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EP-4741140-A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATOR HEAT-SEALING AND STACKING

EP4741140A1EP 4741140 A1EP4741140 A1EP 4741140A1EP-4741140-A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein may be apparatus (100) and method for separator (11) heat-sealing and stacking. The apparatus (100) may include a continuous separator supply unit (110) configured to connect a plurality of separator rolls (111) and supply separators (11) in the form of continuous sheets, a heat-sealing unit (120) configured to heat-seal two sheets of separators (11) supplied from the continuous separator supply unit (110), an electrode plate inserting unit (130) configured to insert an electrode plate (21, 22) between the two sheets of heat-sealed separators (11), and a cutting unit (140) configured to cut the two sheets of separators (11) between which the electrode plate (21, 22) is inserted, and produce a unit pack (30).

Inventors

  • KIM, MINJU
  • KIM, BO HYUN
  • JO, JIN HYEONG
  • AHN, SUNG HOON
  • KIM, Sangrul
  • JUNG, MINYONG
  • LIM, SOOHYUN

Assignees

  • SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
  • Seoul National University R&DB Foundation

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251104

Claims (15)

  1. An apparatus (100) for separator (11) heat-sealing and stacking, comprising: a continuous separator supply unit (110) configured to connect a plurality of separator rolls (111) and supply separators (11) in a form of continuous sheets; a heat-sealing unit (120) configured to heat-seal two sheets of separators (11) supplied from the continuous separator supply unit (110); an electrode plate inserting unit (130) configured to insert an electrode plate (21, 22) between the two sheets of heat-sealed separators (11); and a cutting unit (140) configured to cut the two sheets of separators (11) between which the electrode plate (21, 22) is inserted, and produce a unit pack (30).
  2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the continuous separator supply unit (110) comprises: a roller unit (112) configured to connect the plurality of separator rolls (111) and supply the separators (11) in the form of continuous sheets; and a conveyor belt (113) configured to simultaneously receive the separators (11) from the roller unit (112) and transfer the separators (11) at an identical speed.
  3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat-sealing unit (120) comprises: a silicone rubber part (121); a heat-sealing bar (122) provided on one side of the silicone rubber part (121); and a sealing motor (123) configured to move the silicone rubber part (121) and the heat-sealing bar (122) upwardly or downwardly, wherein the silicone rubber part (121) and the heat-sealing bar (122) provide uniform pressure to the separators (11).
  4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heat-sealing unit (120) comprises a first heat-sealing unit and a second heat-sealing unit that are positioned in succession and each provided with the heat-sealing bar (122) in different areas, wherein the first heat-sealing unit forms a first heat-sealed area (12) on one side of the two sheets of separators (11), and wherein the second heat-sealing unit forms a second heat-sealed area (13) on another side of the two sheets of separators (11).
  5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the heat-sealing bar (122) is coated with a Teflon material and prevents adhesion between the separators (11) and the heat-sealing bar (122).
  6. The apparatus (100) of any one of the preceding claims when combined with claim 4, wherein the electrode plate inserting unit (130) inserts a first electrode plate (21) into the first heat-sealed area (12), and inserts a second electrode plate (22) into the second heat-sealed area (13), wherein preferably the first electrode plate (21) and the second electrode plate (22) are inserted in opposite directions and aligned during the insertion by making contact with the first heat-sealed area (12) and the second heat-sealed area (13), respectively.
  7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting unit (140) comprises: a cutter (141) configured to cut the two sheets of separators (11) between which the electrode plate (21, 22) is inserted; and a cutting motor (142) configured to move the cutter (141) upwardly or downwardly.
  8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a stacking unit (150) configured to receive and stack the produced unit pack while aligning the produced unit pack, wherein preferably the stacking unit (150) comprises: a stacking bed (151) configured to receive the produced unit pack and inclined to allow the unit pack (30) to slide down; a stopper (152) configured to stop and align the slid-down unit pack; and a stacking motor (153) configured to move the stacking bed (151) upwardly or downwardly.
  9. A method of separator (11) heat-sealing and stacking, comprising: connecting a plurality of separator rolls (111) through a continuous separator supply unit (110) and supplying separators (11) in a form of continuous sheets; heat-sealing, by a heat-sealing unit (120), two sheets of separators (11) supplied from the continuous separator supply unit (110); inserting an electrode plate (21, 22) between the two sheets of heat-sealed separators (11) by an electrode plate inserting unit (130); and cutting, by a cutting unit (140), the two sheets of separators (11) between which the electrode plate (21, 22) is inserted, and producing a unit pack (30).
  10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the supplying of the separator (11) comprises: connecting the plurality of separator rolls (111) by a roller unit (112), and supplying separators (11) in the form of continuous sheets; and simultaneously receiving the separators (11) from the roller unit (112) through a conveyor belt (113) and transferring the separators (11) at an identical speed.
  11. The method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the heat-sealing comprises: providing a heat-sealing unit (120) comprising a silicone rubber part (121); a heat-sealing bar (122) provided on one side of the silicone rubber part (121); and a sealing motor (123) configured to move the silicone rubber part (121) and the heat-sealing bar (122) upwardly or downwardly; and providing uniform pressure to the separators (11) through the silicone rubber part (121) and the heat-sealing bar (122).
  12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the heat-sealing comprises: providing the heat-sealing unit (120) comprising a first heat-sealing unit and a second heat-sealing unit that are positioned in succession and each provided with the heat-sealing bar (122) in different areas; forming a first heat-sealed area (12) on one side of the two sheets of separators (11) by the first heat-sealing unit; and forming a second heat-sealed area (13) on another side of the two sheets of separators (11) by the second heat-sealing unit.
  13. The method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the providing of the heat-sealing unit (120) comprises coating the heat-sealing bar (122) with a Teflon material to prevent adhesion between the separators (11) and the heat-sealing bar (122).
  14. The method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the inserting of the electrode plate (21, 22) comprises: inserting a first electrode plate (21) into the first heat-sealed area (12); and inserting a second electrode plate (22) into the second heat-sealed area (13), wherein preferably the inserting of the electrode plate (21, 22) comprises inserting the first electrode plate (21) and the second electrode plate (22) in opposite directions, and aligning the first electrode plate (21) and the second electrode plate (22) during the insertion by making contact with the first heat-sealed area (12) and the second heat-sealed area (13), respectively.
  15. The method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising receiving and stacking, by a stacking unit (150), the produced unit pack while aligning the produced unit pack, wherein preferably the receiving and stacking of the unit pack (30) comprises providing the stacking unit (150), comprising: a stacking bed (151) configured to receive the produced unit pack and inclined to allow the unit pack (30) to slide down; a stopper (152) configured to stop and align the slid-down unit pack; and a stacking motor (153) configured to move the stacking bed (151) upwardly or downwardly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0157526, filed on November 7, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates to apparatus and method for separator heat-sealing and stacking, and more particularly, to apparatus and method for separator heat-sealing and stacking, in which an electrode plate comes into physical contact with a sealing portion by a guide line formed through heat sealing, thereby being automatically aligned. BACKGROUND Unlike primary batteries that are not designed to be charged, secondary batteries are designed to be discharged and recharged. Low-capacity secondary batteries are used in small portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, feature phones, notebook computers, digital cameras, and camcorders, while large-capacity secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for driving motors, such as of hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles, and for power storage. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly consisting of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case that accommodates the electrode assembly, a terminal part connected to the electrode assembly, etc. The herein information disclosed in this Background section is for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute related (or prior) art. SUMMARY Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing apparatus and method for separator heat-sealing and stacking, in which an electrode plate comes into physical contact with a sealing portion by a guide line formed through heat sealing, thereby being automatically aligned. According to the present invention, an apparatus and a method for separator heat-sealing and stacking as claimed in claims 1 and 9 are provided. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. However, the technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is not limited to the above problem, and other problems not mentioned herein, and aspects and features of the present disclosure that would address such problems, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present disclosure herein. An apparatus for separator heat-sealing and stacking according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a continuous separator supply unit configured to connect a plurality of separator rolls and supply separators in a form of continuous sheets, a heat-sealing unit configured to heat-seal two sheets of separators supplied from the continuous separator supply unit, an electrode plate inserting unit configured to insert an electrode plate between the two sheets of heat-sealed separators, and a cutting unit configured to cut the two sheets of separators between which the electrode plate is inserted, and produce a unit pack. In embodiments, the continuous separator supply unit may include a roller unit configured to connect the plurality of separator rolls and supply the separators in the form of continuous sheets, and a conveyor belt configured to simultaneously receive the separators from the roller unit and transfer the separators at an identical speed. In embodiments, the heat-sealing unit may include a silicone rubber part, a heat-sealing bar provided on one side of the silicone rubber part, and a sealing motor configured to move the silicone rubber part and the heat-sealing bar upwardly or downwardly. The silicone rubber part and the heat-sealing bar may provide uniform pressure to the separators. In embodiments, the heat-sealing unit may include a first heat-sealing unit and a second heat-sealing unit that are positioned in succession and each provided with the heat-sealing bar in different areas. The first heat-sealing unit may form a first heat-sealed area on one side of the two sheets of separators. The second heat-sealing unit may form a second heat-sealed area on another side of the two sheets of separators. In embodiments, the heat-sealing bar may be coated with a Teflon material and prevent adhesion between the separators and the heat-sealing bar. In embodiments, the electrode plate inserting unit may insert a first electrode plate into the first heat-sealed area, and insert a second electrode plate into the second heat-sealed area. In embodiments, the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate may be inserted in opposite directions and aligned during the insertion by making contact with the first heat-sealed area and the second heat-sealed area, respectively. In embodiments, the cutting unit may include a cutter configured to cut the two sheets of separators between which the electrode plate is inserted, and a cutting motor configured to move the cutter upwardly or