KR-20260063490-A - TOP CAP WELDING APPARATUS OF CYLINDRICAL BATTERY CELL AND TOP CAP WELDING METHOD OF CYLINDRICAL BATTERY CELL USING THE SAME

Abstract

The present invention relates to a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell and a top cap welding method for a cylindrical battery cell using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell and a top cap welding method for a cylindrical battery cell using the same, characterized by comprising: a conveying unit for conveying a cylindrical battery case containing an electrode assembly in which an electrode tab is exposed to the outside; a pressing unit located at the front of the battery case and pressing the battery case; a supporting unit located at the rear of the battery case and provided to support the battery case; a top cap holder for positioning a top cap at the rear of the electrode tab; a top cap supporting unit including a supporting member supporting the rear of the top cap, a second driving unit for driving the supporting member forward, and a third driving unit for driving the supporting member backward; and a welding unit for welding the electrode tab and the top cap.

Inventors

• 이수호

Assignees

• 주식회사 엘지에너지솔루션

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241030

Claims (14)

1. A transfer unit for transferring a cylindrical battery case containing an electrode assembly in which the electrode tabs are exposed to the outside; A pressurizing part located at the front of the battery case and pressurizing the battery case; A support member located at the rear of the battery case and provided to support the battery case; A top cap holder positioning the top cap at the rear of the electrode tab; A top cap support member comprising a support member supporting the rear of the top cap, a second drive unit for driving the support member forward, and a third drive unit for driving the support member backward; and A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized by including a welding portion for welding the electrode tab and the top cap.
2. In paragraph 1, The above second driving unit is, A first cylinder part comprising a first cylinder that provides a forward driving force to the support member and a first housing that accommodates the first cylinder; and A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized by comprising: a first driving member including a vertical block located on one side of the first cylinder part and a horizontal block connected to the upper side of the vertical block.
3. In paragraph 2, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the first cylinder transmits forward driving force in the opposite direction to the vertical block.
4. In paragraph 3, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the internal space of the first housing is separated into a firsta space and a firsta' space by the first cylinder.
5. In paragraph 2, The above second driving unit is, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized by further including a third support plate seated on the horizontal block and a second connecting member provided to connect the support member and the third support plate.
6. In paragraph 5, The second connecting member is seated on the upper surface of the third support plate and is provided in a shape connected to the side of the support member. A first elongated hole is formed on one surface of the second connecting member seated on the third support plate to correspond to the direction of transport in which the battery case is transported, and A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that a second elongated hole is formed on the other side of the second connecting member connected to the side of the support member to correspond to the up and down direction.
7. In paragraph 2, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the second driving unit further includes a first position sensing sensor that detects the position of the support member.
8. In Paragraph 7, It further includes a control unit that receives a signal from the first position detection sensor, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the control unit determines whether the support member is located at a set position through the first position detection sensor.
9. In Paragraph 7, A recessed first storage groove is formed on one side of the first housing, and A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the first position sensing sensor is provided in the first storage groove.
10. In paragraph 2, The third drive unit is, A second contact member located on the side of the horizontal block and configured with a shape in which a portion of the rear extends downward; A support block connected to the support member and provided on the lower side of the first cylinder member; A second rotating block rotatably connected to the side of the support block and configured to be in contact with a portion extending downward of the second contact member; and A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized by including: a second rod member connected to one end of the second rotating block and configured to rotate the second rotating block by vertical driving.
11. In Paragraph 10, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the third driving unit transmits a rear driving force to the support member by the second rotating block coming into contact with the second contact member through the up-and-down driving of the second rod member.
12. In Paragraph 10, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that the third driving unit allows the second rotating block to be separated from the second contact member by the up-and-down driving of the second rod member, thereby allowing the support member to move forward.
13. In Paragraph 12, A top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell, characterized in that a preset air pressure is constantly supplied to the first cylinder part, and the support member moves forward when the third driving part does not restrict the forward movement of the support member.
14. A method for welding the top cap of a cylindrical battery cell using a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 13, (S1) A step of transferring the battery case to one side or the other side through the transfer unit; (S2) A step of positioning the top cap at the rear of the electrode tab through the top cap holder; (S3) A step of supporting the rear of the top cap through the top cap support member; (S4) A step of pressing the battery case backward through the above-mentioned pressurizing part; and (S5) A step of welding the top cap and the electrode tab through the welded portion; characterized by a method for welding the top cap of a cylindrical battery cell.

Description

Top cap welding apparatus for a cylindrical battery cell and top cap welding method for a cylindrical battery cell using the same The present invention relates to a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell and a top cap welding method for a cylindrical battery cell using the same. More specifically, it relates to a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell and a top cap welding method for a cylindrical battery cell using the same, which can prevent welding defects when welding the electrode tab and the top cap of a cylindrical battery cell. With the increasing technological development and demand for mobile devices, rechargeable secondary batteries are being used as an energy source for various mobile devices. Secondary batteries are also attracting attention as an energy source for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are being presented as alternatives to conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels. Secondary batteries are classified according to the shape of the battery case into cylindrical and prismatic batteries, in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and pouch-type batteries, in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch-type case made of aluminum laminate sheets. Generally, cylindrical battery cells are used in which a jelly-roll type electrode assembly, wound with a separator sheet interposed between a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet, is housed in a cylindrical battery case. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cylindrical battery cell, and FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating the appearance of an electrode tab of an electrode assembly welded to a top cap, viewed from the front and rear of the top cap. To manufacture a cylindrical battery cell, an electrode assembly is housed in an open cylindrical battery case, and a top cap is positioned at the top. A welding process is then performed to weld and connect the electrode tab of the electrode assembly to the top cap. In detail, the cylindrical battery cell (10) includes a battery case (11) with an open top, an electrode assembly (12) housed in the battery case (11), and a top cap (13) coupled to the top of the battery case (11). The top cap (13) is positioned on the upper part of the electrode assembly (12) and is electrically connected to the electrode tab (12a) of the electrode assembly (12), and is coupled to the upper open end of the battery case (11) to seal the electrode assembly (12) housed inside the battery case (11). The top cap (13) is electrically connected to the electrode tab (12a) through welding. The welding process is typically carried out with the battery case (11) containing the electrode assembly (12) being pressed toward the top cap (13) and the top cap (13) and the electrode tab (12a) in close contact. However, during the process of welding the electrode tab (12a) and the top cap (13), if the electrode tab (12a) and the top cap (13) do not come into close contact at a set position, the weld area may deviate from the focus of the laser beam, resulting in a weak weld. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cylindrical battery cell. Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating the appearance of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly welded to the top cap, viewed from the front and rear of the top cap. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention, viewed from one side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention, viewed from the other side. FIG. 5 is a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention, viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a pressurizing part constituting a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a transfer unit constituting a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining a pusher unit constituting a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention, in which the supplied battery case is offset to one side. FIG. 9 is a drawing for explaining a pusher unit constituting a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention, in which the supplied battery case is offset to the other side. FIG. 10 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a rotating shaft constituting a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining the principle of rotation of a pusher unit by a guide member in a top cap welding device for a cylindrical battery cell according to the present invention, in which the supplied battery case is offset to the other side. FIG. 1