Notching apparatus and method for secondary battery
11179862 · 2021-11-23
Assignee
Inventors
- Byeong Kyu LEE (Daejeon, KR)
- Cha Hun Ku (Daejeon, KR)
- Jung Kwan Pyo (Daejeon, KR)
- Jin Gon Kim (Daejeon, KR)
- Tai Jin Jung (Daejeon, KR)
- Won Nyeon KIM (Daejeon, KR)
Cpc classification
B26D7/015
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Y02E60/10
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
A01C7/20
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A01C7/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
Discussed is a notching apparatus for a secondary battery that includes: a lower mechanism comprising a die and a die holder to which the die is fixed, the die engaging an electrode provided with a coating portion and a non-coating portion; a stripper including a first stripper pressing the coating portion and a pair of second strippers pressing and fixing the non-coating portion; an upper mechanism including a punch provided between the pair of second strippers and provided with a cutting blade cutting the non-coating portion disposed between the pair of second strippers and a punch holder allowing the punch to move in a direction of the lower mechanism; and a pressing member pressing the non-coating portion disposed between the pair of second strippers to increase in tension force when the non-coating portion is cut by the punch.
Claims
1. A notching apparatus for a secondary battery, comprising: a lower mechanism comprising a die and a die holder to which the die is fixed, the die engaging an electrode provided with a coating portion coated with an electrode active material and a non-coating portion that is not coated with the electrode active material; a stripper comprising a first stripper and a pair of second strippers, the first stripper being disposed above the coating portion disposed on the lower mechanism in order to press the coating portion while descending toward the coating portion, and the pair of second strippers being disposed above the non-coating portion disposed on the lower mechanism in order to press and fix the non-coating portion while descending toward the non-coating portion; an upper mechanism comprising a punch and a punch holder, the punch being provided between the pair of second strippers and provided with a cutting blade cutting the non-coating portion when the non-coating portion is disposed between the pair of second strippers and the punch holder fixing the punch to allow the punch to move in a direction of the lower mechanism; and a pressing member pressing the non-coating portion when the non-coating portion is disposed between the pair of second strippers to increase in tension force when the non-coating portion is cut by the punch.
2. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressing member is provided on a bottom surface of the punch and further protrudes downward further than the cutting blade when viewed with respect to a surface of the non-coating portion.
3. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressing member is integrally provided or detachably provided on a bottom surface of the punch.
4. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pressing surface of the pressing member, which presses the non-coating portion, is provided as a horizontal surface.
5. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressing member is made of a synthetic resin having elasticity.
6. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first stripper is installed on the punch holder corresponding to the coating portion to press the coating portion while descending by the punch holder.
7. The notching apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first stripper is installed on the punch holder so as to be adjustable in length in the direction of the lower mechanism or in an opposite direction thereof.
8. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second strippers are installed on the punch holder corresponding to the non-coating portion to press the non-coating portion.
9. The notching apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the second strippers is installed to be adjustable in length in the direction of the lower mechanism or in an opposite direction thereof.
10. The notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-coating portion comprises a connection surface connected to the coating portion and a non-coating surface extending from the connection surface, and wherein the second strippers press the non-coating surface to fix the non-coating surface to the die.
11. The notching apparatus of claim 10, wherein the punch continuously cuts the connection surface and the non-coating surface, which are disposed between the pair of second strippers.
12. The notching apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second strippers press the non-coating surface without fixing the non-coating surface to the lower mechanism when the punch cuts the connection surface.
13. The notching apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second strippers press the non-coating surface so that the non-coating surface is fixed to the lower mechanism when the punch cuts the non-coating surface.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(16) 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, anything unnecessary for describing the present invention will be omitted for clarity, and also like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
(17) In the attached drawings, the front view is a view when viewed in a direction ‘A’ of
(18) [Electrode]
(19) Referring to
(20) The electrode 10 having the above-described configuration is processed into an electrode tab by cutting the non-coating portion 12. Here, the notching apparatus for the secondary battery according to the present invention is used.
(21) Particularly, the notching apparatus for the secondary battery according to the present invention may have a structure, in which the non-coating portion is cut without forming wrinkles on the connection surface when the non-coating portion is cut, to improve cutting quality.
(22) Hereinafter, a notching apparatus for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(23) [Notching Apparatus for Secondary Battery According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention]
(24) As illustrated in
(25) Lower Mechanism
(26) The lower mechanism 110 may be configured to mount the electrode thereon and comprise a die 111 on which the electrode 10 constituted by the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 is disposed and a die holder 112 to which the die 111 is fixed. An insertion groove 111a may be formed in a surface of the die 111, on which the non-coating portion 12 is disposed, and a punch cutting the non-coating portion may be inserted into the insertion groove 111a to effectively cut the non-coating portion.
(27) Stripper
(28) The stripper may press each of the coating portion and the non-coating portion, which are disposed on the die, to fix each of the coating portion and the non-coating portion. Thus, when the non-coating portion is cut, the non-coating portion may be prevented from moving to improve the cutting quality of the non-coating portion.
(29) For example, as illustrated in
(30) That is, the stripper 120 comprises the first stripper 121 and the second stripper 122. The first stripper 121 and the second stripper 122 may press the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 10 to fix the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12, respectively. That is to say, the first stripper 121 may press and fix the coating portion 11, and the second stripper 122 may press and fix the non-coating portion 12. Thus, all the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 may be firmly fixed. Particularly, the non-coating portion may be stably fixed regardless of a height deviation between the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 to improve cutting accuracy when the non-coating portion 12 is cut.
(31) Upper Mechanism
(32) The upper mechanism may be configured to cut the non-coating portion of the electrode, which is fixed by the stripper. The upper mechanism comprises a punch 131 cutting the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 10, which is fixed by the stripper 120, and a punch holder 132 fixing the punch 131 to allow the punch 131 to move toward the lower mechanism 110.
(33) That is, the upper mechanism 130 cuts the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 10, which is fixed by the stripper 120, while descending together with the punch holder 132 when the punch holder 132 descends toward the lower mechanism 110.
(34) Referring to
(35) That is, the first stripper 121 may be installed on the punch holder 132. Thus, the first stripper 121 may press the coating portion 11 while descending together with the punch holder 132 when the pouch holder 132 descends. As a result, the first stripper 121 may be simplified in structure to reduce manufacturing cost.
(36) Here, the first stripper 121 may be disposed closer to the electrode 10, which is disposed on the die 111, than the punch 131 installed on the punch holder 132. That is, the first stripper 121 and the punch 131 has a height difference therebetween so that the punch 131 cuts the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 12 after the first stripper 121 presses and fixes the coating portion 11 of the electrode 10 when the punch holder 132 descends. For example, as illustrated in
(37) As illustrated in
(38) Here, the punch 131 comprises a cutting blade 131a on each of both ends thereof, which are disposed close to the pair of second strippers 122, and the cutting blade 131a cuts each of surfaces of the non-coating portion 12 that is disposed close to the pair of second strippers 122.
(39) The second stripper 122 is installed closer to the electrode 10 than the punch 131 when fixed to the punch holder 132. That is, the second stripper 122 and the punch 131 has a height difference therebetween so that the punch 131 cuts the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 12 after the second stripper 122 presses the non-coating portion 11 of the electrode 10 when the punch holder 132 descends. For example, the second stripper 122 and the punch 131 are installed on a bottom surface of the punch holder 132. Here, the second stripper 122 is installed at a position higher than that of the punch 131 when viewed with respect to the die.
(40) A bottom surface of the second stripper 122 and a bottom surface of the punch 131 has a height difference of 10 μm to 20 μm, particularly, a height difference of 15 μm. That is, the connection surface 12a of the non-coating portion 12 may be bent when the non-coating surface 12b of the electrode 10 is pressed by the second stripper 122. Here, a height difference between the uppermost end of the bent connection surface 12a and the non-coating surface 12b is formed to 10 μm or less. Thus, a height difference between the bottom surface of the second stripper 122 and the bottom surface of the punch 131 is formed to 10 μm to 20 μm, particularly, formed to 15 μm. Thus, in the state in which the second stripper 122 presses the non-coating surface 12b without fixing the non-coating portion 12b, the punch 131 may cut the connection surface 12a of the non-coating portion 12.
(41) In summary, as illustrated in
(42) The second stripper 122 presses the non-coating surface 12b of the non-coating portion 12 to fix the non-coating surface 12b to the die 111. That is, the connection surface 12a of the non-coating portion 12 is connected to the coating portion 11. Thus, when the connection surface 12a is pressed, the connection surface 12a may be folded at a right angle. Therefore, the second stripper 122 may press the non-coating surface 12b extending from the connection surface 12a to stably press the non-coating portion 12.
(43) The punch 131 sequentially cuts the connection surface 12a and the non-coating surface 12b of the non-coating portion 12 disposed between the pair of second strippers 122. Here, the second stripper 122 presses the non-coating surface 12b to the die 111 of the lower mechanism 110 when the punch 131 cuts the connection surface 12a. That is, when the second stripper 122 presses the non-coating surface 12b so as to be fixed to the die 111 of the lower mechanism 110, the connection surface 12a of the non-coating portion 12 may be wrinkled while being bent. That is to say, the connection surface 12a may be formed to be bent between the coating portion 11 and the non-coating surface 12b. In this state, when the punch 131 cuts the connection surface 12a, burr may be formed on the cut surface of the connection surface 12a to cause cutting defects. To prevent this phenomenon, the second stripper 122 may press the non-coating surface 12b without fixing the non-coating surface 12b to the die 111 of the lower mechanism 110 when the punch 131 cuts the connection surface 12a to prevent wrinkles from being formed on the connection surface 12a. In this state, the punch 131 cuts the connection surface 12a to prevent the burr from being formed on the cut surface of the connection surface 12a, thereby improving the cutting quality.
(44) The second stripper 122 presses the non-coating surface 12b to be fixed to the die 111 of the lower mechanism 110 when the punch 131 cuts the non-coating surface 12b. That is, the non-coating surface 12b is disposed to be closely attached to the die 111. Thus, even though the non-coating surface 12b is fixed, the wrinkles may not be formed on the non-coating surface 12b. Thus, the second stripper 122 may press the non-coating surface 12b to be fixed to the die 111 of the lower mechanism 110 when the punch 131 cuts the non-coating surface 12b, thereby improving the cutting quality of the non-coating surface 12b.
(45) Pressing Member
(46) As illustrated in
(47) Here, the pressing member 140 is disposed on the bottom surface of the punch 131. Here, when viewed with respect to the surface of the non-coating portion 12, the pressing member 140 may further protrude downward than the cutting blade 131a (in a direction of the non-coating portion). Thus, the pressing member 140 may press the non-coating portion to increase in tension force before the cutting blade 131a cuts the non-coating portion 12. As a result, the non-coating portion 12 may be cut in a state in which the wrinkles are removed.
(48) Particularly, the pressing member 140 is disposed above the second stripper 122 when viewed with respect to the surface of the non-coating portion 12. Thus, the second stripper 122 presses the non-coating portion 12, and then, the pressing member 140 presses the non-coating portion 12 to increases in tension force.
(49) In summary, referring to
(50) The pressing member 140 may be integrally provided on the bottom surface punch 131 or detachably provided on the bottom surface of the punch 131.
(51) For example, as illustrated in
(52) For another example, as illustrated in
(53) The pressing surface 141 of the pressing member 140, which presses the non-coating portion 12, may be provided as a horizontal surface to increase in contact area between the non-coating portion 12 and the pressing member 140. Thus, force pressing the pressing member 140 may be uniformly dispersed into the contact area between the non-coating portion 12 and the pressing member 140 to significantly prevent the non-coating portion 12 from being damaged.
(54) The pressing member 140 may be made of a synthetic resin having elasticity. Thus, the non-coating portion 12 may be elastically pressed by the pressing member 140 to significantly prevent the non-coating portion 12 from being damaged.
(55) The pressing member 140 presses the non-coating surface 12b provided on the non-coating portion 12 to increase in tension force. That is, the connection surface 12a may be formed to be bent between the coating portion 11 and the non-coating surface 12b. Thus, when the pressing member 140 presses the connection surface 12a, the connection surface 12a may be folded to cause defects. Thus, it is preferable that the pressing member 140 presses the non-coating surface 12b to increase in tension force.
(56) The notching apparatus 100 for secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which has the above-described configuration, comprises the stripper 120 comprising the first stripper 121 and the second stripper 122. Therefore, the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 10 may be separately pressed and fixed. As a result, all the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 may be stably fixed. Particularly, when the non-coating portion 12 is cut, the non-coating portion may increase in tension force through the pressing member 140 to prevent the wrinkles from being formed on the non-coating portion, thereby improving the cutting accuracy of the non-coating portion.
(57) Hereinafter, a notching method using the notching apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(58) [Notching Method for Secondary Battery According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention]
(59) As illustrated in
(60) As illustrated in
(61) As illustrated in
(62) That is, when a punch holder 132 of the upper mechanism 130 descends, the stripper 120 comprising the first stripper 121 and the second stripper 122, which are installed on the punch holder 132, descend together with a punch 131. Here, the first stripper 121 disposed at the lowermost end may first press and fix the coating portion 11 of the electrode 10.
(63) As illustrated in
(64) That is, when the punch holder 132 descends again, the second strippers 122 and the punch 131 descend together with each other. Thus, the second strippers 122 disposed below the punch 131 press the non-coating surface 12b of the non-coating portion 12. Here, the second strippers 122 press the non-coating surface 12b without fixing the non-coating surface 12b to the die 111. That is to say, as illustrated in an expanded view of
(65) As illustrated in
(66) Here, the pressing member 140 may press the non-coating surface 12b of the non-coating portion 12 to increase in tension force of the non-coating portion 12, thereby preventing the connection surface 12a of the non-coating portion 12 from being folded.
(67) As illustrated in
(68) That is, when the punch holder 132 descends again, the punch 131 disposed at the uppermost end cuts the non-coating portion 12. Here, since the connection surface 12a of the non-coating portion 12 is disposed above the non-coating surface 12b, the punch 131 cuts the connection surface 12a first. Here, since the wrinkles are not formed on the connection surface 12a, the connection surface 12 may be cut without forming burr to improve cutting quality.
(69) As illustrated in
(70) That is, when the punch holder 132 descends again, the second strippers 122 secondarily press the non-coating surface 12b while descending so that the non-coating surface 12b is fixed to the die 111 of the lower mechanism 110.
(71) In the step (g), when the non-coating surface 12b is completely fixed, the non-coating surface 12b may be cut through the punch 131 of the upper mechanism 130 to complete an electrode tab.
(72) That is, when the punch holder 132 descends again, the punch 131 of the upper mechanism, which cuts the connection surface 12a, may continuously cut the non-coating surface 12b. Here, since both ends of the non-coating surface 12b are fixed by the second strippers 122, the non-coating surface 12b may be cut without forming the burr.
(73) Thus, in the notching method for the secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the coating portion 11 and the non-coating portion 12 of the electrode 10 is separately pressed and fixed. Here, the non-coating surface 12b of the non-coating portion 12 may be primarily pressed without being fixed, and then the non-coating surface 12b may be secondarily pressed to be fixed. Thus, the non-coating portion of the electrode 10 may be accurately cut to improve the cutting quality. Particularly, when the non-coating portion 12 is cut, the non-coating portion may be pressed to increase in tension force through the pressing member 140 to improve the cutting accuracy of the non-coating portion.
(74) Hereinafter, in descriptions of another embodiment of the present invention, constituents of the second embodiment having the same function as the first embodiment have been given the same reference numeral in the drawings, and thus duplicated description will be omitted.
(75) [Notching Apparatus for Secondary Battery According to Second Embodiment of the Present Invention]
(76) As illustrated in
(77) Here, the first stripper 121 is installed on a punch holder 132 so as to be adjustable in length in a direction of the lower mechanism 110 or in an opposite direction. That is, the first stripper 121 may be adjusted in height according to an electrode 10 disposed on the lower mechanism 110. Thus, when the punch holder 132 of the upper mechanism 130 descends, a time taken to allow the first stripper 121 to press the electrode 10 may be adjusted, and also, pressing force applied to the electrode 10 may be adjusted.
(78) For example, the first stripper 121 comprises a first guide member 121a disposed on a top surface of the first stripper 121 to pass the punch holder 132, a first fixing nut 121b coupled to a front end of the first guide member 121a passing through the punch holder 132, and a first elastic member 121c wound around the first guide member 121a between the first stripper 121 and the punch holder 132.
(79) That is, the first stripper 121 is installed on the punch holder 132 so as to be movable in a direction of the lower mechanism 110 or in an opposite direction by the first guide member 121a and is prevented from being separated from the punch holder 132 by the first fixing nut 121b. Here, since the first fixing nut 121b moves in a longitudinal direction of the first guide member 121a, the first stripper 121 may be adjustable in height. Also, the first stripper 121 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the punch holder 132 by elastic force of the first elastic member 121c.
(80) The second stripper 122 is installed on a punch holder 132 so as to be adjustable in length in a direction of the lower mechanism 110 or in an opposite direction. That is, the second stripper 122 may be adjusted in height according to an electrode 10 disposed on the lower mechanism 110. Thus, when the punch holder 132 of the upper mechanism 130 descends, a time taken to allow the second stripper 122 to press the electrode 10 may be adjusted, and also, pressing force applied to the electrode 10 may be adjusted.
(81) For example, the second stripper 122 comprises a second guide member 122a disposed on a top surface of the second stripper 122 to pass the punch holder 132, a second fixing nut 122b coupled to a front end of the second guide member 122a passing through the punch holder 132, and a second elastic member 122c wound around the second guide member 122a between the second stripper 122 and the punch holder 132.
(82) That is, the second stripper 122 is installed on the punch holder 132 so as to be movable in a direction of the lower mechanism 110 or in an opposite direction by the second guide member 122a and is prevented from being separated from the punch holder 132 by the second fixing nut 122b. Here, since the second fixing nut 122b moves in a longitudinal direction of the second guide member 122a, the second stripper 122 may be adjustable in height. Also, the second stripper 122 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the punch holder 132 by elastic force of the second elastic member 122c.
(83) 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.