ELECTRODE LEAD BENDING AND WELDING APPARATUS AND ELECTRODE LEAD WELDING METHOD USING THE SAME

Abstract

Discussed is an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus including a base portion movable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, a bending portion attached to the base portion and extending away from the base portion, and a sensing portion attached to the bending portion and rotatable; . A welding between an electrode lead and a busbar of a battery cell is performed in the state in which the electrode lead is bent by the bending portion, . Also discussed is an electrode lead welding method using the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus.

Claims

1. An electrode lead bending and welding apparatus comprising: a base portion movable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction; a bending portion attached to the base portion and extending away from the base portion; and a sensing portion attached to the bending portion and configured to be rotatable, wherein a welding between an electrode lead and a busbar of a battery is performed in a state in which the electrode lead is bent by the bending portion.

2. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing portion is configured to have a structure in which: the sensing portion is attached to the bending portion in a state of being perpendicular to a lower surface of the bending portion before the electrode lead is bent by the bending portion; and the sensing portion is rotated so as to be parallel with the lower surface of the bending portion when the electrode lead is bent.

3. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an angle between the sensing portion and the lower surface of the bending portion is measured to determine whether a bent state of the electrode lead is at a predetermined angle.

4. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an angle between the sensing portion and the busbar is measured to determine whether a bent state of the electrode lead is at a predetermined angle.

5. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the sensing portion and the busbar is equal to a thickness of the electrode lead.

6. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing portion is coupled to the bending portion by an elastic member, and wherein the sensing portion returns to a standby state due to elastic force of the elastic member after the welding of the electrode lead is finished.

7. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vision camera configured to inspect a welded state between the electrode lead and the busbar.

8. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bending portion is in a shape of a quadrangular pillar having a hollow formed therein, and wherein a welding rod is inserted through the hollow to perform the welding.

9. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a welding rod is on a lower surface of the bending portion.

10. The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one bending portion having one sensing portion coupled thereto is attached to the base portion to constitute a unit member, and wherein a plurality of unit members are assembled with each other.

11. An electrode lead welding method comprising: when the battery cell is provided in plural, using the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to claim 1 to perform the operations of: preparing the battery cells and disposing the battery cells such that electrode leads of the battery cells extend through slits of the busbar; disposing the bending portion of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus at a first surface of each of the electrode leads; bending the electrode leads; and welding the bent electrode leads to the busbar.

12. The electrode lead welding method according to claim 11, further comprising determining whether a bent state of each of the electrode leads is at a predetermined angle before welding the bent electrode lead to the busbar.

13. The electrode lead welding method according to claim 11, wherein, in the disposing of the bending portion, the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus is moved downwards, the sensing portion of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus extends through each of the slits of the busbar so as to be parallel with a direction in which the electrode leads protrude, and the lower surface of the bending portion of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus is disposed so as to be adjacent to the busbar.

14. The electrode lead welding method according to claim 11, wherein the bending of the electrode leads is performed as a process of disposing the bending portion on a first surface of each of the electrode leads and horizontally moving the bending portion such that a second surface, which is a surface opposite the first surface, faces the busbar in parallel therewith.

15. The electrode lead welding method according to claim 11, wherein the sensing portion of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus is rotated 90 degrees in a first direction so as to be located at an outer surface of the busbar in response to a horizontal movement of the bending portion.

16. The electrode lead welding method according to claim 15, wherein, after the welding of the bent electrode lead to the busbar is performed, the sensing portion is rotated 90 degrees in a second direction, which is a direction opposite the first direction, while becoming far away from the busbar, whereby the sensing portion returns to a standby state.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a front view showing electrode leads having welding defects generated when a conventional bending apparatus is used.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a process in which an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to the present invention is used.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state in which the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus is disposed above a battery cell having an electrode lead extending through a busbar.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to another embodiment.

BEST MODE

[0050] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be easily implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. In describing the principle of operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, however, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

[0051] In addition, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to parts that perform similar functions or operations. In the case in which one part is said to be connected to another part throughout the specification, not only may the one part be directly connected to the other part, but also, the one part may be indirectly connected to the other part via a further part. In addition, that a certain element is included does not mean that other elements are excluded, but means that such elements may be further included unless mentioned otherwise.

[0052] In addition, a description to embody elements through limitation or addition may be applied to all inventions, unless particularly restricted, and does not limit a specific invention.

[0053] Also, in the description of the invention and the claims of the present application, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless mentioned otherwise.

[0054] Also, in the description of the invention and the claims of the present application, “or” includes “and” unless mentioned otherwise. Therefore, “including A or B” means three cases, namely, the case including A, the case including B, and the case including A and B.

[0055] In addition, all numeric ranges include the lowest value, the highest value, and all intermediate values therebetween unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0056] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a process in which an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to the present invention is used.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 2, the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus 220 according to the present invention includes a base portion 221 movable in a vertical direction (a y-axis direction) and a horizontal direction (an x-axis direction), a bending portion 222 attached to the base portion 221 in a state of extending downwards, and a sensing portion 223 attached to the bending portion 222 so as to be rotatable, wherein welding between an electrode lead 211 and a busbar 230 is performed in the state in which the electrode lead 211 is bent by the bending portion 222.

[0059] An electrode lead welding method according to an embodiment includes (a) a step of preparing battery cells and disposing the battery cells such that electrode leads extend through slits of a busbar, (b) a step of disposing the bending portion of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus at first surfaces of the electrode leads, (c) a step of bending the electrode leads, and (d) a step of welding the bent electrode leads to the busbar.

[0060] Referring back to FIG. 2, pouch-shaped battery cells 210 are arranged in close contact with each other such that electrode leads 211 of the battery cells 210 protrude upwards, and the busbar 230 is disposed above the battery cells 210 such that the electrode leads 211 extend through slits 231 of the busbar 230.

[0061] The electrode lead bending and welding apparatus 220 is moved downwards such that the bending portion 222 is disposed at a first surface of the electrode lead, which is any one of opposite surfaces of the electrode lead. At this time, the sensing portion 223 of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus 220 extends through the slit 231 of the busbar 230 in a state of extending downwards so as to be parallel with a direction in which the electrode lead protrudes and to face the battery cell 230. The lower surface 222a of the bending portion is disposed so as to be adjacent to the busbar 230.

[0062] When the base portion 221 is moved in an x-direction such that the bending portion 222 is horizontally moved, the electrode lead 221 is bent into a “¬” shape such that a second surface of the electrode lead, which is a surface opposite the first surface, faces the upper surface of the busbar 230 in parallel therewith. The portion at which the bent electrode lead comes into surface contact with the busbar becomes a weld portion. In order to secure force of coupling between the busbar and the electrode lead, it is necessary to secure the weld portion as widely as possible.

[0063] The sensing portion 223 is attached to the bending portion 222 in a state of being perpendicular to the lower surface 222a of the bending portion before the electrode lead 211 is bent. With horizontal movement of the bending portion 222, the sensing portion 223 is rotated 90 degrees in a first direction, whereby the sensing portion is located at the upper surface of the busbar 230. That is, the sensing portion 223 is configured to have a structure in which the sensing portion is rotated so as to be parallel with the lower surface 222a of the bending portion when the electrode lead 211 is bent.

[0064] The sensing portion 223 is coupled to the bending portion 222 using an elastic member. When the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus becomes far away from the busbar after welding of the electrode lead 211 is finished, the sensing portion 223 may be rotated 90 degrees in a second direction, which is a direction opposite the first direction, by elastic force of the elastic member, whereby the sensing portion may return to a standby state.

[0065] The standby state means a state before the sensing portion is rotated 90 degrees in the first direction.

[0066] For example, the elastic member may include a spring or a rubber band.

[0067] When the electrode lead 221 is bent 90 degrees in the first direction, the distance between the busbar 230 and the bending portion 222 becomes equal to the thickness of the electrode lead 211.

[0068] In the present invention, a vision camera configured to inspect a welded state between the electrode lead 211 and the busbar 230 is included. It is possible to determine whether the bent state of the electrode lead is normal in a step before the bent electrode lead is welded to the busbar.

[0069] Specifically, the vision camera may measure the distance between the bent part of the electrode lead and the busbar, may measure the angle between the sensing portion and the lower surface of the bending portion, or may measure the angle between the sensing portion and the busbar in order to determine whether the bent state of the electrode lead is poor.

[0070] Consequently, in the case in which the thickness of the sensing portion is less than the thickness of the electrode lead or in the case in which the sensing portion is coupled at the position at which the distance between the busbar and the bending portion is not affected, e.g. in the case in which the distance between the busbar 230 and the bending portion 222 is equal to the thickness of the electrode lead, which means the state in which the electrode lead 221 is in tight contact with the busbar, a weld surface may be formed to the maximum extent, whereby a possibility of welding defects may be greatly reduced.

[0071] For example, in the case in which the distance between the busbar 230 and the lower surface 222a of the bending portion is measured to be 0.4 mm and 0.2 mm when a positive electrode lead that is made of an aluminum material and has a thickness of 0.4 mm is used and when a negative electrode lead that is made of an copper material and has a thickness of 0.2 mm is used, respectively, it can be seen that the electrode lead is bent 90 degrees and is disposed at the upper surface of the busbar.

[0072] Also, in the case in which the angle between the sensing portion 223 and the lower surface 222a of the bending portion is 0 degrees and in the case in which the angle between the sensing portion 223 and the busbar 230 is 0 degrees, it can be seen that the bent state of the electrode lead is normal. On the other hand, in the case in which the angle is not 0 degrees, it can be seen that the bent state of the electrode lead is poor.

[0073] In the case in which the bent state of the electrode lead is poor, as described above, the process of bending the electrode lead may be performed again such that the contact surface between the electrode lead and the busbar becomes the maximum.

[0074] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state in which the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus is disposed above the battery cell having the electrode lead extending through the busbar, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 3, the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus 220, which is also shown in FIG. 2, includes a plurality of bending portions 222 extending downwards from the base portion 221, and it is shown that the bending portions 222 are disposed on the first surfaces 211a of the electrode leads 211 when the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus is disposed above the busbar 230.

[0076] The bending portion 222 is formed in the shape of a quadrangular pillar having a hollow 224 formed therein, and the hollow 224 is formed from the base portion 221 so as to extend through the bending portion 222. Consequently, a welding rod may be inserted through the hollow 224 in order to perform welding. Welding between the electrode lead 211 and the busbar 230 may be performed in the state in which the bending portion presses the electrode lead.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 4, the sensing portion 223 is mounted in the slit of the busbar in a state of extending downwards so as to be perpendicular to the lower surface 222a of the bending portion, and when the bending portion 222 is moved in order to bend the electrode lead, the sensing portion 223 is rotated 90 degrees, whereby the sensing portion becomes parallel with the lower surface 222a of the bending portion.

[0078] That is, in the case in which the sensing portion 223 is attached to the lower surface 222a of the bending portion, as shown in FIG. 4, the electrode lead may be bent in the state in which the sensing portion 223 is in tight contact with the electrode lead.

[0079] Consequently, the sensing portion 223 is rotated to the same angle as the bending angle of the electrode lead 211. In the case in which the angle of the sensing portion 223 relative to the lower surface 222a of the bending portion is not 0 degrees, therefore, it may be determined that the bent state of the electrode lead is poor.

[0080] In the case in which the sensing portion 223 is attached to the lower surface 222a of the bending portion, as described above, the electrode lead is bent in the state in which the electrode lead and the sensing portion 223 are in tight contact with each other. Even in the case in which the width of the busbar is less than the width w of the bending portion 222, therefore, it is possible to determine whether the bent state of the electrode lead is poor.

[0081] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 5, in the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus 320, a bending portion 322 is attached to a base portion 321 so as to extend downwards therefrom, and a sensing portion 323 configured to be rotatable is attached to the lower part of a side surface 322b of the bending portion.

[0083] It is preferable for the sensing portion 323 to be located in the same plane as the lower surface 323a of the bending portion such that the angle between the sensing portion 323 and the lower surface 322a of the bending portion becomes 0 degrees when the sensing portion 323 is rotated.

[0084] In the case in which the sensing portion 323 is added to the side surface 323b of the bending portion, as described above, the electrode lead may be bent 90 degrees even though the thickness of the electrode lead is greater than the thickness of the sensing portion, and therefore it is possible to determine whether the bent state of the electrode lead is poor.

[0085] Unlike FIG. 4 showing that the hollow 224 is formed in the bending portion 222, a welding rod 325 may be added to the lower surface 322a of the bending portion 322. The lower end of the welding rod 325 may protrude farther than the lower surface 322a of the bending portion or may be disposed in the same plane as the lower surface 322a of the bending portion.

[0086] Consequently, a welding process may be immediately and rapidly performed in the state in which the electrode lead is bent and pressed.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 4, three welding rods are formed at each bending portion. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0088] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to another embodiment.

[0089] Referring to FIG. 6, unit members 420 and 420′ of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus may each be configured such that one bending portion 422 having one sensing portion 423 coupled thereto is attached to a base portion 421, and individual unit members may be coupled to each other, whereby a plurality of unit members is assembled with each other.

[0090] A concave portion 427 is formed in the base portion 421 of the unit member 420, and a protruding portion 428 formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the concave portion 427 of the unit member 420 so as to be coupled thereto by sliding fastening is formed on the unit member 420′. In addition, the unit member 420′ is provided with a concave portion 427, through which the unit member 420′ is coupled to another unit member.

[0091] Although not shown in FIG. 6, the unit member may be configured such that a welding rod is inserted through a hollow formed from the base portion so as to extend through the bending portion in order to perform welding, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or may be configured such that a welding rod protrudes from the lower surface of the bending portion, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0092] The present invention relates to an apparatus for bending and welding electrode leads in the state in which a plurality of battery cells is arranged in tight contact with each other. In the case in which the apparatus is configured to have a structure capable of coupling a plurality of unit members to each other, as described above, it is possible to selectively couple and separate the unit members to and from each other depending on the number of pouch-shaped battery cells.

[0093] In the case in which the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus according to the present invention is used, as described above, it is possible to inspect bending defects of electrode leads before welding work, whereby it is possible to prevent occurrence of welding defects.

[0094] Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various applications and modifications are possible within the category of the present invention based on the above description.

TABLE-US-00001 Description of Reference Symbols 110, 210: Battery cells 111, 112, 211: Electrode leads 120: Electrode lead bending apparatus 130, 230: busbars 131, 231: Slits 211a: First surface 220, 320: Electrode lead bending and welding apparatuses 221, 321, 421: Base portions 222, 322, 422: Bending portions 222a, 322a: Lower surfaces of bending portions 223, 323, 423: Sensing portions 224: Hollow 322b: Side surface of bending portion 325: Welding rod 420, 420′: Unit members 427: Concave portion 428: Protruding portion w: Width of bending portion

Industrial Applicability

[0095] As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is configured to have a structure in which an electrode lead is welded to a busbar in a state in which the electrode lead is bent with omission of a process of transferring the electrode lead and the busbar to a welding jig and a process of mounting the electrode lead and the busbar to the welding jig, whereby it is possible to prevent dislocation of a portion to be welded in the transferring process and the mounting process.

[0096] In addition, since a sensing portion capable of sensing the bent state of the electrode lead is included, it is possible to determine whether welding defects will occur based on the external appearance of the sensing portion before the electrode lead is welded.

[0097] As described above, it is possible to detect the distance between the busbar and the electrode lead, which causes welding defects, in advance, whereby it is possible to improve production quality and to reduce cost due to defects.

[0098] In addition, it is possible to check, in advance, the maintenance cycle of the electrode lead bending and welding apparatus through the sensing portion.