KR-20260063458-A - Air Jet Device for Handling Electrode Tabs and Method for Handling Thereof

Abstract

An air jet device is provided for spraying air onto an electrode tab formed in an electrode-free portion and disposed at the axial end of an electrode assembly. The air jet device includes a nozzle for spraying air. The air jet device includes a nozzle block that supports the nozzle. The nozzle block is supported to allow a first rotation in a direction parallel to a first direction that intersects the axial direction and the radial direction. The nozzle block may support the nozzle so that the nozzle can move in a direction parallel to the radial direction. The nozzle block may support the nozzle so that the nozzle can rotate a second time about a rotation center parallel to the axial direction. The air jet device includes a support arm that supports the nozzle block so that the nozzle block can move along the axial direction. The air jet device may further include a base that supports the support arm so that the support arm can move along the first direction. The base may support the support arm so that the support arm can rotate the first time. The above air jet device may further include a mounting bracket that supports the base so that the base can rotate a second time.

Inventors

• 배수한
• 서정철

Assignees

• 주식회사 엘지에너지솔루션

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241030

Claims (20)

1. A device for spraying air onto an electrode tab formed in an electrode-free portion and disposed at the axial end of an electrode assembly, A nozzle that sprays the above air; A nozzle block supporting the above nozzle; A support arm that extends along the axial direction and supports the nozzle block so that the nozzle block can move along the axial direction; The above nozzle block is an air jet device that is supported to enable a first rotation about a center of rotation parallel to a first direction intersecting the axial and radial directions.
2. In claim 1, The above nozzle block is an air jet device that supports the nozzle so that the nozzle can move in a direction parallel to the radial direction.
3. In claim 1, The above nozzle is an air jet device supported to enable a second rotation about a rotation center parallel to the axial direction.
4. In claim 1, The above support arm is an air jet device that supports the nozzle block so that the nozzle block can rotate the first rotation.
5. In claim 1, The above support arm includes a guide hole formed along the axial direction, and The above nozzle block is an air jet device comprising a head portion supporting the nozzle and a neck portion penetrating the guide hole.
6. In claim 1, An air jet device further comprising a base supporting the support arm.
7. In claim 6, The above base is an air jet device that supports the support arm so that the support arm can move along the first direction.
8. In claim 6, Either one of the base and the support arm has an installation axis extending in the first direction, and The remaining one is an air jet device having a fixing part that is releaseably fixed to the installation axis so as to be movable in the first direction along the installation axis.
9. In claim 6, The above base is an air jet device that supports the support arm so that the support arm can make the first rotation.
10. In claim 6, Either one of the base and the support arm has an installation axis extending in the first direction, and The remaining one is an air jet device having a fixing part that is releaseably fixed to the installation shaft so as to enable the first rotation with respect to the installation shaft.
11. In claim 6, It further includes a mounting stand that supports the above base, The above-described mounting bracket supports the base so that the base can rotate a second time with a direction parallel to the axial direction as the center of rotation, in an air jet device.
12. In claim 6, The above base is provided with a base hole formed in the axial direction and a base pin extending in the axial direction, and The above-mentioned mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket hole formed in the axial direction, and The above base pin is an air jet device that penetrates the base hole and the mounting hole in the axial direction.
13. In claim 6, It further includes a mounting stand that supports the above base, The above mounting stand is an air jet device capable of moving in a direction parallel to the radial direction.
14. A method for handling the electrode tab using an air jet device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein A spraying step in which the nozzle sprays air onto the electrode tab; and A method for handling an electrode tab comprising a winding step in which a winding pin grips a separator or the electrode and winds it.
15. In claim 14, A method for handling an electrode tab, wherein the position or air injection direction of the nozzle is adjusted to correspond to a change in the outer diameter of the electrode assembly or a change in the width or height of the electrode tab.
16. In claim 15, The above nozzle moves in a radial direction, and A method for handling an electrode tab, wherein the above movement comprises at least one of the following: a method in which the nozzle moves, a method in which the mounting base moves, a method including the first rotation of the nozzle block and the first rotation of the support arm, or a method including the second rotation of the nozzle and the second rotation of the base.
17. In claim 15, The above nozzle moves in the above first direction, and The above movement comprises at least one of the following: a method of moving in which the support arm is supported by the base, or a method comprising the second rotation of the nozzle and the second rotation of the base.
18. In claim 15, The above nozzle moves in the axial direction, and The above movement comprises at least one of the following: a method in which the nozzle block moves along the support arm, or a method comprising the first rotation of the nozzle block and the first rotation of the support arm.
19. In claim 15, The air injection direction of the above nozzle is rotated, A method for handling electrode tabs, wherein the above rotation is implemented by including at least one of the first rotation of the nozzle block, the first rotation of the support arm, the second rotation of the nozzle, or the second rotation of the base.
20. In claim 15, A method for handling an electrode tab, further comprising a preliminary bending step of pre-bending the electrode tab prior to the above injection step.

Description

Air Jet Device for Handling Electrode Tabs and Method for Handling Thereof The present invention relates to an air jet device for handling electrode tabs, and more specifically, to an air jet device for bending an electrode tab formed on a non-reinforcing portion of an electrode included in an electrode assembly, or maintaining the bent state of an electrode tab that is pre-bent at a predetermined angle. Rechargeable batteries, which possess electrical characteristics such as high energy density and high applicability across product categories, are widely applied not only to portable devices but also to electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles powered by electric sources, and power storage devices. These rechargeable batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for enhancing eco-friendliness and energy efficiency, not only for the primary advantage of drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels but also because they generate no by-products from energy use. Secondary batteries are classified into cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic types according to their shape. Secondary batteries house an electrode assembly inside. A cylindrical secondary battery is a type in which a jelly-roll type electrode assembly is housed inside a cylindrical battery can. In the winding process, the winding device assembles the jelly-roll electrode assembly by winding the first electrode and the second electrode with a separator interposed therebetween. The electrode included in the electrode assembly is manufactured in the form of a sheet extending in the longitudinal direction with a predetermined width. The electrode is manufactured in a form in which an active material is coated on a current collector. The electrode includes not only a retaining portion, which is an area where the active material is coated on the current collector, but also an uncoated portion, which is an area where the active material is not coated on the current collector. The unsupported portion may be located at one end of the width direction of the retaining portion. The unsupported portion may include an electrode tab extending in the width direction along the length direction. The electrode tab may extend in the axial direction of the electrode assembly and serve as a passage for electron movement. In a subsequent process, the electrode tab is welded to the current collector plate. Electrons from the electrode can move to the current collector plate through the electrode tab. To ensure a strong bond between the electrode tab and the uncoated portion, the electrode tab is bent parallel to the radial direction of the electrode assembly. The process of bending the electrode tab includes pre-bending and final bending. Pre-bending is a process in which, before or during the winding of the electrode, a device such as a pre-bending jig or an air jet pre-bends the electrode tab radially by a predetermined angle. Final bending is a process in which, after assembling the electrode assembly, a device such as a final bending jig finally bends the electrode tab, which extends axially along the electrode assembly, so that it is parallel to the radial direction. If pre-bending is performed before final bending to properly bend the electrode tab to a predetermined angle, and then final bending is performed, it is advantageous to bend the electrode tab evenly parallel to the radial direction. However, if the electrode tab fails to maintain the pre-bending state formed by pre-bending and becomes entangled during the winding process, phenomena such as deformation may occur during final bending where the electrode tab is not processed as intended, and there is a risk that the electrode tab may not be bent parallel to the radial direction. For example, the electrode tab pre-bending may deform during the storage of the electrode or become entangled due to vibration during the winding process. In order to wind the electrode while maintaining the electrode tab in a pre-folded state, an air jet device can spray air onto the electrode tab. The air jet device can maintain the electrode tab in a pre-folded state by spraying air onto the electrode tab during the electrode winding process. However, due to vibrations generated during the winding process, the electrode tab may shake, preventing the air from the air jet device from being accurately sprayed toward the electrode tab. Additionally, during the winding process of the electrode assembly, the outer diameter of the electrode assembly increases radially, and the height or width of the electrode tab may change. For this reason, even if the air jet device sprays air onto the electrode tab, the electrode tab may not be able to maintain its pre-bent state. If the electrode tab is not maintained in a pre-bent state, the electrode tab may become tangled as the electrode is wound, and during final bending, the electrode tab may not be processed as intended and may become deformed, which may result in the electrode tab not being