Welding apparatus, welding method using the same, and electrode assembly manufactured by the welding method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358069-B2
Application number	US-202218004999-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2022
Priority date	Jan 8, 2021
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

The present invention relates to a welding apparatus including an electrode assembly configured such that a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes are stacked in the state in which separators are interposed therebetween, guides configured to reduce tensile force of positive electrode tabs and negative electrode tabs protruding from the electrode assembly, an anvil configured to allow the electrode tabs to be disposed thereon, and a horn configured to apply ultrasonic waves to the electrode tabs disposed on the anvil, a welding method using the same, and an electrode assembly manufactured by the welding method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A welding apparatus for manufacture of electrode assemblies, the welding apparatus comprising:
an electrode assembly configured such that a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes are alternatingly stacked with separators interposed therebetween;
a guide configured to reduce tensile force of electrode tabs protruding from the electrode assembly, the guide including a first guide located on a first side of the electrode tabs and a second guide located on a second side of the electrode tabs;
wherein each of the first guide and the second guide comprises a rotary portion configured to apply opposing forces to the electrode tabs, and wherein the rotary portions are aligned along an axis and apply the opposing forces along the axis;
a first welding unit disposed on a first side of the electrode tabs; and
a second welding unit disposed on a second side of the electrode tabs.

2. The welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first welding unit is a horn configured to apply ultrasonic waves to the electrode tabs disposed on an anvil, and
the second welding unit is an anvil.

3. The welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first guide and the second guide are configured to be moved so as to be closer to each other or to be farther away from each other.

4. The welding apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the rotary portions of the first and second guides are formed in a roller shape or a curved portion comprising a curved surface, and
a rotation axis of the rotary portion is parallel to a width of each of the electrode tabs.

5. The welding apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of the first guide and the second guide further comprises a main body portion having the rotary portion or the curved portion coupled to one end of the main body portion.

6. The welding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the main body portion comprises a bendable portion, and
the main body portion is bent at the bendable portion or is rotatable about a rotation axis of the bendable portion.

7. The welding apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the rotary portion of the first guide and the rotary portion of the second guide are rotated in opposite directions to push the electrode tabs in a direction toward the electrode assembly.

8. The welding apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein rotational force of the rotary portion is provided by repulsive force generated due to a magnetic field.

9. The welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein welding by the first welding unit and the second welding unit is started in a state in which the electrode tabs are aligned by the guide.

10. A welding method using the welding apparatus according to claim 1 , the welding method comprising:
(a) preparing an electrode assembly;
(b) pushing, by a guide, electrode tabs in a direction toward the electrode assembly while bringing the electrode tabs into contact with each other; and
(c) disposing a welding region of the electrode tabs between the first welding unit and the second welding unit and welding the electrode tabs, wherein
the guide comprises a first guide located on a first side of the electrode tabs and a second guide located on a second side of the electrode tabs.

11. The welding method according to claim 10 , wherein step (b) is performed by pushing the electrode tabs in the direction toward the electrode assembly in a state in which the first guide and the second guide have been moved so as to be a first distance apart.

12. The welding method according to claim 10 , wherein step (b) is performed through a process of pushing the electrode tabs in the direction toward the electrode assembly while the first guide and the second guide are being moved so as to be a first distance apart.

13. The welding method according to claim 10 , wherein a rotary portion of the first guide and a rotary portion of the second guide are rotated in opposite directions in order to push the electrode tabs in the direction toward the electrode assembly.

14. The welding method according to claim 10 , wherein the electrode tabs are aligned in a loosened state through step (b).

15. A welding apparatus for manufacture of electrode assemblies, the welding apparatus comprising:
an electrode assembly configured such that a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes are alternatingly stacked with separators interposed therebetween;
a guide configured to reduce tensile force of electrode tabs protruding from the electrode assembly, the guide including a first guide located on a first side of the electrode tabs and a second guide located on a second side of the electrode tabs, each of the first guide and the second guide comprises a rotary portion,

wherein each of the first guide and the second guide further comprises a main body portion having the rotary portion or the curved portion coupled to one end of the main body portion, and
wherein the main body portion comprises a bendable portion and is rotatable about a rotation axis of the bendable portion;
a first welding unit disposed on a first side of the electrode tabs; and
a second welding unit disposed on a second side of the electrode tabs.

16. A welding apparatus for manufacture of electrode assemblies, the welding apparatus comprising:
an electrode assembly configured such that a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes are alternatingly stacked with separators interposed therebetween;
a guide configured to reduce tensile force of electrode tabs protruding from the electrode assembly, the guide including a first guide located on a first side of the electrode tabs and a second guide located on a second side of the electrode tabs, each of the first guide and the second guide comprises a rotary portion,

wherein rotational force of the rotary portion is provided by repulsive force generated due to a magnetic field;
a first welding unit disposed on a first side of the electrode tabs; and
a second welding unit disposed on a second side of the electrode tabs.

17. The welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of positive electrodes and the plurality of negative electrodes comprise the electrode tabs protruding outwards therefrom,
each of the electrode tabs comprises a first point at which the electrode tab is connected to an electrode plate and a second point at which a welding region begins, wherein the electrode tabs are coupled at the welding region to form a bundle, and
a length from the first point to the second point of the electrode tab is greater than a shortest length between the first point and the second point.

18. The welding apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the length from the first point to the second point of the electrode tab is greater by greater than 0 mm to less than 2 mm than the shortest length between the first point and the second point or is greater than 0.0% to less than 14.3% of the shortest length between the first point and the second point.

Assignees

• Lg Energy Solution Ltd

Inventors

• Son Gil Sang
• Kim Dong Yeon
• Choi Kyu Hyun
• Kong Jin Hak

Classifications

• B23K20/106 Primary

  Features related to sonotrodes · CPC title

• H01M50/536

  characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding · CPC title

• H01M50/54

  Connection of several leads or tabs of plate-like electrode stacks, e.g. electrode pole straps or bridges · CPC title

• B23K2101/38

  Conductors · CPC title

• Y02P70/50

  Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product · CPC title