JP2000052046A - Lead welding device of electrode plate for battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lead welding device of an electrode plate for battery, wherein a highly reliable lead attachment of good productivity can be easily carried out. SOLUTION: This lead welding device of an electrode plate for battery comprises; a transport path 8 being equipped with a function 13 for adsorbing and carrying a battery electrode 9, a lead attaching face 9a of which is exposed to one edge side, a running system 11 equipped with a function 13' for adsorbing the other edge side face 9b of the plate 9 which travels on the path 8 and, for running in a travelling direction, a lead foil returning mechanism 14 arranged along the transport path 8 for supplying a lead foil 15 to the lead attaching face 9a, and welding heads 16a, 16b arranged along the transport path 8 for welding the supplied lead foil 15 to the lead attaching face 9a. In this case, it is preferable for setting the running velocities of the transportation path and travelling system at the same velocity, and furthermore, for choosing a magnet as an adsorbing function for the transportation path and the running system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lead welding device for a battery electrode plate, and more particularly to a general-purpose lead welding device for a battery electrode plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the miniaturization and weight reduction of various electronic devices such as a camera-integrated VTR, a laptop personal computer, and a mobile phone, a demand for a high-energy-density secondary battery as a power source for such electronic devices is increasing. For example, nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries and lithium secondary batteries are being developed. And in this type of secondary battery configuration, for example,
In the battery container (exterior can) that also serves as the cathode terminal, the electrode part configured in a laminated (or spiral) structure is mounted,
After the required electrolyte is injected, the positive electrode terminal is insulated and led out and hermetically sealed.

Here, the electrode portion is composed of a conductive layer functioning as a current collector, for example, a sheet-like positive electrode plate (Ni electrode plate) in which an active material is carried and filled on the surface of a Ni substrate, a sheet-like separator, and a sheet-like separator. And a structure in which the negative electrode plates are sequentially stacked and laminated and integrated or wound in a roll shape.
In the Ni electrode plate, the edge of the Ni base is partially exposed, and a lead foil is welded to the exposed surface to take out an electrical output.

[0004] Such a sheet-like Ni electrode plate is generally manufactured by the following means. First, a conductive agent, a binder, and a solvent are added and kneaded to the electrode active material to prepare a slurry-shaped electrode mixture, and the electrode mixture is pressed and filled on both surfaces of the Ni substrate, or using a die nozzle or the like. And apply it. At this time, the application of the electrode mixture to both surfaces of the Ni substrate is performed with a fixed width or region as a non-applied portion, then dried, and further, the applied layer of the electrode mixture is pressed against the Ni substrate surface, A sheet-like Ni electrode plate is produced.

Next, a lead foil is positioned and arranged on the non-coated portion of the sheet-like Ni electrode plate, and the lead foil is electrically and mechanically joined to the Ni substrate surface by resistance welding. Here, the reason why the resistance welding method is applied is to take advantage of the advantage that the lead foil can be easily welded and joined to the Ni base surface by a single operation.

[0006] Instead of forming the non-coated portion, Ni
There is also a method in which an electrode mixture is applied to the entire surface of the base, and thereafter, ultrasonic vibration is applied to a predetermined region to separate the electrode mixture layer in the selected region to expose a part of the Ni base.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a welding apparatus for carrying out the resistance welding. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an endless traveling path that travels in a fixed direction by the rotation of the rotating rollers 2a and 2b, and 3 denotes a carrier that guides and runs on the traveling path 1. Here, the carrier 3 can guide and travel with the battery electrode plate 4 placed and held at substantially constant intervals and reliably on the surface of the transport path 1.

Reference numerals 5a and 5b denote welding heads arranged along one edge of the traveling path 1 for resistance welding the lead foil 6 to the lead attachment surface 4a of the battery electrode plate 4. Here, the resistance welding heads 5a and 5b are connected to a transformer and a controller (not shown), while the lead foil 6 is supplied from a lead foil return mechanism (not shown). further,
Reference numeral 7 denotes a pusher mechanism which is disposed so as to be capable of moving forward and backward facing one end side surface of the traveling path 1 and positions the battery electrode plate 4 mounted and held on the carrier 3.

[0009] The battery electrode plate 4 by the resistance welding apparatus.
Of the lead foil 6 is performed as follows. That is, the battery electrode plate 4 cut into strips,
The carrier 3 corresponding to the battery electrode plate 4 is prepared, and the battery electrode plate 4 is mounted on the carrier 3. The carrier 3
Electrode plate 4 that is held on the sheet and conveyed on the traveling path 1
Is positioned by the pusher mechanism 7 and transported to the area where the resistance welding heads 5a and 5b are arranged. On the other hand, the lead foil 6 is supplied from the lead foil return mechanism to the lead attaching surface 4a of the battery electrode plate 4, and the lead foil 6 is resistance-welded to the lead attaching surface 4a of the battery electrode plate 4 while being superposed. You.

[0010]

However, the above-described resistance welding apparatus has the following disadvantages. First,
First, in the case of a conventional welding apparatus employing a carrier transfer method, the size and shape of the battery electrode plate 4, for example, the Ni electrode plate, vary depending on the type and standard of the nickel-metal hydride secondary battery. Therefore, the battery electrode plate 4 to which the lead is attached
Each time the type is changed, the carrier 3 holding the battery electrode plate 4 needs to be changed or replaced, so that there is a problem that productivity is greatly impaired. In addition, the size of the carrier 3 is limited, and the battery electrode plate 4 to which the lead foil 6 can be welded is limited to a long product of at most about 130 mm.

Second, there is a problem that the active material layer of the battery electrode plate 4 is easily peeled or damaged, and the lead attachment surface is easily damaged due to an impact when the battery electrode plate 4 is attached to or detached from the carrier 3. is there.

Third, if the clamping force of the carrier 3 holding the battery electrode plate 4 is insufficient, the battery electrode plate 4 will meander during welding, and the lead foil 6 will be accurately positioned at a predetermined position. There is a problem that welding cannot be performed. The meandering of the battery electrode plate 4, that is, the occurrence of displacement, may damage the surface (active material-coated surface) of the battery electrode plate 4 other than the lead-attached surface, resulting in a decrease in quality. There is also.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lead welding apparatus for a battery electrode plate which has good productivity and can easily lead with high reliability. I do.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport path having a function of attracting and transporting a battery electrode plate having a lead mounting surface exposed at one end side, and a transport path having a function of transporting the battery electrode plate. A traveling system having a function of adsorbing the other end surface of the battery electrode plate and traveling in the transport direction, and supplying lead foil to a lead mounting surface of the battery electrode plate arranged along the transport path. A lead foil return mechanism, and a welding head disposed along the transport path and welding the supplied lead foil to a lead attachment surface of the battery electrode plate. It is a welding device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the lead welding apparatus for an electrode plate for a battery according to the first aspect, the traveling speeds of the transport path and the traveling system are set to the same speed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the lead welding device for an electrode plate for a battery according to the first or second aspect, the suction function of the transport path and the traveling system is a magnet.

In the present invention, the transport path having the function of adsorbing and transporting the battery electrode plate is, for example, an endless belt conveyor, and has a function of attracting and holding the battery electrode plate such as a permanent magnet. Have been. Here, the function of adsorbing and holding the battery electrode plate may be in the entire transport path, but generally, permanent magnet pieces are arranged in a mosaic pattern on a part of the transport path including an area to be ultrasonically welded. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure which arrange | positioned the arrange | positioned adsorption | suction mechanism (at the back side of a conveyance path).

In the present invention, the traveling system having a function of adsorbing the other end surface of the battery electrode plate conveyed in the conveyance path and running in the conveyance direction is, for example, an endless belt conveyor. For example, a function of adsorbing and holding a battery electrode plate such as a permanent magnet is provided. here,
The surface of the traveling system is arranged and set so as to be in contact with the edge surface of the battery electrode plate placed on the transport path surface, and to form a plane perpendicular to the transport path surface to prevent misalignment. Need to be done.

The function of adsorbing and holding the battery electrode plate of the traveling system may be provided in the entire traveling system, but generally, the function of the traveling system corresponding to the transport path including the region to be welded is provided in a part of the traveling system. What is necessary is just to employ | adopt the structure which provided the adsorption | suction mechanism which arranged and arranged the permanent magnet pieces in a mosaic form (on the back side of the conveyance path). The function of adsorbing and holding the battery electrode plate in the transport path and the traveling system is not limited to the magnet system, but may be a vacuum or reduced pressure adsorption system.

In the present invention, the electrode plate for a battery, which is a target of the lead foil, has a function of being adsorbed and held on the conveying path surface and the traveling system surface, that is, as long as the material surface and surface properties can be adsorbed. There is no particular limitation. Then, the battery electrode plate is, for example, a Ni electrode plate cut out to a required size and shape from a band-shaped sheet Ni electrode plate,
In addition, a lead attachment surface is provided on at least one edge side.

In the present invention, the surface of the electrode plate to which the lead foil is to be welded is, for example, one long side surface of a rectangular or strip shape. Usually, an active material layer is formed on the Ni plate surface serving as a current collector by coating. It is formed by leaving it as a non-coating part when performing. In addition, after the active material layer is applied and formed on the entire surface, the active material layer on one long side surface is selectively crushed and crushed, and linearly from one end of the crushed and crushed region, such as ultrasonic vibration. By applying a small impact or pressure, peeling and removal can be performed with high precision and selectively.

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the electrical connection of the lead foil to the lead mounting surface of the battery electrode plate can be performed with high precision without causing a displacement or the like. In other words, the battery electrode plate previously placed on the transport path surface at a predetermined position and direction moves one side of the transport path surface during the transport process by the transport path.
The required positioning and the like can easily proceed by the subsequent suction action and the sliding and sliding properties on the running system surface. on the other hand,
Since the battery electrode plate is secondarily adsorbed and held on the transport path surface and the traveling system surface, even in the welding area, the above-mentioned positioning state is maintained, and no direction or position displacement occurs, and high reliability is obtained. The joining of the lead foil is performed.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a lead welding apparatus for an electrode plate for a battery according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a transport path having a function of adsorbing and holding the battery electrode plate 9 whose lead mounting surface is exposed on one end side 9a, and traveling and transporting by driving the rotating rollers 10a and 10b. This is a traveling system having a function of adsorbing the other end surface 9b of the battery electrode plate 9 conveyed in the conveyance path 8 and running in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path 8 by driving the rotating rollers 12a and 12b. .

Here, the transport path 8 is an endless type belt conveyor, and a permanent magnet is provided so that the battery electrode plate 9 can be attracted and transported in a certain section. That is, in a part of the transport path 8 including the region to be ultrasonically welded,
Surface magnetic flux density with permanent magnet pieces arranged and arranged in a mosaic
A suction mechanism 13 of about 3000 to 5000 Gauss is provided (on the back side of the transport path 8), and has a function of sucking and holding the battery electrode plate 9.

On the other hand, the traveling system 11 is, for example, an endless type belt conveyor. For example, permanent magnet pieces are arranged and arranged in a mosaic pattern at a portion corresponding to the area where the suction mechanism 13 of the transport path 8 is provided. An adsorbing mechanism 13 'having a surface magnetic flux density of about 3000 to 5000 gauss is provided (on the back side of the traveling system 118), and has a function of adsorbing and holding the edge 9b of the battery electrode plate 9. Further, the surface of the traveling system 11 is in contact with the edge surface 9b of the battery electrode plate 9 placed on the surface of the transport path 8, and in order to prevent positional deviation and the like, the surface of the travel system 11 is They are arranged and set to form a vertical plane.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, since the traveling speeds of the transport path 9 and the traveling system 11 are set to the same speed,
For example, the rotating rollers 10a and 12a are connected by gears, and are driven to rotate by the same rotation driving source.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a lead foil returning mechanism for supplying the lead foil 15 to the lead attachment surface of the battery electrode plate 9, and 16 a and 16 b disposed along the transfer path 8. The supplied lead foil 15 is connected to the battery electrode plate 9.
This is a rotary welding head for welding to the lead attachment surface 9a of FIG.
Here, the rotary welding heads 16a and 16b are used for joining the portions to be welded by friction welding by the output of an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown).
b is set slightly higher (for example, 1.05: 1.00) with respect to the traveling speed of the transport path 8, and the battery electrode plate 9
It is possible to prevent slippage between the sheet and the transport path 8 easily.

Next, an example of lead foil welding by the above-described lead welding apparatus will be described.

First, a predetermined dimension obtained by cutting a sheet-like Ni electrode plate provided with an active material layer into a strip shape, with the edge portion in the width direction of a Ni foil having a thickness of 700 μm and a width of 120 mm as an uncoated portion 9a.・
A Ni electrode plate 9 shaped into a shape is prepared. Next, the conveying path 8 and the traveling system 11 are caused to travel at substantially the same speed and in the same direction by the interlocking rotation of the corresponding rotating rollers 10a, 10b, 12a, 12b.

On the other hand, the non-coated portion 9a of the Ni electrode plate 9 is on the side of the rotary welding heads 16a and 16b, and the other facing edge surface 9b is brought into contact with the traveling system 11 so as to be in contact with the traveling path. Position and place on eight surfaces.

The Ni electrode plate 9 positioned and mounted on the surface of the traveling path 8 is adsorbed and held in a planar manner on the conveying path 8 by the adsorption mechanism 13 of the conveying path 8 and the traveling system 11, while the traveling system
The edge face 9b is sucked and held on the 13 'face. That is, the Ni electrode plate 9 is secondarily adsorbed and held by the surface of the transport path 8 and the surface of the traveling system 11, and proceeds to the installation area of the rotary welding heads 16a and 16b without causing a positional shift or the like. Then, electrical and mechanical connection is performed by laminating and disposing the lead foil 15 supplied from the lead return mechanism 14 on the lead attachment surface 9a and by ultrasonic welding by the rotary welding heads 16a and 16b. In joining by the above welding, Ni
Welding head while the displacement of electrode plate 9 is suppressed / prevented
16a and 16b, the lead foil 15 is laminated and arranged on the lead attachment surface 9a in a positioned state and welded, and the carrier for the Ni electrode plate 9 is not required. Doing so (omission) improves connection reliability, improves the production yield of battery electrodes, and significantly improves productivity.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to welding of a lead foil to a Ni electrode plate for a nickel-metal hydride battery, but also to other electrode plates for a battery in which the type and shape of the conductive base are different. The configuration of the traveling system can also be appropriately changed according to the type and shape of the battery electrode plate.

[0034]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, with the carrierless operation, the electrode plate for the battery is always securely placed at a predetermined position without being restricted by the standard and size of the electrode plate. Lead foil can be connected. That is, the battery electrode plate is
The lead foil can be placed and the ultrasonic connection can be continuously performed while maintaining the fixed position and posture while being conveyed to the welding position and maintaining the fixed position and posture. Here, the capability of performing a continuous connection operation leads to an improvement in the operation rate or the productivity of the lead welding device, resulting in a reduction in cost. This cost reduction, coupled with the improvement in connection reliability and yield, contributes to the provision of a high-quality battery electrode plate with good mass productivity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a lead welding device for a battery electrode plate according to an embodiment, which is partially cut away.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part configuration of a conventional battery electrode lead welding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 8 ... conveying path 2a, 2b, 10a, 10b ... rotating roller for conveying path 3 ... carrier 4, 9 ... battery electrode plate 4a, 9a ... battery electrode plate lead attaching surface 5a, 5b, 16a, 16b rotary welding head 6, 15 lead foil 7 positioning pusher 9b other end surface of battery electrode plate 11 traveling system 12a, 12b traveling system Rotary rollers 13, 13 ': Suction mechanism 14: Lead foil return mechanism

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transport path having a function of adsorbing and transporting a battery electrode plate whose lead attachment surface is exposed at one end side, and a second end edge surface of the battery electrode plate transported through the transport path. A traveling system having a function of adsorbing and traveling in the transport direction, a lead foil return mechanism arranged along the transport path and supplying a lead foil to a lead mounting surface of the battery electrode plate, And a welding head that is disposed along and welds the supplied lead foil to a lead attachment surface of the battery electrode plate. 2. The lead welding apparatus for an electrode plate for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the traveling speeds of the transport path and the traveling system are set to the same speed. 3. The lead welding apparatus for an electrode plate for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the attraction functions of the transport path and the traveling system are magnets.