JP2015207368A - Electrode manufacturing device and electrode manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode manufacturing device capable of more improving manufacture efficiency of an electrode by flattening a metal sheet even in the case where a folded part is generated in an end portion of the metal sheet in a width direction, and an electrode manufacturing method.SOLUTION: An electrode manufacturing device 1 includes a slit mechanism 7 which passes an end portion of a band-like metal sheet that is conveyed in a direction of conveyance, in a width direction and flattens the end portion. The slit mechanism 7 includes: a first guide part 7a that extends in the direction of conveyance and is opposite to one surface of the metal sheet; and a second guide part 7b which extends in the direction of conveyance and is opposite to another face of the metal sheet. The first guide part 7a is made more proximate to the second guide part 7b toward a downstream side in the direction of conveyance, and the slit mechanism 7 flattens the end portion by means of the first guide part 7a and the second guide part 7b.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode sheet having a predetermined size from a strip-shaped metal sheet in which electrode materials (active materials) are intermittently laminated is known. In this method, a strip-shaped metal sheet in which electrode materials are intermittently laminated is cut into a predetermined width by an upper blade, a lower blade, or the like. At this time, a raised portion of the electrode material may occur at the end in the width direction of the metal sheet. Therefore, in the electrode manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1, a metal sheet is passed between a pair of pressure rollers, and the pressure roller is pressed and biased in a direction to close the gap between the pressure rollers. The raised part is flattened.

JP 2001-338642 A

  By the way, when a band-shaped metal sheet is cut into a predetermined width by a cutter having an upper blade and a lower blade, a bent portion that is bent, for example, on one surface side is generated at the end in the width direction of the band-shaped metal sheet. There is. When a bent part occurs in the belt-shaped metal sheet, for example, a winding failure occurs when the belt-shaped metal sheet is wound around a roller, a conveyance failure occurs when the metal sheet is transported in the next step, or an electrode sheet. There is a risk that a dimensional defect will occur.

  An object of this invention is to provide the electrode manufacturing apparatus and electrode manufacturing method which can planarize a metal sheet and can improve the manufacture efficiency of an electrode, even when a bending part arises in the edge part of the width direction of a metal sheet.

  The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a slit mechanism that passes the end in the width direction of the belt-shaped metal sheet that is transported in the transport direction and flattens the end, and the slit mechanism extends in the transport direction. A first guide portion facing one surface of the metal sheet; and a second guide portion extending in the transport direction and facing the other surface of the metal sheet. It is close to the second guide portion as it goes downstream, and the slit mechanism flattens the end portion by the first guide portion and the second guide portion.

  According to this electrode manufacturing apparatus, the slit mechanism has a first guide portion that faces one surface of the metal sheet and a second guide portion that faces the other surface of the metal sheet. The first guide portion and the second guide portion both extend in the transport direction, and the first guide portion is closer to the second guide portion as it goes downstream in the transport direction. Thereby, for example, even when the end portion in the width direction of the band-shaped metal sheet is bent to one surface side, the end portion is guided by the first guide portion, but the first guide portion and the second guide portion. Flattened. Therefore, it is prevented that winding failure occurs when winding the belt-shaped metal sheet around the roller, conveyance failure occurs when the metal sheet is conveyed in the next step, or dimensional defect of the electrode sheet occurs. The production efficiency of the electrode can be improved.

  Further, the first guide portion may have a pressing surface that gradually approaches one surface as it goes downstream in the transport direction. With this configuration, for example, even when a bent portion is generated in the metal sheet, the bent portion is gradually pressed by the pressing surface and is flattened between the first guide portion and the second guide portion. Therefore, the flattening effect by the slit mechanism is further exhibited.

  Moreover, the electrode manufacturing apparatus may be provided with a bending mechanism that is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the slit mechanism and bends by pressing the end portion toward the other surface. With this configuration, a bent portion that is bent on one surface side is flattened by the slit mechanism, and then pressed and bent by the bending mechanism to the other surface side. Therefore, the flattening effect of the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet is further exhibited.

  In addition, the electrode manufacturing apparatus includes another slit mechanism that is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the bending mechanism and that flattens the end portion, and the other slit mechanism extends in the transport direction. And a fourth guide portion extending in the conveying direction and facing the other surface of the metal sheet, and the end portion is formed by the third guide portion and the fourth guide portion. May be flattened. In this case, the end in the width direction of the metal sheet is bent to the other surface side by the bending mechanism and then flattened by another slit mechanism including the third guide portion and the fourth guide portion. For example, even if the bending of the end portion is not sufficiently corrected after passing through the bending mechanism, the end portion of the metal sheet can be surely flattened by another bending mechanism.

  The electrode manufacturing method of the present invention includes a cutting step of cutting a strip-shaped metal sheet into a predetermined width with a cutting device, and an end in the width direction of the metal sheet while transporting the metal sheet cut in the cutting step in the transport direction. A flattening step for flattening the end by passing the portion through a slit mechanism, and in the flattening step, a first guide portion extending in the transport direction and facing one surface side, and a transport direction A first guide portion and a second guide that are closer to the second guide portion toward the downstream side in the transport direction, using a slit mechanism that has a second guide portion that extends in the direction opposite to the other surface side of the metal sheet. The end is flattened by the part.

  According to this electrode manufacturing method, the strip-shaped metal sheet passes through the slit mechanism after being cut. The slit mechanism includes a first guide portion that faces one surface of the metal sheet and a second guide portion that faces the other surface of the metal sheet. The first guide portion and the second guide portion both extend in the transport direction, and the first guide portion is closer to the second guide portion as it goes downstream in the transport direction. For example, even when an end in the width direction of the belt-shaped metal sheet is bent to one surface side by the flattening step, the end is guided by the first guide while the first guide and the second guide And is flattened. Therefore, it is prevented that winding failure occurs when winding the belt-shaped metal sheet around the roller, conveyance failure occurs when the metal sheet is conveyed in the next step, or dimensional defect of the electrode sheet occurs. The production efficiency of the electrode can be improved.

  Moreover, after implementing a planarization step, you may include the bending step which bend | folds the edge part of a strip | belt-shaped metal sheet to the other surface side. In this case, after the bent portion that is bent to one surface side is flattened by the flattening step by the slit mechanism, it is pressed and bent to the other surface side in the bending step. Therefore, the flattening effect of the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet is further exhibited.

  Further, after performing the bending step, a third guide portion extending in the transport direction and facing one surface, and a fourth guide portion extending in the transport direction and facing the other surface of the metal sheet Other planarization steps for planarizing the edges may also be included. In this case, the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet is bent in the other step in the bending step, and then in another flattening step using the third guide portion and the fourth guide portion extending in the transport direction. Flattened. For example, even if the bending of the end portion is not sufficiently corrected after passing through the bending mechanism, the end portion of the metal sheet can be surely flattened by the flattening step.

  Moreover, you may include the press step which presses the metal sheet in which the active material layer was formed in at least one of one surface and the other surface before implementation of a planarization step. An active material may be applied to the band-shaped metal sheet before the planarization step is performed. When a pressing operation is performed on the band-shaped metal sheet on which the active material layer is formed, the active material layer is densified and the active material is more closely bonded to the metal sheet. Therefore, when the planarization step is performed after the pressing step, the influence on the active material layer due to the slit mechanism can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, even when a bent portion is generated at the end in the width direction of the metal sheet, the metal sheet can be flattened to improve the manufacturing efficiency of the electrode.

It is sectional drawing of an electrical storage apparatus provided with the electrode manufactured by one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the electrode manufacturing apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the strip | belt-shaped metal sheet in FIG. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state by which a metal sheet is cut | judged with a cutting apparatus, (b) is a cross-sectional part which shows the bending part bent to the one surface side of the metal sheet. (A) is sectional drawing which expands and shows the slit mechanism in FIG. 3, (b) is sectional drawing along VI-VI of FIG. It is sectional drawing along VII-VII of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  In the following description, an example in which an electrode manufactured by a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method according to an embodiment is applied to a lithium ion secondary battery will be described. The electrode manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing method according to the embodiment may be applied to a power storage device other than the lithium ion secondary battery. For example, the electrode may be applied to an electric double layer capacitor or the like.

  A configuration of a lithium ion secondary battery (hereinafter referred to as a secondary battery) 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondary battery 100 includes a case 10 and an electrode assembly 20 accommodated in the case 10. The electrode assembly 20 includes a positive electrode (electrode) 30, a negative electrode (electrode) 40, and a separator 50 disposed between the positive electrode 30 and the negative electrode 40. The positive electrode 30, the negative electrode 40, and the separator 50 are, for example, a sheet shape. The plurality of positive electrodes 30 and the plurality of negative electrodes 40 are alternately stacked via separators 50. An insulating film 15 is provided on the inner wall surface of the case 10. The case 10 is filled with an electrolytic solution 60.

  The positive electrode 30 has a positive electrode active material supported on both sides of a substantially rectangular metal foil 30b, and has tabs 30a formed on the edges of the metal foil 30b. The tab 30a does not carry a positive electrode active material. The positive electrode 30 is connected to the conductive member 32 via the tab 30a. The conductive member 32 is connected to the positive terminal 34. The positive terminal 34 is attached to the case 10 via an insulating ring 36.

  The negative electrode 40 has a negative electrode active material supported on both surfaces of a substantially rectangular metal foil 40b, and has tabs 40a formed on the edges of the metal foil 40b. The tab 40a does not carry a negative electrode active material. The negative electrode 40 is connected to the conductive member 42 via the tab 40a. The conductive member 42 is connected to the negative terminal 44. The negative terminal 44 is attached to the case 10 via an insulating ring 46.

  The positive electrode 30 has positive electrode active material layers 30c and 30c formed on both surfaces of the metal foil 30b. The negative electrode 40 has negative electrode active material layers 40c and 40c formed on both surfaces of the metal foil 40b. The active material layers 30c and 40c are applied to both surfaces of a metal sheet before a slurry-like electrode mixture containing an active material, a binder resin, a conductive auxiliary agent, and a solvent is cut into a metal foil forming individual electrodes. It is formed by pressing with a pressure roll after the solvent is removed by a dryer (drying section).

  Examples of the separator 50 include a porous film made of a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), and a woven or non-woven fabric made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), methylcellulose, or the like.

  Examples of the electrolytic solution 60 include an organic solvent or a non-aqueous electrolytic solution.

  Next, with reference to FIG.3 and FIG.4, the manufacturing apparatus 1 of an electrode (namely, the positive electrode 30 or the negative electrode 40) is demonstrated. In the following description, the metal sheet S before being cut and laminated with the electrode material containing the active material is referred to as a metal sheet S1, and the metal sheet S after being cut is referred to as a metal sheet S2. The metal sheet S (metal sheet S1 or S2) corresponds to the metal foils 30b and 40b.

  The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an unwinder 2 that unwinds the band-shaped metal sheet S1, a first transport roller 3 that transports the metal sheet S1, a cutting device 4 that cuts the metal sheet S1, and a metal sheet. A second transport roller 5 for transporting S2 and a winder 6 for winding the metal sheet S2 are provided. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a slit mechanism 7, a bending mechanism 8, and another slit mechanism 9 between the cutting device 4 and the second transport roller 5.

  The unwinding machine 2 is set with an original roll 2b. The original fabric roll 2b is a metal sheet S1 in a state of being wound around the shaft 2a of the unwinder 2 in a roll shape. The unwinding machine 2 unwinds the metal sheet S1 wound up in a roll shape by the rotation of the shaft 2a. On the downstream side of the unwinder 2, a first transport roller 3 that transports the metal sheet S <b> 1 unwound from the unwinder 2 is provided. A tension roller that applies a predetermined tension to the metal sheet S1 may be provided on the downstream side of the unwinder 2. Further, the first transport roller 3 may serve as a transport function and a tension roller function for applying tension. Hereinafter, when referring to “downstream” in the present embodiment, the direction in which the metal sheet S1 unwound from the unwinder 2 is conveyed is used as a reference.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the strip-shaped metal sheet S1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the metal sheet S1 has a strip shape. Active material layers A are intermittently formed on both surfaces of the metal sheet S1. The active material layers A on both surfaces of the metal sheet S1 face each other with the metal sheet S1 interposed therebetween. As an example, the metal sheet S1 is an aluminum foil when a positive electrode is manufactured, and a copper foil when a negative electrode is manufactured. The active material layer A corresponds to the active material layers 30c and 40c described above.

  The positive electrode active material which is an active material in the case of manufacturing the positive electrode 30 is, for example, a composite oxide, metallic lithium, sulfur, or the like. The composite oxide includes, for example, at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum and lithium. The negative electrode active material which is an active material in the case of manufacturing the negative electrode 40 is, for example, graphite such as graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, hard carbon, and soft carbon, alkali metals such as lithium and sodium, metal compounds, Examples thereof include metal oxides such as SiOx (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1.5) and boron-added carbon.

  Before cutting, the metal sheet S1 includes a first region 11 and a pair of second regions 12 adjacent to both sides in the width direction of the metal sheet S1. The first region 11 is a band-like region extending along the longitudinal direction of the metal sheet S1. The first region 11 includes a coated region 11a where the active material layer A is provided, and an uncoated region 11b where the active material layer A is not provided. The coated area 11a and the uncoated area 11b are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the metal sheet S1. For example, the coated area 11a and the uncoated area 11b are rectangular.

  The second region 12 is a band-like region extending along the longitudinal direction of the metal sheet S1. The second region 12 is an uncoated region where the active material layer A is not provided. The widths of the pair of second regions 12 may be substantially the same or different. In FIG. 4, a boundary line L1 between the first region 11 and the second region 12 and a cutting line Z where the metal sheet S1 is cut by the cutting device 4 are shown. The cutting line Z is provided inside the boundary line L1 in the width direction of the metal sheet S1.

  Hereinafter, the cutting device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the metal sheet is cut by the cutting device. The cutting device 4 includes an upper blade 4a attached to the upper surface side of the metal sheet S1 and a lower blade 4b attached to the lower surface side of the metal sheet S1. The upper blade 4a and the lower blade 4b are attached to the inner side (center side) and the outer side of the cutting line Z in the width direction of the metal sheet S, respectively. The upper blade 4a is a disk-shaped rotary blade that rotates about a rotation axis La in the horizontal direction. A sharp blade 45 having an inclined surface is formed at the radial tip of the upper blade 4a. The lower blade 4b is a disk-shaped rotating blade that rotates about a horizontal rotation axis Lb. The lower blade 4b has an edge portion 47 at the radial tip. At the upper end portion of the lower blade 4b, the edge portion 47 is in contact with the lower surface of the metal sheet S1. In addition, the edge part 47 touches the lower surface of the active material layer A, when the active material layer A is provided in the lower surface of metal sheet S1. The tip of the sharp blade 45 of the upper blade 4a is in contact with the side surface of the edge portion 47 of the lower blade 4b on the lower surface side of the metal sheet S1.

  The cutting of the metal sheet S1 by the cutting device 4 will be described. The sharp blade 45 generates a shearing force with the edge portion 47 while rotating about the rotation axis La, and the metal sheet along the cutting line Z. Cut S1. In the metal sheet S1 cut along the cutting line Z, the second region 12 is separated from the metal sheet S1.

  6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the slit mechanism 7 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the slit mechanism 7 includes a first guide portion 7a provided on the upper surface side of the metal sheet S2 and a second guide portion 7b provided on the lower surface side of the metal sheet S2. Have. In other words, the metal sheet S2 passes between the first guide part 7a and the second guide part 7b.

  The 1st guide part 7a is extended in a conveyance direction, and opposes the upper surface of metal sheet S2. The second guide portion 7b extends in the transport direction and faces the lower surface of the metal sheet S2. The first guide part 7a and the second guide part 7b are close to each other as they go downstream in the transport direction. The downstream ends of the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b are in contact with the end portions in the width direction of the metal sheet S2. In addition, the downstream part of the 1st guide part 7a and the 2nd guide part 7b may extend in parallel with metal sheet S2. When the active material layer A is provided on the metal sheet S2, the downstream ends of the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b are in contact with the active material layer A. The 1st guide part 7a and the 2nd guide part 7b are provided so that only the edge part of metal sheet S2 may be opposed, and it is not facing the center part of the width direction of metal sheet S2. By applying tension to the metal sheet S2, the metal sheet S2 maintains a substantially horizontal posture. The second guide portion 7b only needs to be able to contact the end portion of the metal sheet S2 only when the end portion of the metal sheet S2 is flattened in cooperation with the first guide portion 7a.

  7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a bending mechanism 8 is provided on the downstream side of the slit mechanism 7. The bending mechanism 8 has an inclined surface 81 facing the end in the width direction of the metal sheet S2. The upper portion of the inclined surface 81 is disposed on the upper surface side of the metal sheet S2, and the lower portion of the inclined surface 81 is disposed on the lower surface side of the metal sheet S2. The inclined surface 81 extends toward the center in the width direction of the metal sheet S2 as it goes upward. The central part in the vertical direction of the inclined surface 81 abuts on the upper surface side of the metal sheet S2 (or active material layer A), and presses the metal sheet S2 (or active material layer A) obliquely downward. The inclined surface 81 is bent by pressing the end portion of the metal sheet S2 to the lower surface side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, another slit mechanism 9 is provided on the downstream side of the folding mechanism 8 in the transport direction. The other slit mechanism 9 includes a third guide portion 9a that faces the upper surface of the metal sheet S2, and a fourth guide portion 9b that faces the lower surface of the metal sheet S2. The metal sheet S2 passes between the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b. The third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b both extend in the transport direction of the metal sheet S2, and are close to each other as they go downstream in the transport direction. The downstream ends of the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b are in contact with the end portions in the width direction of the metal sheet S2.

  The 3rd guide part 9a and the 4th guide part 9b are provided so that only the edge part of metal sheet S2 may be opposed, and it is not opposed to the center part of the width direction of metal sheet S2. The second guide portion 7b only needs to be able to contact the end portion of the metal sheet S2 only when the end portion of the metal sheet S2 is flattened in cooperation with the first guide portion 7a. In addition, the downstream part of the 3rd guide part 9a and the 4th guide part 9b may extend in parallel with metal sheet S2. When the active material layer A is provided on the metal sheet S2, the downstream ends of the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b are in contact with the active material layer A.

  A second transport roller 5 and a winder 6 are provided in this order on the downstream side of the other slit mechanism 9. The second transport roller 5 transports the metal sheet S2 to the winder 6. The winder 6 winds the metal sheet S2 to obtain a roll P. Note that the second transport roller 5 may serve both as a transport function and as a tension roller for applying tension. Between the 1st conveyance roller 3 and the 2nd conveyance roller 5, metal sheet S1, S2 is given fixed tension, and maintains a substantially horizontal attitude | position.

  Next, the manufacturing method of an electrode (namely, the positive electrode 30 or the negative electrode 40) is demonstrated. First, an electrode mixture is applied to both surfaces of the metal sheet S1 in a coating portion (not shown). Thereafter, the electrode mixture is dried in a drying section (not shown), and further pressed with a pressure roll to form the active material layer A.

  Next, the unwinding machine 2 unwinds the metal sheet S1. The unrolled metal sheet S <b> 1 is supplied to the cutting device 4 by the first conveying roller 3 and is cut by the cutting device 4.

  In this cutting step, the metal sheet S <b> 1 is cut into a predetermined width W by the cutting device 4. In this case, a pair of upper blade 4a and lower blade 4b is provided for each of the two cutting lines Z, and the upper blade 4a and the lower blade 4b are rotated. Thus, the metal sheet S1 is cut to a predetermined width W along the cutting line Z.

  Here, when the metal sheet S1 is cut by the cutting device 4, as shown in FIG. 5B, a bent portion 72 that is bent to the upper surface side may be generated at the end in the width direction of the metal sheet S2. . The bent portion 72 is also referred to as an ear stand. For example, when the metal sheet S1 is cut by the upper blade 4a, the lower blade 4b, or the like, it is estimated that the bent portion 72 is generated by the inclined surface of the sharp blade 45 or the like. When the bent portion 72 is generated at the end of the metal sheet S2, for example, winding failure occurs when the metal sheet S2 is wound around the winder 6, or conveyance failure occurs when the metal sheet S2 is conveyed in the next step. There is a possibility that it may occur or a dimension defect of the finally formed electrode foil may occur.

  However, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 provided with the slit mechanism 7, the metal sheet S2 cut by the cutting apparatus 4 is continuously conveyed to the slit mechanism 7 and flattened.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, in the flattening step by the slit mechanism 7, the end portions in the width direction of the cut metal sheet S <b> 2 are the first guide portion 7 a and the second guide portion 7 b of the slit mechanism 7. Pass between. In this case, the end portion is guided by the first guide portion 7a facing the upper surface. Here, since the first guide portion 7a extends in the transport direction and approaches the second guide portion toward the downstream side, the bent portion 72 formed at the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet S2 is The first guide portion 7a guides the second guide portion 7b. Further, at the downstream end of the slit mechanism 7, the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b are in contact with the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet S2.

  In particular, since the first guide portion 7a has a pressing surface 71 that gradually approaches one surface of the metal sheet S2 as it goes downstream in the conveyance direction, for example, when the bent portion 72 is generated in the metal sheet S2, the bent portion 72 is formed. Is gradually pressed by the pressing surface 71. Therefore, the bent portion 72 is flattened by the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b. As a result, for example, even when a bent portion 72 that is bent on the upper surface side is generated at the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet S2, the end portion is flattened by the slit mechanism 7. Subsequently, the metal sheet S <b> 2 is conveyed to the bending mechanism 8 provided on the downstream side of the slit mechanism 7 and bent.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the bending step by the bending mechanism 8, the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet S <b> 2 is pressed and bent by the inclined surface 81 of the bending mechanism 8. That is, the bent portion 72 bent to the upper surface side is flattened by the slit mechanism 7 and then pressed and bent (reversely warped) by the bending mechanism 8 to the lower surface side. Therefore, even when the bent portion 72 is not sufficiently corrected, the bending mechanism 8 can further exhibit the flattening effect.

  In addition, according to such a bending step by the bending mechanism 8, the bent part 72 bent to the upper surface side of the metal sheet S2 may be bent to the lower surface side of the metal sheet S2. This bent portion can be corrected and flattened by, for example, a conveyance process by the second conveyance roller 5 or the like or a winding process by the winder 6. In other words, the bent portion that is bent to the lower surface side of the metal sheet S2 by the bending mechanism 8 is easy to return to a flat state, and can be corrected and flattened in normal conveyance and the next process. In addition, you may planarize the edge part in which the bending part was formed with the tension | tensile_strength provided to metal sheet S2 with the tension roller.

  Subsequently, the metal sheet S2 is conveyed to the other slit mechanism 9 on the downstream side and flattened again. In the flattening step by this other slit mechanism 9, the metal sheet S <b> 2 passes through the other slit mechanism 9 as shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, the end in the width direction of the metal sheet S2 passes between a third guide portion 9a that faces the upper surface of the metal sheet S2 and a fourth guide portion 9b that faces the lower surface of the metal sheet S2. At this time, the end in the width direction of the metal sheet S2 is corrected while being in contact with the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b.

  As described above, the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet S2 is further flattened by the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b after being bent to the lower surface side by the bending step. Therefore, for example, after the bending step of the previous stage, even when the bending of the end portion is not sufficiently corrected, the end portion of the metal sheet S2 is surely flattened by the other flattening step by the other slit mechanism 9. can do. Even when the bent portion 72 bent to the upper surface side of the metal sheet S2 is bent to the lower surface side of the metal sheet S2 by the bending mechanism 8, the bending is facilitated by the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b. Can be flattened. As a result, the end of the metal sheet S2 is reliably flattened by the other slit mechanism 9.

  Subsequently, the metal sheet S <b> 2 flattened by another flattening step is supplied to the winder 6 by the second transport roller 5 and wound around the winder 6. Then, an electrode is manufactured by cutting out or punching out the coating region 11a of the first region 11 of the metal sheet S2. At this time, the tabs 30 a and 40 a of the positive electrode 30 and the negative electrode 40 can be formed in the uncoated region 11 b of the first region 11.

  According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing method of the electrodes 30 and 40 described above, for example, even when a bent portion 72 that is bent on the upper surface side is generated at the end portion in the width direction of the metal sheet S, the end portion is flattened. can do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a winding failure when winding the belt-shaped metal sheet S on the roller, a conveyance failure when conveying the metal sheet in the next step, or a dimensional defect of the electrode sheet. The production efficiency of the electrode can be improved.

  Further, the active material layer A is densified by pressing with a pressure roll, and the active material layer A is more closely bonded to the metal sheet S. Therefore, even if it planarizes after implementing press operation with respect to the metal sheet S, the influence on the active material layer A by the planarization operation of the slit mechanism 7 can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although demonstrated based on this embodiment, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various change can be made. For example, in the present embodiment, both the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b are close to each other toward the downstream side in the transport direction. For example, the first guide portion 7 faces the one surface where bending occurs. Only the guide portion 7a may be closer to the second guide portion 7b as it goes downstream in the transport direction. The 2nd guide part 7b which opposes the other surface of metal sheet S2 should just contact the edge part of the width direction of metal sheet S2. In this case, the bent portion 72 is pressed toward the other surface while being guided by the first guide portion 7a facing the one surface. Therefore, the edge part of the width direction of metal sheet S2 is planarized by passing the 1st guide part 7a and the 2nd guide part 7b. Note that the length of the second guide portion 7b extending in the transport direction may be shorter than the length of the first guide portion 7a extending in the transport direction. The 2nd guide part 7b may be provided only in the area | region which adjoins the metal sheet S2 and planarizes the edge part of the metal sheet S2.

  Further, in the other slit mechanism 9, only one of the third guide portion 9a and the fourth guide portion 9b may approach the other as it goes downstream in the transport direction. From the viewpoint of surely correcting that the bent portion 72 is bent to the other surface side by the bending mechanism 8, for example, the fourth guide portion 9 b that faces the lower surface of the metal sheet S <b> 2 moves toward the downstream side in the transport direction. It is preferable to be close to the three guide portions 9a. The 3rd guide part 9a should just contact the edge part of the width direction of metal sheet S2 with the downstream end of the 4th guide part 9b. Note that the length of the third guide portion 9a extending in the transport direction may be shorter than the length of the fourth guide portion 9b extending in the transport direction. The 3rd guide part 9a may be provided only in the area | region which adjoins metal sheet S2 and planarizes the edge part of metal sheet S2.

  Moreover, you may perform a press step, after implementing the planarization step by the slit mechanism 7 with respect to metal sheet S2. Moreover, you may perform press operation with respect to the metal sheet S before implementation of planarization operation by the bending mechanism 8 or the other slit mechanism 9. FIG. At this time, the influence on the active material layer A due to the flattening operation of the bending mechanism 8 or other slit mechanism 9 can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, a three-stage flattening mechanism including the slit mechanism 7, the bending mechanism 8, and the other slit mechanism 9 is provided, but the bending mechanism 8 and / or the other slit mechanism 9 is omitted. May be.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrode manufacturing apparatus, 4 ... Cutting apparatus, 7 ... Slit mechanism, 7a ... 1st guide part, 7b ... 2nd guide part, 8 ... Bending mechanism, 9 ... Other slit mechanism, 9a ... 3rd guide part, 9b ... 4th guide part, 71 ... Press surface, S, S1, S2 ... Metal sheet.

Claims (8)

A slit mechanism for passing the end of the band-shaped metal sheet conveyed in the conveying direction in the width direction and flattening the end;
The slit mechanism includes a first guide portion extending in the transport direction and facing one surface of the metal sheet, and a second guide extending in the transport direction and facing the other surface of the metal sheet. And the first guide portion is closer to the second guide portion toward the downstream side in the transport direction,
The said slit mechanism planarizes the said edge part with the said 1st guide part and the said 2nd guide part, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first guide portion has a pressing surface that gradually approaches the one surface as it goes downstream in the transport direction.   3. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bending mechanism that is provided downstream of the slit mechanism in the transport direction and presses and folds the end portion toward the other surface. . Provided further downstream of the bending mechanism in the transport direction, provided with another slit mechanism to flatten the end portion,
The other slit mechanism includes a third guide portion that extends in the transport direction and faces the one surface, and a fourth guide portion that extends in the transport direction and faces the other surface of the metal sheet. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the end portion is flattened by the third guide portion and the fourth guide portion. A cutting step of cutting the band-shaped metal sheet into a predetermined width by a cutting device;
A flattening step of flattening the end by passing the end in the width direction of the metal sheet through a slit mechanism while transporting the metal sheet cut in the cutting step in a transport direction;
In the flattening step, a first guide portion that extends in the transport direction and faces one surface of the metal sheet, and extends in the transport direction and faces the other surface of the metal sheet. The slit mechanism having the second guide portion is used, and the end portion is flattened by the first guide portion and the second guide portion that are close to the second guide portion toward the downstream side in the transport direction. The electrode manufacturing method characterized by the above-mentioned.   The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 5, further comprising a bending step of bending the end portion toward the other surface after the flattening step.   After performing the bending step, a third guide portion extending in the transport direction and facing the one surface, and a fourth guide extending in the transport direction and facing the other surface of the metal sheet The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 6, further comprising another flattening step of flattening the end portion by a portion.   The method according to claim 5, further comprising a pressing step of pressing the metal sheet having an active material layer formed on at least one of the one surface and the other surface before performing the planarization step. The electrode manufacturing method as described in any one.

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