KR20250026039A - Battery cell insulation tape attachment system - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery cell insulating tape attachment system is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a battery cell insulating tape attachment system includes: a first insulating tape attachment device that attaches an insulating tape to a lower surface opposite to an upper surface on which terminals of a battery cell are formed and to side surfaces other than the upper surface and the lower surface; and a second insulating tape attachment device that is spaced apart from one side of the first insulating tape attachment device and receives a battery cell having an insulating tape attached to the lower surface and the side surface from the first insulating tape attachment device, and attaches an insulating tape to a border portion surrounding the terminal of the upper surface.

Description

Battery cell insulation tape attachment system {Battery cell insulation tape attachment system}

The present invention relates to a battery cell insulating tape attachment system, and more specifically, to a battery cell insulating tape attachment system capable of attaching an insulating tape to the outside of a square battery cell more quickly and accurately, and in particular, by using one sheet of insulating tape to attach not only the lower surface and side surfaces of a square battery cell where terminals are not formed, but also the edge portion around the terminals of the upper surface where the terminals are formed, at once, thereby improving the insulating performance of the battery cell, simplifying the insulating tape attachment process, increasing the efficiency of the process, and increasing productivity.

A secondary cell is a battery that converts chemical energy into electrical energy to power an external circuit, and can store electricity by converting electrical energy into chemical energy when discharged by receiving external power. These secondary batteries are commonly called capacitors.

These secondary batteries have many advantages, such as high energy density, high operating voltage, and excellent preservation and life characteristics, and are widely used in various portable electronic devices such as personal computers, camcorders, portable telephones, portable CD players, PDAs, and electric vehicles.

Secondary batteries can be classified into various types according to the structure of the electrode stack. For example, secondary batteries can be classified into stack-type structures, roll-type structures, and stack/folding-type structures.

Examples of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and lithium batteries. Lithium secondary batteries can be manufactured to have higher energy density and longer lifespan than other types of secondary batteries, so they are used in many fields.

A lithium secondary battery has a case filled with an electrolyte and an electrode assembly accommodated inside the case. The electrode assembly is composed of an anode, a separator, and a cathode, and has a jelly-roll-shaped winding structure or a stack structure.

Referring to Fig. 1, the principle of such a lithium secondary battery is examined. The lithium ions contained in the positive electrode active material (2) of the positive electrode having the positive electrode substrate (1) pass through the separator (3) by the electrolyte (4) composed of an organic solvent and move to the negative electrode having the negative electrode substrate (5), and then are inserted between the negative electrode active materials (6) having a layered structure. This is called charging, and discharging generates electricity by utilizing the flow of electrons that occur when the lithium ions inserted between the negative electrode active materials (6) move back to the positive electrode through the separator (3). In other words, this is the principle of generating electric current by the movement of lithium ions through an electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction.

Meanwhile, in order to manufacture a positive or negative electrode, the electrode plate of a typical lithium secondary battery goes through a coating process in which a positive or negative electrode material is coated on an aluminum or copper film and then dried. Then, a notching process is performed in which the positive or negative electrode material is removed from each electrode plate portion (or non-coated portion) except for a portion for grounding a tab. After this, after completing various molding processes, including a stack process in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked, the battery cell is manufactured into various shapes such as a pouch type, a cylindrical type, and a square type.

Additionally, depending on the conditions such as the purpose of use and place of use of the battery cell, a process of attaching an insulating tape to the outer surface of the battery cell may be added, and an automated attachment system is currently being used for this insulating tape attachment process.

However, in the case of square batteries, they are generally formed as flat hexahedrons, and terminals are generally formed on the upper surface with a narrow area. Therefore, in the past, in order to attach insulating tape to battery cells of this shape, it was common to automate the attachment of insulating tape only to five surfaces excluding the narrow upper surface where the terminals are formed.

However, since attaching insulating tape to the remaining edge portion, excluding the portion where the terminal is formed on the narrow upper surface, can improve the insulation performance of the battery cell while also helping to prevent the attached insulating tape from easily falling off, an automated insulating tape attachment system capable of attaching insulating tape to such portions is required.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1849421, (April 16, 2018)

Therefore, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a battery cell insulation tape attachment system capable of attaching insulation tape to the outside of a square battery cell more quickly and accurately.

In particular, by using a single sheet of insulating tape to attach not only the lower and side surfaces of a square battery cell where terminals are not formed, but also the edge around the terminals of the upper surface where terminals are formed, at once, the insulating performance of the battery cell can be improved, and a battery cell insulating tape attachment system is provided that simplifies the insulating tape attachment process, increases process efficiency, and increases productivity.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery cell insulating tape attachment system may be provided, characterized by including: a first insulating tape attachment device that attaches an insulating tape to a lower surface opposite to an upper surface where a terminal of a battery cell is formed and to a side surface other than the upper surface and the lower surface; and a second insulating tape attachment device that is spaced apart from one side of the first insulating tape attachment device and receives a battery cell with the insulating tape attached to the lower surface and the side surface from the first insulating tape attachment device, and attaches the insulating tape to a border portion surrounding the terminal of the upper surface.

The first insulating tape attachment device is configured to move the battery cell in a linear manner so that an insulating tape attachment process can be performed, and the second insulating tape attachment device is configured to move the battery cell in a circular turntable manner so that an insulating tape attachment process can be performed, and at least a part of the insulating tape attachment process performed by the first insulating tape attachment device can be performed in a process of transporting the battery cell so that it approaches the second insulating tape attachment device.

The above insulating tape is a single insulating tape sheet, and is sequentially attached from the lower surface to the side surface of the battery cell by the first insulating tape attachment device, and is attached in a state in which a predetermined length protrudes toward the upper surface when attached to the side surface, and a part of the insulating tape sheet is attached to the lower surface and the first side surface extending from the long side of the lower surface at an attachment start position where attachment of the insulating tape sheet starts, and in a process of transporting the battery cell to which a part of the insulating tape sheet is attached from the attachment start position to an attachment end position that is a position approaching adjacent to the second insulating tape attachment device, another part of the insulating tape sheet can be attached to the second side surface extending from the short side of the lower surface.

The first insulating tape attachment device may include an insulating tape sheet supply unit that supplies the insulating tape sheet to the attachment start position; a battery cell supply unit that supplies the battery cell to the attachment start position; and a battery cell transport and insulating tape attachment unit that attaches a portion of the insulating tape sheet to the lower surface and the first side surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position and transports the battery cell to which the portion of the insulating tape sheet is attached to the second side surface while attaching another portion of the insulating tape sheet to the second side surface.

The above-described insulating tape sheet supply unit may include a sheet suction module that suctions the insulating tape sheet so that the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet is maintained horizontally facing downward at a sheet supply position where the insulating tape sheet is supplied; and an suction module transport section that horizontally transports the sheet suction module from the sheet supply position to the attachment start position.

The above battery cell supply unit can support the lower surface of the battery cell so that it faces upward and transport it upward from below the attachment start position toward the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet arranged at the attachment start position.

The above battery cell transport and insulating tape attachment unit comprises: a battery cell transport module which receives a battery cell supplied by the battery cell supply unit at the attachment start position and transports the battery cell toward the second insulating tape attachment device to the attachment end position; a lower surface attachment module which is provided coupled to one side of the battery cell transport module and attaches a central area of the insulating tape sheet to the lower surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position; a first side surface attachment module which is provided spaced apart from the lower surface attachment module and attaches both ends of the insulating tape sheet attached to the lower surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position to a first side surface extending from a long side of the lower surface; And it may include a second side attachment module which is provided and coupled to the other side of the battery cell transfer module, and which attaches both ends of an insulating tape sheet attached to the first side surface of the battery cell to a second side surface extending from a short side of the lower surface of the battery cell while the battery cell transfer module transfers the battery cell from the attachment start position to the attachment end position.

The above battery cell transfer module may include: a transfer base; a battery cell chucking unit coupled to one side of the transfer base and chucking the first side surface to which the insulating tape sheet is attached by the first side surface attachment module; a battery cell horizontal transfer unit horizontally transferring the transfer base along a direction extending from the attachment start position to the attachment end position; and a battery cell vertical transfer unit vertically transferring the transfer base along a direction intersecting the direction extending from the attachment start position to the attachment end position.

The above battery cell transfer and insulation tape attachment unit may further include an insulation tape sheet cutting module provided on one side of the second side surface attachment module and cutting a predetermined area of the insulation tape sheet attached to the lower surface of the battery cell and the first side surface before attaching the insulation tape sheet to the second side surface.

The above lower surface attachment module may include one lower side roller that rolls the insulating tape sheet supplied to the attachment start position while applying pressure toward the lower surface of the battery cell to attach the insulating tape sheet to the lower surface.

The above first side surface attachment module may include a pair of long side rollers that roll while applying pressure to both ends of the insulating tape sheet attached to the lower surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position toward the first side surface of the battery cell to attach the sheet to the first side surface.

The second side surface attachment module may include a pair of short-side rollers that roll while applying pressure to both ends of the insulating tape sheet attached to the first side surface of the battery cell toward the second side surface of the battery cell to attach the sheet to the second side surface; and a pair of edge pressurizing portions provided on one side of the pair of short-side rollers to heat and pressurize edges of the insulating tape sheet attached to the second side surface.

The second insulating tape attachment device may include a rotary table unit in which a plurality of battery cell grip portions for fixing the battery cells to which a portion of the insulating tape sheet is attached are arranged at a predetermined interval; and a battery cell terminal-side insulating tape attachment unit arranged at an external interval along a rotation radius of the rotary table unit.

The battery cell terminal-side insulation tape attachment unit may include a battery cell inversion module that inverts the battery cell, which is transferred with the lower surface facing upward by the second insulation tape attachment device and fixed to the battery cell grip portion, with the upper surface facing upward; a first upper surface attachment module that attaches the insulation tape sheet to the long side edge of the upper surface of the inverted battery cell; a second upper surface attachment module that attaches the insulation tape sheet to the short side edge of the upper surface of the inverted battery cell; and an upper surface heating and compression module that heats and compresses the insulation tape sheets attached to the long side edge and the short side edge of the upper surface.

The upper surface heating and pressing module may include a pressing plate having a through hole formed therein so as not to interfere with a terminal portion of the battery cell in order to heat and press only the edge portion of the upper surface; and a pressing plate transport unit that elevates the pressing plate so that it can approach and move away from the upper surface.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an automated insulating tape attachment system that divides predetermined areas of a square battery cell and attaches insulating tape to each area, thereby enabling faster and more accurate attachment of insulating tape to the outside of a square battery cell.

In addition, by using a single sheet of insulating tape to attach the battery cell to the lower and side surfaces where terminals are not formed, as well as the edge around the terminals on the upper surface where terminals are formed, at once, the insulating performance of the battery cell can be improved, and the insulating tape attachment process can be simplified, the efficiency of the process increased, and productivity can be increased.

Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a typical secondary battery.
Figure 2 is a drawing showing the process of attaching insulating tape to five sides of a battery cell using a conventional method in sequence.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating a secondary battery insulation tape attachment system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a plan view showing more specifically the portion where the first insulating tape attachment unit of Fig. 3 is illustrated.
Figure 5 is a front view illustrating the first insulating tape attachment unit of Figure 4.
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing a cross-sectional view of a battery cell viewed from the front in order to explain the process of attaching a portion of an insulating tape sheet to a battery cell at the attachment start position of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the battery cell transfer module of the first insulating tape attachment unit of FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the second side surface attachment module of the first insulating tape attachment unit of FIG. 5.
Figure 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the upper surface heating compression module of the second insulating tape attachment unit of Figure 4.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by practicing the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals presented in each drawing represent the same components.

Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a typical secondary battery, and Figure 2 is a drawing showing the process of attaching insulating tape to five surfaces of a battery cell using a conventional method in sequence.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the case of a square battery cell (B) formed into a flat hexahedron, a terminal (T) is generally formed on a narrow upper surface (F1), and a conventional method of attaching an insulating tape to the outside of such a battery cell generally attaches the insulating tape (S) to only five surfaces excluding the narrow upper surface (F1) where the terminal (T) is formed, in order to attach the insulating tape (S) to the square battery cell (B) formed into a hexahedron, and most of these methods were configured as automated systems.

That is, in the process (a) of FIG. 2, a part of the insulating tape (S) is attached to the lower surface (F2) opposite the upper surface (F1) where the terminal (T) of the battery cell (B) is formed, in the process (b) of FIG. 2, another part of the insulating tape (S) is attached to the first side surface (F3) extending from the long side of the lower surface (F2), in the process (c) of FIG. 2, another part of the insulating tape (S) is attached to the second side surface (F4) extending from the short side of the lower surface (F2), and in the process (d) of FIG. 2, the remaining part of the insulating tape (S) is attached to the edge (E) of the second side surface (F4), thereby completing the process in which the insulating tape (S) is attached only to five surfaces excluding the narrow upper surface (F1) where the terminal (T) is formed in a shape like FIG. 2 (e).

However, if the insulating tape (S) is attached only to five surfaces excluding the upper surface (F1), the overall insulating performance of the battery cell is bound to deteriorate because insulation is not provided on the upper surface (F1) where the terminal (T) is formed, and there is a problem that the attached insulating tape easily falls off.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by providing an automated insulating tape attachment system that divides predetermined areas of a square battery cell and attaches insulating tape to each area, the above-mentioned problem is solved, and the insulating tape can be attached to the outside of a square battery cell more quickly and accurately.

In addition, according to the present invention, by using a single sheet of insulating tape to attach not only the lower surface and side surfaces of a square battery cell where terminals are not formed, but also the edge portion around the terminals of the upper surface where terminals are formed, at once, the insulating performance of the battery cell can be improved, and the insulating tape attachment process can be simplified and the efficiency of the process increased, thereby increasing productivity.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating a secondary battery insulation tape attachment system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view more specifically illustrating a portion of the first insulation tape attachment unit of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the first insulation tape attachment unit of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating cross-sectional views of a battery cell viewed from the front in order to explain a process in which a portion of an insulation tape sheet is attached to a battery cell at the attachment start position of FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery cell transport module of the first insulation tape attachment unit of FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a second side surface attachment module of the first insulation tape attachment unit of FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an upper surface heating and pressing module of the second insulation tape attachment unit of FIG. 4.

As shown in these drawings, a battery cell insulation tape attachment system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first insulation tape attachment device (100) and a second insulation tape attachment device (200).

First, the first insulating tape attachment device (100) serves to attach an insulating tape to the lower surface (F2, see FIG. 2) facing the upper surface (F1) where the terminal (T) of the battery cell (B, see FIG. 2) is formed, and to the remaining side surfaces (F3, F4, see FIG. 2) excluding the upper surface (F1) and the lower surface (F2).

And, the second insulating tape attachment device (200) is spaced apart from one side of the first insulating tape attachment device (100) and receives a battery cell (B, see Fig. 2) with insulating tape attached to the lower surface (F2) and side surfaces (F3, F4) from the first insulating tape attachment device (100) and attaches the insulating tape to the edge portion surrounding the terminal (T) of the upper surface (F1, see Fig. 2).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first insulating tape attachment device (100) is provided to move the battery cell (B) in a linear manner and to perform the insulating tape attachment process, and the second insulating tape attachment device (200) is provided to move the battery cell (B) in a circular turntable manner and to perform the insulating tape attachment process.

And, it is characterized in that at least a part of the insulating tape attachment process performed in the first insulating tape attachment device (100) is performed in the process of transporting the battery cell (B) so that it approaches the second insulating tape attachment device (200).

In this way, the first insulating tape attachment device (100) and the second insulating tape attachment device (200) are provided separately to divide a predetermined area of a square battery cell (B, see FIG. 2) and to attach an insulating tape to each area, so that compared to a case where insulating tape is attached to all six sides of a battery cell using a single attachment device, the insulating tape attachment device does not need to be configured in a complex manner, thereby simplifying the insulating tape attachment process, increasing process efficiency, and enhancing productivity.

That is, by distributing and arranging an optimized process of attaching insulating tape to each of the separated areas of the battery cell (B, see FIG. 2) through the first insulating tape attachment device (100) and the second insulating tape attachment device (200) that are separately provided, it is possible to attach the insulating tape to the entire area of the battery cell (B, see FIG. 2) more quickly and accurately.

In addition, since at least a part of the insulating tape attachment process performed in the first insulating tape attachment device (100) is performed in the process of transporting the battery cell (B) so that it approaches the second insulating tape attachment device (200), a part of the overall insulating tape attachment process can be completed while moving the shortest distance from the location where the battery cell (B) and the insulating tape sheet (S) are supplied, thereby increasing productivity and enhancing process efficiency.

Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the conventional method illustrated in FIG. 2, the insulating tape is provided as a single insulating tape sheet (S).

In this way, by sequentially attaching a single sheet of insulating tape (S) to the lower surface (F2) and side surfaces (F3, F4) of the battery cell (B), as well as a portion of the upper surface (F1), the insulating tape can be attached to the outside of the battery cell (B) without any gaps, thereby providing the advantage of improving the insulation performance of the battery cell.

That is, according to the present invention, since it is possible to attach the insulating tape to the edge portion of the upper surface (F1) where the terminal (T) of the battery cell (B) is formed using a single sheet of insulating tape (S), not only can the insulating performance of the battery cell be greatly improved compared to the existing method of attaching the insulating tape to only five sides of the battery cell, but there is also an advantageous advantage in preventing the attached insulating tape from easily coming off.

To this end, the battery cell (B) is sequentially attached from the lower surface (F2) to the side surfaces (F3, F4) by the first insulating tape attachment device (100), but as shown in detail in (e) to (g) of FIG. 6, when attached to the side surfaces (F3, F4), it is attached in a state in which it protrudes a predetermined length toward the upper surface (F1), and as described above, a separate attachment process is performed by the second insulating tape attachment device (200) specialized in the function of attaching the protruding portion. Therefore, not only can the work be done faster and more accurately, but the configuration of the entire device can be simplified, so there is an advantage in that the cost of configuring the entire system is low.

As illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first insulating tape attachment device (100) includes an insulating tape sheet supply unit (110), a battery cell supply unit (120), and a battery cell transport and insulating tape attachment unit (130).

The insulating tape sheet supply unit (110) serves to supply an insulating tape sheet (S) to an attachment start position (P1), and includes a sheet suction module (111) and a suction module transport unit (112), as shown in FIG. 3.

The sheet adsorption module (111) serves to adsorb the insulating tape sheet (S) in a horizontal state with the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet (S) facing downward at the sheet supply position (PS) where the insulating tape sheet (S) is supplied, and the adsorption module transport section (112) serves to transport the sheet adsorption module (111) horizontally from the sheet supply position (PS) to the attachment start position (P1).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the insulating tape is unwound and transported from an insulating tape supply roll (113) provided in a roll type to an attachment start position (P1), and then cut by an insulating tape sheet cutter (114) at a sheet supply position (PS) to provide an insulating tape sheet (S). At this time, the sheet suction module (111) suctions the insulating tape sheet (S), and the insulating tape sheet is supplied to the attachment start position (P1) by the suction module transfer unit (112).

The battery cell supply unit (120) serves to supply the battery cell (B) to the attachment start position (P1), and supports the battery cell (B) so that the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell faces upward, and transports it upward from the lower surface of the attachment start position (P1) toward the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet (S) placed at the attachment start position (P1).

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, by providing a structure including a horizontal transfer unit (122) and a vertical transfer unit (121), as illustrated in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), a battery cell (B) can be supplied from a battery supply position (PB) to the lower portion of an attachment start position (P1) by the horizontal transfer unit, and can be transferred upward from the lower portion of the attachment start position (P1) toward an adhesive surface of an insulating tape sheet (S) arranged at the attachment start position (P1) by the vertical transfer unit (121).

That is, by vertical transport after horizontal transport, the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B) can be supplied so that it can come into contact with the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet (S), and at this time, through position control, it can be accurately aligned and brought into contact at a predetermined position of the insulating tape sheet (S).

The battery cell transport and insulation tape attachment unit (130) attaches a portion of an insulation tape sheet (S) to the lower surface (F2) and the first side surface (F3) of a battery cell (B) at an attachment start position (P1), and attaches another portion of the insulation tape sheet (S) to the second side surface (F4) while transporting the battery cell (B) to which a portion of the insulation tape sheet (S) is attached to the attachment end position (P3).

This battery cell transfer and insulation tape attachment unit (130) includes a battery cell transfer module (140), a bottom attachment module (150), a first side attachment module (160), a second side attachment module (170), and an insulation tape sheet cutting module (180), as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 to 5.

The battery cell transport module (140) receives the battery cell (B) supplied by the battery cell supply unit (120) from the attachment start position (P1) and transports the battery cell (B) to the attachment end position (P3) toward the second insulating tape attachment device (200).

This battery cell transfer module (140) includes a transfer base (141), a battery cell chucking unit (142), a battery cell horizontal transfer unit (143), and a battery cell vertical transfer unit (144).

The battery cell chucking unit (142) is connected to one side of the transfer base (141) and serves to chuck the first side surface (F3) to which the insulating tape sheet (S) is attached by the first side surface attachment module (160).

The battery cell horizontal transfer unit (143) serves to transfer the transfer base (141) horizontally along a direction extending from the attachment start position (P1) to the attachment end position (P3), and the battery cell vertical transfer unit (144) serves to transfer the transfer base (141) vertically along a direction intersecting the direction extending from the attachment start position (P1) to the attachment end position (P3).

Meanwhile, the lower surface attachment module (150) is provided by being coupled to one side of the battery cell transfer module (140) and serves to attach the central area of the insulating tape sheet (S) to the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B) at the attachment start position (P1).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the lower surface attachment module (150) includes one lower side roller (151), and one lower side roller (151) rolls an insulating tape sheet (S) supplied to an attachment start position (P1) while applying pressure toward the lower surface (F2) of a battery cell (B) to attach it to the lower surface (F2).

The form illustrated here is a schematic drawing for explaining that a lower surface attachment module (150) is provided on the upper portion of a transfer base (141) of a battery cell transfer module (140), and that one lower roller (151) can move up and down and perform a rolling operation by a lower roller drive unit (152), as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In this form, the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B) rises through the through hole (H), and the lower roller (151) of the lower surface attachment module (150) applies pressure to the insulating tape sheet (S) toward the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B) by an operation as shown in (b) of FIG. 6, thereby rolling the insulating tape sheet (S) to attach it to the lower surface (F2).

However, this form is merely an example to explain the approximate position of the lower roller (151), and the lower surface attachment module (150) of the present invention is not limited to the form of Fig. 7, and may be provided in various forms.

In addition, the lower surface attachment module (150) may not be provided by being coupled to one side of the battery cell transfer module (140), but may be provided independently in a fixed state near the attachment start position (P1).

Meanwhile, the first side surface attachment module (160) is provided spaced apart from the bottom surface attachment module (150) and serves to attach both ends of an insulating tape sheet (S) attached to the bottom surface (F2) of a battery cell (B) at the attachment start position (P1) to the first side surface (F3) extending from the long side of the bottom surface (F2).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the first side surface attachment module (160) includes a pair of long side rollers (161), and the pair of long side rollers (161) roll while applying pressure to both ends of an insulating tape sheet (S) attached to a lower surface (F2) of a battery cell (B) at an attachment start position (P1) toward the first side surface (F3) of the battery cell (B) to attach the sheet to the first side surface (F3).

The form illustrated here is a schematic drawing for explaining that, as in the case of the lower surface attachment module (150) described above, a first side surface attachment module (160) is provided on the upper portion of the transfer base (141) of the battery cell transfer module (140), and, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a pair of long side rollers (161) can approach and separate from the battery cell (B) by the long side roller driving unit (162).

In this form, the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B) rises through the through hole (H), and a pair of long-side rollers (161) of the first side surface attachment module (160) can roll and attach the insulating tape sheet (S) by applying pressure toward the first side surface (F3) of the battery cell (B) through an operation as shown in (c) to (f) of FIG. 6.

However, this form is merely an example for explaining the approximate position of a pair of long side rollers (161), and therefore, the first side surface attachment module (160) of the present invention is not limited to the form of FIG. 7, and may be provided in various forms.

In addition, the first side surface attachment module (160) may not be provided by being coupled to one side of the battery cell transfer module (140), but may be provided independently in a fixed state near the attachment start position (P1).

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing cross-sectional views of a battery cell (B) viewed from the front in order to explain the process of attaching a portion of an insulating tape sheet to a battery cell at the attachment start position (P1) of FIG. 3.

That is, (a) to (g) of FIG. 6 illustrate a process in which a portion of the insulating tape sheet (S) is attached to the lower surface (F2) and the first side surface (F3) extending from the long side of the lower surface (F2) at the attachment start position (P1) where attachment of the insulating tape sheet (S) begins.

And, after the processes of (a) to (g) of FIG. 6 are completed, in the process of transporting the battery cell (B) to which a part of the insulating tape sheet (S) is attached from the attachment start position (P1) to the attachment end position (P3) which is a position adjacent to the second insulating tape attachment device (200), another part of the insulating tape sheet (S) is attached to the second side surface (F4) that extends from the short side of the lower surface (F2).

To explain this process, first, Fig. 6 (a) is a process in which the lower roller (151) of the lower surface attachment module (150) is lowered while the insulating tape sheet (S) is supplied to the attachment start position (P1) and the battery cell (B) is placed below the attachment start position (P1).

Next, (b) of Fig. 6 is a process in which the battery cell (B) rises to come into contact with the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet (S), and the lower roller (151) rolls the insulating tape sheet (S) while pressing it toward the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B) to attach the insulating tape sheet (S) to the lower surface (F2).

Next, (c) of FIG. 6 is a process in which, after the insulating tape sheet (S) is attached to the lower surface (F2), the lower roller (151) of the lower surface attachment module (150) is raised and lowered, and a pair of long side rollers (161) of the first side surface attachment module (160) approach the first side surface (F3) of the battery cell (B).

Next, (d) of Fig. 6 is a process in which the battery cell (B) is raised and a pair of long-side rollers (161) roll while pressing the first side surface (F3) of the battery cell (B) to attach the insulating tape sheet (S) to the first side surface (F3).

Figures 6 (e) to (g) illustrate a process in which a battery cell (B) is lowered after an insulating tape sheet (S) is attached to a first side surface (F3). In this state, similar to the state illustrated in Figure 2 (b), a portion of the insulating tape sheet (S) protrudes toward the second side surface (F4), and further, a portion of the insulating tape sheet (S) protrudes toward the upper surface (F1) of the battery cell (B).

Meanwhile, the second side surface attachment module (170) is provided to be coupled to the other side of the battery cell transfer module (140), and while the battery cell transfer module (140) transfers the battery cell (B) from the attachment start position (P1) to the attachment end position (P3), it serves to attach both ends of the insulating tape sheet (S) attached to the first side surface (F3) of the battery cell (B) to the second side surface (F4) that extends from the short side of the lower surface (F2) of the battery cell (B).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the second side surface attachment module (170) includes a pair of short-side rollers (171) and a pair of edge pressurizing portions (172).

A pair of short-side rollers (171) roll and press both ends of an insulating tape sheet (S) attached to a first side surface (F3) of a battery cell (B) toward a second side surface (F4) of the battery cell (B) to attach it to the second side surface (F4).

In addition, a pair of corner pressurizing parts (172) are provided on one side of a pair of short-side rollers (171) and serve to heat and press the corner of an insulating tape sheet (S) attached to the second side surface (F4).

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a pair of short-side rollers (171) and a pair of corner pressurizing members (172) are provided so as to be approachable and removable toward the second side surface (F4) of the battery cell (B), and by moving the battery cell (B) by the vertical movement of the battery cell vertical transport member (144), the pair of short-side rollers (171) can pressurize and roll at a required position on the second side surface (F4), or the pair of corner pressurizing members (172) can heat and compress the edge of the insulating tape sheet (S).

However, the structure of the present invention is not limited thereto, and alternatively, a pair of short-side rollers (171) may be provided to be able to move up and down independently.

Meanwhile, an insulating tape sheet cutting module (180) is provided on one side of the second side surface attachment module (170) and serves to cut a predetermined area of an insulating tape sheet (S) attached to the lower surface (F2) and the first side surface (F3) of a battery cell (B) before attaching the insulating tape sheet (S) to the second side surface (F4).

In this way, by cutting a predetermined area of the insulating tape sheet (S), the corner portion of the insulating tape sheet (S) can be prevented from being crumpled or bunched up, thereby enabling the corner portion of the insulating tape sheet (S) to be attached more neatly.

Meanwhile, the second insulating tape attachment device (200) includes a rotary table unit (210) and a battery cell terminal side insulating tape attachment unit (220), as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The rotary table unit (210) is provided with a plurality of battery cell grip parts (211) that secure battery cells (B) to which a portion of an insulating tape sheet (S) is attached, spaced apart at a predetermined interval.

As this rotary table unit (210) rotates, each battery cell grip section (211) is sequentially placed in a predetermined work area, so that each process is performed simultaneously.

The battery cell terminal side insulation tape attachment unit (220) is spaced apart from the outside along the rotation radius of the rotary table unit (210) and plays a role in performing each insulation tape attachment process.

This battery cell terminal-side insulation tape attachment unit (220) includes a battery cell inversion module (230), a first upper surface attachment module (240), a second upper surface attachment module (250), and an upper surface heating and pressing module (260), as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The battery cell inversion module (230) has the function of inverting the battery cell (B) fixed to the battery cell grip portion (211) by being transferred with the lower surface (F2) facing upward by the second insulating tape attachment device (200) to a state in which the upper surface (F1) faces upward.

The first upper surface attachment module (240) serves to attach an insulating tape sheet (S) to the long side edge of the upper surface (F1) of the inverted battery cell (B), and the second upper surface attachment module (250) serves to attach an insulating tape sheet (S) to the short side edge of the upper surface (F1) of the inverted battery cell (B).

The upper surface heating and pressing module (260) heats and presses the insulating tape sheet (S) attached to the long side edge and the short side edge of the upper surface (F1).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, as detailed in FIG. 9, the upper surface heating pressing module (260) includes a pressure plate (261) and a pressure plate transport unit (263).

The pressure plate (261) is provided with a structure in which a through hole (262) is formed so as not to interfere with the terminal (T) portion of the battery cell (B) in order to heat and pressurize only the edge portion of the upper surface (F1), and the pressure plate transport unit (263) serves to elevate the pressure plate (261) so that it can approach and move away from the upper surface (F1).

By providing an upper surface heating press module (260) having such a structure, an insulating tape sheet (S) can be more firmly attached to the edge portion of the upper surface (F1) of the battery cell (B), thereby preventing the attached insulating tape sheet from easily falling off.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, by providing an automated insulating tape attachment system that divides predetermined areas of a square battery cell and attaches insulating tape to each area, it is possible to attach insulating tape to the outside of a square battery cell more quickly and accurately.

In addition, by using a single sheet of insulating tape to attach the battery cell to the lower and side surfaces where terminals are not formed, as well as the edge around the terminals on the upper surface where terminals are formed, at once, the insulating performance of the battery cell can be improved, and the insulating tape attachment process can be simplified, the efficiency of the process increased, and productivity can be increased.

As such, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, such modified or modified examples should fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

B: Battery cell S: Insulating tape sheet
PS: Sheet supply location PB: Battery supply location
P1: Attachment start position P3: Attachment end position
F1: Top surface F2: Bottom surface
F3: My side F4: My second side
100: 1st insulation tape attachment device 110: Insulating tape sheet supply unit
111: Sheet suction module 112: Suction module transfer section
120: Battery cell supply unit
130: Battery cell transfer and insulation tape attachment unit
140: Battery cell transfer module 141: Transfer base
142: Battery cell chucking part 143: Battery cell horizontal transfer part
144: Battery cell vertical transfer unit 150: Bottom attachment module
160: First side surface attachment module 170: Second side surface attachment module
171: A pair of short-side rollers 172: A pair of corner pressurizers
180: Insulating tape sheet cutting module 200: Second insulating tape attachment device
210: Rotary table unit
220: Battery cell terminal side insulation tape attachment unit
230: Battery cell inversion module 240: First upper surface attachment module
250: Second upper surface attachment module 260: Upper surface heating compression module
261: Pressurized plate 262: Through hole
263: Pressurized plate conveyor

Claims (15)

A first insulating tape attachment device that attaches an insulating tape to a lower surface opposite to an upper surface where a terminal of a battery cell is formed and to the remaining side surfaces excluding the upper surface and the lower surface; and
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including a second insulating tape attachment device spaced apart from one side of the first insulating tape attachment device, receiving a battery cell with the insulating tape attached to the lower surface and the side surface from the first insulating tape attachment device, and attaching the insulating tape to a border portion surrounding the terminal of the upper surface. In the first paragraph,
The above first insulating tape attachment device is provided to move the battery cell in a linear manner and to perform the insulating tape attachment process.
The above second insulating tape attachment device is provided to move the battery cell in a circular turntable movement manner and to perform the insulating tape attachment process.
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system, characterized in that at least a part of the insulating tape attachment process performed in the first insulating tape attachment device is performed in the process of transporting the battery cell so that it approaches the second insulating tape attachment device. In the first paragraph,
The above insulating tape is a single sheet of insulating tape,
The battery cell is sequentially attached from the lower surface to the side surface by the first insulating tape attachment device, and is attached in a state in which it protrudes toward the upper surface by a predetermined length when attached to the side surface.
At the attachment start position where attachment of the insulating tape sheet begins, a portion of the insulating tape sheet is attached to the lower surface and the first side surface extending from the long side of the lower surface,
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system, characterized in that, in the process of transporting the battery cell to which a portion of the insulating tape sheet is attached from the attachment start position to the attachment end position, which is a position adjacent to the second insulating tape attachment device, another portion of the insulating tape sheet is attached to a second side surface extending from the short side of the lower surface. In the third paragraph,
The above first insulating tape attachment device,
An insulating tape sheet supply unit that supplies the insulating tape sheet to the attachment start position;
A battery cell supply unit that supplies the above battery cells to the above attachment start position; and
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including a battery cell transport and insulating tape attachment unit that attaches a part of the insulating tape sheet to the lower surface and the first side surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position, and attaches another part of the insulating tape sheet to the second side surface while transporting the battery cell to which the part of the insulating tape sheet is attached to the attachment end position. In paragraph 4,
The above insulating tape sheet supply unit,
A sheet adsorption module that adsorbs the insulating tape sheet in a horizontal state with the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet facing downward at the sheet supply position where the insulating tape sheet is supplied; and
A battery cell insulation tape attachment system characterized by including an absorption module transport unit that horizontally transports the sheet absorption module from the sheet supply position to the attachment start position. In paragraph 5,
The above battery cell supply unit,
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized in that the battery cell is supported so that the lower surface thereof faces upward and is transferred upwardly toward the adhesive surface of the insulating tape sheet arranged at the attachment start position from below the attachment start position. In paragraph 4,
The above battery cell transfer and insulation tape attachment unit is
A battery cell transfer module that receives a battery cell supplied by the battery cell supply unit from the attachment start position and transfers the battery cell to the attachment end position toward the second insulating tape attachment device;
A lower surface attachment module which is provided and coupled to one side of the battery cell transfer module and attaches the central area of the insulating tape sheet to the lower surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position;
A first side surface attachment module that is provided spaced apart from the lower surface attachment module and attaches both ends of the insulating tape sheet attached to the lower surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position to a first side surface extending from the long side of the lower surface; and
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including a second side attachment module which is provided coupled to the other side of the battery cell transport module and attaches both ends of an insulating tape sheet attached to the first side surface of the battery cell to a second side surface extending from a short side of the lower surface of the battery cell while the battery cell transport module transports the battery cell from the attachment start position to the attachment end position. In Article 7,
The above battery cell transfer module,
transfer base;
A battery cell chucking unit coupled to one side of the above transfer base and chucking the first side surface to which the insulating tape sheet is attached by the first side surface attachment module;
A battery cell horizontal transfer unit that horizontally transfers the transfer base along a direction extending from the attachment start position to the attachment end position; and
A battery cell insulation tape attachment system characterized by including a battery cell vertical transfer unit that vertically transfers the transfer base along a direction intersecting a direction extending from the attachment start position to the attachment end position. In Article 7,
The above battery cell transfer and insulation tape attachment unit is
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized in that it further includes an insulating tape sheet cutting module provided on one side of the second side surface attachment module and cutting a predetermined area of the insulating tape sheet attached to the lower surface of the battery cell and the first side surface before attaching the insulating tape sheet to the second side surface. In Article 7,
The above lower surface attachment module is,
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including one lower roller that rolls the insulating tape sheet supplied to the attachment start position while applying pressure toward the lower surface of the battery cell to attach the insulating tape sheet to the lower surface. In Article 7,
The above first side surface attachment module is,
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including a pair of long-side rollers that roll while applying pressure to both ends of the insulating tape sheet attached to the lower surface of the battery cell at the attachment start position toward the first side surface of the battery cell to attach the insulating tape sheet to the first side surface. In Article 7,
The above second side surface attachment module is,
A pair of short-side rollers that roll while applying pressure to both ends of the insulating tape sheet attached to the first side surface of the battery cell toward the second side surface of the battery cell to attach the sheet to the second side surface; and
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including a pair of edge pressurizing parts provided on one side of the pair of short-side rollers and configured to heat and compress the edge of the insulating tape sheet attached to the second side surface. In paragraph 4,
The above second insulating tape attachment device,
A rotary table unit in which a plurality of battery cell grip portions for fixing the battery cells to which a portion of the insulating tape sheet is attached are arranged spaced apart at a predetermined interval; and
A battery cell insulation tape attachment system characterized by including a battery cell terminal-side insulation tape attachment unit spaced apart from the outside along the rotation radius of the above-mentioned rotary table unit. In Article 13,
The above battery cell terminal side insulation tape attachment unit is
A battery cell inversion module that inverts the battery cell, which is fixed to the battery cell grip portion and transferred with the lower surface facing upward by the second insulating tape attachment device, to a state where the upper surface faces upward;
A first upper surface attachment module for attaching the insulating tape sheet to the long side edge of the upper surface of the inverted battery cell;
A second upper surface attachment module for attaching the insulating tape sheet to the short-side edge of the upper surface of the inverted battery cell; and
A battery cell insulating tape attachment system characterized by including an upper surface heating and compression module that heats and compresses the insulating tape sheet attached to the long side edge and the short side edge of the upper surface. In Article 14,
The above upper surface heating pressing module is,
A pressurizing plate having a through hole formed therein so as not to interfere with the terminal portion of the battery cell in order to heat and press only the edge portion of the upper surface; and
A battery cell insulation tape attachment system characterized by including a pressure plate transport unit that elevates the pressure plate so that it can approach and separate from the upper surface.

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