Battery cell and apparatus for manufacturing the same
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell. For example, a battery cell includes a casing having two open sides and an auxiliary portion, and an electrode assembly configured to be inserted into the casing. The electrode assembly is manufactured by stacking a positive electrode with a positive electrode tab, a separator, and a negative electrode with a negative electrode tab. The electrode assembly includes a band element surrounding the electrode assembly and including an extended portion.
1 . A battery cell comprising:
a casing having two open sides and an auxiliary portion;
an electrode assembly configured to be inserted into the casing, wherein the electrode assembly is formed by stacking a positive electrode with a positive electrode tab, a separator, and a negative electrode with a negative electrode tab; and
a band element that surrounds the electrode assembly and that comprises an extended portion.
2 . The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode assembly further comprises a gripping element provided adjacent to the extended portion.
3 . The battery cell according to claim 2 , wherein the gripping element extends from any one of the positive electrode tab or the negative electrode tab.
4 . An apparatus for manufacturing a battery cell, the apparatus being configured to insert the electrode assembly according to claim 2 into the casing and comprising:
a guide unit configured to have the electrode assembly disposed therein;
an expansion unit located adjacent to the guide unit and configured to have the casing disposed therein; and
an insertion unit connected to the electrode assembly and configured to insert the electrode assembly into the expansion unit.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the guide unit comprises a plurality of side rolling elements configured to guide movement of the electrode assembly,
wherein the plurality of side rolling elements includes a first plurality of side rolling elements and a second plurality of side rolling elements, and
wherein the first plurality of side rolling elements and the second plurality of side rolling elements are disposed at opposing sides of the electrode assembly along a movement direction of the electrode assembly.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the guide unit comprises a plurality of lower rolling elements disposed in a movement direction of the electrode assembly and configured to support a lower portion of the electrode assembly.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the expansion unit comprises:
a jig configured to grip and expand a closed side of the casing; and
a jig cylinder configured to provide movement force to the jig.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the jig comprises an adsorption plate configured to vacuum-adsorb the closed side of the casing using vacuum supplied thereto.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the expansion unit comprises a heating line configured to heat the jig.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the expansion unit comprises:
an expansion guide configured to spread the auxiliary portion of the casing to opposite sides; and
a guide actuator configured to provide driving force to the expansion guide.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the expansion unit comprises an entry guide configured to guide entry of the electrode assembly.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the entry guide increases towards the guide unit.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the insertion unit comprises:
a slider being slidable and configured to pass through the casing in the expansion unit to be connected to the electrode assembly in the guide unit; and
an actuator configured to provide movement force to the slider.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the slider comprises an adsorption portion configured to adsorb the extended portion of the casing.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a vacuum pipe mounted on the slider and configured to supply vacuum to the adsorption portion.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the slider comprises a holder portion configured to grip the gripping element.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , comprising a fixing member mounted on the slider to fix the extended portion.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the insertion unit comprises a slider guide configured to support the slider.
19 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the insertion unit comprises a cutter, wherein the cutter is configured to cut the extended portion after the electrode assembly is inserted into the casing.
20 . The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the cutter protruding from the slider is configured to cut the extended portion and comprises:
a cutter gear configured to move the cutter with respect to the slider; and
a cutter actuator configured to provide rotational force to the cutter gear.