JP2007234606A - Manufacturing method and device of cylindrical battery - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to form certainly an annular groove portion with uniform thickness and excellent dimensional stability. <P>SOLUTION: The manufacturing device is provided with a bottom holding mechanism 50 to hold the bottomed side end portion 12b of a battery can 12, an opening part holding mechanism 52 to hold the opening side end portion 12c of the battery can 12, a pressuring mechanism 54 to give a mutually equal pressing force in axial direction to both ends of the battery can 12 by the bottom holding mechanism 50 and the opening part holding mechanism 52, a rotating mechanism 56 to rotate the battery can 12, and a roller pressing mechanism 58 which forms an annular groove portion 12a by pressing a striation roller 57 against the battery can 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cylindrical battery manufacturing method and apparatus for forming an annular groove in the vicinity of an opening of a battery can having a bottomed cylindrical shape.

  In general, a battery can constituting a cylindrical battery has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and an annular groove protruding inward is formed in the vicinity of the opening. For example, it is for securing a sealing plate welded to a current collecting lead accommodated in a battery can or to secure a mold insertion space in the caulking process of the opening.

  Therefore, various methods have been proposed to form this kind of annular groove in the battery can. For example, the “battery manufacturing method” of Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the bottom portion of the battery case 4 is inserted into the holder portion 2, the holder portion 2 is pressed against the fixing portion 6 with a predetermined pressure, and then the fixing portion 6. Is rotated in the direction of the arrow to rotate the battery case 4. In this state, the roller 8 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the battery case 4 with a predetermined pressure, whereby an annular groove 4 a is formed in the vicinity of the opening side of the battery case 4.

JP 58-112259 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is not clear whether or not the pressing force by the holder portion 2 acts on the battery case 4 while the roller 8 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the battery case 4. There is also a problem in the case of. That is, when the pressing force of the holder portion 2 is not acting when the roller 8 is pressed, the annular groove portion 4a is locally extended only by the roller 8 without replenishment of material. Thereby, the thickness of the annular groove part 4a becomes thin, and the problem that strength reduction is caused is pointed out.

  On the other hand, when the pressing force of the holder portion 2 is applied when the roller 8 is pressed, the material is replenished from the bottom side of the battery case 4 to the pressed portion of the roller 8, but the material is supplied from the opening side. There is no supply. For this reason, the annular groove 4a after processing has an uneven groove shape on the opening side and the bottom side, and an uneven thickness portion 4b having a locally reduced thickness is generated. Thereby, when pressure acts on the battery case 4 during charging and discharging, there is a problem that a desired strength cannot be obtained. Further, the groove shape is an important element for setting the battery dimensions. If the groove shape becomes uneven, the stability of the battery dimensions cannot be improved.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical battery having a uniform wall thickness and capable of reliably forming an annular groove having excellent dimensional stability. The purpose is to do.

  The present invention displaces the grooving roller in the radial direction of the battery can while rotating the battery can in a state in which equal pressing forces are applied to both ends of the battery can in the axial direction. Thereby, the material is replenished to the annular groove from both ends of the battery can, and the thickness of the annular groove is made uniform and the dimensional stability is improved.

  Moreover, since the outer peripheral part of the battery can immediately before forming the annular groove is held by the opening / closing chuck, the battery can can be positioned with high accuracy.

  Furthermore, the battery can is held in a standing position on the carrier via the spacer, and the battery can is transported to the annular groove forming position under the action of the transport mechanism. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily cope with various types of battery cans only by exchanging the spacers.

  In the present invention, since both ends of the battery can are equally pressed in the axial direction, the molding material is smoothly replenished from the both ends of the battery can to the annular groove, and the thickness is made uniform. In addition, the annular groove portion can be reliably formed, and the stability of the battery dimensions is improved.

  Further, the battery can can be positioned with high accuracy by the opening / closing chuck, and the annular groove forming operation is performed with high accuracy. Furthermore, by holding the battery can on the carrier via a replaceable spacer, it is possible to easily handle battery cans of different types and sizes.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a manufacturing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus 10 receives the carrier 13 holding the battery can 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow X, the workpiece carry-in mechanism 16 disposed on the belt conveyor 14, and the workpiece carry-in mechanism 16. An index table 18 for feeding the battery can 12 to the annular groove forming position A, an apparatus main body 20 for forming the annular groove 12a in the battery can 12 at the annular groove forming position A, and a battery in which the annular groove 12a is formed. And a work carry-out mechanism 22 for delivering the can 12 to the belt conveyor 14.

  The workpiece carry-in mechanism 16 has a first rotary table 24 that is intermittently rotatable in an arrow Y direction (counterclockwise direction) via a drive source (not shown). Circular first cutouts 26 are provided at equal angular intervals. The center of the circle of the first notch 26 coincides with the center line of the belt conveyor 14 at the delivery position B from the belt conveyor 14. A carry-in guide 28 is disposed on the outer periphery of the first turntable 24, and a first placement plate 30 that supports the carrier 13 is provided below the first turntable 24.

  The index table 18 is intermittently rotatable in the direction of the arrow Z (clockwise) via a drive source (not shown), and a semicircular second notch 32 is provided on the outer periphery of the index table 18 at regular angular intervals. The circle center of the second notch 32 coincides with the circle center of the first notch 26 of the first rotary table 24 at the loading position C from the workpiece loading mechanism 16. A fixed guide 34 is disposed on the outer periphery of the index table 18, and a second placement plate 36 that supports the carrier 13 is provided below the index table 18. The second mounting plate 36 has an opening 38 corresponding to the annular groove forming position A (see FIG. 2).

  The work carry-out mechanism 22 is configured in the same manner as the work carry-in mechanism 16, and has a second rotary table 40 that is intermittently rotatable in the direction of arrow Y (counterclockwise) via a drive source (not shown). A semicircular third notch 42 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the second rotary table 40 so as to be spaced apart at equal angular intervals. The center of the circle of the third notch 42 coincides with the center of the circle of the second notch 32 and the center line of the belt conveyor 14 at the delivery position D from the index table 18 and the delivery position E to the belt conveyor 14. A carry-out guide 44 is disposed on the outer periphery of the second turntable 40, and a third placement plate 46 is provided below the second turntable 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus body 20 includes a bottom holding mechanism 50 that holds the bottomed end 12 b of the battery can 12 and an opening holding mechanism 52 that holds the opening side end 12 c of the battery can 12. A pressurizing mechanism 54 for applying an equal pressing force to both ends of the battery can 12 in the axial direction (arrow L direction) by the bottom holding mechanism 50 and the opening holding mechanism 52; and the battery can 12 A rotating mechanism 56 that rotates while being pressed by the pressurizing mechanism 54, and a roller pressing mechanism 58 that presses the grooved roller 57 in the vicinity of the opening of the battery can 12 to form the annular groove 12a.

  The bottom holding mechanism 50 includes a cradle 60 that is inserted into the opening 38 of the second mounting plate 36 in order to hold the bottomed end 12 b of the battery can 12 via the carrier 13. The cradle 60 is fixed to a shaft 62, and the shaft 62 is rotatably held via a bearing 68 by a lower linear guide 66 that can be moved forward and backward through a rail member 64.

  The opening holding mechanism 52 includes a mandrel 70 that supports the opening side end 12 c of the battery can 12. The mandrel 70 is fixed to the end of the spline shaft 72, and the spline shaft 72 is rotatably supported via a bearing 78 by an upper linear guide 76 that can be advanced and retracted via a rail member 74.

  The pressurizing mechanism 54 includes a first plate cam 80, and the first plate cam 80 is rotated in synchronization with the index table 18 via a motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the index table 18. One end of the first link 82 abuts against the first plate cam 80, and the first link 82 is swingably supported at a substantially intermediate portion via a fulcrum 84 and formed at the other end. A cam follower 88 is inserted into the opening 86.

  The cam follower 88 is fixed to a shaft 92 provided in the block 90. The block 90 can move forward and backward along the rail member 74, and an upper spring 94 a is interposed between the block 90 and the upper linear guide 76. On the other hand, a lower spring 94b having the same spring coefficient as that of the upper spring 94a is interposed between the lower linear guide 66 and the fixed end.

  The rotation mechanism 56 includes a motor 96, and a belt 99 is stretched between a drive pulley 98 a connected to the motor 96 and a driven pulley 98 b engaged with the spline shaft 72.

  The roller pressing mechanism 58 includes a second plate cam 100, and the second plate cam 100 is rotated in synchronization with the index table 18 via a motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the index table 18. One end of a second link 102 abuts against the second plate cam 100, and the second link 102 is supported at a substantially intermediate portion of the second link 102 via a fulcrum 104 and is formed at the other end. A cam follower 108 is inserted into the opening 106.

  The cam follower 108 is fixed to a shaft 112 provided on the block 110. The block 110 can advance and retreat in the radial direction (arrow r direction) of the battery can 12 along the rail member 114, and the grooved roller 57 is rotatably supported by the block 110.

  An opening / closing chuck 116 is provided corresponding to the annular groove forming position A. The opening / closing chuck 116 includes a pair of V blocks 118a and 118b that are close to and separated from each other under the action of a drive source (not shown), and grips the outer periphery of the battery can 12 just before forming the annular groove 12a. Perform positioning.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the carrier 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a hole 120 corresponding to the outer diameter of the bottomed end portion 12b of the battery can 12 is formed at the center thereof. A circumferential groove 122 that engages with the first to third cutouts 26, 32, and 42 of the first rotary table 24, the index table 18, and the second rotary table 40 is provided on the outer periphery of the carrier 13. In the hole 120 of the carrier 13, a spacer 124 whose length is set according to the axial length of the battery can 12 is disposed so as to be replaceable. As shown in FIG. 3B, the spacer 124 is preferably formed in a tapered shape at a portion that contacts the bottomed end 12 b of the battery can 12.

  The operation of the manufacturing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.

  First, the battery can 12 having an outer diameter of 18 mm and a wall thickness of 0.3 mm was used, and the outer diameter of the carrier 13 was set to 40 mm. The index table 18 is intermittently rotated at a tact time of 5 seconds, while the spring coefficients of the upper spring 94a and the lower spring 94b are 50 kg / mm, and the initial compression amount is set to 3.5 mm. The relationship between the rotation timing of the first and second plate cams 80, 100 and the opening / closing timing of the opening / closing chuck 116 is shown in FIG.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery can 12 held in a standing posture on the carrier 13 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow X via the belt conveyor 14, and intermittently rotates in the direction of the arrow Y at the delivery position B. It fits into one of the first notches 26 of the first turntable 24. For this reason, the carrier 13 is transported in the direction of the arrow Y under the guiding action of the first rotary table 24 and the carry-in guide 28 while being held on the first mounting plate 30, and the carrier table 13 is moved to the index table 18 at the carry-in position C. Fits into one of the two notches 32.

  The index table 18 is intermittently rotated in the arrow Z direction, and the carrier 13 fitted in the second notch 32 is conveyed to the annular groove forming position A under the guide action of the fixed guide 34 and the index table 18. . At the annular groove forming position A, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, an opening 38 is formed in the second mounting plate 36, and the carrier 13 is a bottom holding mechanism inserted into the opening 38. 50 is placed on a cradle 60 constituting 50.

  When the index table 18 is stopped at this position, the V blocks 118a and 118b constituting the opening / closing chuck 116 are displaced in directions close to each other, gripping the outer peripheral portion of the battery can 12 on the carrier 13, and in the axial direction thereof. Perform positioning. During this time, the first plate cam 80 constituting the pressurizing mechanism 54 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow, and the first link 82 contacting the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cam 80 swings via the fulcrum 84, and the other end. The cam follower 88 that engages with the opening 86 formed in the portion moves integrally with the shaft 92 and the block 90 to the battery can 12 side. For this reason, the upper linear guide 76 moves to the battery can 12 side along the rail member 74 through the elastic force of the upper spring 94 a that contacts the block 90.

  At that time, the motor 96 constituting the rotation mechanism 56 is driven, and the spline shaft 72 rotates through the drive pulley 98a, the belt 99, and the driven pulley 98b. Accordingly, the mandrel 70 is displaced toward the battery can 12 while rotating, and is fitted to the opening side end 12c of the battery can 12.

  At this point, the V blocks 118a and 118b constituting the opening / closing chuck 116 move in different directions, and the gripping action of the battery can 12 by the opening / closing chuck 116 is released (see FIG. 5).

  The mandrel 70 further descends while rotating, and is equivalent to a pressing force equal to each other via the upper spring 94a and the lower spring 94b in the axial direction (arrow L direction) at both ends of the battery can 12, for example, 250 kg. When reaching the displacement, the lowering of the mandrel 70 is stopped.

  On the other hand, the second plate cam 100 constituting the roller pressing mechanism 58 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the second link 102 contacting the outer peripheral surface of the second plate cam 100 swings through the fulcrum 104 to block 110. Is displaced in the direction of the arrow r (in the radial direction of the battery can 12). For this reason, the grooving roller 57 presses a portion of the battery can 12 adjacent to the opening side end 12c in the radial inward direction, and an annular groove 12a is formed in the battery can 12 (see FIG. 6). After the grooving roller 57 is displaced by a predetermined amount in the direction of the arrow r to form the annular groove portion 12a, the grooving roller 57 and the mandrel 70 are respectively displaced in the direction away from the battery can 12, thereby forming the annular groove portion 12a. The work is finished.

  The battery can 12 that has completed the formation process of the annular groove portion 12a is configured so that the index table 18 is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow Z, so that the work unloading mechanism 22 is configured at the unloading position D under the guiding action of the fixed guide 34. The rotary table 40 is fitted into one of the third notches 42. The battery can 12 is sent out from the payout position E to the belt conveyor 14 along the carry-out guide 44 by the rotation of the second rotary table 40 in the arrow Y direction.

  In this case, in the present embodiment, the bottomed end 12b of the battery can 12 is held by the cradle 60, and the mandrel 70 is fitted to the opening side end 12c of the battery can 12, and the upper side An equal pressing force is applied to both ends of the battery can 12 in the axial direction via the spring 94a and the lower spring 94b. For this reason, when the grooved roller 57 is displaced in the direction of the arrow r to form the annular groove 12a in the battery can 12, the both ends of the battery can 12, that is, the bottomed end 12b and the opening side end The molding material is smoothly and reliably replenished from the 12c side.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the thickness of the battery can 12 including the annular groove 12a is uniformized and the desired strength is obtained without causing fluctuations in the thickness of the portion corresponding to the annular groove 12a. The effect that it can maintain reliably is acquired. In addition, the groove shape of the annular groove portion 12a can be stably formed in a desired shape, and there is an advantage that the stability of the battery dimensions is improved at once.

  By the way, when the length of the battery can 12 in the axial direction is different, the spacer 124 inserted into the hole 120 of the carrier 13 is replaced with another spacer 124 set to a desired dimension. Thereby, the height position of the opening side end portion 12c of each battery can 12 can be adjusted to a predetermined reference position, and the length change of the battery can 12 can be easily handled.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the mandrel 70 is displaced by the pressurizing mechanism 54 toward the receiving base 60 side while rotating the mandrel 70 by the rotating mechanism 56. The structure which equips the base 60 side with a rotation mechanism and a pressurization mechanism may be sufficient.

  Further, a plurality of apparatus main bodies 20 are arranged around the index table 18, or the first and second plate cams 80 and 100, the pressure mechanism 54 and the roller pressing mechanism 58 of the apparatus main body 20 are made common, and a plurality of apparatus main bodies 20 are arranged. If the cradle 60 and the plurality of grooving rollers 57 are configured to be integrally displaced, and the plurality of battery cans 12 fed to the index table 18 are processed at the same time, productivity can be improved. Furthermore, instead of using the index table 18, a linear intermittent conveyance mechanism can be used.

  Furthermore, the battery can 12 may be directly conveyed without using the carrier 13, and when the dimensional accuracy of the carrier 13 cannot be guaranteed, a cradle 60 having a size that can be inserted into the carrier 13 is used. The spacers 124 may be directly pushed up by the cradle 60.

It is a schematic block diagram of the manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic side view which shows the principal part structure of the said manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a carrier and a spacer for holding a battery can, FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the carrier and the spacer, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view of the carrier and the spacer. It is explanatory drawing of the state in which the battery can was hold | maintained by the opening / closing chuck | zipper. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the said battery can was wrapped with the mandrel. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the annular groove part was formed with the grooving roller. It is a timing diagram of a plate cam. It is a partially expanded explanatory view of the annular groove part after shaping | molding. It is explanatory drawing of the groove part formation process which concerns on patent document 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Manufacturing apparatus 12 ... Battery can 12a ... Ring-shaped groove part 12b ... Bottom end part 12c ... Opening side end part 13 ... Carrier 18 ... Index table 20 ... Apparatus main body 50 ... Bottom part holding mechanism 52 ... Opening part holding mechanism 54 ... Pressing mechanism 56 ... Rotating mechanism 57 ... Grooving roller 58 ... Roller pressing mechanism 60 ... Receiver 70 ... Mandrel 94a ... Upper spring 94b ... Lower spring 116 ... Opening / closing chuck

Claims (4)

A cylindrical battery manufacturing method for forming an annular groove in the vicinity of an opening of a battery can having a bottomed cylindrical shape,
By rotating the battery can in a state where axially equal pressing forces are applied to both ends of the battery can, the grooved roller is displaced in the radial direction of the battery can, thereby An annular groove is formed. A method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery. A cylindrical battery manufacturing apparatus for forming an annular groove in the vicinity of an opening of a battery can having a bottomed cylindrical shape,
A bottom holding mechanism for holding the bottomed end of the battery can;
An opening holding mechanism for holding the opening side end of the battery can;
A pressurizing mechanism that applies an equal pressing force in the axial direction to both ends of the battery can by the bottom holding mechanism and the opening holding mechanism;
A rotating mechanism that rotates the battery can while being pressed by the pressurizing mechanism;
A roller pressing mechanism that forms an annular groove by pressing a grooved roller in the vicinity of the opening of the battery can;
An apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical battery, comprising:   The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opening / closing chuck for positioning the battery can by gripping an outer peripheral portion of the battery can immediately before forming the annular groove. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a carrier for holding the battery can in an upright position in order to transport the battery can to the annular groove forming position via a transport mechanism,
An apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical battery, wherein a spacer having a length set in accordance with the axial length of the battery can is replaceably disposed on the carrier.

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