gas discharge step S410 is discharged to the outside of the battery cell 110.

(69) This pressing-jig pressing step S420 will be described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

(70) Referring to FIG. 3, firstly, at the moment when the pair of pressing jigs 120 initially contact the battery cell, air bubbles formed on a central portion are displaced to peripheral portions as the pressing parts formed on lower portions of the pressing jigs press the central portion of the battery cell (a central portion pressing step: (a) of FIG. 3).

(71) Then, since the pair of pressing jigs 120 are made of a flexible, elastic material, the pressure of the pressing parts is sequentially applied from the central portion of the battery cell to peripheral portions, and the air bubbles displaced to the peripheral portions in the central portion pressing step (a) of FIG. 3 are gradually displaced to peripheral portions of the battery cell and discharged to the outside (a peripheral portion pressing step (b) of FIG. 3).

(72) As such, the contact surfaces of the pressing parts are expanded from the central portion of the battery cell to the peripheral portions and allow the cavities to be discharged to the outside.

(73) In addition, the pressing parts of the pair of pressing jigs 120 may be formed in semi-elliptical shapes, and thus, the air bubbles may effectively be removed even when a smaller pressure is applied than what is applied to a typical pressing jig.

(74) Thus, in the pressing-jig pressing step S420, the pair of pressing jigs 120 are pressed for a predetermined time, and the time may be set inversely proportional to the applied pressure.

(75) In addition, the number of times performing the pressing-jig pressing step S420 is set to two times or more in the second exemplary embodiment to effectively remove the air bubbles, and to less than 5 times to reduce the lead time. The value is not limited thereto, but may be changed according to a user.

(76) Also, the pressing jigs 120 in the pressing-jig pressing step S420 may allow the air bubbles to be effectively removed by applying not only pressure but also a predetermined amount of heat.

(77) In addition, the air bubbles discharged to the outside by being pressed in the pressing-jig pressing step S420 are discharged to the outside through the gas discharge path.

(78) Also, in the pressing-jig pressing step S420, the pair of pressing jigs 120 may apply a pressure by the operations of upper and lower hydraulic cylinders, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

(79) In addition, the battery cell sealing step S430 is a step in which the gas discharge path is removed and the battery cell is sealed after the pressing-jig pressing step S420 is performed.

(80) In a general method of sealing the battery cell, the battery cell is sealed by thermally fusing an aluminum film packaging material constituting the outer portion of the battery cell.

(81) In general, air bubbles are mainly formed in the assembly process and the formation process, and the first and second exemplary embodiments are performed, but even when air bubbles are formed in other processes, the air bubbles may be removed by pressing with the pair of pressing jigs 120.

(82) In an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a battery cell in accordance with exemplary embodiments, a pressing jig provided with a semi-elliptical pressing part may squeeze the battery cell to remove air bubbles formed on the inner surface of a battery cell, and thus, a stable battery cell can be manufactured.

(83) The technical idea of the present disclosure has been specifically described with respect to the above embodiments, but it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are provided only for illustration purposes and not for limiting the present disclosure. In addition, a person with an ordinary skill in the technical field that the present disclosure belongs to may carry out various embodiments within the scope of claims set forth herein.