US-20260128345-A1 - Battery Cell Manufacturing Apparatus and a Control Method Thereof

US20260128345A1US 20260128345 A1US20260128345 A1US 20260128345A1US-20260128345-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a battery cell manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell comprising: a case accommodating an electrode assembly; an injection hole penetrating one surface of the case; and a sealing member coupled to the case to cover the injection hole, the battery cell manufacturing apparatus comprising: an insertion unit configured to insert the sealing member into the injection hole; and a fusion unit configured to contact the sealing member inserted into the injection hole and fusion-bond the sealing member to the case; and a control method thereof.

Inventors

Jae Sung BAE

Assignees

SK ON CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251027
Priority Date: 20241029

Claims (15)

1 . A battery cell manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell comprising a case accommodating an electrode assembly, an injection hole penetrating one surface of the case, and a sealing member coupled to the case to cover the injection hole, the battery cell manufacturing apparatus comprising: a fusion unit including a heater portion configured to contact the sealing member inserted into the injection hole and heat the sealing member.
2 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heater portion is a heater in a film shape.
3 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fusion unit further comprises: a fusion housing including a receiving opening opened at one surface and configured to surround the sealing member through the receiving opening; and a fusion pipe having a pipe shape, inserted through the fusion housing, and configured to move the heater portion positioned at a lower side into contact with the sealing member.
4 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the fusion unit further comprises a decompression portion configured to discharge gas from the inside of the case through the fusion pipe at a pressure lower than an internal pressure of the case.
5 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heater portion heats the sealing member for a predetermined elapsed time such that at least a portion of the sealing member is deformed to form a fusion portion between the sealing member and the case.
6 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing jig configured to fix a position of the battery cell.
7 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an insertion unit configured to insert the sealing member into the injection hole.
8 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the insertion unit comprises: a supply portion configured to supply the sealing member; a guide portion configured to guide the sealing member supplied through the supply portion to the injection hole; and a pressing portion configured to press the sealing member guided to the injection hole by the guide portion to insert the sealing member into the injection hole.
9 . The battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the pressing portion inserts the sealing member into the injection hole in a press-fit manner.
10 . A control method of a battery cell manufacturing apparatus including an insertion unit and a fusion unit, the insertion unit being configured to insert a sealing member, and the fusion unit including a heater portion configured to contact and heat the sealing member, for manufacturing a battery cell comprising a case accommodating an electrode assembly, an injection hole penetrating one surface of the case, and the sealing member coupled to the case to cover the injection hole, the control method comprising: inserting the sealing member into the injection hole through the insertion unit; and fusion-bonding the sealing member inserted into the injection hole to couple the sealing member to the case through the fusion unit.
11 . The control method of the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the inserting of the sealing member comprises inserting the sealing member into the injection hole through a pressing portion of the insertion unit, the insertion unit including a supply portion configured to supply the sealing member, a guide portion configured to guide the supplied sealing member to the injection hole, and the pressing portion configured to press the sealing member guided to the injection hole by the guide portion.
12 . The control method of the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the inserting of the sealing member comprises inserting the sealing member in a press-fit manner through the pressing portion.
13 . The control method of the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the coupling of the sealing member to the case by fusion comprises a fusion step of heating the sealing member through the heater portion in contact with the sealing member, in the fusion unit further comprising a fusion housing including a receiving opening opened at one surface, and a fusion pipe having a pipe shape, inserted through the fusion housing, and movable such that the heater portion positioned at a lower side contacts the sealing member, thereby fusion-bonding the sealing member to the case.
14 . The control method of the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the coupling of the sealing member to the case by fusion further comprises: a moving step of bringing the fusion housing into contact with the one surface of the case while the fusion housing surrounds the sealing member through the receiving opening, prior to the fusion step; and a decompression step of moving the fusion pipe to contact the sealing member and discharging air inside the case through the fusion pipe.
15 . The control method of the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising, after the coupling of the sealing member to the case by fusion, assembling a sealing cover to the case such that the sealing cover surrounds the sealing member fusion-bonded to the case.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean patent application number 10-2024-0149451 filed on October 29, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a battery cell manufacturing apparatus and a control method thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a battery cell manufacturing apparatus and a control method thereof in which the sealing force of a sealing member sealing an injection hole of a battery cell is improved. 2. Description of the Related Art A battery cell (or secondary battery) requires a process of injecting an electrolyte into the inside of a case. For this purpose, a typical battery cell includes an injection hole for electrolyte injection. The typical battery cell undergoes a process of injecting the electrolyte through the injection hole, performing degassing, and then inserting a pin or a ball into the injection hole to block moisture. In this case, the pin or the ball is press-fitted into the injection hole to close the injection hole. However, the pin or the ball may be damaged due to various causes, which makes it easy for leakage to occur. In addition, since the pin or the ball is relatively small in size and present in a large quantity, it may be difficult for an operator or an inspection device to inspect defects of the pin or the ball. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION First, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the problem to be solved is to improve the manufacturing process of a battery cell and thereby enhance productivity of the battery cell. Second, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the problem to be solved is to supplement the process of inserting a ball or a pin into an injection hole of the battery cell. Third, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the problem to be solved is to improve the sealing force of the battery cell and thereby prevent leakage of the electrolyte. Fourth, according to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the problem to be solved is to improve the lifespan of the battery cell. Meanwhile, the battery cell manufactured by the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure can be widely applied to fields of green technology such as electric vehicles (EVs), battery charging stations, and energy storage systems (ESS), as well as photovoltaics and wind power utilizing batteries. In addition, the battery cell according to the present disclosure can be used in eco-friendly mobility, including electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, to suppress air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and thereby prevent climate change. As a technical means to achieve the technical objects, a battery cell manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell comprising a case accommodating an electrode assembly, an injection hole penetrating one surface of the case, and a sealing member coupled to the case to cover the injection hole, the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure may comprise a fusion unit including a heater portion configured to contact the sealing member inserted into the injection hole and heat the sealing member. In addition, the heater portion may be a heater in a film shape. In addition, the fusion unit may further include a fusion housing including a receiving opening opened at one surface and configured to surround the sealing member through the receiving opening, and a fusion pipe having a pipe shape, inserted through the fusion housing, and configured to move the heater portion positioned at a lower side into contact with the sealing member. In addition, the fusion unit may further include a decompression portion configured to discharge gas from the inside of the case through the fusion pipe at a pressure lower than an internal pressure of the case. In addition, the heater portion may heat the sealing member for a predetermined elapsed time such that at least a portion of the sealing member is deformed to form a fusion portion between the sealing member and the case. In addition, the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a fixing jig configured to fix a position of the battery cell. In addition, the battery cell manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include an insertion unit configured to insert the sealing member into the injection hole. In addition, the insertion unit may include: a supply portion configured to supply the sealing member; a guide portion configured to guide the sealing member supplied through the supply portion to the injection hole; and a pressing portion configured to press the sealing member guided to the injection hole by the guide portion to insert the sealing member into the