JP2013188709A - Apparatus and method for manufacturing electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for manufacturing electrode, suitable for increasing a cleaning speed by increasing the transfer speed of an electrode.SOLUTION: An apparatus for manufacturing electrode wipes and removes deposits adhering to a surface of a to-be-supplied zonal electrode material 2 by pressing wiping cloth 8 wrapping around an outer-peripheral surface of a pressure roller 7 as a pressure member and travelling against the electrode material 2 through the pressure member. By traveling the wiping cloth 8 in the same direction as the traveling direction of the electrode material 2 and at a speed that is relatively lower than the traveling speed of the electrode material 2, cleaning processing for wiping and removing deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 is performed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus and method for cleaning a strip-like electrode (hereinafter also referred to as an electrode material).

  Conventionally, in order to wipe off and remove deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material, a wiping cloth that runs around the outer peripheral surface of the pressure roll is pressed against the supplied belt-shaped electrode material via the pressure roll. In some cases, the deposits adhered to the surface are wiped away (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP 2002-237297 A JP 2002-134100 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-347504

  However, in any of the above conventional examples, the attached material adhered to the surface of the electrode material is removed by pressing a wiping cloth that has run in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the electrode material. For this reason, when it is desired to improve the productivity by increasing the conveyance speed of the electrode material to be cleaned, the relative speed between the electrode material and the wiping cloth increases, and the load applied to the surface of the electrode material also increases due to the increase in the relative speed. It will be. Further, when the traveling speed of the wiping cloth is decreased to reduce the load applied to the surface of the electrode material, the speed at which the wiping cloth is contaminated increases, and the adhered matter cannot be sufficiently removed by wiping. As a result, there has been a problem that productivity cannot be improved by increasing the conveying speed of the electrode material.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrode manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method suitable for increasing the electrode conveyance speed and improving the cleaning speed.

  The present invention wipes off deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode by pressing a wiping cloth wound around the outer peripheral surface of the crimping member against the supplied strip-like electrode through the crimping member. It is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode to be removed. In the present invention, the wiping cloth travels in the same direction as the traveling direction of the electrode and at a speed relatively slower than the traveling speed of the electrode, thereby wiping and removing the deposits adhered to the surface of the electrode. A cleaning process was performed.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the relative speed difference between the wiping cloth and the electrode traveling direction can be reduced compared to the case where the traveling direction of the electrode is opposite to the traveling direction of the electrode. The load on can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to increase the traveling speed of the electrode while suppressing a load on the surface of the electrode due to contact with the wiping cloth, and it is possible to increase the conveyance speed of the electrode and improve productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic block diagram of the cleaning apparatus which is an electrode manufacturing apparatus which shows one Embodiment of this invention. The principal part perspective view of the cleaning apparatus which is also a manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a cleaning device which is the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2. The principal part perspective view of another example of the cleaning apparatus which is a manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a cleaning apparatus which is the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

  Hereinafter, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of the present invention will be described based on embodiments. A cleaning device 1 that is a manufacturing device of the present embodiment is installed in a manufacturing process of a lithium ion battery, and pushes a wiping cloth against the electrode material 2 supplied from the supply device of the electrode material 2 via a crimping roll. A cleaning process is performed to wipe off and remove the deposits attached to the front and back surfaces. The supply device for the electrode material 2 applies each of the electrode materials 2 such as applying and drying the active material on both surfaces of the belt-like electrode material 2, pressing the applied and dried active material to adjust the density, and cutting to a predetermined width. It is the conveying apparatus provided with the manufacturing process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 1 includes a first region 3 that cleans the lower surface, which is one surface, while the electrode material 2 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow A by the guide rollers 5A and 5B. In addition, the cleaning device 1 includes a second region 4 that cleans the lower surface that is the other back surface while folding the electrode material 2 from the first region 3 and transporting the electrode material 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow B by the guide rollers 5C and D. . The electrode material 2 is wound around a downstream guide roller 5B constituting the first region 3 and an upstream guide roller 5C constituting the second region 4, and is folded from the first region 3 to the second region 4 for conveyance. Is done. That is, the first region 3 and the second region 4 are arranged in a “U” shape or a “U” shape in which the conveying direction of the electrode material 2 is folded and opposite to each other.

  The first region 3 and the second region 4 are arranged at an interval in the vertical direction. Further, a partition member 6 is provided between the first region 3 and the second region 4 and is provided in a state of being separated in the vertical direction.

  The electrode material 2 in the first area 3 and the second area 4 is provided with a first pressure roll 7A and a second pressure roll 7B that are in contact with the electrode material 2 from the lower surface via a wiping cloth. By winding the first pressure-bonding roll 7A on the outer periphery thereof and running it in the same direction as the electrode material 2 at a speed relatively slower than the conveying speed of the electrode material 2 as shown by an arrow C. The first wiping cloth 8A for wiping and removing the adhering matter adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 and performing a cleaning process is provided. Further, the second pressure roll 7B is wound around the outer peripheral portion and travels in the same direction as the electrode material 2 at a speed relatively slower than the conveying speed of the electrode material 2 as indicated by an arrow D. Thus, a second wiping cloth 8B is provided that wipes and removes deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 and performs a cleaning process.

  Since the first pressure-bonding roll 7A and the second pressure-bonding roll 7B are members configured in the same manner, the first pressure-bonding roll 7A and the second pressure-bonding roll 7B will be collectively referred to as the pressure-bonding roll 7 unless otherwise specifically described. Also, the first wiping cloth 8A and the second wiping cloth 8B are members configured in the same manner, and therefore will be collectively referred to as the wiping cloth 8 unless otherwise specifically described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the press roll 7 is formed into a cylindrical shape having a slightly longer axis than the width of the electrode material 2 by a metal material such as a porous material having a large number of fine holes communicating between the inside and the outside. Is formed. The crimping roll 7 is wound around the wiping cloth 8 and travels, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is formed to be a smooth surface in order to uniformly press the wiping cloth 8 against the electrode material 2. The press roll 7 constitutes an internal space 10 in which the internal space sucks from the wiping cloth 8 the deposits and the like wiped and removed from the electrode material 2 as will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure roll 7 has a side surface closed in order to configure the internal space 10 as a sealed space. The pressure roll 7 is provided with a suction tube 11 penetrating its side surface, and the space inside the suction tube 11 and the internal space 10 communicate with each other. The pressure roll 7 is disposed so as to be rotatable with respect to the suction tube 11. The pressure-bonding roll 7 is supported via the suction tube 11 by a support mechanism (not shown) that is detachable from the electrode material 2. Therefore, the pressure which presses the wiping cloth 8 to the electrode material 2 is suitably adjusted for the pressure bonding roll 7 through this support mechanism. The other end of the suction tube 11 is connected to the dust collector 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning device 1 is configured such that the wiping cloth 8 is wound on the outer peripheral portion of the pressure-bonding roll 7 described above with a predetermined winding angle θ <b> 1 and travels. . The cleaning device 1 is set to a vertex position to be crimped to the electrode material 2 at the center O of the wrapping angle θ1 of the wiping cloth 8 with respect to the crimping roll 7. The wiping cloth 8 is pressure-bonded to the electrode material 2 via the pressure-bonding roll 7 in the pressure-bonding regions θ2 on both sides including the center O of the winding angle θ1.

  The pressure roll 7 has many fine holes communicating with the internal space 10, for example, communicating with the inside and outside, in order to suck and remove the adhering matter adhering to the wiping cloth 8 from the back surface side into the suction space 3 a. It is made of a porous material. When the dust collector 13 is driven, the pressure roll 7 draws air in the internal space 10 through the suction tube 11, and suction pressure is generated in these many fine holes.

  Many fine holes provided in the pressure-bonding roll 7 are attached to the wiping cloth 8 on the upstream side a of the winding area of the wiping cloth 8 where the wiping cloth 8 and the electrode material 2 are not yet in contact with each other. Before the kimono is pressed against the electrode material 2, it is sucked and removed into the internal space 10 of the pressure-bonding roll 7 to make it clean. In addition, a large number of fine holes provided in the pressure-bonding roll 7 are used for pressure-bonding deposits adhered to the wiping cloth 8 by wiping and removing from the electrode material 2 in the pressure-bonding region θ2 where the wiping cloth 8 is in contact with the electrode material 2. It acts to suck and remove into the internal space 10 of the roll 7. Furthermore, many fine holes provided in the pressure-bonding roll 7 pressure-bond the deposits attached to the wiping cloth 8 on the downstream side b of the winding area of the wiping cloth 8 where the wiping cloth 8 is separated from the electrode material 2. The inside of the internal space 10 of the roll 7 is removed by suction to make it clean.

  In addition, the press roll 7 may be provided with, for example, a large number of slits and holes that allow communication between the inside and the outside in addition to the above-described many fine holes.

  The wiping cloth 8 is formed in a belt shape by using a material that can be wiped off the adhering matter adhering to the surface thereof, for example, a non-woven fabric, by being pressed against the electrode material 2 via the pressure roll 7. It becomes. The wiping cloth 8 has a width slightly smaller than the length of the pressure-bonding roll 7 and slightly larger than the width of the electrode material 2. The wiping cloth 8 is fed from a supply device (not shown), wound around the outer peripheral portion of the pressure-bonding roll 7 with the winding angle θ1 described above, and travels in the same direction as the travel direction of the electrode material 2, and is not illustrated. It is wound up by a winding device.

  The wiping cloth 8 efficiently wipes and removes the deposits from the electrode material 2 and has continuous voids inside so that the deposits taken in from the back surface can be sucked and removed from a number of fine holes in the press roll 7. A material having a large opening ratio is used.

  As described above, the electrode material 2 is pressed against the wiping cloth 8 within the pressing angle θ2 within the winding angle θ1 of the outer peripheral portion of the pressure-bonding roll 7. On the upstream side a of the wrapping area, the wiping cloth 8 is clean by taking in and removing the adhering matter adhering to the wiping cloth 8 into the inner space 10 of the pressure-bonding roll 7 before being pressed against the electrode material 2. State. In the pressure-bonding region θ2, the wiping cloth 8 wipes off deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 and takes them in to remove them. The wiping cloth 8 sucks and removes the adhering matter taken into the inside thereof into the internal space 10 of the pressure-bonding roll 7 through a large number of fine holes from the back surface. The wiping cloth 8 is an internal space of the pressure-bonding roll 7 on the downstream side b of the wrapping area of the wiping cloth 8 where the wiping cloth 8 is separated from the electrode material 2 through a number of fine holes from the back surface. 10 is sucked and removed into a clean state.

  The cleaning device 1 configured as described above travels while the wiping cloth 8 is wound around the pressure-bonding roll 7, and suction pressure is generated in a number of fine holes by driving the dust collector 13. In this state, the cleaning device 1 is supplied with the electrode material 2 from the electrode material supply device, and the wiping cloth 8 is pressed against the electrode material 2 via the pressure roll 7. The cleaning device 1 performs the cleaning process by wiping and removing the adhering matter adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 with the wiping cloth 8.

  The cleaning device 1 sucks and removes the adhering matter taken in from the back surface of the wiping cloth 8 through a large number of fine holes into the inner space 10 of the pressure-bonding roll 7. Then, it is reliably prevented from adhering to the electrode material 2 again. Since the cleaning device 1 is subjected to suction pressure through a number of fine holes immediately after the wiping cloth 8 is pressed against the electrode material 2, the cleaning material 1 is in a clean state in which the deposits are removed. Perform a cleaning process. Therefore, the cleaning device 1 performs an efficient cleaning process on the electrode material 2 to remove the deposits attached to the surface thereof. The electrode material 2 is transported to the next process, and is subjected to a winding process in which the electrode material 2 is wound in a close contact state, for example. The adhering matter sucked into the internal space 10 of the pressure roll 7 is sent to the dust collector 13 via the suction tube 11 and collected.

  The cleaning device 1 wipes the deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 by running the wiping cloth 8 in the same direction as the electrode material 2 at a speed relatively slower than the conveying speed of the electrode material 2. Remove and perform a cleaning process. Therefore, the relative speed difference between the wiping cloth 8 and the electrode material 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the traveling direction of the wiping cloth 8 is opposite to the traveling direction of the electrode material 2. The load on the surface can be suppressed. For this reason, the traveling speed of the electrode material 2 can be increased while suppressing the load on the surface of the electrode material 2 due to the contact of the wiping cloth 8, and the transport speed of the electrode material 2 can be increased to improve the productivity. Can do.

  In the first region 3 and the second region 4, the cleaning device 1 is arranged in a “U” shape or a “U” shape in which the conveying direction of the electrode material 2 is folded and opposite to each other. The wiping cloth 8 is pressed against the lower surface for cleaning. That is, the electrode material 2 is folded and transported in a loop shape, so that the outer surface (one surface) first formed into a loop shape is cleaned from the lower surface in the first region 3 and then the inner surface formed into a loop shape. (The other surface) is cleaned from the lower surface in the second region 4. For this reason, the one surface previously cleaned in the first region 3 is the upper surface when it reaches the second region 4, and adhesion of contaminants falling in the direction of gravity in the second region 4 can be prevented. Further, since the other surface cleaned in the second region 4 is a looped inner surface, the contamination that drops in the direction of gravity in the second region 4 becomes the upper surface in the first region 3 on the upstream side. Even if it adheres again, it is reliably cleaned when it reaches the second region 4. For this reason, even if wiping leakage occurs and the contamination falls in the direction of gravity, reattachment to the electrode material 2 conveyed downstream can be reliably prevented.

  In the cleaning device 1, the first region 3 and the second region 4 are arranged with an interval in the vertical direction, and a partition member 6 is provided between the first region 3 and the second region 4 so as to be separated in the vertical direction. Provided. For this reason, it is possible to prevent contamination that falls in the direction of gravity in the second region 4 from re-adhering to the upper surface portion of the first region 3 on the upstream side. Even if it falls, reattachment to the electrode material 2 conveyed downstream can be reliably prevented.

  Moreover, since the cleaning apparatus 1 uses the thing which has a continuous space | gap inside tapes, such as a nonwoven fabric, as the wiping cloth 8, a foreign material adheres again from the wiping cloth 8 to the electrode material 2 which is a member to be cleaned. Can be prevented. Further, the pressure-bonding roll 7 around which the wiping cloth 8 is wound is formed of a porous material having a large number of fine holes, and the inside is formed in the suction space, so that the wiping cloth 8 is wiped and removed from the electrode material 2. A kimono or the like can be sucked into the press roll 7 from the wiping cloth 8. For this reason, it can prevent that a foreign material adheres again to the electrode material 2 which is a member to be cleaned.

  As described above, the pressure-bonding roll 7 of the cleaning device 1 is not limited to a configuration formed in a cylindrical shape by a metal material such as a porous material having a large number of fine holes that communicate between the inside and the outside. Absent. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an arcuate outer shape is provided and the inside is hollow, and the arcuate surface is constituted by a guide pin 9 having a slit 12 and a hole for communicating the internal space and the outside. Also good. As with the pressure-bonding roll 7, the guide pins 9 also generate suction pressure in the slits 12 and holes when air in the internal space is sucked by the dust collector 13 through the suction tube 11.

  In the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

  (A) The wiping cloth 8 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pressure-bonding roll 7 serving as a pressure-bonding member is pressed against the supplied strip-shaped electrode material 2 via the pressure-bonding member, whereby the electrode material 2 It is the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode which wipes and removes the deposit | attachment adhering to the surface of this. Then, the wiping cloth 8 is caused to travel in the same direction as the traveling direction of the electrode material 2 and at a relatively slower speed than the traveling speed of the electrode material 2, thereby wiping off deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2. The cleaning process to remove was performed. For this reason, compared with the case where the traveling direction of the wiping cloth 8 is opposite to the traveling direction of the electrodes, the relative speed difference between them can be reduced, and the surface of the electrode material 2 due to the contact of the wiping cloth 8 The load on can be suppressed. As a result, the traveling speed of the electrode material 2 can be increased while suppressing the load on the surface of the electrode material 2 due to the contact of the wiping cloth 8, and the transport speed of the electrode material 2 can be increased to improve the productivity. Can do.

  (A) The strip-shaped electrode material 2 is conveyed so as to pass through the first region 3 that travels from one side in the lateral direction to the other and the second region 4 that is folded and travels from the other side in the lateral direction. . And by pressing the wiping cloth 8 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the crimping member on the lower surface of each electrode material 2 traveling in the first region 3 and the second region 4 via the crimping member, The deposits adhering to the surface of the electrode material 2 were wiped away. That is, the electrode material 2 is folded and transported in a loop shape, so that the outer surface (one surface) first formed into a loop shape is cleaned from the lower surface in the first region 3 and then the inner surface formed into a loop shape. (One surface) is cleaned from the lower surface in the second region 4. For this reason, even if wiping leakage occurs and the contamination falls in the direction of gravity, reattachment to the electrode material 2 conveyed downstream can be reliably prevented.

  (C) A partition member 6 is disposed between the first region 3 and the second region 4, and the first region 3 and the second region 4 are isolated from each other. For this reason, it is possible to prevent contamination that falls in the direction of gravity in the second region 4 from re-adhering to the upper surface portion of the first region 3 on the upstream side. Even if it falls, reattachment to the electrode material 2 conveyed downstream can be reliably prevented.

  (D) Since the wiping cloth 8 is made of a non-woven fabric having continuous voids therein, it is possible to prevent foreign matters from reattaching from the wiping cloth 8 to the electrode material 2 that is a member to be cleaned.

  (E) The pressure-bonding member communicates with the internal space 10 in which at least the outer peripheral surface around which the wiping cloth 8 is wound is connected to the dust collector 13 through a large number of fine holes or slits 12 and is in a negative pressure state. Has been. And the deposit | attachment wiped and removed from the electrode material 2 with the wiping cloth 8 is suction-removed in the said crimping | compression-bonding member through many fine holes or slits from the back surface side of the wiping cloth 8. FIG. For this reason, it can prevent that a foreign material adheres again to the electrode material 2 which is a member to be cleaned.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning apparatus 2 Electrode material 3 1st area | region 4 2nd area | region 5A-5D Guide roller 6 Partition member 7,7A, 7B Crimp roll as a crimping member 8, 8A, 8B Wiping cloth 9 Guide pin as a crimping member 10 Internal space 11 Suction tube 12 Slit 13 Dust collector as dust collector

Claims (8)

By wiping and removing the adhering material adhering to the surface of the electrode by pressing the wiping cloth that is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pressure-bonding member and travels against the supplied strip-shaped electrode through the pressure-bonding member. In the electrode manufacturing equipment,
The wiping cloth is run in the same direction as the traveling direction of the electrode and at a relatively slower speed than the traveling speed of the electrode, thereby performing a cleaning process for wiping and removing deposits attached to the surface of the electrode. An electrode manufacturing apparatus. The belt-like electrode is conveyed so as to pass through a first region that travels from one side to the other in the lateral direction and a second region that is folded and travels from the other side in the lateral direction,
A surface of the electrode is formed by pressing a wiping cloth that is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the crimping member on the lower surface of each electrode traveling in the first region and the second region via the crimping member. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deposit adhered to the substrate is wiped away.   The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a partition member is disposed between the first region and the second region, and the first region and the second region are isolated from each other. .   The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wiping cloth is a non-woven fabric having continuous voids therein. The pressure-bonding member is communicated with an internal space in which at least the outer peripheral surface around which the wiping cloth is wound is connected to the dust collector through a large number of fine holes or slits and is in a negative pressure state,
The attached matter wiped and removed from the electrode by the wiping cloth is sucked and removed from the back surface side of the wiping cloth into the crimping member through the numerous fine holes or slits. Item 5. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to any one of Items 4 to 6. By wiping and removing the adhering material adhering to the surface of the electrode by pressing the wiping cloth that is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pressure-bonding member and travels against the supplied strip-shaped electrode through the pressure-bonding member. In the method of manufacturing an electrode,
The wiping cloth is run in the same direction as the traveling direction of the electrode and at a relatively slower speed than the traveling speed of the electrode, thereby performing a cleaning process for wiping and removing deposits attached to the surface of the electrode. An electrode manufacturing method characterized by the above. The belt-like electrode is conveyed so as to pass through a first region that travels from one side to the other in the lateral direction and a second region that is folded and travels from the other side in the lateral direction,
A surface of the electrode is formed by pressing a wiping cloth that is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the crimping member on the lower surface of each electrode traveling in the first region and the second region via the crimping member. The method for producing an electrode according to claim 6, wherein the deposit adhered to the substrate is wiped away.   The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 7, wherein a partition member is disposed between the first region and the second region, and the first region and the second region are isolated from each other. .

Images