JP2017074551A - Foreign object removal device and foreign object removal method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foreign object removal device which removes foreign objects while inhibiting wrinkles from occurring in a separator.SOLUTION: A foreign object removal device includes a second foreign object removal part 40. The second foreign object removal part 40 has a first robot arm 41 and a second robot arm 42. A holding part 49 of the first robot arm 41 holds a supply member 51 for supplying a liquid medium to an electrode storage separator 27. The supply member 51 has a columnar body 52. A holding part 49 of the second robot arm 42 holds a liquid suction member 61 for suctioning the liquid medium supplied from the supply member 51 to the electrode storage separator 27.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a foreign matter removing apparatus and a foreign matter removing method for removing foreign matter attached to a separator.

  A vehicle such as an EV (Electric Vehicle) or a PHV (Plug in Hybrid Vehicle) is equipped with a secondary battery as a power storage device that stores power supplied to the electric motor. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode having an active material layer are stacked or wound with a separator interposed therebetween, and a case for housing the electrode assembly. There is.

  In such a secondary battery, when a conductive foreign substance is attached to the separator, the conductive foreign substance may break through the separator and short-circuit the positive electrode and the negative electrode. For this reason, at the time of manufacturing a secondary battery, it is desired to remove foreign substances adhering to the separator.

  As a foreign substance removal apparatus which removes a foreign substance, it describes in patent document 1, for example. The foreign matter removing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a reserve tank that stores a cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid supply pipe through which the cleaning liquid passes, and a nozzle that communicates with the cleaning liquid supply pipe. The cleaning liquid is supplied from the nozzle toward the surface of the strip. Further, the foreign matter removing device includes a brush provided so as to surround the nozzle, a foreign matter discharge pipe communicating with the inner area of the brush, and a blower for discharging air from the inner area of the brush through the foreign matter discharge pipe. I have. Then, the cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the surface of the strip by a nozzle, and the inside of the brush is brought to an atmospheric pressure or lower by a suction action by a blower while pressing the brush against the surface of the strip. Then, the inside of the brush has a negative pressure, and the foreign matter removed by the cleaning liquid is discharged from the foreign matter discharge pipe.

JP 2000-24712 A

  By the way, when removing the foreign material adhering to a separator using the foreign material removal apparatus of patent document 1, there exists a possibility that a separator may be pulled toward a foreign material discharge pipe by the suction action by a blower, and a separator may be wrinkled. When wrinkles occur in the separator, the thickness differs between the wrinkles and other portions, which causes ion precipitation.

  The objective of this invention is providing the foreign material removal apparatus and foreign material removal method which can remove a foreign material, suppressing the generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle in a separator.

  A foreign matter removing device that solves the above problem is a foreign matter removing device that removes foreign matter adhering to a separator used in a power storage device, and includes a foreign matter detecting mechanism that detects the foreign matter, and liquid that is detected by the foreign matter detecting mechanism. A supply mechanism for supplying a medium; a liquid absorbing member having a tubular suction hole; and a contact mechanism for bringing the opening of the suction hole into contact with the liquid medium.

  According to this, when the foreign matter is detected by the foreign matter detection mechanism, the liquid medium is supplied to the foreign matter by the supply mechanism. Then, the foreign material adhering to the separator is wrapped in the liquid medium. Next, when the opening of the suction hole is brought into contact with the liquid medium by the contact mechanism, the liquid medium is sucked into the suction hole by capillary action. At this time, since the foreign matter is sucked into the suction hole together with the liquid medium, the foreign matter attached to the separator can be removed together with the liquid medium. Since the foreign matter can be removed together with the liquid medium by capillary action, the foreign matter can be removed without contact between the separator and the liquid absorbing member. Further, the separator is not pulled to remove the foreign matter as in the case of removing the foreign matter by the member that generates the negative pressure, and the occurrence of wrinkles in the separator due to the removal of the foreign matter is suppressed.

In the foreign matter removing apparatus, the liquid medium may be an electrolytic solution of the power storage device.
According to this, by using the electrolytic solution as the liquid medium, even if the liquid medium remains in the separator, the charging / discharging of the power storage device is not affected.

About the said foreign material removal apparatus, the said separator is an electrode storage separator which accommodated the electrode.
According to this, even when removing foreign matter from the electrode storage separator, the electrode storage separator is not pulled by a member that generates a negative pressure, and therefore, the space between the electrode storage separator and the electrode is difficult to spread.

  A foreign matter removing method for solving the above problem is a foreign matter removing method for removing foreign matter attached to a separator, wherein the foreign matter is detected, a liquid medium is supplied to the detected foreign matter, and the liquid medium is subjected to capillary action. Remove from the separator.

  According to this, foreign matter can be removed together with the liquid medium by capillary action. For this reason, the effect similar to an above-mentioned foreign material removal apparatus can be acquired.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to remove foreign substances while suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles in the separator.

The perspective view which shows a secondary battery. The disassembled perspective view which shows an electrode assembly. The schematic plan view which shows a foreign material removal apparatus. The perspective view which shows a 2nd foreign material removal part. Sectional drawing which shows a part of supply member. The disassembled perspective view which shows a liquid absorption member. The front view which looked at the liquid absorption member from the front end side. (A)-(e) is a figure for demonstrating the method to remove the foreign material adhering to an electrode storage separator using a foreign material removal apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the foreign matter removing apparatus and the foreign matter removing method will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery 10 as a power storage device is a lithium ion secondary battery. The secondary battery 10 includes an electrode assembly 20, an electrolyte solution (not shown), a case 28 containing the electrode assembly 20 and the electrolyte solution, and two terminals 29 for transferring electricity to and from the electrode assembly 20. It has.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode assembly 20 includes a plurality of positive electrodes 21, a plurality of negative electrodes 22, and a plurality of bag-like separators 26. The electrode assembly 20 is configured by laminating a positive electrode 21 and a negative electrode 22 in a state of being insulated from each other by a bag-like separator 26.

  The positive electrode 21 and the negative electrode 22 include a square metal foil 23. The metal foil 23 of the positive electrode 21 is, for example, an aluminum foil. The metal foil 23 of the negative electrode 22 is, for example, a copper foil. A tab 25 is provided on one side of the metal foil 23 so as to protrude. The positive electrode 21 and the negative electrode 22 include active material layers 24 on both surfaces of a metal foil 23. The active material layer 24 contains an active material for each polarity, a binder, a conductive aid, and the like.

  The positive electrode 21 is accommodated in the bag-like separator 26. The bag-shaped separator 26 includes a first separator piece 26a and a second separator piece 26b. Each separator piece 26a, 26b is a porous insulator. The peripheral edge that protrudes from the edge of the positive electrode 21 in the first separator piece 26a and the peripheral edge that protrudes from the edge of the positive electrode 21 in the second separator piece 26b are thermally welded to each other. The tab portion 25 of the positive electrode 21 protrudes from the edge portion of the bag-like separator 26. In the following description, the bag-shaped separator 26 in which the positive electrode 21 is stored will be described as the electrode storage separator 27.

  When manufacturing the electrode assembly 20 described above, first, an electrode storage separator 27 is manufactured by storing the positive electrode 21 as an electrode in the bag-like separator 26 in the positive electrode storage device. Then, the foreign material adhering to the surface of the electrode storage separator 27 is removed, and the electrode storage separator 27 from which the foreign material has been removed and the negative electrode 22 are alternately laminated.

  Hereinafter, a foreign matter removing apparatus for removing foreign matter attached to the electrode storage separator 27 will be described. In the following description, in the electrode storage separator 27, the opposing direction of the first separator piece 26a and the second separator piece 26b is the thickness direction of the electrode storage separator 27, and the area of the outer surfaces of the separator pieces 26a and 26b is the largest. A large rectangular surface is defined as the surface of the electrode storage separator 27.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the foreign matter removing device 30 includes a transport unit 31 that transports the electrode storage separator 27 and a control device 32 that controls the foreign matter removing device 30. The transport unit 31 transports the positive electrode 21 (electrode storage separator 27) stored in the bag-shaped separator 26 by the positive electrode storage device, and the transport unit 31 transports the electrode storage separator 27 along the transport direction X1. . The electrode storage separator 27 is transported in a state where the surface constituted by the first separator piece 26a faces upward in the vertical direction. In addition, the conveyance part 31 is a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor, for example. The conveyance unit 31 is controlled to be driven and stopped by the control device 32.

  The foreign matter removing device 30 includes a first foreign matter removing unit 33 that removes foreign matter attached to the surface of the electrode storage separator 27. The first foreign matter removing unit 33 of the present embodiment is a blower that blows air to the electrode storage separator 27, and removes the foreign matter attached to the electrode storage separator 27 by the blow. The foreign matter is, for example, wear powder generated at a sliding portion of a manufacturing apparatus used in the process of manufacturing the secondary battery 10 and has conductivity.

  An imaging device 34 is provided downstream of the first foreign matter removing unit 33 in the transport direction X1. The imaging device 34 is provided above the transport unit 31 in the vertical direction. The imaging device 34 images the surface of the electrode storage separator 27 that is transported by the transport unit 31 under the control of the control device 32, and outputs the captured image data to the control device 32. The imaging range of the imaging device 34 is a range in which the entire surface of the electrode storage separator 27 can be imaged. As the imaging device 34, for example, a CCD camera is used. The control device 32 performs image processing based on the image data from the imaging device 34 and determines whether or not a foreign substance is attached to the surface of the electrode storage separator 27.

  A transfer unit 35 is provided downstream of the imaging device 34 in the transport direction X1. The transfer unit 35 transports the electrode storage separator 27 transported by the transport unit 31 between the electrode storage separator 27 determined to have foreign matter attached thereto and the electrode storage separator 27 determined to have no foreign matter attached thereto. Make a different point. The foreign matter removing apparatus 30 includes a foreign matter removing transport unit 36 that transports the electrode storage separator 27 determined to have foreign matter attached along the transport direction X2, and is determined to have foreign matter attached thereto. The electrode storage separator 27 is transferred to the foreign matter removing transfer unit 36 by the transfer unit 35. Examples of the transfer unit 35 include a direction switching unit that transfers the electrode storage separator 27 to the foreign matter removal transfer unit 36 by switching the transfer direction of the transfer unit 31, and a foreign matter removal transfer unit that holds the electrode storage separator 27. A transport device that transports up to 36 is used. The electrode storage separator 27 determined to have no foreign matter attached is transported downstream of the transporting portion 35 along the transporting direction X1 without being transported to the transporting portion 36 for removing foreign matter. The transfer unit 35 is controlled by the control device 32. The foreign matter removing transport unit 36 is controlled to be driven and stopped by the control device 32.

  The foreign matter removing device 30 includes a second foreign matter removing unit 40 that removes foreign matter from the electrode storage separator 27 transferred to the foreign matter removing transport unit 36. The second foreign matter removing unit 40 removes foreign matter that has not been removed by the first foreign matter removing unit 33. The electrode storage separator 27 from which the foreign matter has been removed by the second foreign matter removing unit 40 is returned to the upstream side of the imaging device 34 in the transport direction X1 in the transport unit 31, and the determination as to whether or not the foreign matter has adhered is made again. Done.

Hereinafter, the second foreign matter removing unit 40 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 4, the second foreign matter removing unit 40 includes a first robot arm 41 and a second robot arm 42. The first robot arm 41 is located upstream of the second robot arm 42 in the transport direction X2 of the foreign matter removing transport unit 36.

  Both robot arms 41 and 42 have the same configuration. Each robot arm 41, 42 includes a first arm 44 erected from a first rotation shaft 43, a second arm 46 connected to the first arm 44 via a second rotation shaft 45, and a second arm 46. And a third arm 48 connected via a third rotating shaft 47. In the third arm 48, a pair of grip portions 49 are provided at the end opposite to the end connected to the second arm 46. The pair of grip portions 49 can be opened and closed with the fourth rotation shaft 50 as a rotation center.

  Each robot arm 41, 42 is controlled by the control device 32. Each of the robot arms 41 and 42 can rotate about the first rotation shaft 43 as a rotation center. The second arm 46 can rotate with respect to the first arm 44 with the second rotation shaft 45 as a rotation center, and the third arm 48 can move to the second arm 46 with the third rotation shaft 47 as a rotation center. It is pivotable with respect to it.

  Under the control of the control device 32, the positions of the grip portions 49 of the robot arms 41 and 42 with respect to the electrode storage separator 27 are adjusted. Further, under the control of the control device 32, the gripping object 49 is gripped and released from gripping.

The grip portion 49 of the first robot arm 41 grips a supply member 51 that supplies a liquid medium to the electrode storage separator 27. The supply member 51 has a columnar main body 52.
As shown in FIG. 5, the supply member 51 has a storage chamber 53 in which the liquid medium L is stored inside the main body 52. The supply member 51 has a nozzle portion 54 that opens at one axial end of the main body 52, and the nozzle portion 54 communicates with the storage chamber 53. The supply member 51 has a passage 55 for replenishing the storage medium 53 from the outside of the supply member 51, and one end of the passage 55 communicates with the storage chamber 53. The other end of the passage 55 communicates with a replenishing port capable of replenishing the liquid medium to the passage 55 from the outside of the main body 52.

  Further, the supply member 51 has a piezoelectric element 57 disposed inside the main body 52 so as to face the wall portion 56 that partitions the storage chamber 53. The piezoelectric element 57 is deformed by applying a voltage, and discharges the liquid medium L in the storage chamber 53 from the nozzle portion 54 by using a change in the volume of the storage chamber 53 due to the deformation or vibration due to the change. The piezoelectric element 57 is controlled by the control device 32, and the control device 32 controls the piezoelectric element 57 to supply a specified amount of liquid medium from the supply member 51 to the electrode housing separator 27. In the present embodiment, the electrolytic solution of the secondary battery 10 is used as the liquid medium L.

As shown in FIG. 4, the grip portion 49 of the second robot arm 42 grips the liquid absorbing member 61 that sucks the liquid medium L supplied to the electrode storage separator 27.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the liquid absorbing member 61 is configured by laminating three elongated plate members 62 to 64. Each of the plate members 62 to 64 has an arcuate tip portion 66 at one end in the longitudinal direction. Of the three plate members 62 to 64, the first plate member 62 sandwiched between the two plate members 63 and 64 passes through the rectangular first through portion 67 penetrating in the stacking direction of the plate members 62 to 64 in the longitudinal direction and the short side. Prepare in the middle of the direction. Further, the first plate member 62 includes a second through portion 68 that communicates with the first through portion 67, and the second through portion 68 penetrates in the stacking direction of the plate members 62 to 64 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the first plate member 62. It is a shape that extends to the tip portion 66 along.

The 2nd board | plate material 63 equips the center of a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction with the ventilation hole 69 penetrated in the lamination direction of the board | plate materials 62-64.
The liquid absorption member 61 includes a liquid absorption chamber 70 surrounded by the inner surface of the first penetrating portion 67, the second plate material 63, and the third plate material 64. A sponge 71 is accommodated in the liquid absorption chamber 70. A vent hole 69 communicates with the liquid absorption chamber 70. The liquid absorbing member 61 includes a tubular suction hole 72 surrounded by the inner surface of the second penetrating portion 68, the second plate member 63, and the third plate member 64. The suction hole 72 has an opening 73 at the tip of the liquid absorbing member 61. The opening area of the opening 73 is such that foreign matter expected to adhere to the electrode storage separator 27 can be sucked into the suction hole 72, and the liquid medium L supplied to the electrode storage separator 27 is sucked by capillary action. Is set to a size that can be.

Next, the foreign substance removal method using the foreign substance removal apparatus 30 of the present embodiment will be described together with the operation.
The electrode storage separator 27 transported by the transport unit 31 first passes through the first foreign matter removing unit 33. At this time, the foreign matter adhering to the electrode storage separator 27 is removed by the first foreign matter removing unit 33. Next, the electrode storage separator 27 is imaged by the imaging device 34. The imaging device 34 outputs the image data of the electrode storage separator 27 to the control device 32. The control device 32 performs image processing based on the image data to determine whether or not a foreign substance is attached to the electrode storage separator 27. At this time, the control device 32 obtains position data of the foreign matter attached to the electrode storage separator 27. In the present embodiment, the imaging device 34 and the control device 32 function as a foreign object detection mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the foreign substance F adheres to the electrode storage separator 27, the control device 32 controls the transfer unit 35 so that the electrode storage separator 27 is transferred to the foreign substance removal transport unit 36. Take control. The electrode storage separator 27 transported to the foreign matter removing transport unit 36 is transported to the second foreign matter removing unit 40. In addition, although the foreign material F has various shapes of foreign materials, in the present embodiment, the case where the elongated foreign material F is removed will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the control device 32 controls the first robot arm 41 according to the position data of the foreign substance F, thereby causing the supply member 51 held by the first robot arm 41 to move in the vertical direction. Approach the foreign object F from above. The control device 32 controls the first robot arm 41 so that the supply member 51 approaches a position where the liquid medium L supplied from the nozzle portion 54 can be supplied to the foreign matter F. The position at which the liquid medium L supplied from the nozzle portion 54 can be supplied to the foreign matter F is not limited to just above the foreign matter F, and may be slightly separated from the foreign matter F in the horizontal direction. Further, the supply member 51 may be in a state perpendicular to the electrode storage separator 27 or may be inclined.

  Next, the control device 32 deforms the piezoelectric element 57 by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element 57. As a result, a specified amount of the liquid medium L is discharged from the nozzle portion 54. As shown in FIG. 8C, the liquid medium L is supplied to the foreign material F on the electrode housing separator 27, so that the foreign material F is enclosed in the liquid medium L. Even when the supply member 51 is slightly separated from the foreign substance F in the horizontal direction, the liquid medium L biased by discharging the liquid medium L can be supplied to the foreign substance F. In the present embodiment, the first robot arm 41 and the supply member 51 serve as a supply mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 8D, the control device 32 controls the second robot arm 42 so that the liquid absorbing member 61 held by the holding portion 49 of the second robot arm 42 is placed on the electrode storage separator 27. The liquid medium L is contacted. The control device 32 controls the second robot arm 42 so that the opening 73 of the liquid absorbing member 61 contacts the liquid medium L. In the present embodiment, the second robot arm 42 functions as a contact mechanism for bringing the opening 73 of the suction hole 72 into contact with the liquid medium L. As long as the opening 73 of the suction hole 72 is in contact with the liquid medium L, the liquid absorbing member 61 may be perpendicular to the electrode storage separator 27 or may be inclined.

  As shown in FIG. 8E, when the opening 73 of the suction hole 72 comes into contact with the liquid medium L, the liquid medium L enters the suction hole 72 by capillary action. At this time, the foreign matter F enters the suction hole 72 together with the liquid medium L, and the foreign matter F is sucked into the liquid absorbing member 61. In the case where the foreign matter F has an elongated shape as in this embodiment, the foreign matter F stands up along the flow of the liquid medium L and is sucked into the suction hole 72.

  The foreign matter F is removed from the electrode housing separator 27 together with the liquid medium L by the foreign matter F being sucked into the suction hole 72. The liquid medium L sucked into the liquid absorbing member 61 is absorbed by the sponge 71. Since the liquid medium L is absorbed by the sponge 71, the back flow of the liquid medium L is suppressed. After the liquid medium L is sucked by the liquid absorbing member 61, the second robot arm 42 replaces the liquid absorbing member 61 that has sucked the liquid medium L with a liquid absorbing member 61 that has not sucked the liquid medium L.

  In the foreign matter removing device 30, the foreign matter F attached to the surface of the first separator piece 26a is removed from the separator pieces 26a and 26b. The foreign matter attached to the second separator piece 26b is removed by the foreign matter removing device 30 having the same configuration after the removal of the foreign matter F from the first separator piece 26a is completed.

  Alternatively, the foreign matter F attached to the separator pieces 26a and 26b may be removed by the foreign matter removing device 30 by providing the foreign matter removing device 30 with a reversing unit that reverses the electrode storage separator 27 in the thickness direction. Specifically, after the surface of the first separator piece 26a is imaged by the imaging device 34, the reversing unit is configured to cause the imaging device 34 to image the surface of the second separator piece 26b by inverting the electrode storage separator 27. Is provided. The control device 32 determines whether or not foreign matter has adhered to both surfaces of the first separator piece 26a and the second separator piece 26b. The second foreign matter removing section 40 is also provided with an inversion portion, and when foreign matter has adhered to both the first separator piece 26a and the second separator piece 26b, the foreign matter attached to one separator piece is removed. Later, the electrode storage separator 27 is reversed and returned to the downstream side of the second foreign matter removal unit 40. Thereby, the foreign material removal apparatus 30 can remove the foreign material adhering to both surfaces of the electrode storage separator 27 in the thickness direction.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The second foreign matter removing unit 40 of the foreign matter removing device 30 includes a supply member 51 that supplies the liquid medium L to the foreign matter F, and a liquid absorbing member 61 that sucks the liquid medium L supplied from the supply member 51 together with the foreign matter F. And. The liquid absorbing member 61 can suck the foreign matter F together with the liquid medium L without contacting the electrode housing separator 27 by a capillary phenomenon. For this reason, in the foreign material removal apparatus 30 and the foreign material removal method of the present embodiment, the foreign material F can be removed while suppressing generation of wrinkles in the electrode storage separator 27.

  (2) An electrolytic solution is used as the liquid medium L supplied to the foreign matter F. The liquid medium L supplied to the foreign matter F may remain in the electrode storage separator 27 after being sucked into the liquid absorbing member 61, but the remaining liquid medium L affects the use (charge / discharge) of the secondary battery 10. Does not affect.

  (3) The liquid absorbing member 61 sucks the foreign matter F together with the liquid medium L by bringing the opening 73 of the suction hole 72 into contact with the liquid medium L. For this reason, unlike the case where the foreign substance F is removed by a member that generates a negative pressure, the foreign substance F can be removed without being pulled, and the gap between the electrode storage separator 27 and the positive electrode 21 is reduced. Difficult to spread. Therefore, an increase in the dimension in the thickness direction of the electrode storage separator 27 is suppressed, and it is possible to prevent the electrode assembly 20 from being stored in the case 28.

In addition, you may change embodiment as follows.
The foreign matter removing device 30 may remove the foreign matter F attached to the electrode storage separator 27 only by the second foreign matter removing unit 40 without having the first foreign matter removing unit 33.

  A heater that generates heat by applying a voltage may be used instead of the piezoelectric element 57. In this case, bubbles are generated in the liquid medium L when the liquid medium L is heated by the heater. The liquid medium L is discharged from the nozzle portion 54 by the bubbles.

A dispenser or the like may be used as the supply member 51.
In the embodiment, at least one of the second plate member 63 and the third plate member 64 may be made of a permeable material so that the foreign matter F inside the liquid absorbing member 61 can be visually recognized. For example, a resin film is used as the permeable material.

In place of the robot arms 41 and 42, the supply member 51 and the liquid absorbing member 61 may be moved by another actuator such as a fluid pressure cylinder.
As a separator, foreign matter attached to a separator that does not contain the positive electrode 21 may be removed.

  As the liquid medium L, a liquid medium other than the electrolytic solution may be used. For example, a cleaning liquid may be used. In this case, it is preferable to use a liquid medium that does not affect charging / discharging of the secondary battery 10 even if the liquid medium remains in the electrode housing separator 27.

The liquid absorbing member 61 may have any structure as long as it has a tubular suction hole that can suck the liquid medium L by a capillary phenomenon.
O After removing the foreign matter F by the second foreign matter removing unit 40, the electrode storage separator 27 from which the foreign matter F has been removed may be transported downstream from the transfer unit 35 in the transport unit 31.

The foreign object detection unit may have any configuration as long as it can detect foreign objects such as an X-ray apparatus.
The foreign matter removing device 30 may remove foreign matter from a separator used in a power storage device different from the lithium ion secondary battery. For example, foreign matter attached to a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery or a separator used in a capacitor may be removed.

The electrode storage separator 27 may be one in which the negative electrode 22 as an electrode is stored in a bag-shaped separator 26.
-Sponge 71 does not need to be provided.

  In the embodiment, the liquid absorbing member 61 is held by the second robot arm 42 by causing the gripping portion 49 to hold the liquid absorbing member 61, but is not limited thereto. For example, the second robot arm 42 is provided with an insertion portion into which the proximal end of the liquid absorbing member 61 is inserted, and the liquid absorbing member 61 is held by the second robot arm 42 by inserting the proximal end into the insertion portion. You may let them.

  In the embodiment, the supply member 51 is brought close to the foreign matter F by the first robot arm 41 and the liquid medium L is supplied to the foreign matter F. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As the supply mechanism, a supply member provided in the vertical direction above the foreign matter removing transfer unit 36 and having a plurality of nozzle units arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction X2 and the vertical direction may be used. The control device 32 supplies the liquid medium to the foreign matter F by dropping the liquid medium from a nozzle portion located directly above the foreign matter F among the plurality of nozzle portions.

  The shape of the suction hole 72 may be any shape such as a circular shape or a polygonal shape such as a rectangle.

  F ... Foreign matter, L ... Liquid medium, 10 ... Secondary battery, 21 ... Positive electrode, 27 ... Electrode storage separator, 30 ... Foreign matter removal device, 32 ... Control device, 34 ... Imaging device, 41 ... First robot arm, 42 2nd robot arm, 51 ... Supply member, 61 ... Liquid absorbing member, 72 ... Suction hole, 73 ... Opening.

Claims (4)

A foreign matter removing device for removing foreign matter attached to a separator used in a power storage device,
A foreign matter detection mechanism for detecting the foreign matter;
A supply mechanism for supplying a liquid medium to the foreign matter detected by the foreign matter detection mechanism;
A liquid-absorbing member having a tubular suction hole;
A foreign matter removing apparatus comprising: a contact mechanism that contacts the opening of the suction hole with the liquid medium.   The foreign matter removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is an electrolytic solution of the power storage device.   The foreign matter removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separator is an electrode storage separator that stores electrodes. A foreign matter removal method for removing foreign matter attached to a separator,
Detecting the foreign matter,
Supply a liquid medium to the detected foreign matter,
A foreign matter removing method for removing the liquid medium from the separator by capillary action.

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