US-20260128346-A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SECONDARY BATTERY

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a mold unit configured to apply a first pressing force in a first direction to a forming region of a battery case, and to apply a second pressing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the forming region that has been deformed by the first pressing force.

Inventors

• Seung Won Choi
• Hak Bong MUN
• Jae Gyu BYUN
• Moon Hyung JUNG

Assignees

• SK ON CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251103

Priority Date

20241105

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising: a mold unit configured to apply a first pressing force in a first direction to a forming region of a battery case, and to apply a second pressing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the forming region that has been deformed by the first pressing force.
2. 2 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a direction away from a central axis of the battery case.
3. 3 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the second pressing force is smaller than the first pressing force.
4. 4 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the forming region is formed axially above an electrode assembly accommodated inside the battery case.
5. 5 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the forming region includes a region of a side wall of the battery case where a beading part is formed.
6. 6 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the forming region is deformed to protrude radially outward of the battery case by the first pressing force, and the forming region is deformed to be recessed radially inward of the battery case by the second pressing force.
7. 7 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the mold unit rotates to apply the first pressing force or the second pressing force.
8. 8 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the mold unit applies the first pressing force while at least a portion thereof is accommodated inside the battery case.
9. 9 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to control the position of the mold unit, wherein the control unit controls the mold unit to move from a first position for applying the first pressing force to the side wall of the battery case to a second position for applying the second pressing force to the side wall of the battery case.
10. 10 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the mold unit comprises a first mold unit configured to apply the first pressing force and a second mold unit configured to apply the second pressing force.
11. 11 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , further comprising a backup roller disposed on a side of the battery case opposite to the mold unit, wherein the backup roller is disposed to support at least one of an upper region or a lower region of the forming region.
12. 12 . The apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first rotation jig configured to support one side of an outer surface of the battery case while the first pressing force is applied, thereby rotating the battery case; and a second rotation jig configured to support one side of an inner surface of the battery case while the second pressing force is applied, thereby rotating the battery case.
13. 13 . An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery configured to form a beading part in a battery case of the secondary battery, the apparatus comprising: a first mold, at least a portion of which is disposed inside the battery case and configured to press a forming region of a side wall of the battery case to deform it so as to protrude radially outward; and a second mold configured to press the forming region, which has been deformed to protrude radially outward by the first mold, so as to be recessed radially inward, wherein the direction of the pressing force applied by the first mold is opposite to the direction of the pressing force applied by the second mold.
14. 14 . A method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising: a first forming step of applying a first pressing force in a first direction to a forming region of a battery case; and a second forming step of applying a second pressing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the forming region that has been deformed by the first pressing force.
15. 15 . The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 14 , wherein the first direction is a direction away from a central axis of the battery case.
16. 16 . The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 14 , wherein the second pressing force is smaller than the first pressing force.
17. 17 . The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 14 , wherein the forming region is formed axially above an electrode assembly accommodated inside the battery case.
18. 18 . The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 14 , wherein in the first forming step, the forming region is deformed to protrude radially outward of the battery case by the first pressing force, and in the second forming step, the forming region is deformed to be recessed radially inward of the battery case by the second pressing force.
19. 19 . The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 14 , further comprising, after completion of the first forming step, a mold unit moving step of moving a mold unit that has performed the first forming step to a position for performing the second forming step.
20. 20 . The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 14 , wherein the second forming step is performed after deformation of at least a portion of the forming region has begun.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This patent application claims the priority and benefits of Korean patent application No. 10-2024-0155013, filed on November 05, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery. 2. Description of the Related Art Various types of secondary batteries are used as energy sources in electric vehicles or electronic devices. In the secondary batteries, a jelly-roll-type electrode assembly, in which an anode plate, a cathode plate and a separator are wound together, is used, or alternatively, an electrode assembly fabricated by stacking an anode plate, a cathode plate and a separator in an appropriate order may be used. This electrode assembly is accommodated in a battery housing and connected to an anode terminal and a cathode terminal. The housing is then sealed after being filled with an electrolyte. SUMMARY An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery that can minimize damage to the battery case during the manufacturing process of the secondary battery. An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a mold unit configured to apply a first pressing force in a first direction to a forming region of a battery case, and to apply a second pressing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the forming region that has been deformed by the first pressing force. In exemplary embodiments, the first direction may be a direction away from a central axis of the battery case. In exemplary embodiments, the second pressing force may be smaller than the first pressing force. In exemplary embodiments, the forming region may be formed axially above an electrode assembly accommodated inside the battery case. In exemplary embodiments, the forming region may include a region of a side wall of the battery case where a beading part is formed. In exemplary embodiments, the forming region may be deformed to protrude radially outward of the battery case by the first pressing force, and the forming region may be deformed to be recessed radially inward of the battery case by the second pressing force. In exemplary embodiments, the mold unit may rotate to apply the first pressing force or the second pressing force. In exemplary embodiments, the mold unit may apply the first pressing force while at least a portion thereof is accommodated inside the battery case. In exemplary embodiments, the apparatus may further include a control unit configured to control the position of the mold unit, wherein the control unit may control the mold unit to move from a first position for applying the first pressing force to the side wall of the battery case to a second position for applying the second pressing force to the side wall of the battery case. In exemplary embodiments, the mold unit may include a first mold unit configured to apply the first pressing force and a second mold unit configured to apply the second pressing force. In exemplary embodiments, the apparatus may further include a backup roller disposed on a side of the battery case opposite to the mold unit, wherein the backup roller may be disposed to support at least one of an upper region or a lower region of the forming region. In exemplary embodiments, the apparatus may further include: a first rotation jig configured to support one side of an outer surface of the battery case while the first pressing force is applied, thereby rotating the battery case; and a second rotation jig configured to support one side of an inner surface of the battery case while the second pressing force is applied, thereby rotating the battery case. An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery configured to form a beading part in a battery case of the secondary battery according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include: a first mold, at least a portion of which is disposed inside the battery case and configured to press a forming region of a side wall of the battery case to deform it so as to protrude radially outward; and a second mold configured to press the forming region, which has been deformed to protrude radially outward by the first mold, so as to be recessed radially inward, wherein the direction of the pressing force applied by the first mold is opposite to the direction of the pressing force applied by the second mold. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include: a first forming step of applying a first pressing force in a first direction to a forming region of a battery case; and a second forming step of applying a second pressing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the forming region that has been deformed