JP2017027738A - Electrode lamination apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accelerate lamination of positive electrodes and negative electrodes, and detect short circuit between a positive electrode and a negative electrode.SOLUTION: An electrode lamination apparatus 30 comprises a conveyance part 31 which conveys positive electrodes 14 and negative electrodes 15. The positive electrodes 14 and the negative electrodes 15 conveyed by the conveyance part 31 are conveyed such that a protruding direction of tabs 14f,15f become opposite to a conveyance direction. Furthermore, in the positive electrodes 14 and the negative electrodes 15 conveyed by the conveyance part 31, the tabs 14f,15f of the same polarity are positioned on a straight line extending in the conveyance direction. The positive electrodes 14 and the negative electrodes 15 conveyed by the conveyance part 31 slip down a ramp 32 by their own weights and are housed in a housing part 35. A support wall part 40 is provided for the housing part 35, the positive electrodes 14 and the negative electrodes 15 slipped down by their own weights are positioned by contacting of second sides 14g,15g at a contact surface 40a of the support wall part 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode stacking apparatus.

  In a secondary battery, an electrode assembly in which a sheet-like positive electrode and a negative electrode coated with an active material are stacked so as to form a layer with a separator interposed therebetween is housed in a case. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrode stacking apparatus that manufactures an electrode assembly by stacking a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

  The electrode laminating apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 includes a positive electrode housing portion that houses a positive electrode, a negative electrode housing portion that houses a negative electrode, and a stacking table that stacks the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrode stacking apparatus includes a positive electrode transfer device that transfers the positive electrode from the positive electrode storage portion to the stacking table, and a negative electrode transfer device that transfers the negative electrode from the negative electrode storage portion to the stacking table. Each of the transfer devices includes a suction mechanism that lifts the positive electrode and the negative electrode from each storage portion, and a cylinder that moves the suction mechanism up and down.

  Each transfer device is movable between each storage unit and the stacking table, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked on the stacking table by transferring the positive electrode and the negative electrode lifted by the suction mechanism to the stacking table. To go. When the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked on the stacking table, positioning is performed so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked at predetermined positions, and then the positive electrode and the negative electrode lifted by the suction mechanism are separated. The positive electrode transfer device and the negative electrode transfer device alternately convey the positive electrode and the negative electrode so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are alternately stacked.

  In addition, the electrode stacking device includes a short circuit detection device that detects a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode together with a stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The short-circuit detection device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a contact portion that contacts a tab of the positive electrode and a contact portion that contacts a tab of the negative electrode when the positive electrode is stacked on the stacking table. A resistance measuring instrument is connected to the contact portion, and the resistance value between the contact portions can be measured. When a short circuit occurs between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the resistance value measured by the resistance measuring instrument when the contact portion comes into contact with the tab becomes small. For this reason, the presence or absence of a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode can be detected by setting a threshold value in advance and comparing the resistance value with the threshold value.

JP 2014-96212 A

  By the way, when the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked, in addition to detecting a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode can be stacked at a high speed in order to improve the productivity of the secondary battery. It is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode stacking apparatus capable of increasing the speed of stacking of a positive electrode and a negative electrode and detecting a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

  An electrode stacking apparatus that solves the above problems includes a positive electrode having a shape in which a tab protrudes from one side and a negative electrode in a shape in which a tab protrudes from one side. The tabs having the same polarity are the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrode stacking apparatus alternately stacks so as to overlap with each other in the stacking direction, wherein the direction opposite to the direction in which the tab protrudes from the one side is the transport direction and has the same polarity on a straight line extending along the transport direction A transport unit that alternately transports the positive electrode and the negative electrode so that the tab is positioned, and a downstream of the transport unit in the transport direction, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are slid down The sloped part and the positive electrode and the negative electrode that slide down the sloped part by their own weight are stacked, and the opposite side of the one side of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is abutted. Comprising a housing portion having a contact surface for positioning of the positive electrode and the negative electrode by, and a short-circuit detecting device for detecting a short circuit of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked on the compartment.

  According to this, the positive electrode and the negative electrode conveyed by the conveying unit slide down the inclined part by their own weight. The electrode that slides down is positioned by the opposite side contacting the contact surface. Since the electrode is positioned on the contact surface by sliding down due to its own weight, the time required for electrode stacking is reduced compared to an electrode stacking apparatus that performs electrode stacking in the positioned state, and the stacking speed is increased. Figured. In addition, since the transport unit is transported so that tabs of the same polarity are positioned on a straight line extending in the transport direction, when the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked in the storage unit, the tabs of the same polarity are stacked. Overlapping directions. For this reason, it is possible to detect a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode using a tab in an electrode laminating apparatus in which the lamination of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is accelerated.

  About the said electrode lamination | stacking apparatus, the said short circuit detection apparatus is comprised so that contact / separation is possible with respect to the said accommodating part, and when the said positive electrode and the said negative electrode are laminated | stacked on the said accommodating part, it approaches the said accommodating part. A pressurization unit that pressurizes the positive electrode and the negative electrode stacked in the storage unit in the stacking direction, and contacts and separates from the storage unit together with the pressurization unit, and has the same polarity by approaching the storage unit A contact portion for contacting the tabs and measuring a resistance value between the tabs of different polarities.

  According to this, when the foreign substance exists between the positive electrode and the negative electrode by pressurizing the positive electrode and the negative electrode stacked in the storage part by the pressurizing part, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are caused by the foreign substance. The negative electrode is connected and a short circuit occurs. At the stage where the positive electrode and the negative electrode are laminated, the separation distance between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is large and no short circuit occurs even if foreign matter is present, but the separation distance between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is reduced by pressurization. By doing so, a short circuit can be caused when foreign matter is present.

  In the electrode stacking apparatus, the contact portion is provided in a rotating portion that rotates in a direction away from the storage portion when the pressurizing portion pressurizes the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and is electrically conductive. It is made of silicon rubber.

  According to this, when the positive electrode and the negative electrode are pressurized by the pressurization unit, the rotation unit and the contact unit rotate so as to be separated from the storage unit. When the pressure unit moves away from the storage unit, the rotation unit rotates so as to approach the storage unit. For this reason, a contact part will be spaced apart from a storage part rather than a pressurization part, and a part of inertia force can be disperse | distributed. For this reason, the pressurization part can be smoothly brought into contact with and separated from the storage part, and the lamination of the positive electrode and the negative electrode can be further accelerated. Moreover, damage to the tab can be suppressed by using conductive silicon rubber as the contact portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the speed of stacking the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and to detect a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

The perspective view which shows a secondary battery. The exploded perspective view of an electrode assembly. The perspective view which shows schematic structure of an electrode lamination apparatus. Sectional drawing which expands and shows a storage part. Sectional drawing which shows the state of a pressurizing part and a contact part when an electrode is accommodated in the accommodating part. Sectional drawing which shows the state of a pressurizing part and a contact part when an electrode is accommodated in the accommodating part. The top view which shows the relationship between a contact part and each tab.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the electrode stacking apparatus will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery 10 includes a case 11 including a case main body 11 a and a lid 11 b, and an electrode assembly 12 accommodated in the case 11. In addition, although not illustrated in the case 11, the electrolyte solution is also accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode assembly 12 has a stacked structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes 14 and a plurality of negative electrodes 15 are alternately stacked with separators 16 interposed therebetween. . The positive electrode 14 includes a rectangular positive electrode metal foil (aluminum foil in this embodiment) 14a, and a rectangular positive electrode active material layer 14b provided on both surfaces (surfaces) of the positive electrode metal foil 14a, Have The active material layers 14b on both surfaces of the positive electrode metal foil 14a have the same planar shape and the same thickness, and face each other with the positive electrode metal foil 14a interposed therebetween. The positive electrode 14 has a positive electrode uncoated portion 14e where the active material layer 14b is not provided along the first side 14d as one side. And in the positive electrode 14, the tab 14f protrudes in a part of 1st edge | side 14d. In the positive electrode 14, the opposite side of the first side 14d is defined as a second side 14g. The positive electrode 14 is wrapped in the separator 16 with a part of the tab 14f protruding.

  The negative electrode 15 includes a rectangular negative electrode metal foil (copper foil in this embodiment) 15a, and a rectangular negative electrode active material layer 15b provided on both surfaces (surfaces) of the negative electrode metal foil 15a, Have The active material layers 15b on both surfaces of the negative electrode metal foil 15a have the same planar shape and the same thickness. The negative electrode 15 has a negative electrode uncoated portion 15e where the active material layer 15b is not provided along the first side 15d as one side. In the negative electrode 15, a tab 15 f protrudes from a part of the first side 15 d. In the negative electrode 15, the opposite side of the first side 15d is the second side 15g.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tab 14f of the positive electrode 14 is welded to the positive electrode conductive member 19 as a tab group 18p, and the tab 15f of the negative electrode 15 is welded to the negative electrode conductive member 20 as a tab group 18n. It is connected. The positive electrode conductive member 19 is formed integrally with the positive electrode terminal 21 penetrating the lid 11b. The negative electrode conductive member 20 is formed integrally with the negative electrode terminal 22 penetrating the lid 11b.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the electrode assembly 12 which comprises the secondary battery 10 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. In the following description, it is assumed that the positive electrode 14 is already wrapped with the separator 16. In the following description, the shapes of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are simplified and described.

First, an electrode stacking apparatus 30 that stacks the positive electrode 14 wrapped with the separator 16 and the negative electrode 15 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the electrode stacking apparatus 30 includes a transport unit 31 that transports the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15. In the present embodiment, a belt conveyor that conveys the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 linearly from upstream to downstream is used as the conveyance unit 31.

  The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are alternately transferred by the transfer device 41 upstream of the transport unit 31. As the transfer device 41 that transfers the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 to the transport unit 31, for example, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are held by a suction mechanism that sucks the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, and the positive electrode 14. A device that alternately transfers the negative electrode 15 and the negative electrode 15 to the transport unit 31 is used. The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are transferred such that the second sides 14g and 15g are on the downstream side in the transport direction from the first sides 14d and 15d. That is, the protruding direction of the tabs 14f, 15f from the first sides 14d, 15d is opposite to the conveying direction of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15.

  The plurality of positive electrodes 14 conveyed by the conveyance unit 31 are conveyed in a state where the plurality of tabs 14f are located on a straight line extending in the conveyance direction. The plurality of negative electrodes 15 transported by the transport unit 31 are transported in a state where the plurality of tabs 15f are positioned on a straight line extending in the transport direction. The tab 14f of the positive electrode 14 and the tab 15f of the negative electrode 15 conveyed by the conveyance unit 31 are not positioned on a straight line extending in the conveyance direction, that is, in a direction along the surfaces of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15. Of these, they are shifted in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

  An inclined portion 32 is provided downstream of the transport unit 31. The inclined portion 32 includes a rectangular flat plate-like slide-down portion 33 that is inclined downward along the transport direction, and a restriction portion 34 that extends in the transport direction and is provided upright from each of a pair of opposed end portions of the slide-down portion 33. doing. The shortest distance between the opposing surfaces of both regulating portions 34 is slightly longer than the lengths of the first sides 14 d and 15 d of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15.

  The sliding part 33 of the inclined part 32 is connected to the conveying part 31 at one end along the conveying direction. The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 transported to the sliding portion 33 by the transporting portion 31 slide down the sliding portion 33 in a state where movement in the extending direction of the first sides 14 d and 15 d is restricted by the restricting portion 34.

  The electrode stacking apparatus 30 includes a storage portion 35 in which the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 that have slid down the inclined portion 32 are stored. The storage portion 35 includes a bottom portion 36, a pair of guide wall portions 38 and 39 erected from the bottom portion 36, and a support wall portion 40 spanned between the pair of guide wall portions 38 and 39. The pair of guide wall portions 38 and 39 have a rectangular shape extending downward from the inclined portion 32 and are parallel to each other. The distance between the opposing surfaces of the guide walls 38 and 39 is slightly longer than the distance between the opposite surfaces (outer surfaces) of the two restricting portions 34.

  The storage part 35 is disposed so as to be inclined downward from the inclined part 32. The inclination of the storage portion 35 is gentle compared to the inclination of the inclined portion 32. In the inclined portion 32, a part of the end portion opposite to the end portion connected to the transport portion 31 is inserted between the guide wall portions 38 and 39. Thereby, the support wall part 40 is located on the extension of the sliding direction of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 sliding down the inclined part 32.

  The storage part 35 has a storage area S surrounded by the bottom part 36, the guide wall parts 38 and 39, and the support wall part 40, and the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 that have slid down the sliding part 33 are stacked in the storage area S. . The support wall portion 40 includes a contact surface 40 a on a surface that partitions the storage region S. When the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are stacked in the storage region S, the second sides 14g and 15g of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are in contact with the contact surface 40a. The bottom portion 36 has a convex portion 37 that protrudes from a surface that partitions the storage region S. When the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are stored in the storage portion 35, the convex portion 37 faces the tabs 14f and 15f. The convex portion 37 is made of, for example, conductive silicon rubber obtained by adding conductivity to silicon rubber by adding a conductive member to silicon rubber.

The electrode stacking device 30 includes a short circuit detection device 51. The short-circuit detection device 51 is disposed above (in the vertical direction) the storage unit 35 by a support member (not shown).
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the short-circuit detection device 51 includes an actuator 52 such as a cylinder. The actuator 52 has a rod 52a, and a flat plate-like pressurizing portion 53 is connected to the tip of the rod 52a. Further, a protruding portion 54 protrudes from the rod 52a in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the protruding portion 54 is divided into two branches and a cylindrical branch portion 55 is branched. From each branch part 55, the column-shaped extension part 56 is extended along the axial direction of the rod 52a, respectively.

  A columnar rotating portion 57 is connected to the tip of each extending portion 56. Each rotation portion 57 is connected to each extending portion 56 by a rotation axis A, and the rotation portion 57 is rotatable about the rotation axis A. Each rotating portion 57 is provided so as to be linear with each extending portion 56 when not rotating. In this embodiment, each rotation part 57 is rotatable between a position that is linear with each extension part 56 and a position above this position. A cylindrical contact portion 58 is provided at the tip of each rotating portion 57. The tip of each rotating part 57 is fixed to the peripheral surface of the contact part 58. Each contact portion 58 is made of conductive silicone rubber. A resistance measuring device 59 is connected to each contact portion 58.

  The short-circuit detection device 51 is disposed so that the storage portion 35 is positioned on the extension of the rod 52a in the axial direction. Specifically, in a state where the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 35, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are positioned on the axial extension of the rod 52 a, and the axial direction of each rotating portion 57. The tabs 14f and 15f are located on the extension of. The pressurizing portion 53 and the contact portion 58 can be brought into and out of contact with the storage portion 35 by linear movement of the rod 52 a by driving the actuator 52.

The electrode stacking device 30 includes a control device 60. The control device 60 according to the present embodiment controls the transport unit 31 and the short circuit detection device 51.
Next, a method for laminating the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 using the electrode laminating apparatus 30 (a method for producing the electrode assembly 12) and an operation thereof will be described.

  The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 transferred to the transfer unit 31 by the transfer device 41 are transferred by the transfer unit 31. The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are alternately transported to the inclined portion 32 by the transport portion 31.

  The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 conveyed to the inclined portion 32 slide down the sliding portion 33 of the inclined portion 32. At this time, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are restricted from being inclined by the restricting portion 34 of the inclined portion 32, and are accommodated in the accommodating portion 35 from the second sides 14 g and 15 g. When the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are stored in the storage portion 35 from the sliding portion 33, the pressurizing portion 53 is separated from the storage portion 35.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 accommodated in the accommodating portion 35 have the second sides 14g and 15g abut against the abutment surface 40a of the support wall portion 40 due to the sliding force, and the support wall portion 40 stops sliding. Since the storage part 35 is also inclined downward, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 stored in the storage part 35 hit the support wall part 40 by gravity, and the second sides 14 g and 15 g are along the support wall part 40. Are stacked. Further, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are guided toward the support wall 40 in a state where movement in the extending direction of the first sides 14d and 15d is restricted by the guide wall portions 38 and 39. Therefore, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are positioned by the contact surface 40a.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are stored in the storage unit 35, the actuator 52 is driven by the control device 60, whereby the pressurization unit 53 and the contact unit 58 are moved. The storage unit 35 is approached. The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are pressurized toward the bottom 36 of the storage unit 35 by the pressurizing unit 53, and the tabs 14 f and 15 f are applied toward the bottom 36 (convex portion 37) by the contact unit 58. Pressed. When the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are pressurized, and foreign matter exists between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are electrically connected by the foreign matter. Is done.

  The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 stacked in the storage unit 35 have a large separation distance between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 at the stage where the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 have slipped from the sliding part 33. In this case, even when foreign matter exists between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are not electrically connected. When manufacturing the electrode assembly 12, in order to reduce the separation distance between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, when the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are not pressurized during the lamination, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode Even when a short circuit is not detected during the stacking of the electrodes 15, there is a possibility that a short circuit may occur when the electrode assembly 12 is formed. For this reason, in order to detect a short circuit during lamination of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are pressurized.

  As shown in FIG. 7, each contact portion 58 comes into contact with the tab 14 f of the positive electrode 14 and the tab 15 f of the negative electrode 15, so that the resistance value between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 is changed to the resistance measuring device 59. Measured by. When a foreign substance (for example, abrasion powder) is interposed between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 and the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are short-circuited by the foreign substance, resistance measurement is performed as compared with a case where no short-circuit occurs. The resistance value measured by the instrument 59 is reduced.

  The resistance value measured by the resistance measuring device 59 is output to the control device 60. The control device 60 determines that a short circuit has occurred when the resistance value is less than the threshold value. The control device 60 stops the transport unit 31 when a short circuit occurs. When the resistance value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control device 60 determines that no short circuit has occurred, and continues to stack the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15. As the threshold value, a value lower than the resistance value between the tabs 14f and 15f when no short circuit occurs is set.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the tabs 14 f and 15 f are pressurized by the contact portion 58, the rotation portion 57 rotates about the rotation axis A by the force acting on the contact portion 58. The rotation unit 57 rotates toward the upper side, which is the direction away from the storage unit 35, with respect to the lower side, which is the direction in which the pressure unit 53 approaches the storage unit 35. Moreover, the rotation part 57 returns to the position which becomes linear with each extension part 56 with dead weight.

  After the short circuit inspection by the short circuit detection device 51 is performed, the actuator 52 is driven to separate the pressurizing unit 53 and each contact unit 58 from the storage unit 35. At this time, the rotating portion 57 returns to a position that is linear with each extending portion 56 by its own weight (returns to the state shown in FIG. 4). An inertial force acts when the pressurizing unit 53 and each contact unit 58 are separated from the storage unit 35, but the contact unit 58 is delayed from the pressurizing unit 53 by rotating the rotating unit 57 downward. Since it is separated from the storage part 35, a part of inertia force can be disperse | distributed. For this reason, the force required to separate the pressurizing part 53 and the contact part 58 is reduced, and the pressurizing part 53 and each contact part 58 can be smoothly connected and separated. In the present embodiment, the short circuit detection by the short circuit detection device 51 is performed every time one positive electrode 14 and one negative electrode 15 are stacked.

When a predetermined number of the positive electrodes 14 and the negative electrodes 15 are laminated and the entire lamination process is completed, the electrode assembly 12 is manufactured.
Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) The positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 transported by the transport unit 31 slide down the inclined portion 32 by its own weight and are stored in the storage unit 35. The storage portion 35 is provided with a support wall portion 40, and the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 that have fallen due to their own weight have the second sides 14 g and 15 g abutting against the abutment surface 40 a of the support wall portion 40. Positioned. Since the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are positioned together with sliding due to their own weight, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 can be stacked at higher speed than when the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are stacked after the positioning. Figured. Moreover, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 conveyed by the conveyance part 31 are conveyed so that the protruding directions from the first sides 14d and 15d of the tabs 14f and 15f are opposite to the conveying direction. Furthermore, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 transported by the transport unit 31 are positioned on a straight line where the tabs 14f and 15f having the same polarity extend in the transport direction. For this reason, when the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are stacked in the storage portion 35, the tabs 14f and 15f having the same polarity overlap in the stacking direction. In order to inspect whether or not a short circuit has occurred, the tabs 14f and 15f having the same polarity need to overlap each other. However, according to the electrode stacking apparatus 30 of this embodiment, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are When stacked, the tabs 14f and 15f having the same polarity can be transported so as to overlap each other. Therefore, the short circuit can be detected together with the lamination of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, and the short circuit can be detected by the electrode laminating apparatus 30 that achieves the high speed of the lamination of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15.

  (2) The short circuit detection device 51 includes a pressurizing unit 53 and a contact unit 58. By pressurizing the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 by the pressurizing unit 53, when foreign matter is present between the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15, the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 are connected by the foreign matter. Thereby, a short circuit can be detected during lamination of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15.

  (3) The contact portion 58 is provided on the rotating portion 57. When the pressurization unit 53 and each contact unit 58 are separated from the storage unit 35, the rotation unit 57 is rotated downward so that the contact unit 58 is separated from the storage unit 35 later than the pressurization unit 53. . For this reason, a part of inertia force which arises when the pressurization part 53 and each contact part 58 leave | separate from the accommodating part 35 can be disperse | distributed, and the pressurization part 53 and the contact part 58 can be smoothly contacted / separated. Become. Therefore, the contact / separation of the pressurizing part 53 and the contact part 58 is speeded up, and consequently, the stacking of the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 is speeded up.

  (4) Conductive silicon rubber is used as the contact portion 58. Since the conductive silicone rubber is easily elastically deformed, the tabs 14f and 15f are less likely to be damaged than when a metal or the like is used as the contact portion 58.

(5) Moreover, by providing the convex part 37 made of conductive silicon rubber on the bottom part 36 of the storage part 35, the tabs 14f and 15f are further prevented from being damaged.
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.

As the conveyance unit 31, any device such as a roller conveyor may be used.
The transfer device that transfers the positive electrode 14 and the negative electrode 15 to the transport unit 31 may have any configuration. For example, a conveyor that conveys the positive electrode 14 to the conveyance unit 31 and a conveyor that conveys the negative electrode 15 to the conveyance unit 31 are arranged upstream of the conveyance unit 31, and electrodes (positive electrode 14 and negative electrode) are alternately arranged from each conveyor. 15) may be transferred to the transport unit 31.

  In the embodiment, the presence / absence of a short circuit is detected by measuring a resistance value, but the presence / absence of a short circuit may be detected by impedance measurement, a DC continuity test, an AC continuity test, an insulation test, or the like.

The contact portion 58 may be manufactured from any member as long as it is a conductive member such as a conductive resin.
The rotation unit 57 may be rotated by a rotation shaft that is rotated by a motor. In this case, the rotation unit 57 is rotated by driving the motor by the control device 60.

The short circuit detection device only needs to be able to detect a short circuit, and may have a configuration different from that of the embodiment.
-The rotation part 57 does not need to be provided. In this case, the extending portion 56 may be made longer than that in the embodiment, and the extending portion 56 may be provided with the contact portion 58.

A plurality of control devices that individually control the conveyance unit 31, the short circuit detection device 51, and the like may be provided.
Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the embodiment and the modified examples will be described below.

  (A) A positive electrode with a tab protruding from one side and a negative electrode with a tab protruding from one side are stacked alternately so that tabs of the same polarity overlap in the stacking direction of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A method of manufacturing the electrode assembly, wherein the direction opposite to the direction in which the tab protrudes from one side is the transport direction, and the positive electrode and the tab having the same polarity are positioned on a straight line extending along the transport direction. The negative electrode is conveyed alternately, the conveyed positive electrode and the negative electrode are slid down by their own weight, and the opposite side of the side where the tab is provided on the slid down positive electrode and the negative electrode is brought into contact with the contact surface by the force of sliding The manufacturing method of the electrode assembly which laminates | stacks in the state by which the positive electrode and the negative electrode were positioned by this, and detects the short circuit of the laminated | stacked electrode.

  14 ... Positive electrode, 14d ... First side, 14f ... Tab, 14g ... Second side, 15 ... Negative electrode, 15d ... First side, 15f ... Tab, 15g ... Second side, 30 ... Electrode stacking device, 31 ... Conveying section, 32 ... inclined section, 35 ... storage section, 40a ... contact surface, 51 ... short-circuit detection device, 53 ... pressurizing section, 58 ... contact section.

Claims (3)

The positive electrode having a shape in which a tab protrudes from one side and the negative electrode having a shape in which a tab protrudes from one side are alternately stacked so that the tabs having the same polarity overlap in the stacking direction of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. An electrode stacking apparatus
The positive electrode and the negative electrode are alternately arranged so that the direction opposite to the direction in which the tab protrudes from the one side is the transport direction, and the tab of the same polarity is positioned on a straight line extending along the transport direction. A transport unit for transport;
An inclined part that is provided downstream of the conveying part in the conveying direction and inclines downward so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode slide down;
The positive electrode and the negative electrode that slide down the inclined portion by their own weight are stacked, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are positioned by contacting the opposite sides of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A storage unit having
An electrode stacking device, comprising: a short-circuit detecting device that detects a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode stacked in the storage unit. The short circuit detection device is:
The positive electrode and the negative electrode stacked on the storage unit by being close to the storage unit each time the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked on the storage unit. A pressurizing unit that pressurizes the negative electrode in the stacking direction;
A contact part for measuring the resistance value between the tabs of the same polarity by contacting the tabs of the same polarity by approaching the storage part together with the pressurizing part and approaching the storage part, and The electrode lamination apparatus according to claim 1 provided.   The contact portion is provided in a rotating portion that rotates in a direction away from the housing portion when the pressurizing portion pressurizes the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and is made of conductive silicone rubber. Item 3. The electrode stacking apparatus according to Item 2.