TECHNICAL FIELD
The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2021-
0005503 and 10-2021-0158065 respectively filed on January 14, 2021 and November 16,
10 2021 in the Republic of Korea, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a cylindrical secondary battery cell production
apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a cylindrical secondary battery cell
production apparatus and method in which a crimping portion is easily formed.
15 BACKGROUND ART
As the development and demand for mobile devices has increased, the demand for
secondary batteries as energy sources has rapidly increased. Nickel cadmium batteries or
hydrogen ion batteries have been used as conventional secondary batteries, but recently,
lithium secondary batteries having little memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary
20 batteries, free charging and discharging, a very low self-discharge rate, and high energy
density have been widely used.
A lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material
as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively.
3
A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode
plate and a negative electrode plate to which a positive electrode active material and a
negative electrode active material are respectively applied are located with a separator
therebetween, and a casing in which the electrode assembly is sealed and accommodated
5 along with an electrolytic solution, that is, a battery case.
A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a
separator located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an
electrolyte, and is divided into a lithium-ion battery (LIB), a polymer lithium-ion battery
(PLIB), and so on according to which of a positive electrode active material and a negative
10 electrode active material is used. In general, an electrode of a lithium secondary battery is
formed by applying a positive electrode or negative electrode active material to a current
collector such as an aluminum or copper sheet, a mesh, a film, or a foil and then drying the
same.
In general, secondary batteries may be classified into cylindrical, prismatic, or
15 pouch-type secondary batteries according to a shape of a casing in which a secondary battery
cell is accommodated, and cylindrical secondary batteries may be used as a secondary battery
module by connecting a plurality of secondary battery cells in series or in parallel.
Referring to Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2018-0072990 that is a
prior document, a primary crimping mold 240 moves downward to apply a primary pressure
20 and a secondary crimping mold 250 applies a secondary pressure to an open upper end
portion 211 of a metal can 210 in which an inclination is formed, to form a crimping portion
201.
However, as a size and a thickness of a cylindrical secondary battery cell increase,
4
when a crimping portion is formed by a crimping mold of the prior art disclosed in the prior
document, load applied to the crimping mold increases and a molding error also increases.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell comprising
a battery can in which an electrode assembly and an electrolytic solution are accommodated,
5 a cap plate coupled to the battery can, and a gasket located between the battery can and the
cap plate, the apparatus comprising:
a support member into which the cylindrical secondary battery cell is inserted in a
state where an end portion of the battery can and an end portion of the gasket are arranged
to face a preset direction and the cap plate contacts the gasket;
10 at least one fixing member configured to fix the cylindrical secondary battery cell
moved to a preset position by the support member; and
a forming member located over the cylindrical secondary battery cell fixed by the
fixing member and rotating and pressing the end portion of the battery can to form a crimping
portion.
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2. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 1, wherein the gasket is located inside the battery can and contacts the battery can,
and the cap plate is located inside the gasket and contacts the gasket,
wherein the forming member presses an outer side of the battery can.
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3. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 1, wherein the support member comprises:
a receiving portion into which the cylindrical secondary battery cell is inserted; and
21
a first moving portion configured to move the cylindrical secondary battery cell
toward the fixing member.
4. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
5 to claim 1, wherein an inner groove is formed along a circumference of the battery can under
the gasket,
wherein the fixing member is inserted into the inner groove to fix the cylindrical
secondary battery cell.
10 5. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 4, wherein the fixing member comprises:
a fixing protrusion formed to be inserted into the inner groove; and
a second moving portion coupled to the fixing protrusion to move the fixing
protrusion.
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6. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 1, wherein the forming member comprises:
a support holder contacting the cap plate;
a rotating plate rotatably coupled to the support holder, and rotating about the
20 support holder; and
a forming roller coupled to the rotating plate, rotating along with the rotating plate,
and pressing the end portion of the battery can to form the crimping portion.
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7. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 6, wherein a pair of forming rollers are provided around the support holder, and are
coupled to the rotating plate at a position spaced apart from center of the rotating plate.
5 8. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 6, wherein the forming roller comprises:
a connection rod coupled to the rotating plate; and
a pressing rod coupled to the connection rod, located around the support holder, and
pressing the end portion of the battery can.
10
9. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 8, wherein the pressing rod comprises:
a rotating shaft coupled to the connection rod; and
a roller member coupled to the rotating shaft.
15
10. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to claim 9, wherein an inclined portion is formed on a portion of the roller member contacting
the end portion of the battery can.
20 11. The apparatus for producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according
to any one of claims 1 through 10, wherein the forming member is formed of a metal material.
12. A method of producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell comprising a
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battery can in which an electrode assembly and an electrolytic solution are accommodated,
a cap plate coupled to an upper side of the battery can, and a gasket located between the
battery can and the cap plate, the method comprising:
inserting the cylindrical secondary battery cell into a support member in a state
5 where an end portion of the battery can and an end portion of the gasket are arranged to face
a preset direction and the cap plate contacts the gasket;
fixing, by a fixing member, the cylindrical secondary battery cell moved to a preset
position by the support member; and
forming a crimping portion by causing a forming member to be located over the
10 cylindrical secondary battery cell fixed by the fixing member and to rotate and press the end
portion of the battery can.
13. The method of producing a cylindrical secondary battery cell according to
claim 12, wherein the forming by pressing the end portion of the battery can comprises
15 causing a forming roller to be coupled to a rotating plate and to rotate along with the rotating
plate to press the end portion of the battery can.