Pouch-type battery case, apparatus for forming same, and pouch-type secondary battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11955648-B2
Application number	US-202217569826-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2022
Priority date	Mar 30, 2021
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A pouch-type battery case includes a cup portion, which accommodates therein an electrode assembly formed by stacking an electrode and a separator, and a plurality of die edges connecting an outer wall of the cup portion to a side extending from the outer wall. The die edges include a first region, which is rounded at a first radius (r 1 ) of curvature and at which an electrode tab extending from the electrode is positioned, and a second region which is other than the first region and rounded at one or more second radii (r 2 , r 3 , r 4 ) of curvature less than or equal to the first radius (r 1 ) of curvature. The second region is divided into an inner region and an outer region with respect to the first region, and the radius (r 2 ) of curvature in the inner region differs from the radii (r 3 , r 4 ) of curvature in the outer region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pouch-type battery case comprising:
a pouch film defining a first cup configured to accommodate an electrode assembly, a side portion at least partially surrounding the first cup, and at least one die edge arranged at a junction of the side portion and a wall of the first cup,
wherein the at least one die edge comprises:
a first rounded region defining a first radius of curvature, the first rounded region arranged to receive an electrode tab extending from the electrode assembly; and
a second rounded region defining one or more second radii of curvature, the one or more second radii of curvature being less than the first radius of curvature,
wherein the second rounded region includes an inner region and an outer region with respect to the first rounded region, and
a radius of curvature of the inner region is different from a radii of curvature of the outer region.

2. The pouch-type battery case of claim 1 , wherein the pouch film further comprises a second cup, and a bridge formed between the first cup and the second cup, the first and second cups configured to collectively accommodate the electrode assembly,
wherein the at least one die edge includes a first die edge and a second die edge provided opposite the first cup from the first die edge, the first and second die edges extending in a direction transverse to a direction in which the bridge extends, and
wherein the first rounded region is formed in each of the first and second die edges.

3. The pouch-type battery case of claim 2 , wherein the inner region is closer to the bridge than the outer region.

4. The pouch-type battery case of claim 3 , wherein the radii of curvature of the outer region are greater than the radius of curvature of the inner region.

5. The pouch-type battery case of claim 3 , wherein the bridge defines a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the inner region.

6. The pouch-type battery case of claim 5 , wherein the radius of curvature of the bridge is between about 0.3 mm and about 0.7 mm.

7. The pouch-type battery case of claim 5 , wherein the radius of curvature of the bridge is between about 0.45 mm and about 0.55 mm.

8. The pouch-type battery case of claim 3 , wherein the outer region comprises a main outer region on a third die edge extending between the first edge and the second die edge, and a connection outer region between the main outer region and the first rounded region, and
wherein a radius of curvature of the main outer region is equal to a radius of curvature of the connection outer region.

9. The pouch-type battery case of claim 8 , wherein the radius of curvature of the main outer region is approximately equal to or greater than 1 mm, and
the radius of curvature of the first rounded region is between about 1.5 mm and about 2.5 mm.

10. A battery case forming apparatus for manufacturing the pouch-type battery case of claim 1 , the battery case forming apparatus comprising:
a die having a top surface, on which the pouch film is configured to be placed, the die defining at least one forming space recessed inwardly relative to the top surface; and
a punch disposed above the forming space and arranged to descend relative to the die to punch the pouch film into the forming space,
wherein the die comprises a plurality of pressing edges arranged at a junction of a wall defining the forming space and the top surface of the die,
wherein the plurality of pressing edges comprise:
a third rounded region having a third radius of curvature, the third rounded region arranged to form the first rounded region; and
a fourth rounded region having one or more fourth radii of curvature less than or equal to the third radius of curvature,
wherein the fourth rounded region includes a die inner region and a die outer region with respect to the third rounded region, and
a radius of curvature of the die inner region is different from a radii of curvature of the die outer region.

11. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one forming space comprises a first forming space and a second forming space,
wherein the die includes a die bridge formed between the first forming space and the second forming space, and
wherein the plurality of pressing edges includes a first pressing edge and a second pressing edge arranged opposite the at least one forming space from the first pressing edge, the first and second pressing edges defining the third region.

12. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the die inner region is closer to the die bridge than the die outer region.

13. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the radii of curvature of the die outer region are greater than the radius of curvature of the die inner region.

14. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the die bridge defines a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the die inner region.

15. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the radius of curvature of the die bridge is between about 0.3 mm and about 0.7 mm.

16. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the radius of curvature of the die bridge is between about 0.45 mm and about 0.55 mm.

17. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the die outer region comprises a main die outer region on a third pressing edge extending between the first pressing edge and the second pressing edge, and a connection die outer region between the main die outer region and the third region, and
wherein a radius of curvature of the main die outer region is equal to a radius of curvature of the connection die outer region.

18. The battery case forming apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the radius of curvature of the main die outer region is equal to or greater than approximately 1 mm, and
the radius of curvature of the third region is between about 1.5 mm and about 2.5 mm.

19. A pouch-type secondary battery comprising:
an electrode assembly formed by stacking electrodes and separators, each electrode having electrode tabs; and
a battery case comprising a cup accommodating the electrode assembly, a side portion surrounding the cup, and a plurality of die edges arranged at a junction of the side portion and a wall of the cup,
wherein one of the plurality of die edges include:
a first rounded region defining a first radius of curvature for receiving the electrode tabs; and
a second rounded region defining one or more second radii of curvature less than the first radius of curvature,
wherein the second rounded region includes an inner region and an outer region with respect to the first rounded region, and
a radius of curvature of the inner region is different than the radii of curvature of the outer region.

Assignees

• Lg Energy Solution Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Se Young
• Ha Jeong Min
• Kim Sang Hun
• Kim Sin Woong
• Kim Geun Hee
• Kim Hyun Beom
• Kwon Hyung Ho

Classifications

• H01M50/105 Primary

  Pouches or flexible bags · CPC title

• H01M10/04

  Construction or manufacture in general (H01M10/058, H01M10/12, H01M10/28, H01M10/38 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/141

  for protecting against humidity · CPC title

• H01M50/186

  characterised by the disposition of the sealing members · CPC title