US 12,218,380 B2
Manufacturing method for electrode assembly and electrode assembly manufacturing equipment
Se Hyun Yoon, Daejeon (KR); Beomsu Kim, Daejeon (KR); Yong Nam Kim, Daejeon (KR); Heeyong Kim, Daejeon (KR); Dong Hyeuk Park, Daejeon (KR); Dong Myung Kim, Daejeon (KR); and Jae Han Jung, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to LG Energy Solution, Ltd., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Energy Solution, Ltd., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/860,429.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0090588 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090589 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090590 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090591 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090592 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090596 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090597 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090598 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0090600 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021; and application No. 10-2021-0090601 (KR), filed on Jul. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0015931 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 10/04 (2006.01); H01M 4/04 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/0583 (2010.01); H01M 50/46 (2021.01); H01M 50/463 (2021.01); H01M 50/466 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 50/46 (2021.01) [H01M 4/043 (2013.01); H01M 4/0471 (2013.01); H01M 10/0404 (2013.01); H01M 10/0431 (2013.01); H01M 10/045 (2013.01); H01M 10/0459 (2013.01); H01M 10/0468 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/0583 (2013.01); H01M 50/463 (2021.01); H01M 50/466 (2021.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method comprising:
assembling an electrode stack including a plurality of electrodes stacked along a stacking axis with a respective separator portion positioned between each of the electrodes;
after assembling the electrode stack, performing a primary heat press operation on the electrode stack, the primary heat press operation comprising engaging the electrode stack with a gripper to secure a position of the electrode stack and then, while the gripper is engaged with the electrode stack, applying heat and pressure to the electrode stack; and
after the primary heat press operation, performing a secondary heat press operation on the electrode stack, the secondary heat press operation comprising disengaging the gripper from the electrode stack and then applying heat and pressure to the electrode stack,
wherein the secondary heat press operation includes applying heat and pressure to the electrode stack for a time period from 5 seconds to 60 seconds under a temperature condition from 50° ° C. to 90° ° C. and under a pressure condition from 1 Mpa to 6 Mpa.
 
11. An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly including an electrode stack having a plurality of first and second electrodes stacked along a stacking axis with a respective separator positioned between each of the first and second electrodes, the apparatus comprising:
a press unit for bonding together the electrodes and the separator portions within the electrode stack, by applying heat and pressure to the electrode stack, the press unit being divided into a first press unit and a second press unit, the first press unit being used for a primary heat press operation, and the second press unit being used for a secondary heat press operation performed after the primary heat press operation; and
a gripper for engaging the electrode stack to secure a position of the electrode stack when the heat and pressure is applied to the electrode stack by the press unit,
wherein the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode assembly including the gripper and the press unit are configured to apply heat and pressure to the electrode stack while the gripper is coupled to the electrode stack or while the gripper is separated from the electrode stack,
wherein the primary heat press operation includes engaging the electrode stack with the gripper to secure a position of the electrode stack and then, while the gripper is engaged with the electrode stack, applying heat and pressure to the electrode stack, and
wherein the secondary heat press operation includes disengaging the gripper from the electrode stack and then applying heat and pressure to the electrode stack for a time period from 5 seconds to 60 seconds under a temperature condition from 50° C. to 90° C. and under a pressure condition from 1 Mpa to 6 Mpa.