Unit cell alignment apparatus having tiltable and rotatable base member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11569113-B2
Application number	US-202016733704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2020
Priority date	Mar 6, 2018
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A unit cell alignment apparatus that includes a base member, on the upper surface of which unit cells constituting an electrode assembly are stacked parallel thereto, a first guide member located at one side of the base member, the first guide member being disposed so as to be perpendicular to the upper surface of the base member, a second guide member located at the base member, the second guide member being disposed so as to be perpendicular to the upper surface of the base member while being at right angles to the first guide member, and an inclination adjustment member configured to adjust the inclination of the base member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit cell alignment apparatus comprising:
a base member having an upper surface for supporting a unit cell;
a first guide member located at a first side of the base member, the first guide member being disposed so as to be perpendicular to the upper surface of the base member;
a second guide member located at a second side of the base member, the second guide member being disposed so as to be perpendicular to the upper surface of the base member while being at a right angle to the first guide member;
a support part below the base member;
a tilting part between the support part and base member to adjust the angle of the base member relative to a horizontal plane; and
a rotary part between the support part and base member to rotate the base member about an axis of rotation.

2. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base member is individually or simultaneously moved by the tilting part in a first direction, a second direction, a third direction, or a reverse direction thereof,
wherein the first direction is a direction in which the first edge is moved downwards,
wherein the second direction is a direction in which the second edge is moved downwards, and
wherein the third direction is a direction in which a vertex at which the base member, the first guide member, and the second guide member abut each other is moved downwards.

3. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a vibration member configured to apply vibration to the unit cells.

4. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the first guide member is 50% or more of a length of an overall length surface of each of the unit cells, from which no electrode tab protrudes, and
wherein a length of the second guide member is 50% or less of a length of an overall width surface of each of the unit cells, from which an electrode tab protrudes, excluding a length of the electrode tab.

5. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a height of each of the first guide member and the second guide member is equal to or greater than a height of the stacked unit cells.

6. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first guide member and the second guide member comprises a plurality of discontinuous unit members, the unit members being disposed only at one side of the base member.

7. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a recess, into which a transfer apparatus configured to transfer the stacked unit cells to another apparatus is inserted, is provided in the upper surface of the base member.

8. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an alignment measurement member configured to measure an alignment of the stacked unit cells is above the base member.

9. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tiltable part comprises a U-shaped bracket rotatably connected to the support member.

10. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the rotatable part is between the tiltable part and the base member.

11. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable part is between the tiltable part and the base member.

12. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable part comprises a ball and socket connection.

13. The unit cell alignment apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising grooves in a top surface of the base member, the grooves extending to an edge of the base member.

Assignees

• Lg Chemical Ltd
• Lg Energy Solution Ltd

Inventors

• Jung Tai Jin
• Ku Cha Hun
• Pyo Jung Kwan
• Lee Byeong Kyu

Classifications

• H10P72/3202

  Mechanical details, e.g. rollers or belts · CPC title

• H10P72/50 Primary

  for positioning, orientation or alignment · CPC title

• H01L21/68 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M10/0404 Primary

  Machines for assembling batteries · CPC title

• H01L21/67706

  Electricity · mapped topic