EP-4738576-A1 - POUCH CASE TRANSFER DEVICE AND POUCH CASE TRANSFER METHOD USING SAME

Abstract

Disclosed are a pouch case transfer apparatus and a pouch case transfer method using the same, and more particularly a pouch case transfer apparatus including a tight contact unit configured to be in tight contact with one surface of a pouch case, the tight contact unit having a certain area, a support bar connected to the tight contact unit, the support bar being configured to move the tight contact unit, and a decompression member, wherein the tight contact unit includes a main plate configured to face an edge portion of the pouch case, and the main plate is provided at one surface thereof wherein the one surface of the main plate includes a first suction channel or a suction member exposed toward the edge portion of the pouch case, the first suction channel or the suction member being configured to suction the edge portion of the pouch case by decompression.

Inventors

• KIM, JAE WOON
• LEE, JIN SOO
• CHOI, JUN HAN
• KIM, JUN WOOK
• KIM, Gyoung Deuk

Assignees

• LG Energy Solution, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20250404

Claims (15)

1. A pouch case transfer apparatus comprising: a tight contact unit configured to be in tight contact with one surface of a pouch case, the tight contact unit having a certain area; a support bar connected to the tight contact unit, the support bar being configured to move the tight contact unit; and a decompression member, wherein the tight contact unit comprises a main plate configured to face an edge portion of the pouch case, and the main plate is provided at one surface thereof wherein the one surface of the main plate includes a first suction channel or a suction member exposed toward the edge portion of the pouch case, the first suction channel or the suction member being configured to suction the edge portion of the pouch case by decompression.
2. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one surface of the main plate includes both the first suction channel and the suction member.
3. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first suction channel is depressed inwardly of the main plate.
4. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first suction channel is located so as to correspond to a pair of edges located facing each other at the edge portion of the pouch case.
5. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first suction channel is located so as to correspond to two pairs of edges located facing each other at the edge portion of the pouch case.
6. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a vertical section of the first suction channel has a polygonal shape open in a direction toward the edge portion of the pouch case.
7. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a vertical section of the first suction channel has a circular shape open in a direction toward the edge portion of the pouch case.
8. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first suction channel has a linear shape, a wavy shape, and/or a zigzag shape with repeated peaks and valleys.
9. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a second suction channel is further provided at an area intersecting the first suction channel, the second suction channel being in communication with the first suction channel, the second suction channel having a predetermined pattern.
10. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second suction channel has a shape having one or more circles or polygons and one or more lines or curves so as to communicate with the first suction channel.
11. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the suction member is a suction plate, at least a part of the suction plate being located in a receiving recess formed in the one surface of the main plate.
12. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the main plate is provided with a first air passage having one side in communication with the first suction channel and an other side exposed to an other surface of the main plate, and the main plate is provided with a second air passage having one side in communication with the suction member and an other side exposed to the other surface of the main plate.
13. The pouch case transfer apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the decompression member comprises: a first decompression member having a first air pipe connected to the first air passage exposed to the other surface of the main plate and a first decompression pump connected to the first air pipe; and a second decompression member having a second air pipe connected to the second air passage exposed to the other surface of the main plate and a second decompression pump connected to the second air pipe.
14. A pouch case transfer method using the pouch case transfer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the pouch case transfer method comprising: a first step of locating the tight contact unit above one surface of a pouch case; a second step of downwardly moving the tight contact unit so as to be brought into tight contact with the pouch case; a third step of suctioning an edge portion of the pouch case; and a fourth step of upwardly moving the tight contact unit and moving the pouch case to a predetermined position.
15. The pouch case transfer method according to claim 14, further comprising: a fifth step of stacking the pouch case, wherein suction force is released in the fifth step.

Description

[Technical Field] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0072428 filed on June 3, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present invention relates to a pouch case transfer apparatus and a pouch case transfer method using the same, and more particularly to a pouch case transfer apparatus capable of stably transferring a pouch case for secondary batteries without deformation of the pouch case when transferring the pouch case and a pouch case transfer method using the same. [Background Art] With recent development of alternative energies due to air pollution and energy depletion caused as the result of use of fossil fuels, demand for secondary batteries capable of storing electrical energy that is produced has increased. Required capacities of secondary batteries used as energy sources of various kinds of electronic devices inevitably used in modern society have been increased due to an increase in usage of mobile devices, increasing complexity of the mobile devices, and development of electric vehicles. In order to satisfy demand of users, a plurality of battery cells is disposed in a small-sized device, whereas a battery module including a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other or a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules is used in a vehicle, etc. Meanwhile, a shaped pouch case must be transferred to a predetermined position in a process of manufacturing a battery cell. To this end, many suction members are used to suction and grip an edge of the pouch case. However, the suction members need to be replaced at predetermined intervals due to repeated decompression and release, and the initial cost of a pouch case transfer apparatus is high due to the use of many suction members. FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional transfer apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional sheet transfer apparatus 9 includes a support 7 configured to support a sheet, a suction member 40 configured to suction the sheet in tight contact with the sheet, a hollow shaft 41 connected to the suction member 40, and a support portion 42 configured to support the hollow shaft 41, wherein a suction hole is formed in the suction member 40. In the conventional sheet transfer apparatus 9, the suction hole is formed in the suction member 40 configured to be in tight contact with the sheet to suction the sheet by drawing in air. In this suction structure, it is possible to stably suction and transfer the sheet; however, the suction member 40 is located so as to correspond to all regions of the sheet. Consequently, the transfer apparatus still requires a large number of suction members 40. Furthermore, when a large number of suction members are used, the pouch case is likely to be deformed by suction force. (Prior Art Document) (Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-127357 [Disclosure] [Technical Problem] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pouch case transfer apparatus capable of stably transferring a pouch case while minimizing the use of a suction member, which is a consumable, when transferring the pouch case, and a pouch case transfer method using the same. [Technical Solution] A pouch case transfer apparatus according to the present invention to accomplish the above object includes a tight contact unit configured to be in tight contact with one surface of a pouch case (10), the tight contact unit having a certain area, a support bar (200) connected to the tight contact unit(100), the support bar being configured to move the tight contact unit (100), and a decompression member (300), wherein the tight contact unit (100) includes a main plate (110) configured to face an edge portion of the pouch case (10), and the main plate (110) is provided at one surface thereof wherein the one surface of the main plate (110) includes a first suction channel (112) or a suction member (116) exposed toward the edge portion (12) of the pouch case (10), the first suction channel or the suction member being configured to suction the edge portion (12) of the pouch case (10) by decompression. Also, in the pouch case transfer apparatus according to the present invention, the one surface of the main plate (110) may include both the first suction channel (112) and the suction member (116). Also, in the pouch case transfer apparatus according to the present invention, the first suction channel (112) may be depressed inwardly of the main plate (110). Also, in the pouch case transfer apparatus according to the present invention, the first suction channel (112) may be located so as to correspond to a pair of edges located facing each other at the edge portion (12) of the pouch case (10). Also, in the pouch case transfer apparatus according to the present invention, the first suction channel (112) may be located s