Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode assembly, a battery, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. In the electrode assembly, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween are wound based on a winding axis to define a core and an outer circumference. The first electrode includes a first active material portion coated with an active material layer and a first uncoated portion not coated with an active material layer along a winding direction. At least a part of the first uncoated portion is defined as an electrode tab by itself. The first uncoated portion includes a first portion adjacent to the core of the electrode assembly, a second portion adjacent to the outer circumference of the electrode assembly, and a third portion interposed between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion or the second portion has a smaller height than the third portion in the winding axis direction.

Abstract: A foil tab forming apparatus forms at least one foil tab of a positive electrode foil tab and a negative electrode foil tab respectively provided at a top portion and a bottom portion of an electrode assembly. The foil tab forming apparatus includes a pre-forming jig configured to bend the foil tab by pressing the foil tab, while moving in a direction from an outer circumferential portion of the electrode assembly to a winding center portion of the electrode assembly and a forming jig configured to press the foil tab that has been primarily bent by the pre-forming jig, by moving along a direction parallel to a winding axis of the electrode assembly.

Abstract: An electrode assembly, a battery, a battery pack and a vehicle including the same are provided. In the electrode assembly, the uncoated portion of an electrode includes a segment region divided into a plurality of segments, and the segment region includes a plurality of segment groups separated by a group separation pitch along a winding direction. One end of the electrode assembly includes a plurality of segment alignments. In winding turns corresponding to the plurality of segment alignments, group separation pitches of segment groups disposed in a same winding turn are substantially identical, and separation pitches of the segment groups is greater in a winding turn of a region adjacent to the outer circumference of the electrode assembly than in a winding turn of a region adjacent to the core of the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A pressurizing channel includes a pair of pressurizing plates disposable on opposite sides of a secondary battery with the secondary battery interposed therebetween. Each pressurizing plate includes a body part and an exterior part connected to opposite ends of the body part, each exterior part including a tube inside that is expandable by hydraulic pressure. An apparatus for charging and discharging a secondary battery having a plurality of pressurizing channels is also provided.

Abstract: A pressurizing channel includes a pair of pressurized plates disposable on opposite sides of a secondary battery with the secondary battery interposed therebetween. Each pressurizing plate includes a body part formed with a material that has a first coefficient of thermal expansion; and an exterior part that connects to opposite ends of the body part and includes a thermal expansion part containing a material that has a second coefficient of thermal expansion, which is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. An apparatus for charging and discharging a secondary battery having a plurality of pressurizing channels is also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for an electrode assembly having a structure in which electrodes are laminated, including: (i) a process of coating an electrode mixture on at least one surface of a metal sheet so that n (n?2) electrode mixture coated layer lines are formed between non-coated portions parallel to a first direction; (ii) a process of rolling the metal sheet sequentially from a first electrode mixture coated layer line to an nth electrode mixture coated layer line using a rolling roller rotated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; (iii) a process of slitting the rolled metal sheet at least twice in the second direction to prepare electrode plate base materials having n electrode mixture coated layers formed thereon; and (iv) a process of cutting each of the electrode plate base materials in the first direction to obtain n single sheet electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary battery by using a single process to notch and cut a unit electrode from an electrode sheet. The method for manufacturing electrodes for a secondary battery includes supplying an electrode sheet in a moving direction (MD), wherein the electrode sheet has a plurality of coated portions and uncoated portions alternately arranged along the MD, wherein each coated portion has an electrode active material, and each uncoated portion does not have an electrode active material; and cutting the uncoated portions to form the plurality of unit electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary battery by using a single process to notch and cut a unit electrode from an electrode sheet. The method for manufacturing electrodes for a secondary battery includes supplying an electrode sheet in a moving direction (MD), wherein the electrode sheet has a plurality of coated portions and uncoated portions alternately arranged along the MD, wherein each coated portion has an electrode active material, and each uncoated portion does not have an electrode active material; and cutting the uncoated portions to form the plurality of unit electrodes.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for an electrode assembly having a structure in which electrodes are laminated, including: (i) a process of coating an electrode mixture on at least one surface of a metal sheet so that n (n?2) electrode mixture coated layer lines are formed between non-coated portions parallel to a first direction; (ii) a process of rolling the metal sheet sequentially from a first electrode mixture coated layer line to an nth electrode mixture coated layer line using a rolling roller rotated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; (iii) a process of slitting the rolled metal sheet at least twice in the second direction to prepare electrode plate base materials having n electrode mixture coated layers formed thereon; and (iv) a process of cutting each of the electrode plate base materials in the first direction to obtain n single sheet electrodes.