JP2013062179A - Powder rolling device and manufacturing method of rolled sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder rolling device capable of manufacturing a rolled sheet having uniform film thickness and density distribution in a width direction.SOLUTION: A powder rolling device comprises: a rolling unit 4 which molds a rolled sheet 20 by rolling a powder 8; a hopper 10 which stores the powder formed above the rolling unit; feeders 12, 14, and 16 which are plurally provided in a width direction of the rolled sheet and supply the powder to the hopper; measurement units 18A to 18C which measure a value indicating the film thickness of the rolled sheet molded by the rolling unit at plural locations in the width direction; and a control unit 54 which controls the powder level in the width direction in the hopper so that the film thickness in the width direction falls within a prescribed range on the basis of the value indicating the film thickness measured at the plural locations.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder rolling apparatus for rolling a powder containing an electrode active material and the like to manufacture a rolled sheet, and a method for manufacturing the rolled sheet.

  The demand for electrochemical devices such as lithium ion secondary batteries and electric double layer capacitors that are small and light, have high energy density, and can be repeatedly charged and discharged is expected to increase in the future from the environmental viewpoint. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have high energy density and are used in the fields of mobile phones and laptop computers. Electric double layer capacitors are capable of rapid charge and discharge and are used as memory backup compact power sources for personal computers. Yes. In addition, lithium ion capacitors that utilize the oxidation-reduction reaction (pseudo electric double layer capacity) on the surface of metal oxides or conductive polymers are also attracting attention because of their large capacity. With the expansion and development of applications, these electrochemical devices are required to have further improved performance such as low resistance and large capacity.

  The electrode of such an electrochemical element can be obtained as an electrode sheet, for example, powder rolling using a powder rolling device to produce a rolled sheet such as an electrode sheet from a powder containing an electrode active material Has been done. In the powder rolling apparatus, a rolled sheet is obtained by continuously rolling and forming powder supplied between two rolling rolls. Here, in order to make the density distribution and film thickness distribution of the manufactured rolled sheet uniform, it is required to supply the powder uniformly and constantly between the rolls.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the conventional general powder rolling apparatus 70, in order to supply the powder d to the roll gap part of a pair of rolls a and b arranged horizontally and in parallel, above the rolls a and b. A hopper c that forms a rectangular space was installed on the hopper c, and the powder d was supplied to the hopper c by manual charging. In the powder rolling apparatus 70, the powder d is caught between the roll a and the roll b by the frictional force generated by the rotation of the rolls a and b, and the rolled sheet e is directly and continuously rolled. In the conventional powder rolling apparatus 70, when the amount of the powder d existing in the hopper c is reduced, a portion having a small density of the formed rolled sheet is generated, and thus there is a problem that the product quality is deteriorated and the yield is lowered. .

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, Patent Document 1 describes a powder rolling device 72 that detects a powder level H ₁ in a hopper c with a level meter l. In the powder rolling device 72, the horizontal direction in FIG. 13, respectively hopper side plate g, h and using the position adjusting device j, k as the powder level H ₁ becomes constant based on the output from the level gauge l Is driven while the volume of the hopper c is changed, and the reduction of the density of the rolled sheet is prevented.

JP-A 63-93804

  By the way, when forming a rolled sheet, it is also required to make the film thickness uniform in the width direction (axial direction of the rolling roll). However, in the powder rolling apparatus 72 of Patent Document 1, both ends of the rolls a and b are used. There was a problem that the roll gap fluctuated and the film thickness and density distribution in the width direction were not uniform.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a powder rolling apparatus and a method for producing a rolled sheet, which can produce a rolled sheet having a uniform film thickness and density distribution in the width direction.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventor can obtain a rolled sheet having a uniform film thickness and density distribution in the width direction by controlling the level of the powder in the width direction. I found.

  The present invention has been completed based on these findings.

Thus, according to the present invention,
(1) A rolling part that forms a rolled sheet by rolling powder, a hopper that is formed above the rolling part and stores the powder, and a plurality of hoppers are provided in the width direction of the rolled sheet. A feeder that supplies the powder, a measurement unit that measures a value indicating the film thickness of the rolled sheet formed by the rolling unit in a width direction, and a value that indicates the film thickness measured at the plurality of points. A powder rolling apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a level of the powder in the width direction in the hopper so that the film thickness in the width direction is in a certain range based on
(2) A partition plate that fractionates the powder stored in the hopper in the width direction is provided, and the control unit controls the level of the powder for each section fractionated by the partition plate. (1) the powder rolling device according to (1),
(3) The powder rolling device according to (2), wherein the feeder is provided for each of the sections.
(4) The powder according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the rolling unit includes a pair of rolls, and the measurement unit measures a distance between gaps of the pair of rolls. Rolling equipment,
(5) The powder rolling apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the measurement unit measures the film thickness,
(6) A rolling step for forming a rolled sheet by rolling powder, and a measuring step for measuring a value indicating the film thickness of the rolled sheet formed by the rolling step at a plurality of locations in the width direction of the rolled sheet; From the feeders provided in the width direction of the rolled sheet so that the film thickness in the width direction is in a certain range based on the values indicating the film thickness measured at the plurality of locations, above the rolling part. And a control step of controlling the level of the powder in the width direction in the hopper, and supplying the powder into a hopper that is formed in the hopper for storing the powder,
(7) A partition plate for fractionating the powder stored in the hopper in the width direction is provided, and the control step controls the level of the powder for each section fractionated by the partition plate. (6) The method for producing a rolled sheet according to (6),
(8) The method for producing a rolled sheet according to (7), wherein the feeder is provided for each section.
(9) Any of (6) to (8), wherein the rolling step rolls the powder by a pair of rolls, and the measuring step measures a distance of a gap between the pair of rolls. A method for producing a rolled sheet according to claim 1,
(10) The method for producing a rolled sheet according to any one of (6) to (9), wherein the measuring step measures the film thickness.

  According to the powder rolling apparatus and the rolled sheet manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a rolled sheet having a uniform film thickness and density distribution in the width direction.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a figure which shows the center vibration feeder which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the center vibration feeder which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which compares gap control and film thickness control concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is the figure which looked at the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a figure which shows the structure in the hopper of the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a figure which shows the structure in the hopper of the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the powder rolling apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a figure which shows the outline of the conventional powder rolling apparatus. It is a figure which shows the outline of the conventional powder rolling apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a powder rolling apparatus and a rolled sheet manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a powder rolling apparatus according to the first embodiment. The powder rolling apparatus 2 includes a rolling roll 4 including a pair of rolls 4A and 4B arranged horizontally and in parallel, a hopper 10 for storing powder 8 formed above the rolls 4A and 4B of the rolling roll 4, and a hopper 10 The center vibration feeder 12 and the end vibration feeders 14 and 16 for supplying the powder 8 to the gap, the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C for measuring the gap between the rolls 4A and 4B of the rolling roll 4, the control unit 54, and the targets of the rolled sheet 20 An operation unit 56 that receives an input of a film thickness, and a roll driving unit 58 that includes a motor that drives the rolls 4A and 4B of the rolling roll 4 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the powder rolling apparatus 2 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 2, the central vibration feeder 12 is provided at the approximate center in the axial direction of the rolling roll 4, and the end vibration feeders 14 and 16 are provided at the axial ends of the rolling roll 4, respectively. In FIG. 2, the gap detection sensors 18 </ b> A to 18 </ b> C are indicated by dotted lines in order to represent the positional relationship among the central vibration feeder 12, the end vibration feeders 14 and 16, and the gap detection sensors 18 </ b> A to 18 </ b> C.

  As shown in this figure, a plurality of gap detection sensors 18A to 18C are provided outside each of the rolls 4A and 4B constituting the rolling roll 4 and in the axial direction of the rolling roll 4 (the width direction of the rolled sheet 20). It has been. That is, the gap detection sensor 18A is provided at substantially the same position as the end vibration feeder 14 in the width direction, and the gap detection sensor 18B is provided at substantially the same position as the center vibration feeder 12 in the width direction. 18C is provided at substantially the same position as the end vibration feeder 16 in the width direction. The gap detection sensors 18A to 18C are provided at substantially the same position with respect to the flow direction (direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rolling roll 4). Further, as the gap detection sensors 18 </ b> A to 18 </ b> C, a contact displacement sensor, a laser sensor, an overcurrent sensor, an incremental displacement sensor provided on a roll pushing cylinder shaft of the rolling roll 4, or the like can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the central vibration feeder 12 feeds the powder 8 into the feeding hopper 24, feeds the powder 8 to the hopper 10, and feeds the feeding port 26 having a predetermined length in the downward direction into the feeding hopper 24. A trough 28 having a passage for sending the powder 8 to the supply port 26, a vibration source 30 for vibrating the central vibration feeder 12, and the motor for driving the central vibration feeder 12 in the direction of the arrow (vertical direction) shown in FIGS. An up-and-down moving platform 32 that is moved by a drive source such as the above-mentioned is provided. A slit material such as a wire mesh may be provided for uniformly distributing the powder 8 inside the supply port 26 and for reducing the weight of the powder 8 in the hopper 10.

  Further, the end vibration feeder 14 includes a making hopper 34, a trough 38, a vibration source 40, and a vertical moving base 42, and the end vibration feeder 16 includes a making hopper 44, a trough 48, a vibration source 50, and a vertical moving base 52. (See FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 54 controls the roll driving unit 58 to drive the rolling roll 4, as well as the vibration source 30 of the central vibration feeder 12, the drive source of the vertical moving platform 32, and the end vibration feeder 14. Control is performed on the vibration source 40 and the drive source of the vertical moving base 42, the vibration source 50 of the end vibration feeder 16, and the drive source of the vertical moving base 52. Here, the control unit 54 vibrates the vibration source 30 to supply the powder 8 into the hopper 10, so that the lower end of the supply port 26 and the level H _{1 of the} powder 8 are always matched. Here, the lower end (supply port lower end) of the supply port 26 is a portion located at the lowermost portion of the supply port (opening) in the vertical direction. The level H ₁ of the powder 8 indicates the level of the powder 8 located immediately below the central vibration feeder 12. The level H ₁ of the powder 8 is determined by the thickness T _G of the target film thickness T _D and the resulting rolled sheet 20 will be described later, the control unit 54 drives the drive source of the vertical movement frame 32 of the central vibrating feeder 12 Thus, the position of the lower end of the supply port 26 is moved up and down.

Here, as a method for adjusting the height of the lower end of the supply port 26, in addition to the above method, a structure may be adopted in which the position of the supply port 26 can be changed by changing the angle of the feeder with respect to the horizontal. As shown by the solid line arrow, the direction (angle) of the supply port 26 can be varied from vertically downward to horizontal, and the supply port 26 itself can be expanded and contracted with respect to the feeder as shown by the dotted line arrow in FIG. It is good also as a simple structure. Thus, by adjusting the height of the lower end of the supply port 26, since the level H ₁ of the lower end and the powder 8 of the supply port 26 is always coincident, the level H ₁ of the powder 8 can be adjusted.

  On the other hand, the control unit 54 drives the drive sources of the vertical moving platforms 32, 42, and 52, respectively. Further, the control unit 54 vibrates the vibration sources 40 and 50 of the end vibration feeders 14 and 16 to supply the powder 8 into the hopper 10.

Next, the control of the level of the powder 8 using the outputs from the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C will be described. When the target thickness _{T D} of the rolled sheet 20 through the operation unit 56 is inputted, the control unit 54 the central vibrating feeder 12, the drive source for vertically moving platform 32, 42 and 52 of the end portion vibrating feeder 14 (in the end the vibrating feeder 14, 16 not shown) level _{H 1} to the supply port 26 of the powder 8 corresponding control to the target film thickness _{T D} move. Here, the relationship between the thickness T _G of the rolled sheet 20 obtained as the powder level H ₁ is obtained in advance. For example, when the powder level H ₁ is 100 mm, the film thickness _TG of the rolled sheet 20 obtained is about 370 μm, and when the powder level H ₁ is 200 mm, the film thickness _TG of the rolled sheet 20 obtained is about 420μm, and the thickness _{T G} is relation of approximately 450μm rolled sheet 20 when the powder level _{H 1} is 300mm is obtained.

  Next, when rolling of the powder 8 is started by rotating the rolls 4A and 4B of the rolling roll 4 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 54 displays the measurement results output from the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C. A signal indicating is received.

Here, the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C measure the amount of movement of the rolls 4A and 4B in the left-right direction in FIG. 2, and based on the amount of movement, the distance W between the rolls 4A and 4B is detected. That is, the initial value W _I of the roll distance between the rolls 4A and roll 4B rolling before the supply of the powder 8 roll 4 was measured, when roll forming the powder 8 is started from a gap detection sensor 18A~18C The distance W between the roll 4A and the roll 4B is detected based on the output. That is, when the movement amount of the rolls 4A and 4B measured by the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C is M, the distance W is obtained as W _I + M.

Therefore, the initial values of the distances between the rolls 4A and 4B at the positions measured by the gap detection sensors 18A, 18B, and 18C with respect to the axial direction of the rolling roll 4 are respectively W _I (A), W _I (B), and W and _I (C), when the movement amount measured by the gap sensor 18A~18C and _M a ~M _C respectively, the distance at the position of the gap detection sensor 18A is _{W a = W I (a)} + M a, the gap distance at the position of the detection sensor 18B is _{W B = W I (B)} + M B, the distance at the position of the gap detection sensor 18C is the _{W C = W I (C)} + M C. The movement amount _M A ~M _C and roll 4A, 4B moves inward becomes a negative value, the moving amount and roll 4A, 4B moves outward _M A ~M _C has a positive value.

Next, the relationship between the distances W _{A to} W _C and the respective film thicknesses T _{A to} T _{C at} positions where the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C in the width direction of the obtained rolled sheet 20 are provided is obtained in advance. It makes it possible to calculate the thickness _T a through T _C respectively from the distance _W a to _W-C. The thickness T _A is the thickness of the rolled sheet 20 is calculated based on the output from the gap sensor 18A, the thickness T _B is the rolling sheet 20 is calculated based on the output from the gap sensor 18B thickness, the thickness T _C is the thickness of the rolled sheet 20 that is calculated based on the output from the gap sensor 18C. For example, if the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 obtained by the _{T G,} the distance W is the thickness _{T G} in the case of 200μm is about 420 [mu] m, the distance W is the thickness _{T G} in the case of 210μm is about 450 [mu] m, the distance W Is 220 μm, the film thickness _TG can be calculated from the distance W by obtaining a relationship such as the film thickness _TG of about 500 μm in advance.

Next, the control unit 54 calculates the film thicknesses T _{A to} T _C of the rolled sheet 20 based on the outputs from the plurality of gap detection sensors 18A to 18C, respectively, and compares them with the target film thickness T _D. The level of the powder 8 is controlled. For example, the control unit 54 compares the thickness T _B of the rolled sheet 20 is calculated based on the output from the target thickness T _D and the gap sensor 18B which is input via the operation unit 56. Here, the film thickness T _B of the rolled sheet 20 obtained higher level H ₁ of the powder 8 of the hopper 10 as described above becomes thicker, the higher the level H ₁ of the powder 8 of the hopper 10 is low yield is the thickness _{T B} of the rolled sheet 20 becomes thinner.

Therefore, when the direction of the thickness T _B of the target film thickness T rolled sheet 20 that is calculated than _D is thin, the control unit 54 controls the drive source of the vertical movement frame 32 of the central vibrating feeder 12 powder Increase level H ₁ of 8. On the other hand, if the direction of the thickness T _B of the target film thickness T rolled sheet 20 that is calculated than _D is thick, the control unit 54 controls the drive source of the vertical movement frame 32 of the central vibrating feeder 12 powder Decrease level H ₁ of 8. Further, when the thickness T _B of the rolled sheet 20 and the calculated target thickness T _D match, the control unit 54 of the vertically moving frame 32 relative to the drive source for vertically moving stand 32 of the central vibrating feeder 12 Does not control to move up and down.

Further, when the direction of the thickness T _A of the target thickness T _D rolled sheet 20 that is calculated than is thin, the powder in the hopper 10 by driving the vibration source 40 of the control unit 54 ends the vibrating feeder 14 By supplying 8, the level height of the powder 8 at the end of the hopper 10 is controlled. If towards the film thickness T _C of the target thickness T rolled sheet 20 that is calculated than _D is thin, the control unit 54 of the powder 8 to the hopper 10 by the vibration source 50 is driven end vibrating feeder 16 By supplying, the level height of the powder 8 at the end of the hopper 10 is controlled.

  Examples of the powder 8 stored in the hopper 10 include composite particles containing an electrode active material. The composite particles include an electrode active material and a binder, and may include other dispersants, conductive materials, and additives as necessary. When composite particles containing an electrode active material are used as the powder 8, the obtained rolled sheet can be used as an electrode layer made of an electrode material.

  When the composite particles are used as an electrode material for a lithium ion secondary battery, examples of the positive electrode active material include metal oxides capable of reversibly doping and dedoping lithium ions. Examples of such metal oxides include lithium cobaltate, lithium nickelate, lithium manganate, lithium iron phosphate, lithium manganese phosphate, lithium vanadium phosphate, lithium iron vanadate, nickel-manganese-lithium cobaltate, nickel-cobalt acid. Lithium, nickel-lithium manganate, iron-lithium manganate, iron-manganese-lithium cobaltate, lithium iron silicate, iron silicate-lithium manganese oxide, vanadium oxide, copper vanadate, niobium oxide, titanium sulfide, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum sulfide , Etc. In addition, the positive electrode active material illustrated above may be used independently according to a use, and may be used in mixture of multiple types.

  Furthermore, polymers such as polyacetylene, poly-p-phenylene and polyquinone can be mentioned. Of these, it is preferable to use a lithium-containing metal oxide.

  In addition, as an active material of the negative electrode as a counter electrode of the positive electrode for the lithium ion secondary battery, low crystalline carbon (amorphous carbon) such as graphitizable carbon, non-graphitizable carbon, activated carbon, pyrolytic carbon, Graphite (natural graphite, artificial graphite), carbon nanowalls, carbon nanotubes, or composite carbon materials of carbon having different physical properties, alloy materials such as tin and silicon, silicon oxide, tin oxide, vanadium oxide And oxides such as lithium titanate, polyacene, and the like. In addition, the electrode active material illustrated above may be used independently according to a use, and may be used in mixture of multiple types.

  The shape of the electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery electrode is preferably a granulated particle. When the shape of the particles is spherical, a higher density electrode can be formed during electrode molding.

  The volume average particle diameter of the electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery electrode is usually 0.1 to 100 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 0.8 to 20 μm for both the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

The tap density of the electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery is not particularly limited, but a material having a positive electrode of 2 g / cm ³ or more and a negative electrode of 0.6 g / cm ³ or more is preferably used.

  When composite particles are used as electrode materials for lithium ion capacitors, active materials for positive electrodes include activated carbon, polyacene organic semiconductor (PAS), carbon nanotubes, carbon whiskers that can be reversibly doped and dedoped with anions and / or cations. And graphite. Preferred electrode active materials are activated carbon and carbon nanotubes.

  In addition, as the negative electrode active material as the counter electrode of the positive electrode for a lithium ion capacitor, any of the materials exemplified as the negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery can be used. The volume average particle diameter of the electrode active material used for the electrode for a lithium ion capacitor is usually 0.1 to 100 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, and more preferably 0.8 to 20 μm.

When using activated carbon as the lithium ion capacitor electrode active material, the specific surface area of activated carbon, ^{30 m} 2 / g or more, preferably 500~3,000m ² / g, more preferably 1,500~2,600m ² / g . The capacitance per unit weight of activated carbon tends to increase as the specific surface area increases up to about 2,000 m ² / g, but thereafter the capacitance does not increase so much. The density of the material layer tends to decrease, and the capacitance density tends to decrease. Moreover, it is preferable in terms of rapid charge / discharge characteristics, which is a feature of a lithium ion capacitor, that the pore size of the activated carbon is compatible with the size of the electrolyte ion. Therefore, an electrode mixture layer having desired capacity density and input / output characteristics can be obtained by appropriately selecting an electrode active material.

  When the composite particles are used as an electrode material for an electric double layer capacitor, any of the materials exemplified as the positive electrode active material for a lithium ion capacitor can be used as the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material.

  The binder used for the composite particles is not particularly limited as long as it is a compound capable of binding the electrode active materials to each other. A suitable binder is a dispersion type binder having a property of being dispersed in a solvent. Examples of the dispersion-type binder include high molecular compounds such as silicon polymers, fluorine-containing polymers, conjugated diene polymers, acrylate polymers, polyimides, polyamides, polyurethanes, and preferably fluorine-containing polymers. Polymers, conjugated diene polymers and acrylate polymers, more preferably conjugated diene polymers and acrylate polymers.

  The conjugated diene polymer is a homopolymer of a conjugated diene or a copolymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing a conjugated diene, or a hydrogenated product thereof. The proportion of the conjugated diene in the monomer mixture is usually 40% by weight or more, preferably 50% by weight or more, more preferably 60% by weight or more. Specific examples of conjugated diene polymers include conjugated diene homopolymers such as polybutadiene and polyisoprene; aromatic vinyl / conjugated diene copolymers such as carboxy-modified styrene / butadiene copolymer (SBR) A vinyl cyanide / conjugated diene copolymer such as acrylonitrile / butadiene copolymer (NBR); hydrogenated SBR, hydrogenated NBR, and the like.

The acrylate polymer has the general formula (1): CH ₂ = CR ¹ -COOR ² (wherein R ¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R ² represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group, and R ² further represents An ether group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, a fluorine group, a phosphoric acid group, an epoxy group, and an amino group.), A polymer containing a monomer unit derived from a compound represented by , A homopolymer of the compound represented by the general formula (1), or a copolymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing the compound represented by the general formula (1). Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (1) include methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, propyl (meth) acrylate, isopropyl (meth) acrylate, and (meth) acrylate n. -Butyl, isobutyl (meth) acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, isopentyl (meth) acrylate, isooctyl (meth) acrylate, isobornyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) (Meth) acrylic acid alkyl esters such as isodecyl acrylate, lauryl (meth) acrylate, stearyl (meth) acrylate, and tridecyl (meth) acrylate; butoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, ethoxydiethylene glycol (meth) acrylate , (Meth) acrylic acid methoxydipropylene Recall, (meth) acrylic acid methoxypolyethylene glycol, (meth) acrylic acid phenoxyethyl, (meth) acrylic acid tetrahydrofurfuryl ether group-containing (meth) acrylic acid ester; (meth) acrylic acid-2-hydroxyethyl, Hydroxyl-containing (meth) acrylic such as (meth) acrylic acid-2-hydroxypropyl, (meth) acrylic acid-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl, 2- (meth) acryloyloxyethyl-2-hydroxyethylphthalic acid Acid ester; 2- (meth) acryloyloxyethylphthalic acid, carboxylic acid-containing (meth) acrylic acid ester such as 2- (meth) acryloyloxyethylphthalic acid; Fluorine such as perfluorooctylethyl (meth) acrylate Group-containing (meth) acrylic acid ester; Phosphoric acid group-containing (meth) acrylic acid esters such as ethyl phosphate; Epoxy group-containing (meth) acrylic acid esters such as glycidyl (meth) acrylate; Amino group content such as dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate ( (Meth) acrylic acid ester; and the like.

  These (meth) acrylic acid esters can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester is preferable, and methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, n-butyl (meth) acrylate and alkyl groups have 6 to 12 carbon atoms. (Meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester is more preferred. By selecting these, it becomes possible to reduce the swelling property with respect to the electrolytic solution, and to improve the cycle characteristics.

  Furthermore, acrylate polymers include, for example, carboxylic acid esters having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds, aromatic vinyl monomers, amide monomers, olefins, diene monomers, Copolymerizable monomers such as vinyl ketones and heterocyclic ring-containing vinyl compounds can also be copolymerized. Further, an α, β-unsaturated nitrile compound or a vinyl compound having an acid component can be copolymerized.

  The content ratio of the (meth) acrylic acid ester unit in the acrylate polymer is preferably 50 to 95% by weight, more preferably 60 to 90% by weight. By setting the content ratio of the (meth) acrylic acid ester unit in the above range, the flexibility in forming the electrode can be improved, and the resistance to cracking can be increased.

  Examples of the α, β-unsaturated nitrile compound include acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, α-chloroacrylonitrile, α-bromoacrylonitrile and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile are preferable, and acrylonitrile is more preferable.

  The content ratio of the α, β-unsaturated nitrile compound unit in the acrylate polymer is usually 0.1 to 40% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 30% by weight, more preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight. is there. By setting the content ratio of the α, β-unsaturated nitrile compound unit in the above range, the binding force as the binder can be further increased.

  Examples of the vinyl compound having an acid component include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and itaconic acid are preferable, methacrylic acid and itaconic acid are more preferable, and it is particularly preferable to use methacrylic acid and itaconic acid in combination.

  The content ratio of the vinyl monomer unit having an acid component in the acrylate polymer is preferably 1.0 to 10% by weight, more preferably 1.5 to 5.0% by weight. By making the content rate of the vinyl monomer unit which has an acid component into the said range, stability at the time of setting it as a slurry can be improved.

  The shape of the dispersion-type binder is not particularly limited, but is preferably particulate. By being particulate, the binding property is good, and it is possible to suppress deterioration of the capacity of the manufactured electrode and deterioration due to repeated charge and discharge. Examples of the particulate binder include those in which the particles of the binder such as latex are dispersed in water, and particulates obtained by drying such a dispersion.

  The volume average particle diameter of the dispersion-type binder is preferably 0.001 to 100 μm, more preferably 10 to 1000 nm, and still more preferably 50 to 500 nm. By setting the average particle diameter of the dispersion-type binder particles in the above range, the strength and flexibility as the obtained electrode are improved while the stability in the slurry is improved.

  The amount of the binder is usually 0.1 to 50 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 15 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material. is there. When the amount of the binder is within this range, sufficient adhesion between the obtained electrode mixture layer and the current collector can be secured, and the internal resistance can be lowered.

  As described above, a dispersant may be used for the composite particles as necessary. Specific examples of the dispersant include cellulosic polymers such as carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose, and ammonium salts or alkali metal salts thereof, alginates such as propylene glycol alginate, and alginates such as sodium alginate. , Polyacrylic acid, and polyacrylic acid (or methacrylic acid) salts such as sodium polyacrylic acid (or methacrylic acid), polyvinyl alcohol, modified polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polycarboxylic acid, oxidized starch, phosphoric acid starch , Casein, various modified starches, chitin, chitosan derivatives and the like. These dispersants can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, a cellulose polymer is preferable, and carboxymethyl cellulose or an ammonium salt or an alkali metal salt thereof is particularly preferable. The amount of these dispersants used is not particularly limited as long as the effect of the present invention is not impaired, but is usually 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material. .5 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.8 to 2 parts by weight.

  As described above, a conductive material may be used for the composite particles as necessary. Specific examples of the conductive material include conductive carbon black such as furnace black, acetylene black, and ketjen black (registered trademark of Akzo Nobel Chemicals Bethloten Fennaut Shap). Among these, acetylene black and ketjen black are preferable.

  The volume average particle diameter of the conductive material is preferably smaller than the volume average particle diameter of the electrode active material, and the range is usually 0.001 to 10 μm, preferably 0.05 to 5 μm, more preferably 0.01 to 1 μm. It is. When the volume average particle diameter of the conductive material is within this range, high conductivity can be obtained with a smaller amount of use. These conductive materials can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The amount of these conductive materials used is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, but is preferably 0.1 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material. 0.5 to 15 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 10 parts by weight. By setting the content ratio of the conductive material in the above range, the internal resistance can be sufficiently reduced while keeping the electric capacity of the obtained electrochemical element high.

  The composite particles are obtained by granulating using an electrode active material, a binder, and other components such as the conductive material added as necessary, and include at least an electrode active material and a binder, Each of the above does not exist as an independent particle, but forms one particle by two or more components including an electrode active material and a binder as constituent components. Specifically, a plurality of (more preferably several to several tens) electrode active materials are formed by combining a plurality of the individual particles of the two or more components to form secondary particles. It is preferable that the particles are bound to form particles.

The shape of the composite particles is preferably substantially spherical from the viewpoint of fluidity. That is, the short axis diameter of the composite particles is L _s , the long axis diameter is L _l , L _a = (L _s + L _l ) / 2, and a value of (1− (L ₁ −L _s ) / L _a ) × 100 Is a sphericity (%), the sphericity is preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more.

Here, the minor axis diameter L _s and the major axis diameter L _l are values measured from a scanning electron micrograph image.

  The volume average particle diameter of the composite particles is usually in the range of 0.1 to 1000 μm, preferably 1 to 200 μm, more preferably 30 to 150 μm. By making the volume average particle diameter of the composite particles in this range, an electrode mixture layer having a desired thickness can be easily obtained, which is preferable.

  The average particle size of the composite particles is a volume average particle size calculated by measuring with a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device (for example, SALD-3100; manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).

  The structure of the composite particle is not particularly limited, but a structure in which the binder is uniformly dispersed in the composite particle without being unevenly distributed on the surface of the composite particle is preferable.

  The method for producing the composite particles is not particularly limited, but the composite particles can be easily obtained by the following two production methods.

  The first method for producing composite particles is a fluidized bed granulation method. The fluidized bed granulation method is a step of obtaining a binder, and optionally a slurry containing a conductive material, a dispersing agent and other additives, and flowing the electrode active material in a heated air stream, The slurry is sprayed to bind the electrode active materials to each other and dry the slurry. Hereinafter, the fluidized bed granulation method will be described.

(Fluidized bed granulation method)
First, a slurry containing a binder and, if necessary, a conductive material, a dispersant and other additives is obtained. Water is most preferably used as the solvent used to obtain the slurry, but an organic solvent can also be used. Examples of the organic solvent include alkyl alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and propyl alcohol; alkyl ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane and diglyme; diethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and N-methyl- Examples include 2-pyrrolidone (hereinafter sometimes referred to as NMP) and amides such as dimethylimidazolidinone, and alkyl alcohols are preferred. When an organic solvent having a lower boiling point than water is used in combination, the drying rate can be increased during fluid granulation. In addition, when an organic solvent having a boiling point lower than that of water is used in combination, the dispersibility of the binder or the solubility of the soluble resin changes, and the viscosity and fluidity of the slurry can be adjusted depending on the amount or type of the solvent. Can be improved.

  The amount of the solvent used when preparing the slurry is such that the solid content concentration of the slurry is usually in the range of 1 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 50% by weight, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight. Amount. When the amount of the solvent is within this range, the binder is preferably dispersed uniformly.

  The method or procedure for dispersing or dissolving the binder, if necessary, the conductive material, the dispersant and other additives in the solvent is not particularly limited. For example, the binder, the conductive material, the dispersant and the other in the solvent. Method of adding and mixing the additive, after dissolving the dispersant in the solvent, adding and mixing the binder (for example, latex) dispersed in the solvent, and finally adding the conductive material and other additives And a method in which a conductive material is added to a dispersant dissolved in a solvent and mixed, and a binder dispersed in a solvent is added thereto and mixed. Examples of the mixing means include mixing equipment such as a ball mill, a sand mill, a bead mill, a pigment disperser, a crusher, an ultrasonic disperser, a homogenizer, and a planetary mixer. Mixing is usually performed in the range of room temperature to 80 ° C. for 10 minutes to several hours.

  Next, the electrode active material is fluidized, and the slurry is sprayed thereon for fluid granulation. Examples of fluidized granulation include a fluidized bed, a deformed fluidized bed, and a spouted bed. In the fluidized bed method, the electrode active material is fluidized with hot air, and the slurry is sprayed from the spray or the like to perform agglomeration and granulation. The modified fluidized bed is the same as the fluidized bed, but is a method of giving a circulating flow to the powder in the bed and discharging the granulated material that has grown relatively large by using the classification effect. In addition, the method using the spouted bed is a method in which slurry from a spray or the like is attached to coarse particles using the characteristics of the spouted bed and granulated while being dried at the same time. As the method for producing composite particles in the present invention, a fluidized bed or a deformed fluidized bed is preferred among these three methods.

  The temperature of the slurry to be sprayed is usually room temperature, but may be heated to room temperature or higher. The temperature of the hot air used for fluidization is usually 70 to 300 ° C, preferably 80 to 200 ° C.

  By the above production method, composite particles containing an electrode active material, a binder, and, if necessary, a conductive material, a dispersant, and other additives can be obtained.

  The second production method of the composite particles is a spray drying granulation method. The spray drying granulation method described below is preferable because the composite particles of the present invention can be obtained relatively easily. Hereinafter, the spray drying granulation method will be described.

(Spray drying granulation method)
First, a slurry for composite particles containing an electrode active material and a binder is prepared. The slurry for composite particles can be prepared by dispersing or dissolving an electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material added as necessary in a solvent. In this case, when the binder is dispersed in water as a dispersion medium, it can be added in a state dispersed in water.

  As the solvent used for obtaining the composite particle slurry, water is usually used, but a mixed solvent of water and an organic solvent may be used. Examples of the organic solvent that can be used in this case include alkyl alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and propyl alcohol, alkyl ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, and diglyme, diethylformamide, Examples thereof include amides such as dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and dimethylimidazolidinone. Among these, alcohols are preferable. By using water and an organic solvent having a lower boiling point than water, the drying rate can be increased during spray drying. Thereby, the viscosity and fluidity of the slurry for composite particles can be adjusted, and the production efficiency can be improved.

  The viscosity of the composite particle slurry is preferably in the range of 10 to 3,000 mPa · s, more preferably 30 to 1,500 mPa · s, and still more preferably 50 to 1,000 mPa · s at room temperature. When the viscosity of the slurry for composite particles is within this range, the productivity of the spray drying granulation step can be increased.

  Moreover, in this invention, when preparing the slurry for composite particles, you may add a dispersing agent and surfactant as needed.

  Examples of the surfactant include amphoteric surfactants such as anionic, cationic, nonionic, and nonionic anions, and anionic or nonionic surfactants that are easily thermally decomposed are preferable. The compounding amount of the surfactant is preferably 50 parts by weight or less, more preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, and further preferably 0.5 to 5 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the positive electrode active material. .

  The method or order of dispersing or dissolving the electrode active material, the binder, and the conductive material added as necessary in the solvent is not particularly limited. Moreover, as a mixing apparatus, a ball mill, a sand mill, a bead mill, a pigment disperser, a crusher, an ultrasonic disperser, a homogenizer, a homomixer, a planetary mixer, etc. can be used, for example. Mixing is usually performed in the range of room temperature to 80 ° C. for 10 minutes to several hours.

  Subsequently, the obtained slurry for composite particles is granulated by spray drying. Spray drying is a method of spraying and drying a slurry in hot air. An atomizer is used as an apparatus used for spraying slurry. There are two types of atomizers: a rotating disk system and a pressurizing system. In the rotating disk system, slurry is introduced almost at the center of a disk that rotates at high speed, and the slurry is removed from the disk by the centrifugal force of the disk. In this case, the slurry is atomized. In the rotating disk system, the rotational speed of the disk depends on the size of the disk, but is usually 5,000 to 30,000 rpm, preferably 15,000 to 30,000 rpm. The lower the rotational speed of the disk, the larger the spray droplets and the larger the average particle size of the resulting composite particles. Examples of the rotating disk type atomizer include a pin type and a vane type, and a pin type atomizer is preferable. A pin-type atomizer is a type of centrifugal spraying device that uses a spraying plate, and the spraying plate has a plurality of spraying rollers removably mounted on a concentric circle along its periphery between upper and lower mounting disks. It consists of The slurry for composite particles is introduced from the center of the spray disk, adheres to the spray roller by centrifugal force, moves outward on the roller surface, and finally sprays away from the roller surface. On the other hand, the pressurization method is a method in which the slurry for composite particles is pressurized and sprayed from a nozzle to be dried.

  The temperature of the slurry for composite particles to be sprayed is usually room temperature, but may be higher than room temperature by heating. Moreover, the hot air temperature at the time of spray-drying is 80-250 degreeC normally, Preferably it is 100-200 degreeC. In the spray drying method, the method of blowing hot air is not particularly limited. For example, the method in which the hot air and the spraying direction flow side by side, the method in which the hot air is sprayed at the top of the drying tower and descends with the hot air, and the sprayed droplets and hot air flow countercurrently. Examples include a contact method, and a method in which sprayed droplets first flow in parallel with hot air, then drop by gravity and contact countercurrent.

  In addition to the method of spraying the composite particle slurry having the electrode active material and the binder in a lump as the spraying method, the slurry containing the binder and other additives as required is fluidized. A method of spraying on the electrode active material can also be used. From the standpoint of ease of particle size control, productivity, and reduction in particle size distribution, an optimal method may be appropriately selected according to the components of the composite particles.

  The electrode mixture layer produced by the dry molding method includes the composite particles described above. The composite particles can obtain an electrode mixture layer having desired physical properties by containing other binders and other additives alone or as necessary. The content of the composite particles contained in the electrode mixture layer is preferably 50% by weight or more, more preferably 70% by weight or more, and further preferably 90% by weight or more.

  As another binder used as necessary, for example, the binder contained in the composite particles described above can be used. Since the composite particles already contain a binder, it is not necessary to add another binder separately when manufacturing the electrode composite layer, but in order to further increase the binding force between the composite particles. Other binders may be added. In addition, when the other binder is added, the amount of the other binder added is preferably 0.01 with respect to 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material in total with the binder in the composite particles. -10 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1-5 parts by weight. Other additives include molding aids such as water and alcohol, and these can be added by appropriately selecting an amount that does not impair the effects of the present invention.

  Further, when rolling the rolled sheet 20 from the powder 8, the rolled sheet may be rolled on one or both sides of the backup base material. Here, the backup substrate may be a thin film substrate, and usually has a thickness of 1 μm to 1000 μm, preferably 5 μm to 800 μm. Examples of the backup substrate include metal foils such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and iron, paper, natural fibers, polymer fibers, fabrics, polymer resin films, and the like, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of the polymer resin film include polyester resin films such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, plastic films and sheets including polyimide, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyvinyl chloride, aramid film, PEN, PEEK, and the like. It is done. Further, the surface of the backup base material may be subjected to treatment such as coating treatment, drilling, buffing, sand blasting and / or etching. A substrate obtained by applying an adhesive or the like to the backup substrate surface is particularly preferable because it can hold the sheet-like powder firmly.

  In addition, as mentioned above, when manufacturing the electrode layer which consists of electrode material as a rolling sheet using the composite particle containing an electrode active material as the powder 8, as thickness of the electrode layer obtained, Preferably it is 10-1000 micrometers. More preferably, it is 20-500 micrometers.

  According to the powder rolling apparatus according to the first embodiment, a rolled sheet having a uniform film thickness and density distribution in the width direction can be produced.

In the first embodiment described above, the control unit 54 calculates the film thicknesses T _{A to} T _C and the target film thickness T _{D of the} rolled sheet 20 respectively calculated based on the outputs from the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C. In comparison, the end vibration feeders 14 and 16 are driven and the vertical vibration mount 32 of the central vibration feeder 12 is moved up and down (hereinafter referred to as gap control). . 5) by comparing the film thickness _T a through T _C and the target thickness _{T D} of the measured rolling sheet 20, the vertical movement of the vertical movement frame 32 of the drive and the central vibrating feeder 12 of the end portion vibrating feeder 14 It is good also as a structure (henceforth film thickness control) which performs this. Here, in the powder rolling device 59 shown in FIG. 5, the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 rolled by the rolling roll 4 instead of the gap detection sensors 18 </ b> A to 18 </ b> C (see FIG. 1) provided in the powder rolling device 2. Are provided with film thickness detection sensors 22A to 22C, respectively. Here, a plurality of film thickness detection sensors 22 </ b> A to 22 </ b> C are provided in the axial direction of the rolling roll 4. That is, the film thickness detection sensor 22A is provided at substantially the same position in the width direction as the end vibration feeder 14, and the film thickness detection sensor 22B is provided at substantially the same position in the width direction as the central vibration feeder 12. The thickness detection sensor 22C is provided at substantially the same position as the end vibration feeder 16 in the width direction. Further, the film thickness detection sensors 22A to 22C are provided at substantially the same position with respect to the flow direction. In addition, as the film thickness detection sensors 22A to 22C, a sandwich type, a contact type, or the like can be used. As a detection method, a laser type, an X-ray type, an infrared type, an overcurrent type, or the like can be used.

Incidentally, the film thickness control performed when clearance control (see Figure 5) the distance H ₂ downstream with respect to direction detection position flow than perform (see Figure 1). Accordingly, when the film thickness control is performed as shown in FIG. 6, the deviation is corrected when the film thicknesses T _{A to} T _C are shifted with respect to the target film thickness T _D than when the gap control is performed. The time delay for doing so increases. That is, the gap control is preferable to the film thickness control because the film thicknesses T _{A to} T _C can be brought closer to the target film thickness T _D earlier.

In the first embodiment described above, the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C for detecting the movement amounts of the rolls 4A and 4B in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 are provided outside the rolls 4A and 4B. As shown in FIG. 7, in the rolling roll 4, gap detection sensors 18D and 18E for measuring roll gaps R ₁ and R ₂ at the roll ends of the rolls 4A and 4B, respectively, are provided near the outside of the roll ends. It is good.

  Here, the gap detection sensor 18D is provided near the outside of one end with respect to the axial direction of the rolling roll 4, and the gap detection sensor 18E is near the outside of the other end with respect to the axial direction of the rolling roll 4. Is provided. The gap detection sensor 18D is provided at substantially the same position as the gap detection sensor 18E with respect to the flow direction of the rolled sheet 20.

In this case, the nip R ₁ measured by the gap sensor 18D as a distance W _A described above, using a nip R ₂ measured by the gap sensor 18E as the distance W _C above. Further, using the average gap value between the nip _{R 2} measured by the roll gap _{R 1} and gap detection sensor 18E measured by the gap sensor 18D to _(R 1 _{+ R} 2) / 2 as the distance _{W B} above, The above gap control is performed.

  In the first embodiment described above, three vibration feeders and three gap detection sensors are provided. However, this is an example, and a plurality of vibration feeders, such as five or ten, are provided. There may be a configuration in which the gap detection sensors are provided at a plurality of locations such as 5 locations and 10 locations. Further, from the viewpoint of facilitating control of the level of the powder 8 in the width direction in the hopper 10, it is preferable to provide a gap detection sensor at a position corresponding to each vibration feeder.

  In the first embodiment described above, the gap detection sensors 18A to 18C are provided outside the respective rolls 4A and 4B constituting the rolling roll 4 and in the axial direction of the rolling roll 4. However, a configuration in which a plurality of gap detection sensors are provided along the outer peripheral portions of the rolls 4A and 4B constituting the rolling roll 4 (a plurality of sensors or a continuous ring shape along the outer peripheral portion of the roll in the vicinity of the roll surface) Etc.). In this case, a transmission sensor such as an X-ray sensor may be used.

  Next, a powder rolling apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the powder rolling apparatus 60 in this 2nd Embodiment provides the partition plate in the hopper 10 of the powder rolling apparatus 2 of 1st Embodiment. Therefore, a detailed description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted, and only different portions will be described in detail. Further, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing a configuration in the hopper of the powder rolling apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a view of the powder rolling apparatus 60 according to the second embodiment as viewed from above. .

  The powder rolling device 60 includes partition plates 62A to 62D that fractionate the inside of the hopper 10 in the width direction, and fractionates the hopper 10 into five sections 64P to 64T. Further, vibration feeders 66P to 66T for supplying the powder 8 to the five sections 64P to 64T are provided, respectively. The gap detection sensors 18P to 18T are provided outside the rolls 4A and 4B constituting the rolling roll 4, and the gap detection sensor 18P and the vibration feeder 66P are provided at substantially the same position in the width direction. 18Q and the vibration feeder 66Q are provided at substantially the same position in the width direction, and the gap detection sensor 18R and the vibration feeder 66R are provided at substantially the same position in the width direction. The gap detection sensor 18S and the vibration feeder 66S Are provided at substantially the same position in the width direction, and the gap detection sensor 18T and the vibration feeder 66T are provided at substantially the same position in the width direction. The gap detection sensors 18P to 18T are provided at substantially the same position with respect to the flow direction. In FIG. 9, the gap detection sensors 18P to 18T are indicated by dotted lines in order to represent the positional relationship between the vibration feeders 66P to 66T and the gap detection sensors 18P to 18T.

Next, control of the level of the powder 8 using outputs from the gap detection sensors 18P to 18T will be described. When the target thickness _{T D} of the rolled sheet 20 through the operation unit 56 is inputted, the control unit 54 supplies the powder 8 to the respective compartment 64P~64T by driving the vibrating feeders 66P～66T. Here, is obtained in advance the relationship between the thickness of the rolled sheet 20 obtained as a powder level of each section, the level of the powder 8 of each compartment 64P~64T is corresponding to the target thickness T _D powder Powder 8 is supplied so that it may become a level.

Next, when rolling of the powder 8 is started by rotating the rolls 4A and 4B of the rolling roll 4, the control unit 54 receives a signal indicating the measurement result output from the gap detection sensors 18P to 18T. Here, the gap distances W _{P to} W _T between the rolls 4A and 4B measured by the gap detection sensors 18P to 18T and the positions where the gap detection sensors 18P to 18T in the width direction of the obtained rolled sheet 20 are provided. of by obtaining the relationship between the film thickness _T P through T _T advance, it is possible to calculate the thickness _T P through T _T from the distance W.

Next, the control unit 54 compares the target thickness _{T D} plurality of the film thickness _T P through T _T rolled sheet 20 based on the output from the gap sensor 18P~18T respectively calculated, the hopper 10 in The level of the powder 8 is controlled. Here, the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 calculated based on the output from the gap detection sensor 18P is T _P , the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 calculated based on the output from the gap detection sensor 18Q is T _Q , and the gap The film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 calculated based on the output from the detection sensor 18R is T _R , the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 calculated based on the output from the gap detection sensor 18S is T _S , and from the gap detection sensor 18T. Let T _T be the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 calculated based on the output of. When the calculated film thicknesses T _{P to} T _T of the rolled sheet 20 are thinner than the target film thickness T _D , the control unit 54 sets the target film thickness T _D among the vibration feeders 66P to 66T. The level in the width direction of the powder 8 is controlled by driving the vibration source of the vibration feeder corresponding to the thinner part to supply the powder 8 to a desired section. For example, when the film thicknesses T _P and T _S are thinner than the target film thickness T _D , the control unit 54 drives the vibration feeders 66P and 66S to supply the powder 8 to the sections 64P and 66S. Control the level of powder 8 in 64P and 66S.

  According to the powder rolling apparatus according to the second embodiment, a rolled sheet having a uniform film thickness and density distribution in the width direction can be produced.

In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration for performing the gap control has been described. However, the thickness control may be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but the gap control may be performed rather than the film thickness control. Is more preferable because the film thicknesses T _{P to} T _T can be made closer to the target film thickness T _D earlier.

  In the second embodiment, four partition plates are provided in the hopper 10, five vibration feeders are provided, and five gap detection sensors are provided in five locations. However, this is an example. The hopper 10 may be provided with at least one partition plate, a plurality of feeders such as three or ten, and a plurality of gap detection sensors provided at a plurality of locations such as three or ten. Further, from the viewpoint of facilitating the control of the level of the powder 8 in each section, it is preferable to provide a vibration feeder that supplies powder to each section partitioned by the partition plate. It is preferable to provide a gap detection sensor at a position corresponding to each section.

In the second embodiment described above, the partition plate is provided in the hopper 10. However, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, control plates 68P to 68T may be provided in the hopper 10. Good. In this case, the control unit 54 calculates the film thickness _T P through T _T rolled sheet 20 respectively compared with the target thickness _{T D} based on the outputs from a plurality of gap detection sensor 18P～18T. Next, when the point where the target film thickness T _D and the difference is present, the control unit 54 of the control plate 68P～66T, a control plate which corresponds to the point where the target film thickness T _D and the difference Move up or down. That is, by controlling the height of the control plate, the amount of the powder 8 existing vertically below the control plate can be changed. Therefore, by controlling the height of the control plate, the level in the width direction of the powder 8 in the hopper 10 can be controlled, and the film thickness of the rolled sheet 20 can be controlled.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the vibration feeder is used as the feeder. However, the screw feeder, the air conveying feeder, the circle feeder, the table feeder, the rotary feeder, the belt feeder, the electrostatic feeder, and the corona discharge feeder. Etc. may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Powder rolling apparatus, 4 ... Roll, 8 ... Powder, 10 ... Hopper, 12 ... Central vibration feeder, 14, 16 ... End vibration feeder, 18A-18C ... Gap detection sensor, 22A-22C ... Film thickness Detection sensor, 26 ... supply port, 32 ... vertical movement stand, 54 ... control unit

Claims (10)

A rolling section for forming a rolled sheet by rolling powder;
A hopper formed above the rolling part and storing the powder;
A plurality of feeders provided in the width direction of the rolled sheet, and supplying the powder to the hopper;
A measuring unit that measures a plurality of values in the width direction indicating the film thickness of the rolled sheet formed by the rolling unit;
A control unit for controlling the level of the powder in the width direction in the hopper so that the film thickness in the width direction falls within a certain range based on the value indicating the film thickness measured at the plurality of locations. A powder rolling apparatus comprising: A partition plate for fractionating the powder stored in the hopper in the width direction;
2. The powder rolling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the level of the powder for each section partitioned by the partition plate.   The powder feeder according to claim 2, wherein the feeder is provided for each of the sections. The rolling unit includes a pair of rolls,
The said measuring part measures the distance of the gap | interval of a pair of said roll, The powder rolling apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   5. The powder rolling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement unit measures the film thickness. A rolling step of forming a rolled sheet by rolling the powder;
A measurement step of measuring a plurality of values in the width direction of the rolled sheet with a value indicating a film thickness of the rolled sheet formed by the rolling step;
From a plurality of feeders provided in the width direction of the rolled sheet above the rolling part so that the film thickness in the width direction is in a certain range based on the value indicating the film thickness measured at the plurality of locations. And a control step of controlling the level of the powder in the width direction in the hopper by supplying the powder into a hopper that is formed and storing the powder. A partition plate for fractionating the powder stored in the hopper in the width direction;
The method for producing a rolled sheet according to claim 6, wherein the control step controls the level of the powder for each section divided by the partition plate.   The said feeder is provided for every said division, The manufacturing method of the rolled sheet of Claim 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. In the rolling step, the powder is rolled by a pair of rolls,
The method for producing a rolled sheet according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the measuring step measures a distance between the pair of rolls.   The said measurement step measures the said film thickness, The manufacturing method of the rolled sheet as described in any one of Claims 6-9 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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