EP-4742339-A1 - STACK CELL TAPING APPARATUS AND STACK CELL TAPING METHOD USING SAME

EP4742339A1EP 4742339 A1EP4742339 A1EP 4742339A1EP-4742339-A1

Abstract

Disclosed are a stack cell taping apparatus including a taping unit, the taping unit including a gripping portion configured to grip both ends of an adhesive member so as to tape a transferred stack cell on a side surface of the transferred stack cell, a roller portion configured to press the adhesive member against one surface and/or another surface of the transferred stack cell, a guide portion configured to guide a movement path of the roller portion according to information on the thickness of the transferred stack cell, and a driving member configured to move the gripping portion and the roller portion to one side or another side, and a stack cell taping method using the same.

Inventors

KOO, Dong Jae
MOON, JONG MIN
KIM, CHANG HEE

Assignees

LG Energy Solution, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240708

Claims (15)

A stack cell taping apparatus comprising a taping unit, the taping unit comprising: a gripping portion configured to grip both ends of an adhesive member so as to tape a transferred stack cell on a side surface of the transferred stack cell; a roller portion configured to press the adhesive member against one surface and/or another surface of the transferred stack cell; a guide portion configured to guide a movement path of the roller portion according to information on a thickness of the transferred stack cell; and a driving member configured to move the gripping portion and the roller portion to one side or another side.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion comprises: a guide unit located on the side surface of the transferred stack cell; and a position adjustment guide located on one surface and/or another surface of the guide unit, the position adjustment guide being configured to adjust a position of the roller portion.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to measure the thickness of the transferred stack cell and to provide information on the thickness of the transferred stack cell to the guide portion.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensors are located on an upper side and a lower side of the transferred stack cell.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the position adjustment guide is configured to adjust a height of the guide portion so as to correspond to the thickness of the transferred stack cell measured by the sensors.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of supports disposed spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, the supports being configured to support the transferred stack cell.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the taping unit is disposed in plural so as to be located between respective supports.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the gripping portion comprises: a first gripping unit configured to grip one end of the adhesive member; and a second gripping unit configured to grip another end of the adhesive member.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the first gripping unit and the second gripping unit is a vacuum suction plate.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the roller portion comprises: a first roller configured to press one end of the adhesive member so as to be in tight contact along an upper surface of one side of the transferred stack cell; and a second roller configured to press another end of the adhesive member so as to be in tight contact along a lower surface of the one side of the transferred stack cell.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: the first roller is configured to be rolled from one surface of the guide portion and is configured to be moved along the upper surface of the one side of the transferred stack cell; and the second roller is configured to be rolled from another surface of the guide portion and is configured to be moved along the lower surface of the one side of the transferred stack cell.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the driving member comprises: a cylinder; a support rod provided on the other side of the cylinder; a first driving rod connected to the support rod on one side and to the first gripping unit on another side, the first driving rod being configured to provide driving force to the first gripping unit such that the first gripping unit can be moved to one side or another side; and a second driving rod connected to the support rod on one side and to the second gripping unit on another side, the second driving rod being configured to provide driving force to the second gripping unit such that the second gripping unit can be moved to one side or another side.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the driving member further comprises: a first roller rod connected to the first driving rod on one side and to the first roller on another side, the first roller rod being configured to provide driving force to the first roller such that the first roller can be moved to one side or another side; and a second roller rod connected to the second driving rod on one side and to the second roller on another side, the second roller rod being configured to provide driving force to the second roller such that the second roller can be moved to one side or another side.
The stack cell taping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the taping unit is disposed in plural at opposite side surfaces of the transferred stack cell.
A stack cell taping method using the stack cell taping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the stack cell taping method comprising: (S1) disposing a stack cell on a plurality of supports; (S2) measuring a thickness of the stack cell through sensors; (S3) adjusting a height of the guide portion through a position adjustment guide so as to correspond to the measured thickness of the stack cell; (S4) moving the gripping portion and the roller portion toward the stack cell through the driving member; and (S5) attaching the adhesive member gripped by the gripping portion to a side surface of the stack cell.

Description

[Technical Field] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2023-0152115 filed on November 6, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present invention relates to a stack cell taping apparatus and a stack cell taping method using the same, and more particularly to a stack cell taping apparatus for wrapping the perimeter of stacked battery cells to secure the battery cells and a stack cell taping method using the same. [Background Art] With technological development of mobile devices and an increase in demand therefor, secondary batteries, which are capable of being charged and discharged, have been used as an energy source for various mobile devices. Secondary batteries have also attracted attention as an energy source for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles presented as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles, which use fossil fuels. Depending on the shape of a battery case, secondary batteries are categorized into a cylindrical battery having an electrode assembly mounted in a cylindrical metal can, a prismatic battery having an electrode assembly mounted in a prismatic metal can, or a pouch-shaped battery having an electrode assembly mounted in a pouch-shaped case made of an aluminum laminate sheet. An electrode process to manufacture a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a secondary battery includes a mixing process of mixing raw materials, a coating process of applying a mixed slurry to foil and to dry the same, a rolling process of flattening and pressing the slurry while allowing an electrode to pass between two rolls, a slitting process of cutting the width of the electrode based on the designed battery dimensions using a slitter, and a notching process of cutting away the remaining part of an uncoated portion excluding a part for grounding a tab. The secondary battery is then subjected to a stacking process, which is a process of stacking a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator of the battery after the notching process. FIG. 1 is a view illustrating that a stack cell is taped using a conventional stack cell taping apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the state of the taped stack cell. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a stack cell 10 constituted by cells stacked one on another through a stacking process is taped through an adhesive member 20 in order to secure the stack cells 10. However, if the thickness of the stacked cell 10 is greater than the thickness of a guide 31, a roller portion 33 configured to press the adhesive member 20 moves while pressing corner parts of the stacked cell 10, whereby the separator may be folded or the stacked cells may be damaged (broken), resulting in defects of the stacked cell 10. (Prior Art Document) (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2023-0123304 [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 stack cell taping apparatus capable of minimizing damage to stack cells during a taping process for securing the stack cells and a stack cell taping method using the same. [Technical Solution] As a technical means for achieving the above object, a stack cell taping apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a taping unit (300) including a gripping portion (310) configured to grip both ends of an adhesive member (20) so as to tape a transferred stack cell (10) on a side surface of the transferred stack cell (10), a roller portion (320) configured to press the adhesive member (20) against one surface and/or another surface of the transferred stack cell (10), a guide portion (330) configured to guide a movement path of the roller portion (320) according to information on the thickness (t) of the transferred stack cell (10), and a driving member (340) configured to move the gripping portion (310) and the roller portion (320) to one side or another side. Also, in the stack cell taping apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion (330) may include a guide unit (331) located on the side surface of the transferred stack cell (10) and a position adjustment guide (332) located on one surface and/or another surface of the guide unit (331), the position adjustment guide being configured to adjust the position of the roller portion (320). Also, the stack cell taping apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a plurality of sensors (200) configured to measure the thickness (t) of the transferred stack cell (10) and to provide information on the thickness (t) of the transferred stack cell (10) to the guide portion (330). Also, in the stack cell taping apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sensors (200) may be located on an upper side and a lower side of the transferred sta