JP2016081558A - Apparatus for manufacturing electrode assembly and method of manufacturing the electrode assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly and a method of manufacturing the electrode assembly, capable of accurately detecting abnormal seating.SOLUTION: There are provided a constrained plate 50 arranged below an electrode assembly 14, and a base 81 provided with a horizontal seat face 81a on which the constrained plate 50 is seated. A light emission section 83 can output light horizontally on the base 81, and a light receiving section 84 includes a light transmission sensor 82 arranged on an opposite side of the light emission section 83 with respect to the constrained plate 50 on the base 81. An outer periphery of the constrained plate 50 is provided with a cutout portion 52 at a position intersecting with a path connecting the light emission section 83 and the light receiving section 84.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

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

  Vehicles such as EV (Electric Vehicle) and PHV (Plug in Hybrid Vehicle) are equipped with a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery as a power storage device that stores electric power supplied to an electric motor serving as a prime mover. The secondary battery includes, in a case, an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are arranged in layers with a separator interposed therebetween. The structure of an electrode assembly of a lithium ion battery includes a stacked type and a wound type. In the stacked type, a plurality of positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween. Also in the wound type, it is known to use an electrode assembly having a flat surface crushed in one direction. Since the thickness of the laminated electrode assembly is likely to vary due to the lamination, it has been proposed to arrange a spacer in the gap formed between the electrode assembly and the case inner wall to prevent the electrode assembly from rattling. . As the spacer disposed in the gap, for example, a spacer using an elastic body excellent in stretchability has been proposed. Patent Document 1 also proposes a technique of inserting a plurality of gap filling sheets (spacers) between the case inner wall and the case.

JP 2008-108457 A

  By the way, when inserting a plurality of spacers as in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to accurately measure the thickness of the electrode assembly in advance. In manufacturing the electrode assembly, in order to measure the thickness, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the electrode assembly 100 needs to be properly seated on a pedestal 110 in the apparatus. In the electrode assembly 100, the stacked positive electrode, separator, and negative electrode are integrally fixed with a tape (not shown). For normal seating determination, for example, as shown in FIG. The laser beam Lb is output from the light emitting unit 112 of the light transmission type sensor 111 toward the work (electrode assembly 100). If the light receiving unit 113 does not receive the light, it is determined that the seating is normally performed. If you are seated normally, there will be no gap. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. In this case, since the laser beam Lb is received by the light receiving unit 113, it can be determined that there is an abnormality. However, the workpiece (electrode assembly 100) and the pedestal 110 may be inclined when a foreign object is bitten, for example. When such a posture abnormality has occurred and one side of the workpiece is in contact with the seating surface and one side of the workpiece perpendicular to the laser beam Lb is seated as shown in FIG. 14, the other side floats. Even if the laser beam Lb does not reach the light receiving unit 113, the inclination cannot be detected, and it is determined to be normal.

  As described above, when the electrode assembly 100 is seated on the pedestal 110 and the thickness is measured, it is necessary to prevent erroneous detection when the light transmission sensor 111 confirms whether or not the electrode assembly 100 is seated on the pedestal 110.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus and an electrode assembly manufacturing method capable of accurately detecting a seating abnormality.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and a plate material disposed under the electrode assembly; A pedestal having a horizontal seating surface on which the plate member is seated, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the light emitting unit can output light in the horizontal direction on the pedestal, The light receiving unit includes an optical detection unit disposed on the opposite side of the light emitting unit with respect to the plate material on the pedestal, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are connected to an outer periphery of the plate material. The gist is that a notch is formed at a position that intersects the route.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the plate member is disposed under the electrode assembly, and the plate member is seated on the horizontal seating surface of the pedestal. The light emitting part of the optical detection means can output light in the horizontal direction on the pedestal, and the light receiving part is arranged on the opposite side of the light emitting part with respect to the plate material on the pedestal. Here, a notch is formed on the outer periphery of the plate material at a position intersecting with a path connecting the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. Therefore, when the posture is abnormal, the light receiving unit receives light through the notch, and the seating abnormality can be accurately detected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the first aspect, the plate member is one of a pair of constraining plates that constrain the electrode assembly from the stacking direction of the electrodes. It is good that it is a restraint plate.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the first aspect, the plate member is one of a pair of constraining plates that constrain the electrode assembly from the stacking direction of the electrodes. A restraint plate, and a tray disposed between the one restraint plate on the lower side and a seating surface of the pedestal, and the notch is formed in at least one of the one restraint plate on the lower side and the tray It is good to be.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated with a separator interposed therebetween, wherein the electrode assembly is attached to an electrode by a pair of restraining plates. A first step of holding the pair of restraint plates in a state of being sandwiched from the stacking direction and restraining the electrode assembly by the pair of restraint plates; and after the first step, the electrode assembly by the pair of restraint plates A second step of sitting on the horizontal seating surface of the pedestal, directly or via a tray, in a state of sandwiching the upper and lower sides, and after the second step, the light from the light emitting part of the optical detection means is restrained on the lower side A third step of determining whether the seating is normal if it is output horizontally toward at least one of the plate and the tray and is not received by the light receiving unit, and is abnormal if the light is received. Due to abnormal posture Passed through the light in the gap that can be notches formed in at least one of said constraining plate and the tray is summarized in that which is adapted to detect the abnormality.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first step, the pair of restraint plates in a state where the electrode assembly is sandwiched by the pair of restraint plates from the stacking direction of the electrodes and the electrode assembly is restrained by the pair of restraint plates. Is retained. After the first step, in the second step, the electrode assembly is seated on the horizontal seating surface of the pedestal, either directly or via a tray, with the electrode assembly sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates. After the second step, in the third step, if the light is horizontally output from the light emitting portion of the optical detection means toward at least one of the lower restraining plate and the tray and is not received by the light receiving portion, the seating is normal. When it is received, it is determined to be abnormal. Here, in the third step, the light passes through a gap formed in at least one of the lower restraining plate and the tray due to the abnormal posture, and the abnormal is detected, so the abnormal seating is detected accurately. be able to.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electrode assembly manufacturing method according to the fourth aspect, when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the third step, the electrode is formed on the seating surface of the pedestal as a subsequent step. It is good to have the process of measuring the thickness in the lamination direction of the electrode of an assembly.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electrode assembly manufacturing method according to the fourth aspect, when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the third step, the electrode is formed on the seat surface of the pedestal as a subsequent step. It is good to have a process of pressing the assembly in the direction of electrode lamination.

  According to the present invention, a seating abnormality can be accurately detected.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the secondary battery of embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the secondary battery of embodiment. The disassembled perspective view which shows the component of an electrode assembly. (A) is a plan view of the electrode assembly and its manufacturing jig, (b) is a front view of the electrode assembly and its manufacturing jig, and (c) is a side view of the electrode assembly and its manufacturing jig. . The exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly and its manufacturing jig. The perspective view of the base assembly for electrode assembly manufacture. (A) is a plan view of the electrode assembly and its pedestal assembly, (b) is a front view of the electrode assembly and its pedestal assembly, and (c) is a side view of the electrode assembly and its pedestal assembly. . The front view of an electrode assembly and the base assembly for manufacture thereof. (A) is a front view of an electrode assembly and its production base assembly, (b) is a side view of the electrode assembly and its production base assembly. (A) is a top view of another example, (b) is a front view of another example, (c) is a side view of another example. The perspective view for demonstrating a subject. The front view for demonstrating a subject. The front view for demonstrating a subject. The front view for demonstrating a subject.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the secondary battery 10 is a lithium ion secondary battery, and includes a metal case 11 that constitutes the outline thereof. The case 11 includes a bottomed rectangular parallelepiped container 12 having an opening 12a on one surface and a lid 13 that closes the opening 12a. The container 12 has a rectangular bottom plate 12b, a short side wall 12c erected from a pair of opposed short side edges of the bottom plate 12b, and a long side wall 12d erected from a pair of opposed long side edges of the bottom plate 12b. Is provided. The case 11 contains an electrode assembly 14 and an electrolytic solution (not shown). The electrode assembly 14 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, corresponding to the internal space of the container 12 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electrode assembly 14 is configured by laminating a rectangular sheet-like positive electrode 15 and a rectangular sheet-like negative electrode 19 with a separator 23 interposed therebetween. . The separator 23 is made of a resin and is formed of a porous film through which lithium ions related to electric conduction can pass. The positive electrode 15 includes a rectangular positive electrode metal foil (for example, aluminum foil) 16 and a rectangular positive electrode active material layer 17 provided on both surfaces of the positive electrode metal foil 16. A positive current collecting tab 18 is provided on a part of the upper side of the positive electrode 15 so as to project a part of the positive metal foil 16.

  The negative electrode 19 has a rectangular negative electrode metal foil (for example, copper foil) 20 and a rectangular negative electrode active material layer 21 provided on both surfaces of the negative electrode metal foil 20. A negative electrode current collecting tab 22 is provided on a part of the upper side of the negative electrode 19 so as to project a part of the metal foil 20 for negative electrode.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the positive electrode 15, the negative electrode 19, and the separator 23 are arranged such that the positive electrode current collecting tabs 18 are arranged in a line along the electrode stacking direction and do not overlap the positive electrode current collecting tabs 18. The negative electrode current collecting tabs 22 are stacked so as to be arranged in a line along the stacking direction of the electrodes. Each positive electrode current collection tab 18 and each negative electrode current collection tab 22 are bent in a collected (bundled) state. Each positive current collecting tab 18 is electrically connected by welding the portions where the positive current collecting tabs 18 are overlapped, and the positive electrode conductive member 24 is connected to the positive current collecting tab 18. A positive electrode terminal 25 for taking out electricity from the electrode assembly 14 is connected to the positive electrode conductive member 24.

  Similarly, the negative electrode current collecting tabs 22 are electrically connected by welding the portions where the negative electrode current collecting tabs 22 are overlapped, and the negative electrode conductive member 26 is connected to the negative electrode current collecting tabs 22. A negative electrode terminal 27 for taking out electricity from the electrode assembly 14 is connected to the negative electrode conductive member 26. The positive electrode terminal 25 and the negative electrode terminal 27 penetrate the lid 13 and protrude out of the case 11, and the positive electrode terminal 25 and the negative electrode terminal 27 are insulated from the lid 13 by an insulating ring 28.

  When the length of the electrode assembly 14 along the electrode stacking direction is the thickness of the electrode assembly 14, the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 is adjusted so that the thickness is slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the case 11. .

Next, the electrode assembly manufacturing jig 40 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrode assembly manufacturing jig 40 includes a pair of constraining plates 50 and 60 made of a metal plate, a bolt 41 and a female screw portion 51 as holding members. The pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 restrains the electrode assembly 14 from being sandwiched in the electrode stacking direction. The pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 are held by the bolt 41 and the female screw portion 51 in a state where the electrode assembly 14 is restrained by the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60. Furthermore, a load in the electrode stacking direction can be applied to the electrode assembly 14 by the load applying device 70 (see FIG. 4B).

  The restraint plates 50 and 60 are substantially rectangular, and as shown in FIG. 4A, the short direction of the restraint plates 50 and 60 is wider than the short direction of the electrode assembly 14 (rectangular positive and negative electrodes). However, the width is large enough to cover the positive electrode active material layer 17 and the negative electrode active material layer 21. The longitudinal directions of the restraining plates 50 and 60 are wider than the longitudinal direction of the electrode assembly 14. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of female screw portions 51 as holding members are provided at both ends of the restraint plate 50 in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. Moreover, in the site | part which protrudes from the electrode assembly 14 in the longitudinal direction of the restraint plate 60, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of insertion hole 61 is provided in the longitudinal direction both ends.

  The bolt 41 is made of resin. The bolt 41 is inserted into the insertion hole 61 and screwed into the female screw portion 51 in a state where the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched between the one restraint plate 50 and the other restraint plate 60. The state where the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched between the restraint plates 50 and 60 can be held by screwing the bolt 41 to the female threaded portion 51, and the distance between the pair of restraint plates 50 and 60 can be fixed. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the load applying device 70 is placed on the electrode assembly 14 with the electrode assembly 14 sandwiched between the one restraint plate 50 and the other restraint plate 60. A load F can be applied to the electrode assembly 14 from the other restraint plate 60. The load applying device 70 includes a pressing member 71 that is a pressing device, and the pressing member 71 can move forward and backward with respect to the restraining plates 50 and 60. Further, when a load is applied to the electrode assembly 14 by the load applying device 70, the interval between the pair of restraining plates 50, 60 determined by the load application is fixed by screwing the bolt 41 to the female thread portion 51, Can be maintained.

  6 and 7 show a base assembly 80 for manufacturing an electrode assembly. The pedestal assembly 80 includes a pedestal 81 and a light transmission type sensor 82 as an optical detection means. The pedestal 81 has a horizontal seating surface 81 a, and the seating surface 81 a is configured by the upper surface of the pedestal 81. The electrode assembly 14 is seated on the horizontal seating surface 81a of the pedestal 81 with the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 sandwiching the electrode assembly 14 vertically. At this time, the restraint plate 50 as a plate material is disposed under the electrode assembly 14, and the restraint plate 50 as a plate material is seated on the seat surface 81 a of the base 81.

  A light transmission sensor 82 is installed on the upper surface of the base 81. The light transmission type sensor 82 is a laser sensor. The light transmission type sensor 82 includes a light emitting unit 83 and a light receiving unit 84. The light emitting part 83 and the light receiving part 84 are arranged so as to sandwich the work on both sides of the work (electrode assembly 14, restraining plates 50, 60) seated on the upper surface of the base 81. Specifically, the light emitting unit 83 and the light receiving unit 84 are positioned so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the restraining plates 50 and 60. As described above, the light emitting portion 83 of the light transmission type sensor 82 can output light in the horizontal direction on the base 81, and the light receiving portion 84 is on the opposite side of the light emitting portion 83 with respect to the restraining plate 50 on the base 81. Be placed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular notch 52 is formed at a central portion of the restraint plate 50 in the short direction at a portion protruding from the electrode assembly 14 in the longitudinal direction of the restraint plate 50. The notch 52 is formed in a region between the female screw portions 51 in the restraining plate 50. Thus, the notch 52 is formed on the outer periphery of the restraining plate 50 at a position that intersects the path connecting the light emitting unit 83 and the light receiving unit 84. When the restraint plate 50 is seated on the pedestal 81, when the restraint plate 50 is tilted as shown in FIG. 9A, that is, when the posture is abnormal, portions P1 and P2 projecting in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 5, FIG. 5) 9 (b)) is inclined as a fulcrum. In this inclined state, a gap P3 (see FIG. 9B) is formed in the notch 52 between the seating surface 81a and the restraining plate 50.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular notch 62 is formed at a central portion of the restraint plate 60 in the short direction at a portion protruding from the electrode assembly 14 in the longitudinal direction of the restraint plate 60. The notch 62 is formed in a region between the insertion holes 61 in the restraint plate 60.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the light transmission type sensor 82, the laser light Lb is output horizontally from the light emitting unit 83 toward the work (restraining plates 50 and 60, the electrode assembly 14). The laser beam Lb is light that has a narrow lateral width and is long in the vertical direction (longitudinal light). At this time, the laser beam Lb is output toward the notch 52 formed in the central portion of the restraining plate 50. If the laser beam Lb is output horizontally from the light emitting unit 83 toward the work (restraint plate 50) and is not received by the light receiving unit 84, the seating is determined to be normal. Further, when the light receiving unit 84 receives light, it is determined to be abnormal.

Next, the manufacturing method of the electrode assembly 14 will be described together with the operation.
First, as shown in FIG. 5, the electrode assembly 14 is laminated. Specifically, one constraining plate 50 is set, and the positive electrode 15, the separator 23, and the negative electrode 19 are stacked on the constraining plate 50 by a laminating device (not shown). As a result, the electrode assembly 14 is formed on one of the restraining plates 50, and the female screw portion 51 is exposed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a step of sandwiching the electrode assembly 14 with a pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 from the electrode stacking direction is performed. That is, the other restraining plate 60 is placed on the upper surface of the electrode assembly 14 in a state where the electrode assembly 14 is formed at a predetermined position on the restraining plate 50.

  Then, the bolt 41 is inserted into each insertion hole 61 of the other restraining plate 60, and the bolt 41 is screwed into each female screw portion 51 of the one restraining plate 50. Then, the electrode assembly 14 can be sandwiched by the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 from both sides in the electrode stacking direction. The bolt 41 is screwed into a state where it can be tightened without being screwed into the female screw portion 51 strongly.

  Next, a step of applying a load to the sandwiched electrode assembly 14 in the electrode stacking direction is performed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the pressing member 71 of the load applying device 70 moves forward toward the other restraining plate 60, and the load applying device 70 passes through the other restricting plate 60. A predetermined load is applied to the assembly 14 in the electrode stacking direction. Then, the other restraint plate 60 moves toward the one restraint plate 50 along the axial direction of the bolt 41 and is pressed against the electrode assembly 14. As a result, the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 decreases. Then, after the electrode assembly 14 is stabilized, the bolt 41 is tightened with the load applied by the load applying device 70. Then, the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60, and the distance between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60, that is, the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 is fixed by the bolt 41 and the female screw portion 51. Maintained. As a result, the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 in the compressed state is maintained.

  Next, in the state where the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 by screwing the female screw portion 51 and the bolt 41, that is, in the state where the distance between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 is maintained. The process of canceling the provision of That is, the pressing member 71 of the load applying device 70 is retracted in a state where the bolt 41 is screwed to the female screw portion 51 to release the load from the electrode assembly 14.

  As shown in FIG. 4, even when the load application is released, the distance between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 is maintained by the screwing of the bolt 41 and the female screw portion 51. For this reason, the compressed state of the electrode assembly 14 continues even after the load application is released.

  Next, while the clamping state is maintained with the bolt 41 and the female screw portion 51, the load applying device 70 is removed, the load applying device 70 and the electrode assembly 14 are placed separately, and the restraint plates 50 and 60 in the electrode assembly 14 are removed. The exposed part is fixed with a holding tape (not shown) or the like.

  In this manner, the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched from the stacking direction of the electrodes by the pair of restraining plates 50, 60, and the pair of restraining plates 50, 60 are held in a state where the electrode assembly 14 is restrained by the pair of restraining plates 50, 60. Hold.

  Then, it is seated on the base 81 of the base assembly 80 shown in FIGS. That is, the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 and is seated on the horizontal seating surface 81 a of the base 81. At that time, positioning is performed by fitting a positioning pin (for example, installed on the seating surface 81 a) between the pedestal 81 and the restraining plate 50 in a recess (for example, formed on the lower surface of the restraining plate 50). At this time, since the upper and lower restraint plates 50, 60 have high flatness, there is no gap between the seating surface 81a and the restraint plate 50 if they are normally seated.

  After that, if the laser beam Lb is horizontally output from the light emitting unit 83 of the light transmission type sensor 82 toward the work (lower restraint plate 50) and is not received by the light receiving unit 84, the seating is normal and the light is received. Judged to be abnormal.

  As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when a foreign object is sandwiched, the restraint plate 50 is in a floating state. In this case, since the laser beam Lb is received by the light receiving unit 84, it is determined to be abnormal. When the workpiece (lower restraint plate 50) and the base 81 are positioned by the positioning pins being fitted into the recesses, but the workpiece (restraint plate 50, etc.) is tilted if not fitted as shown in FIG. 9 (a). In addition, there is a case where it tilts even if a foreign object is bitten. At this time, the laser beam Lb passes through the gap P3 (see FIG. 9B) formed in the notch 52 formed in the lower restraining plate 50 due to the abnormal posture and is received by the light receiving unit 84. Thereby, an abnormality is detected.

  That is, when the thickness is adjusted using the manufacturing jig 40, the seating of the work is confirmed using the manufacturing jig 40 sandwiching the electrode assembly 14 as a work. At this time, the light transmission sensor 82 detects the seating of the manufacturing jig 40 (work) holding the electrode assembly 14. At this time, if both ends in the longitudinal direction of the restraint plate 50 extend straight, there is a case where an abnormality cannot be detected. Specifically, when the restraint plates 50 and 60 (workpieces) sandwiching the electrode assembly 14 are mounted on the pedestal 81, foreign matter is biting in, or positioning pins are provided between the pedestal 81 and the restraint plate 50. If it does not fit in the recess, the laser beam Lb cannot pass when the restraint plate 50 is inclined.

  In the present embodiment, the abnormality is detected by allowing light to pass through a gap formed in the notch 52 formed in the lower restraint plate 50 due to an abnormal posture. When the notch (recess) 52 is formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the restraint plate 50 as in this embodiment, an inclination occurs in the manufacturing jig 40 (work) holding the electrode assembly 14. As shown in FIG. 9B, the notch 52 forms a gap P3 through which the laser light Lb passes. Thereby, when inclination occurs, it can be determined that there is an abnormality. That is, by providing the notch 52 in the constraining plate 50, a gap is formed at the time of sitting, so that the laser light Lb passes and an abnormality can be detected.

Further, regarding the position of the light transmission type sensor 82 and the irradiation range of the laser light Lb, an abnormality can be detected by allowing the laser light Lb to pass through at least one notch (recess) 52.
Then, when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the seating, the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 in the stacking direction in a state where the electrode assembly 14 is restrained by the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 on the seating surface 81a of the base 81. t4 (see FIG. 7B) is measured. Specifically, with the work (restraining plates 50 and 60, electrode assembly 14) seated on the pedestal 81, the entire thickness t1 from the height position where the contact S is moved downward to contact the restraining plate 60. The thickness t4 of the electrode assembly 14 is calculated by subtracting the thickness t2 of the restraint plate 50 and the thickness t3 of the restraint plate 60 from this thickness t1.

  In the step of measuring the thickness t4 of the electrode assembly, since the contact S (see FIG. 7B) extending from the top to the bottom is used, the work (restraining plate 50 or the like) is inclined as shown in FIG. If so, a large value is obtained and the thickness t4 of the electrode assembly 14 cannot be measured accurately. In the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately measure the thickness t4 of the electrode assembly 14 by detecting an inclination (abnormality) and eliminating an abnormality in seating.

  Thereafter, the electrode assembly 14 is moved from the pedestal 81 while being held between the jigs (restraining plates 50, 60), and stored in a predetermined storage location for a predetermined time. Thereby, the positive electrode 15, the negative electrode 19, and the separator 23 become familiar with the compressed shape, and the spring back of the electrode assembly 14 (a phenomenon in which the thickness returns after the load is released) can be reduced. After that, the jigs (restraining plates 50, 60) are removed from the electrode assembly 14, and if necessary, the spacers 96 (see FIG. 1) are stacked with an appropriate number of spacers 96 and fixed with tape or the like. That is, the number of the spacers 96 in FIG. 1 is determined based on the thickness of the electrode assembly 14, and the electrode assembly 14 and the spacers 96 are fixed with a tape or the like. The electrode assembly 14 is placed in the case 11.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) As a structure of the manufacturing apparatus of an electrode assembly, the restraint board 50 as a board | plate material arrange | positioned under the electrode assembly 14 and the base 81 by which the restraint board 50 is seated on the horizontal seating surface 81a are provided. Further, the light emitting unit 83 can output light in the horizontal direction on the pedestal 81, and the light receiving unit 84 is an optical detection unit disposed on the opposite side of the light emitting unit 83 with respect to the restraining plate 50 on the pedestal 81. The light transmission type sensor 82 is provided. Here, on the outer periphery of the restraining plate 50, a notch 52 is formed at a position that intersects the path connecting the light emitting unit 83 and the light receiving unit 84. Therefore, when the posture is abnormal, the light receiving unit 84 receives light through the notch 52, and the abnormal seating can be accurately detected.

  Further, by making the shape of the notches 52 and 62 as the shape of the restraining plates 50 and 60 (jigs), it is possible to easily increase the detection (tilt) accuracy for abnormal seating. Further, it is necessary to cover a wide range in the vertical and horizontal directions as the laser beam irradiation range in the sensor 111 in FIG. 12, but the laser beam irradiation range in the sensor 82 of this embodiment in FIG. 6 can cover a narrow vertical range. Good. Therefore, cost reduction and system control are facilitated.

  Furthermore, by providing a notch 52 at the center of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the restraint plate 50 and passing the laser beam Lb therethrough, it is possible to easily raise the abnormality detection accuracy by changing the shape of the restraint plate slightly. .

  (2) The plate material is one restraint plate 50 of the pair of restraint plates 50, 60 that sandwich and restrain the electrode assembly 14 from the electrode stacking direction. By using the constraining plate 50, it is possible to avoid applying local pressure to the electrode assembly 14 during load application or thickness measurement. Since one of the restraining plates 50 is used for abnormality detection, there is no need to add a new jig or the like only for posture abnormality detection, which is practical.

  (3) As a manufacturing method of an electrode assembly, a 1st process, a 2nd process, and a 3rd process are performed. In the first step, the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched from the stacking direction of the electrodes by the pair of restraining plates 50, 60, and the pair of restraining plates 50, 60 are restrained by the pair of restraining plates 50, 60. Hold. In the second step, after the first step, the electrode assembly 14 is vertically sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60 and is seated on the horizontal seating surface 81a of the pedestal 81. In the third step, after the second step, if the light is horizontally output from the light emitting portion 83 of the light transmission sensor 82 toward the lower restraint plate 50 and is not received by the light receiving portion 84, the seating is normal. When it is received, it is determined to be abnormal. Here, in the third step, the abnormality is detected by allowing light to pass through a gap formed in the notch 52 formed in the lower restraint plate 50 due to an abnormal posture. Therefore, abnormal seating can be detected accurately.

  (4) When it is determined that there is no abnormality in the third step, as a subsequent step, there is a step of measuring the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 in the stacking direction on the seating surface 81a of the base 81. This thickness can be accurately measured.

  (5) Since the abnormality is detected based on the lower restraining plate 50 with the light irradiated horizontally, the detection accuracy of the abnormality is good. Since the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 has a variation that can be adjusted by a predetermined number of spacers, if an abnormality is detected at the position of the upper restraint plate 60 or the electrode assembly 14, the variation in thickness can be tolerated. Need to reduce accuracy. On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, since the abnormality is detected based on the gap between the lower restraining plate 50 and the pedestal 81 with the light irradiated horizontally, the influence of the variation in the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 is affected. There is no receiving.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
In the above embodiment, the seating abnormality is detected immediately before the step of measuring the thickness of the electrode assembly 14 in the stacking direction on the seating surface 81a of the base 81, but instead of this, the base 81 is detected. A seating abnormality may be detected before the step of pressing the electrode assembly 14 in the electrode stacking direction on the seating surface 81a.

  Specifically, when a foreign object is sandwiched between the seating surface 81a and the lower surface of the restraining plate 50, or when the positioning pin is not properly fitted in the recess, a place where pressure should be applied evenly when such an abnormal pressure is applied. Is biased and cannot be pressurized uniformly. Therefore, when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the third step in the above (3), as a subsequent step, there is a step of pressing the electrode assembly 14 on the seat surface 81a of the base 81 in the electrode stacking direction. Good.

  In the state where the electrode assembly 14 is sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates 50 and 60, the seat is directly seated on the horizontal seating surface 81a of the base 81. Instead, a pair of restraining plates as shown in FIG. The electrode assembly 14 may be sandwiched between the plates 50 and 60 and may be seated on the horizontal seating surface 81 a of the pedestal 81 via the tray 90. That is, the workpiece (electrode assembly 14, restraining plates 50, 60) may be mounted on the tray 90 and used on the pedestal 81.

This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, a work is placed on a pedestal 81 via a tray 90. The tray 90 is for lifting and transporting the electrode assembly 14 (without picking up and touching the electrode assembly 14).

  The tray 90 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is formed larger than the electrode assembly 14 (rectangular positive and negative electrodes) and the constraining plates 50 and 60 in the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the tray 90 as shown in FIG. Has been. A rectangular notch 91 is formed at the center in the short direction of the tray 90 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the tray 90. The notch 91 is formed in a portion protruding from the electrode assembly 14 (rectangular positive and negative electrodes) and the restraining plates 50 and 60. The cutout may be provided in at least one of the lower restraining plate 50 and the tray 90. If the light from the light emitting part 83 of the light transmission type sensor 82 is output horizontally toward at least one of the lower restraining plate 50 and the tray 90 and is not received by the light receiving part 84, the seating is normal, and if it is received, it is abnormal. It is determined that Here, abnormal light is detected by passing light through a gap formed in at least one of the notches 52 and 91 formed in at least one of the lower restraint plate 50 and the tray 90 due to an abnormal posture. In this case, in addition to the inclination of the restraint plate 50, the inclination of the tray 90 can be detected by providing the notch 52 in the restraint plate 50 and the notch 91 in the tray 90 and using a sensor that emits vertically long light.

As described above, in such a form, the following effects are obtained.
(6) The plate material disposed under the electrode assembly 14 in (1) described above is one of the constraint plates 50 and 60 that restrains the electrode assembly 14 from the electrode stacking direction. 50, and a tray 90 disposed between the lower restraint plate 50 and the seating surface 81a of the base 81. Further, a notch is formed in at least one of the lower one restraint plate 50 and the tray 90. Therefore, the seating can be confirmed both between the work (restraint plate 50) and the tray 90 and between the tray 90 and the seat surface 81a of the base 81. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, when the irradiation range of the laser beam Lb is a vertically long range, the gaps between the workpiece (restraint plate 50) and the tray 90 and between the tray 90 and the seating surface 81a are monitored. Is possible. In other words, the detection area of the sensor light may be a vertically long range.

In addition to the laser light, the light used in the light transmission type sensor 82 may be infrared light or visible light (that does not receive room light at the light receiving unit).
The light emitting unit 83 and the light receiving unit 84 of the light transmission type sensor 82 may be configured such that the positions can be adjusted in the X direction in FIG.

  -You may embody as a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery as an electrical storage apparatus, or an electrical double layer capacitor.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Electrode assembly, 15 ... Positive electrode, 19 ... Negative electrode, 23 ... Separator, 41 ... Bolt, 50 ... Restraint plate, 51 ... Female thread part, 52 ... Notch, 60 ... Restraint plate, 81 ... Base, 81a ... Seat surface, 82 ... Light transmission sensor, 83 ... Light emitting part, 84 ... Light receiving part, 90 ... Tray, 91 ... Notch, Lb ... Laser light.

Claims (6)

A device for manufacturing an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween,
A plate disposed under the electrode assembly;
A pedestal having a horizontal seating surface on which the plate member is seated;
A light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, wherein the light emitting unit is capable of outputting light in a horizontal direction on the pedestal, and the light receiving unit is disposed on the opposite side of the light emitting unit with respect to the plate material on the pedestal. Optical detection means,
With
An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode assembly, wherein a notch is formed on the outer periphery of the plate material at a position intersecting with a path connecting the light emitting part and the light receiving part.   2. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate member is one of a pair of restraining plates that restrains the electrode assembly by sandwiching the electrode assembly from the stacking direction of the electrodes.   The plate member includes one restraint plate of a pair of restraint plates that sandwich and restrain the electrode assembly from the electrode stacking direction, and the lower one restraint plate and the seat surface of the pedestal. 2. The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notch is formed in at least one of the lower one restraining plate and the tray. A method for producing an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated with a separator interposed therebetween,
A first step of holding the pair of restraint plates in a state where the electrode assembly is sandwiched from a stacking direction of the electrodes by a pair of restraint plates and the electrode assembly is restrained by the pair of restraint plates;
After the first step, a second step of sitting on the horizontal seating surface of the pedestal directly or via a tray, with the electrode assembly sandwiched between the pair of restraining plates up and down,
After the second step, if the light is output horizontally from the light emitting part of the optical detection means toward at least one of the lower restraining plate and the tray and is not received by the light receiving part, the seating is normal. A third step of determining that it is abnormal when
Have
An electrode assembly characterized in that the abnormality is detected by allowing the light to pass through a gap formed in at least one of the lower restraining plate and the tray due to an abnormal posture in the third step. Solid manufacturing method.   When it is determined that there is no abnormality in the third step, the method includes a step of measuring the thickness of the electrode assembly in the stacking direction on the seating surface of the pedestal as a subsequent step. Item 5. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to Item 4.   5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of pressurizing the electrode assembly in the electrode stacking direction on the seating surface of the pedestal as a subsequent step when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the third step. Of manufacturing the electrode assembly.