Electrode cutting device and electrode manufacturing apparatus including the same
The present invention relates to an electrode cutting device including a cutting unit configured to cut an electrode sheet and a fixing unit configured to fix the electrode sheet, wherein the cutting unit includes a cutter configured to cut the electrode sheet by shearing and a cutter lifting portion configured to move the cutter so as to be perpendicular to a surface of the electrode sheet, and the fixing unit includes a gripper configured to press the electrode sheet so as to be fixed, a driving portion configured to drive the gripper so as to be moved, and a sensor configured to monitor the driving portion, whereby it is possible to rapidly and accurately check whether air leaks from the driving portion, which drives the gripper.
1 . An electrode cutting device comprising:
a cutting unit configured to cut an electrode sheet, the cutting unit including a cutter configured to cut the electrode sheet by shearing, the cutter configured to move towards and away from a surface of the electrode sheet;
a support portion configured to support the electrode sheet; and
a fixing unit configured to removably fix the electrode sheet to the support portion, the fixing unit including a gripper configured to press the electrode sheet against the support portion, a driving portion configured to move the gripper, and a sensor,
wherein the driving portion is a pneumatic cylinder configured to move the gripper towards the support portion to press the electrode sheet against the support portion, and
wherein the sensor is a pneumatic gauge sensor configured to continuously or periodically monitor a pressure of the pneumatic cylinder.
2 . The electrode cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutter has a double-edged structure in which a height of the cutter is gradually increased from a middle to opposite ends thereof in a lateral direction.
3 . The electrode cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutter comprises:
an upper cutter configured to be located above the electrode sheet; and
a lower cutter configured to be located under the electrode sheet, the upper cutter and the lower cutter together being configured to cut the electrode sheet.
4 . The electrode cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper is configured such that a width of the gripper is greater than a width of the electrode sheet.
5 . The electrode cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper has a protrusion extending from a pressing surface thereof.
6 . The electrode cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper has a rubber coating layer overlying a pressing surface thereof.
7 . The electrode cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is detachably coupled to the driving portion.
8 . An electrode manufacturing apparatus comprising the electrode cutting device according to claim 1 .
9 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the electrode manufacturing apparatus comprises:
the electrode cutting device, which is configured to cut a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
a lamination device configured to laminate the positive electrode and the negative electrode to a separator to produce a laminated stack; and
an inspection unit configured to inspect alignment of a unit cell portion of the laminated stack.
10 . The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the alignment of the unit cell inspected by the inspection unit is not correct, a pressure of the driving portion is checked using the sensor.