US 12,358,069 B2
Welding apparatus, welding method using the same, and electrode assembly manufactured by the welding method
Gil Sang Son, Daejeon (KR); Dong Yeon Kim, Daejeon (KR); Kyu Hyun Choi, Daejeon (KR); and Jin Hak Kong, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to LG Energy Solution, Ltd., Seoul (KR)
Appl. No. 18/004,999
Filed by LG Energy Solution, Ltd., Seoul (KR)
PCT Filed Jan. 7, 2022, PCT No. PCT/KR2022/000327
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 10, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/149916, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 14, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0002822 (KR), filed on Jan. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0339038 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B23K 20/00 (2006.01); B23K 20/10 (2006.01); H01M 50/536 (2021.01); H01M 50/54 (2021.01); B23K 101/38 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 20/103 (2013.01) [B23K 20/106 (2013.01); H01M 50/536 (2021.01); H01M 50/54 (2021.01); B23K 2101/38 (2018.08)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.