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EP-4535503-B1 - MEMBRANE CUTTING DEVICE

EP4535503B1EP 4535503 B1EP4535503 B1EP 4535503B1EP-4535503-B1

Inventors

  • RYU, Hohyeon
  • LEE, HYUNJUN
  • CHAE, BYUNG JOON
  • HAN, JUNGHOON

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240325

Claims (12)

  1. A separator cutting apparatus comprising: a sample seating jig (100) having a separator seating surface (113) parallel to a vertical direction; a sample fixing jig (200) which is closely fixed to the separator seating surface (113) with a separator to be analyzed (11) interposed therebetween; a cooling water tank (300) accommodating the sample seating jig (100) inside; a base plate (400) having an upper surface on which the cooling water tank is mounted; a pair of support pillars (410) each having a lower end fixed to the upper surface of the base plate (400), wherein the pair of support pillars (400) are spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction; a guide unit (500) extending in the first direction and comprising both ends each of which is coupled to each of the pair of support pillars (400) so the guide unit (500) is slidable in the vertical direction; a moving unit (600) coupled to the guide unit (500) so as to be slidable in the first direction; and a separator cutting blade (700) mounted on a lower end of the moving unit (600), wherein a blade insertion groove (111) for inserting the separator cutting blade (700) is formed in the sample seating jig (100), and the blade insertion groove (111) is formed in a shape traversing the separator seating surface (113) in the vertical direction.
  2. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is a direction perpendicular to the separator seating surface, and a second direction is a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the vertical direction, and wherein a pair of the sample fixing jigs (200) are provided, and the pair of sample fixing jigs (200) are fixed in close contact with the separator seating surface (113) while being spaced apart in the second direction with the blade insertion groove (111) therebetween.
  3. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sample fixing jig (200) is in close contact with the sample seating jig (100) by magnetic force.
  4. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sample fixing jig (200) is provided in the form of a rod extending in the vertical direction, and an upper end of the sample fixing jig (200) is bent in the first direction.
  5. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the cooling water tank (300) comprises a jig alignment groove (310) in which a lower end of the sample seating jig (100) is seated, and the lower end of the sample seating jig (100) is seated in the jig alignment groove (310) and aligned in place.
  6. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sample seating jig (100) comprises: a seating jig body member (110) having one side formed as the separator seating surface (113); and a plurality of magnet members (120) embedded in the separator seating surface (110), and a lower end of the seating jig body member (110) is seated in the jig alignment grove (310).
  7. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cooling water tank (300) is filled with liquid nitrogen so that a part or the whole of the blade insertion groove (111) is immersed, and the seating jig body member (110) and the cooling water tank (300) are formed of the same material.
  8. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein a tank alignment groove (421) in which a lower end of the cooling water tank (300) is seated is formed in the upper surface of the base (400).
  9. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide unit (500) comprises: a guide bar (510) which extends in the first direction and to which the moving unit (600) is coupled so as to be slidable in the first direction; and a pair of guide members (520) fixed to both ends of the guide bar (510) and coupled to the pair of support pillars (410), respectively, so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.
  10. The separator cutting apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a pair of elastic springs (411), lower ends of which are supported on the upper surface of the base (400), upper ends of which are supported on the pair of guide members (520), respectively, and which is capable of being contracted or expanded in the vertical direction, wherein each of the pair of support pillars (410) is fitted into the center of each of the pair of elastic springs (411).
  11. A separator cutting method using the separator cutting apparatus of claim 5, comprising: a separator seating step of seating the separator to be analyzed (11) on the separator seating surface (113) to cover the blade insertion groove (422); a separator fixing step of attaching the sample fixing jig (200) to the separator seating surface (113) with the separator to be analyzed (11) in between; a separator alignment step of inserting the lower end of the sample seating jig (200) into the jig alignment groove (422) to position the sample seating jig (200) inside the cooling water tank (300); an ethanol application step of applying ethanol to the separator to be analized (11); a liquid nitrogen injection step of injecting liquid nitrogen into the cooling water tank (300); a separator cutting step of lowering the moving unit (600) and inserting the separator cutting blade (700) into the blade insertion groove (111) to cut the separator to be analized (11); a jig ejection step of removing the sample seating jig (200) from the cooling water tank (300), and a separator separation step of separating the separator to be analyzed (11) from the sample seating jig (200).
  12. The separator cutting method of claim 11, wherein the sample seating jig (200) comprises a handle member (112) extending upward, and in the liquid nitrogen injection step, the liquid nitrogen is injected into the cooling water tank (300) so that a liquid level formed by the liquid nitrogen is located below an upper end of the handle member (112).

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a separator cutting apparatus for performing cutting of a separator for cross-sectional analysis of the separator in a short time and minimizing cross-section damage caused by cutting. Background Art A separator used in an electrochemical device such as a secondary battery transmits ions while blocking flow of electrons between an anode and a cathode. In other words, the separator is a thin film of insulating material, which plays a role in allowing only lithium ions to pass through micropores of 0.01 µm to 1 µm. The separator may be mainly manufactured from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The separator may prevent short circuits by preventing direct contact between the anode and cathode, and allow lithium ions to move through micropores provided inside. At this time, when the lithium ions pass through the separator and move from the anode to the cathode, the secondary battery can be charged, and when they move from the cathode to the anode, the secondary battery can be discharged. In addition, when the temperature of a cell rises above a predetermined level, the micropores are blocked and the separator may prevent short circuits inside the secondary battery. The separator may be equipped with high mechanical strength and play a role in ensuring safety by blocking by-products or foreign substances generated inside. As described above, in designing a separator to enable the separator to function, it may be important to observe the cross-section of the separator to understand its structure. Specifically, the separator may be deformed by conditions such as pressure and temperature applied during a manufacturing process, use environment, etc. and in order to observe the degree of deformation at this time, it is required to cut the separator to form a cross-section to be observed. However, production of the cross-section of the separator has been performed only with equipment requiring proficiency, such as low-temperature microtoming or ion milling. For rapid observation and analysis, a technology is required that allows anyone to easily produce a cross-section of a separator with a simple operation. Disclosure of the Invention Technical Goals The present disclosure relates to a separator cutting apparatus and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a separator cutting apparatus for performing cutting of a separator for cross-sectional analysis of the separator in a short time and minimizing cross-section damage caused by cutting. Technical objects to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the technical objects mentioned above, and other technical objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. Technical Solutions A separator cutting apparatus of the present disclosure may include: a sample seating jig having a separator seating surface parallel to a vertical direction;a sample fixing jig which is closely fixed to the separator seating surface with a separator to be analyzed interposed therebetween;a cooling water tank accommodating the sample seating jig inside;a base plate having an upper surface on which the cooling water tank is mounted;a pair of support pillars which have lower ends fixed to the upper surface of the base plate and are spaced apart from each other in a first direction perpendicular to the vertical direction;a guide unit which is extended in the first direction and has both ends each of which is coupled to each of the pair of support pillars so as to be slidable in the vertical direction;a moving unit coupled to the guide unit so as to be slidable in the first direction; anda separator cutting blade mounted on a lower end of the moving unit,wherein a blade insertion groove for inserting the separator cutting blade may be formed in the sample seating jig, andthe blade insertion groove may be formed in a shape traversing the separator seating surface in the vertical direction. Advantageous Effects A separator cutting apparatus of the present disclosure may be capable of performing cutting of a separator for cross-sectional analysis of the separator in a short time and minimizing cross-section damage due to cutting. The separator cutting apparatus of the present disclosure may allow anyone to easily produce a cross-section of the separator with a simple operation, enabling rapid observation and analysis of the separator. Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a separator cutting apparatus of the present disclosure.FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a sample seating jig and a sample fixing jig are coupled.FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an A-A' cross-section of FIG. 2.FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a side of the sample fixing jig.FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the sample seating jig.FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cooling water tank.FIG. 6b is a plan vi