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EP-4737018-A1 - DIE COATER AND SECONDARY BATTERY MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING DIE COATER

EP4737018A1EP 4737018 A1EP4737018 A1EP 4737018A1EP-4737018-A1

Abstract

According to exemplary embodiments, a die coater is provided. The die coater includes: a first die including a manifold; a shim on the first die; a plurality of coating gap measuring devices coupled to the first die; and a second die coupled to the first die, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices is configured to measure a distance from a lip, which is a slurry discharge part of the first die, the shim, and the second die, to a coating roll.

Inventors

  • KIM, Man Hyeong
  • KANG, MIN KYU
  • JO, YOUNG JOON
  • SONG, TAEK YONG
  • MOON, YOUNG GYU
  • LEE, DO YEON
  • KIM, HYEON SEOK

Assignees

  • LG Energy Solution, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20250520

Claims (20)

  1. A die coater comprising: a first die comprising a manifold; a shim on the first die; a plurality of coating gap measuring devices coupled to the first die; and a second die coupled to the first die, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices is configured to measure a distance from a lip, which is a slurry discharge part of the first die, the shim, and the second die, to a coating roll.
  2. The die coater of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coating gap measuring devices are spaced apart from each other with the shim interposed between them.
  3. The die coater of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices comprises a dial gauge, and the dial gauge comprises a bezel and a rod-shaped spindle connected to the bezel.
  4. The die coater of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the shim is smaller than a thickness of the spindle.
  5. The die coater of claim 3, wherein the first die coater comprises a groove into which the spindle is inserted.
  6. The die coater of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices comprises a clamp for fixing the dial gauge to the first die.
  7. The die coater of claim 6, wherein the clamp is fixed to the first die, wherein the clamp comprises a groove, wherein a stem of the dial gauge is inserted into the groove, and the stem is interposed between the bezel and the spindle.
  8. The die coater of claim 6, wherein the shim overlaps the clamp of each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices in the extending direction of the spindle.
  9. The die coater of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices further comprises a tip connected to the spindle.
  10. The die coater of claim 9, wherein a width of the tip is different from a width of the spindle.
  11. The die coater of claim 9, wherein a width of the tip is smaller than a width of the spindle.
  12. The die coater of claim 9, wherein a width of the tip is greater than a thickness of the shim.
  13. The die coater of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices comprises a tip cover overlapping the tip in a first direction, which is the extending direction of the tip.
  14. The die coater of claim 13, wherein the tip cover comprises a hole extending in the first direction.
  15. The die coater of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices further comprises a cover adjuster configured to adjust the position of the hole in the tip cover.
  16. The die coater of claim 13, wherein the second die comprises a plurality of grooves overlapping with the plurality of coating gap measuring devices.
  17. The die coater of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices comprises a clamp for fixing a dial gauge to the first die, and each of the plurality of grooves comprises a first portion overlapping the clamp.
  18. The die coater of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of grooves comprises a second portion overlapping the spindle.
  19. The die coater of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of grooves comprises a third portion overlapping the tip.
  20. The die coater of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of grooves further comprises a fourth portion overlapping the tip cover.

Description

[Technical Field] The present disclosure relates to a die coater and a secondary battery manufacturing facility including a die coater. This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0067893, filed on May 24, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Background] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged a plurality of times. Secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for various wireless devices such as handsets, laptops, and cordless vacuum cleaners. Recently, due to improvements in energy density and economies of scale, the manufacturing cost per unit capacity of secondary batteries has decreased dramatically. As the range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased to levels comparable to fuel vehicles, the primary use of secondary batteries is shifting from mobile devices to mobility. An electrode of a secondary battery is the most critical component in terms of energy density. Secondary battery electrodes can be formed through processes such as coating, roll pressing, drying, slitting, and notching. Among these, the coating process involves applying a coating material containing active material onto a current collector and can be performed using a die coater. [Summary] [Technical Problem] The technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a die coater with enhanced reliability and a secondary battery manufacturing facility including the die coater. [Technical Solution] According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure for solving the above-mentioned problem, a die coater is provided. The die coater includes: a first die comprising a manifold; a shim on the first die; a plurality of coating gap measuring devices coupled to the first die; and a second die coupled to the first die, wherein each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices is configured to measure a distance from a lip, which is a slurry discharge part of the first die, the shim, and the second die, to a coating roll. The plurality of coating gap measuring devices are spaced apart from each other with the shim interposed between them. Each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices includes a dial gauge, and the dial gauge includes a bezel and a rod-shaped spindle connected to the bezel. A thickness of the shim is smaller than a thickness of the spindle. The first die coater includes a groove into which the spindle is inserted. Each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices includes a clamp for fixing the dial gauge to the first die. The clamp is fixed to the first die, wherein the clamp includes a groove, wherein a stem of the dial gauge is inserted into the groove, and the stem is interposed between the bezel and the spindle. The shim overlaps the clamp of each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices in the extending direction of the spindle. Each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices further includes a tip connected to the spindle. A width of the tip is different from a width of the spindle. The width of the tip is smaller than the width of the spindle. The width of the tip is greater than a thickness of the shim. Each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices includes a tip cover overlapping the tip in a first direction, which is the extending direction of the tip. The tip cover includes a hole extending in the first direction. Each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices further includes a cover adjuster configured to adjust the position of the hole in the tip cover. The second die includes a plurality of grooves overlapping with the plurality of coating gap measuring devices. Each of the plurality of coating gap measuring devices includes a clamp for fixing a dial gauge to the first die, and each of the plurality of grooves includes a first portion overlapping the clamp. Each of the plurality of grooves includes a second portion overlapping the spindle. Each of the plurality of grooves includes a third portion overlapping the tip. each of the plurality of grooves includes a fourth portion overlapping the tip cover. [Advantageous Effects] According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a die coater including a plurality of coating gap measuring devices configured to measure the coating gap, which is the distance between the coating roll and the lip of the die coater, and a coating facility including the same may be provided. Accordingly, the distance of the coating gap can be accurately managed, and the reliability of secondary battery manufacturing can be enhanced. The effects that can be obtained from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly derived and understood by one having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure belong from the following description.