EP-4737050-A1 - LASER NOTCHING APPARATUS

EP4737050A1EP 4737050 A1EP4737050 A1EP 4737050A1EP-4737050-A1

Abstract

The technical idea of the present disclosure provides a laser notching apparatus including: a transfer part transferring an electrode sheet; a laser irradiation part irradiating a laser beam to the electrode sheet to notch the electrode sheet; a pattern jig configured to support the electrode sheet moving in a first direction; and a suction box on which the pattern jig is mounted and having an internal space, and the pattern jig includes: a pattern hole overlapping the electrode sheet in a second direction and through which the laser beam passes; and a side suction hole extending in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction and guiding external air to be drawn into the internal space of the suction box in the third direction.

Inventors

LEE, SEOK MAN
PENG, JIAN
KIM, TAE SU
KIM, WON SEOP
JEONG, SEON YONG
PARK, SEONG HO
LEE, WOO JUNG

Assignees

LG Energy Solution, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20250331

Claims (14)

A laser notching apparatus comprising: a transfer part transferring an electrode sheet; a laser irradiation part irradiating a laser beam to the electrode sheet to notch the electrode sheet; a pattern jig configured to support the electrode sheet moving in a first direction; and a suction box on which the pattern jig is mounted and having an internal space, wherein the pattern jig comprises: a pattern hole overlapping the electrode sheet in a second direction and through which the laser beam passes; and a side suction hole extending in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction and guiding external air to be drawn into the internal space of the suction box in the third direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern jig comprises a support surface supporting the electrode sheet and a side surface not overlapping the electrode sheet, and the side suction hole extends from the side surface of the pattern jig in the third direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 2, wherein an inlet of the side suction hole on the side surface of the pattern jig is spaced apart from the pattern hole in the first direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 2, wherein an inlet of the side suction hole overlaps the pattern hole in the third direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the side suction hole has an inlet on the side surface of the pattern jig and an outlet opposite to the inlet, and a width of the outlet of the side suction hole and a width of the inlet of the side suction hole are different from each other.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side suction hole comprises a plurality of suction holes spaced apart from each other in the first direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern jig further comprises a plurality of through holes overlapping the electrode sheet in the second direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air nozzle disposed within the internal space of the suction box and configured to inject air in the first direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a suction pipe connected to an exhaust port of the suction box; and a vacuum pump mounted to the suction pipe, wherein the exhaust port of the suction box is spaced apart from the air nozzle in the first direction.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern jig further comprises a support structure extending within the pattern hole and supporting the electrode sheet.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suction box comprises a suction slit through which external air is drawn in.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern jig comprises an overlapping region overlapping the electrode sheet and a non-overlapping region not overlapping the electrode sheet, and the side suction hole is within the non-overlapping region of the pattern jig.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pattern jig comprises an overlapping region overlapping the electrode sheet and a non-overlapping region not overlapping the electrode sheet, and a portion of the side suction hole is within the overlapping region of the pattern jig, and another portion of the side suction hole is within the non-overlapping region of the pattern jig.
The laser notching apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an air nozzle disposed within the internal space of the suction box and configured to inject air in the first direction; a suction pipe connected to an exhaust port of the suction box spaced apart from the air nozzle in the first direction; and a vacuum pump mounted to the suction pipe, wherein the pattern jig further comprises: a support surface supporting the electrode sheet; a side surface not overlapping the electrode sheet; a plurality of through holes overlapping the electrode sheet in the second direction and each extending from the support surface; and a support structure extending within the pattern hole and supporting the electrode sheet, wherein the side suction hole extends from the side surface of the pattern jig in the third direction.

Description

[Technical Field] The present disclosure relates to a laser notching apparatus. This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0045859, filed on April 04, 2024, the entire contents disclosed therein are incorporated by reference into this disclosure. [Background] With technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries is also rapidly increasing. Among them, lithium secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for various mobile devices as well as various electronic products due to the high energy density and operating voltage and excellent storage and lifespan characteristics. Recently, as the application fields for secondary batteries have expanded, the demand for higher-capacity secondary batteries is rapidly increasing. Generally, when manufacturing secondary batteries, a notching process is performed in which electrode active materials are coated on a current collector to manufacture an electrode sheet, and the electrode sheet is cut into a desired shape. The notching process includes a mold press method and a laser notching method. Although the laser notching method has high productivity, it is required to reduce component contamination issues caused by foreign matter such as fume or spatter. [Summary] [Technical Problem] The technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a laser notching apparatus. [Technical Solution] To solve the above-described problem, the technical idea of the present disclosure provides a laser notching apparatus including: a transfer part transferring an electrode sheet; a laser irradiation part irradiating a laser beam to the electrode sheet to notch the electrode sheet; a pattern jig configured to support the electrode sheet moving in a first direction; and a suction box on which the pattern jig is mounted and having an internal space, wherein the pattern jig includes: a pattern hole overlapping the electrode sheet in a second direction and through which the laser beam passes; and a side suction hole extending in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction and guiding external air to be drawn into the internal space of the suction box in the third direction. In exemplary embodiments, the pattern jig includes a support surface supporting the electrode sheet and a side surface not overlapping the electrode sheet, and the side suction hole extends from the side surface of the pattern jig in the third direction. In exemplary embodiments, an inlet of the side suction hole on the side surface of the pattern jig is spaced apart from the pattern hole in the first direction. In exemplary embodiments, an inlet of the side suction hole overlaps the pattern hole in the third direction. In exemplary embodiments, the side suction hole has an inlet on the side surface of the pattern jig and an outlet opposite to the inlet, and a width of the outlet of the side suction hole and a width of the inlet of the side suction hole are different from each other. In exemplary embodiments, the side suction hole includes a plurality of suction holes spaced apart from each other in the first direction. In exemplary embodiments, the pattern jig further includes a plurality of through holes overlapping the electrode sheet in the second direction. In exemplary embodiments, the laser notching apparatus further includes an air nozzle disposed within the internal space of the suction box and configured to inject air in the first direction. In exemplary embodiments, the laser notching apparatus further includes a suction pipe connected to an exhaust port of the suction box; and a vacuum pump mounted to the suction pipe, wherein the exhaust port of the suction box is spaced apart from the air nozzle in the first direction. In exemplary embodiments, the pattern jig further includes a support structure extending within the pattern hole and supporting the electrode sheet. In exemplary embodiments, the suction box includes a suction slit through which external air is drawn in. In exemplary embodiments, the pattern jig includes an overlapping region overlapping the electrode sheet and a non-overlapping region not overlapping the electrode sheet, and the side suction hole is within the non-overlapping region of the pattern jig. In exemplary embodiments, the pattern jig includes an overlapping region overlapping the electrode sheet and a non-overlapping region not overlapping the electrode sheet, and a portion of the side suction hole is within the overlapping region of the pattern jig, and another portion of the side suction hole is within the non-overlapping region of the pattern jig. In exemplary embodiments, the laser notching apparatus further includes an air nozzle disposed within the internal space of the suction box and configured to inject air in the first direction; a suction pipe connected to an exhaust port of the suction box spaced apart from the air n