JP2020027721A - Electrode manufacturing device with separator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electrode manufacturing device with a separator, capable of reducing deviation of a cutting position by a cutting part.SOLUTION: A packaging device 20 comprises: a detection part 50 that detects deviation against a reference position CL of a cutting position by a cutting part 31 on a downstream side of the cutting part 31; and a position adjustment part 102 that adjusts a relative position of the cutting part 31 and a work WK when the deviation is detected by the detection part 50. Since the detection part 50 is for detecting the deviation on the downstream side of the cutting part 31, the deviation can be detected on the basis of a resulting object which has been actually cut with the cutting part 31. Therefore, the detection part 50 can accurately detect the deviation regardless of an influence of the change of a tension of separator members 18a and 18b. Since the position adjustment part 102 performs a position adjustment on the basis of a detection result of the detection part 50, the relative position of the cutting part 31 and the work WK can be accurately adjusted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses an apparatus for cutting an electrode. This device includes a rotary cutter for cutting a band-shaped member serving as a base material of an electrode, and a detection sensor for detecting a cutting position on an upstream side of the rotary cutter. When the detection sensor detects a position corresponding to the tab of the electrode, the position of the belt-shaped member with respect to the rotary cutter is adjusted.

JP-A-2002-075334

  Here, an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator for manufacturing an electrode with a separator is also known. In an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator, when an electrode cut into individual pieces is sandwiched between separator members, which are base materials of a strip-shaped separator, a portion where the separator members directly face each other is cut by a cutting portion. When such an electrode-equipped apparatus with a separator cuts the separator member by employing the technique of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that a cutting position is shifted from a reference position. That is, since the separator member is a member that is more easily expanded and contracted than the electrode, even if the cutting position is detected on the upstream side of the cutting portion, the actual cutting position does not sandwich the electrode, and the expansion and contraction easily occurs. The displacement is caused by a change in the tension of the separator member.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator, which can reduce displacement of a cutting position due to a cutting portion.

  An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator according to one aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator for manufacturing an electrode with a separator provided with a separator on the electrode while transporting the electrode along a transport path, comprising: Joints provided on both surfaces of the electrode with separator members, which are materials, and a cutting section provided on the downstream side of the joining section and cutting a portion of the workpiece where the separator members face each other, and cutting on a downstream side of the cutting section. A detecting unit that detects a shift of a cutting position by the unit from a reference position; and a position adjusting unit that adjusts a relative position between the cutting unit and the workpiece when the detecting unit detects a shift.

  An electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator, on the downstream side of the cutting section, a detecting section that detects a shift of the cutting position by the cutting section from the reference position, and when a shift is detected by the detecting section, a relative position between the cutting section and the workpiece. And a position adjusting unit for adjusting. Since the detection unit detects a shift on the downstream side of the cutting unit, the shift can be detected based on a result of the actual cutting at the cutting unit. Therefore, the detecting unit can accurately detect the displacement regardless of the influence of the change in the tension of the separator member. In addition, since the position adjustment unit adjusts the position based on the detection result of the detection unit, it is possible to accurately adjust the relative position between the cutting unit and the work. As described above, it is possible to reduce the displacement of the cutting position due to the cutting section.

  The cutting unit may be constituted by a rotary cutter, and the position adjusting unit may adjust the relative position between the cutting unit and the work by controlling the phase of the rotary cutter. Since the rotary cutter cuts the work at a constant pitch by rotation, the position adjusting unit can easily adjust the position only by controlling the phase of the rotary cutter.

  The joining section may be configured by a welding section that welds the separator members, and the detection section may detect the displacement based on a cut width of a welding area where the separator members are welded. Thus, the detection unit can easily detect the displacement only by using the width of the welded region after cutting.

  The apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator further includes a discharge unit that discharges the electrode with the separator from the transport path on the downstream side of the cutting unit, and the discharge unit includes the electrode with the separator that is cut immediately after the position is adjusted by the position adjustment unit. May be discharged. The length of the electrode with the separator cut immediately after the position adjustment is performed may be different from the reference dimension. Therefore, the discharge unit can discharge such an electrode with a separator.

  The joining section may be configured by a joining section that joins the separator member and the electrode, and the detection section may detect the displacement based on the width of the region between the adjacent electrodes after cutting. Thus, the detection unit can easily detect the displacement only by using the width of the region between the adjacent electrodes after cutting.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator which can reduce the displacement of the cutting position by a cutting part can be provided.

It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the electrical storage apparatus manufactured by applying the electrode manufacturing apparatus with which the packaging apparatus which concerns on this embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the positive electrode with a separator typically. It is a schematic side view of the packaging device concerning this embodiment. It is a schematic side view of the packaging device concerning this embodiment. It is a figure showing a situation of a welding field when a separator member is removed. It is a schematic diagram which shows the positive electrode with a separator which concerns on various states. It is a figure which shows typically the electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator which concerns on a modification. It is a top view which shows a part of tertiary precursor.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements have the same reference characters allotted, and overlapping description will be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of a power storage device using electrodes manufactured by applying the packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 and 2, the power storage device 1 is a lithium ion secondary battery having a stacked electrode assembly.

  The power storage device 1 includes, for example, a case 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an electrode assembly 3 housed in the case 2. The case 2 is formed of a metal such as aluminum. Although not shown, for example, a non-aqueous (organic solvent) electrolytic solution is injected into the case 2. On the case 2, a positive electrode terminal 4 and a negative electrode terminal 5 are arranged separately from each other. The positive terminal 4 is fixed to the case 2 via an insulating ring 6, and the negative terminal 5 is fixed to the case 2 via an insulating ring 7. An insulating film is disposed between the electrode assembly 3 and the inner side and bottom surfaces of the case 2, and the case 2 and the electrode assembly 3 are insulated by the insulating film. In FIG. 1, for the sake of convenience, a slight gap is provided between the lower end of the electrode assembly 3 and the bottom surface of the case 2, but in reality, the lower end of the electrode assembly 3 is placed inside the case 2 via an insulating film. Is in contact with the bottom of

  The electrode assembly 3 has a structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes 8 and a plurality of negative electrodes 9 are alternately stacked via a bag-shaped separator 10. The positive electrode 8 is wrapped in a bag-shaped separator 10. The positive electrode 8 wrapped in the bag-like separator 10 is configured as a positive electrode 11 with a separator. Therefore, the electrode assembly 3 has a structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes 11 with separators and a plurality of negative electrodes 9 are alternately stacked. The electrodes located at both ends of the electrode assembly 3 are the negative electrodes 9.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the positive electrode 11 with a separator. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the positive electrode 8 includes a metal foil 14 which is a positive electrode current collector made of, for example, an aluminum foil, and a positive electrode active material layer 15 formed on both surfaces of the metal foil 14. I have. The metal foil 14 has a rectangular foil main body part 14a in a plan view and a tab 14b integrated with the foil main body part 14a. The foil body 14a includes a lower end 14x, an upper end 14y on the opposite side of the lower end 14x, and a pair of side ends 14r and 14p connecting the lower end 14x and the upper end 14y to each other. The side ends 14r and 14p cross the lower end 14x and the upper end 14y. The tab 14b protrudes from the upper end 14y of the foil body 14a so as to correspond to the position of the positive electrode terminal 4, and penetrates through the separator 10. The tab 14b is connected to the positive terminal 4 via the conductive member 12. In FIG. 2, the tab 14b is omitted for convenience.

  The positive electrode active material layer 15 is formed on both the front and back surfaces of the foil body 14a. The positive electrode active material layer 15 is a porous layer formed including a positive electrode active material and a binder. More specifically, it is formed by bonding a binder between many particles (or a particle mass, a secondary particle) of many positive electrode active materials to each other. Although gaps (holes) are formed between the particles to such an extent that the electrolyte is impregnated, the pores are minute and cannot be visually confirmed. Examples of the positive electrode active material include a composite oxide, metallic lithium, and sulfur. The composite oxide contains, for example, at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum and lithium.

  The negative electrode 9 has a metal foil 16 as a negative electrode current collector made of, for example, a copper foil, and negative electrode active material layers 17 formed on both surfaces of the metal foil 16. The metal foil 16 has a foil main body 16a having a rectangular shape in plan view, and a tab 16b integrated with the foil main body 16a. The tab 16b protrudes from an edge near one end in the longitudinal direction of the foil main body 16a. The tab 16b is connected to the negative terminal 5 via the conductive member 13. In FIG. 2, the tab 16b is omitted for convenience.

  The negative electrode active material layer 17 is formed on both front and back surfaces of the foil main body 16a. The negative electrode active material layer 17 is a porous layer formed including a negative electrode active material and a binder. More specifically, it is formed by bonding a binder between many particles of the negative electrode active material (or particle mass, secondary particles) between the particles. Although gaps (holes) are formed between the particles to such an extent that the electrolyte is impregnated, the pores are minute and cannot be visually confirmed. Examples of the negative electrode active material include graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, carbon such as hard carbon and soft carbon, alkali metals such as lithium and sodium, metal compounds, SiOx (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1.5 ) And boron-added carbon.

  The separator 10 contains, for example, the positive electrode 8 therein. That is, the positive electrode 8 is wrapped in the bag-shaped separator 10. The separator 10 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The separator 10 is formed in a bag shape by welding a pair of long sheet-like separator members to each other. Specifically, the separator 10 has a bag shape in which the outer edge is defined by the welding region W1, the welding region W2, the welding region W3, and the welding region W4 formed by welding the separator members to each other. In FIG. 3, the separator member on the front side is omitted, and the welding region W1 to the welding region W4 are hatched for description.

  The welding area W1 is an area facing the side end 14r of the foil main body 14a and extending along the side end 14r. The welding area W3 is an area facing the side end 14p of the foil main body 14a and extending along the side end 14p. The welding area W2 is an area facing the lower end 14x of the foil main body 14a and extending along the lower end 14x. The welding area W4 is an area facing the upper end 14y of the foil main body 14a and extending along the upper end 14y. The welding areas W1 to W4 are connected to each other so as to form a rectangular ring. A non-welded region W5 is interposed between a plurality of (here, two) welded regions W4 that are separated from each other.

  The separator 10 is open in the non-welding region W5. In the separator 10, the tab 14b protrudes through the non-welding region W5. Examples of the material of the separator 10 include a porous film made of a polyolefin-based resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), or a woven or non-woven fabric made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), methyl cellulose, or the like. In the range where the displacement of the positive electrode 8 does not occur in the separator 10, the welding regions W1 to W4 may be formed intermittently, for example, in a dot shape.

  In addition, the thickness of the positive electrode 8 is, for example, 100 μm in the present embodiment, including the metal foil 14 and the positive electrode active material layer 15. On the other hand, the thickness of the separator 10 is 30 μm. Note that FIGS. 1 to 3 described above and drawings to be described later are deformed for convenience of description, and the thickness is emphasized more than actual. Although the thickness is an example in the present embodiment, in order to secure a large battery capacity, the positive electrode active material layer 15 is formed as thick as possible in production, and conversely, the separator 10 is provided with an insulating material between the electrodes. Is set as thin as possible. For this reason, the thickness relationship is set so that the relationship of “thickness of positive electrode 8> thickness of separator 10” is established. Further, the thickness of the separator 10 may be set to a fraction of the thickness of the positive electrode 8.

  When manufacturing the power storage device 1 configured as described above, first, a sheet member in which a precursor of an active material layer is formed on a strip-shaped metal foil is manufactured. Next, the sheet member is cut into a predetermined shape, and thereafter, the positive electrode 8 and the negative electrode 9 with separator are manufactured by packaging only the positive electrode 8 with a separator. After producing the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 9 with a separator, the positive electrode 11 with a separator and the negative electrode 9 are alternately laminated to form a laminate. After the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 9 with a separator are brought into close contact with each other by pressurizing the laminate, the electrode assembly 3 is obtained by fixing the positive electrode 11 with the separator and the negative electrode 9 with a tape or the like. Then, the tab 14b of the positive electrode 11 with the separator is connected to the positive terminal 4 via the conductive member 12, and the tab 16b of the negative electrode 9 is connected to the negative terminal 5 via the conductive member 13. 2 For example, in the manufacturing process of the positive electrode 11 with a separator, more specifically, a strip-shaped electrode base material provided with an active material layer is manufactured, and the electrode base material is cut to manufacture the positive electrode 8. Will be By wrapping the manufactured positive electrode 8 with the separator 10, the positive electrode 11 with the separator is manufactured.

  Next, a packaging device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic side views of the packaging device 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state of a welding area when the separator member 18b is removed, and FIG. 6A shows a state in which welding is performed by a heater roller 25 (joint part, weld part) on a preceding stage, which will be described later. FIG. 6B shows a state after welding is performed by the heater roller 26 (joint portion, welded portion) on the rear stage side. The packaging device 20 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a device for manufacturing an electrode with a separator that manufactures an electrode with a separator (here, a positive electrode 11 with a separator) by providing a separator 10 on the electrode (here, the positive electrode 8). is there. The packaging device 20 welds the long sheet-shaped separator member 18a and the separator member 18b for the separator 10 to each other. Here, the packaging device 20 forms the bag-shaped separator 10 in which the positive electrode 8 is accommodated by welding the separator members 18a and 18b. In the present embodiment, the packaging device 20 corresponds to a separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus that manufactures the positive electrode 11 with the separator in which the separator 10 is attached to the positive electrode 8 while transporting the positive electrode 8 along the transport path. That is, the packaging device 20, which is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator in the present embodiment, manufactures the positive electrode 11 with a separator by covering the positive electrode 8 with the separator 10 and packaging.

  First, the configuration on the upstream side of the packaging device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the packaging device 20 provides the separator 10 on the positive electrode 8 while transporting the positive electrode 8 supplied from the equipment in the previous process along a transport path (here, a path along the X axis). The equipment in the preceding step is, for example, an electrode manufacturing apparatus (not shown) that manufactures the positive electrode 8 by cutting an electrode base material (not shown). The positive electrode 8 is transported by the transport conveyor 40 and supplied to the packaging device 20. The transport conveyor 40 is, for example, a belt conveyor with a sun. In the present embodiment, the transport conveyor 40 supplies the positive electrodes 8 arranged in two rows to the packaging device 20. However, the positive electrodes 8 may be supplied in one row or three or more rows.

  The packaging device 20 includes a supply reel 21, a supply reel 22, a guide roller 23, a pressing roller 28, a guide roller 24, a heater roller 25, a heater roller 26, a transport roller 27, a cutting unit 31, a receiving unit, 32. The raw material roll is formed by winding the separator member 18a into a roll shape. The raw roll is supported by the supply reel 21, and when the supply reel 21 is rotated, the separator member 18a is fed from the raw roll. The supply reel 21 supplies the separator member 18a from the one surface 8a side of the positive electrode 8 toward the transport path. The separator member 18b is unwound from the raw roll as the supply reel 22 is rotated. The supply reel 22 supplies the separator member 18b from the other surface 8b opposite to the one surface 8a of the positive electrode 8 toward the transport path.

  The guide roller 23 guides the separator member 18a supplied by the supply reel 21 along the transport path. The guide roller 23 is disposed on the one surface 8 a side of the positive electrode 8. The guide roller 23 has a columnar shape, and rotates around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) crossing the transport path as a rotation axis. The separator member 18a guided by the guide roller 23 is transported along the transport path on the one surface 8a side of the positive electrode 8. Here, the positive electrode 8 is placed on the separator member 18a and transported integrally. Therefore, the upper surface of the separator member 18a forms the transport surface of the positive electrode 8.

  The pressing roller 28 presses the positive electrode 8 toward the guide roller 23. The pressing roller 28 is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and presses the positive electrode 8 toward the guide roller 23 by, for example, an elastic member (not shown). The positive electrode 8 transported from the transport conveyor 40 enters between the pressing roller 28 and the guide roller 23 while pushing up the pressing roller 28, and is transported downstream by the transport of the separator member 18a.

  The guide roller 24 is disposed downstream of the guide roller 23 in the transport path. The guide roller 24 guides the separator member 18b supplied by the supply reel 22 along the transport path. The guide roller 24 is arranged on the other surface 8 b side of the positive electrode 8. The guide roller 24 has a columnar shape and rotates around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) intersecting the transport path as a rotation axis. The separator member 18b guided by the guide roller 24 is transported along the transport path on the other surface 8b side of the positive electrode 8.

  The separator member 18b is conveyed in a state in which the separator member 18b faces the vertical direction and is substantially parallel to the separator member 18a that provides the conveying surface of the positive electrode 8 as described above, on the downstream side of the guide roller 24. In other words, on the downstream side of the guide roller 24, the positive electrode 8 is sandwiched between the separator members 18a and 18b.

  The heater roller 25 is disposed to face the guide roller 24 across the separator members 18a and 18b along a direction (here, the Z-axis direction) intersecting the transport path (transport surface). The heater roller 25 is disposed on one side 8a (lower side) of the positive electrode 8 and below the separator member 18a. The heater roller 25 has a columnar shape, and rotates around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) crossing the transport path as a rotation axis.

  The heater roller 25 welds the separator members 18a and 18b being conveyed along the conveyance path to each other along the short direction thereof. Therefore, the heater roller 25 has, for example, a pair of convex portions 25s extending in a direction along the rotation axis thereof. The projection 25s may be a ridge, or may be an aggregate of many projections. Here, the pair of convex portions 25s are formed at 180 ° opposite sides to each other along the radial direction of the heater roller 25. Further, the heater roller 25 has a heater inside, and the whole is heated. The heater roller 25 heats the separator members 18a and 18b and welds the separator members 18a and 18b to each other by contacting the top surface of the protrusion 25s heated by the heater with the separator member 18a. Thereby, the heater roller 25 forms the welding area W6 (see FIG. 6). The welding area W6 becomes the above-described welding area W1 and welding area W3 by being cut.

  The heater roller 26 is disposed downstream of the guide rollers 23 and 24 and the heater roller 25 in the transport path. The heater roller 26 has a pair of rollers 26a and 26b. The rollers 26a and 26b are arranged to face each other across the separator members 18a and 18b along a direction (here, the Z-axis direction) intersecting the transport path (transport surface). The roller 26 a is arranged on one side 8 a side (lower side) of the positive electrode 8. The roller 26a is disposed below the separator member 18a. The roller 26 b is arranged on the other surface 8 b side (upper side) of the positive electrode 8. The roller 26b is disposed above the separator member 18b. Each of the rollers 26a and 26b has a columnar shape, and rotates around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) crossing the transport path as a rotation axis.

  The heater roller 26 welds the separator members 18a and 18b being transported along the transport path to each other along the longitudinal direction. As an example, the heater roller 26 welds the separator members 18a and 18b being transported along the transport path to each other along an edge extending in the longitudinal direction. One of the rollers 26a and 26b (here, the roller 26a) has three convex portions 26s extending along the circumferential direction. The roller 26a has a heater inside. The protrusions 26s are formed at both ends in the Y-axis direction, and one protrusion is formed at the center position.

  The one at the center position among the three convex portions 26s extends over the entire circumferential direction of the roller 26a, and has an annular shape. That is, the start and end of the convex portion 26s coincide with each other. Of the three convex portions 26s, those at both ends do not extend over the entire circumferential direction of the roller 26a. That is, the start and end of these convex portions 26s do not coincide with each other, and a missing portion is provided between them. The respective top surfaces of the protrusions 26s heated by the heater come into contact with the separator member 18a, thereby heating the separator members 18a and 18b and welding the separator members 18a and 18b to each other. Thereby, the roller 26a forms the welding area W4 and the welding area W7 (see FIG. 6). The separator members 18a and 18b are not welded to each other in the missing portion of the projection 25s, and a non-welded region W5 is formed. The tab 14b of the positive electrode 8 protrudes from the non-welded region W5. The welding region W7 at the center position becomes a welding region W2 by being cut.

  The transport roller 27 is disposed downstream of the heater roller 26 in the transport path. The transport roller 27 transports the separator members 18a and 18b guided along the transport path along the transport path. The transport roller 27 has a pair of rollers 27a and 27b. The rollers 27a and 27b are arranged to face each other across the separator members 18a and 18b along a direction (here, the Z-axis direction) intersecting the transport path (transport surface). The rollers 27a and 27b each have a columnar shape, and rotate around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) intersecting the transport path as a rotation axis. The rollers 27a and 27b are rotated by a driving source (not shown) while sandwiching the separator members 18a and 18b, thereby generating tension in the separator members 18a and 18b and driving (transporting) the rollers in the transport direction.

  The cutting section 31 is disposed downstream of the transport roller 27 in the transport path. The cutting section 31 cuts a portion where the separator members 18a and 18b face each other between the positive electrodes 8 adjacent in the transport direction. The cutting section 31 forms the welding regions W1 and W3 by cutting the welding region W6. The cutting unit 31 cuts the separator members 18a and 18b between the positive electrodes 8 adjacent in the Y-axis direction. The cutting section 31 cuts the welding area W6 at the reference position CL. The reference position CL is set at a central position in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the welding area W6. That is, the welding area W6 is set at a central position between the negative end W6a and the positive end W6b in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the welded area W1 and the welded area W3 after cutting have the same size in the width direction (X-axis direction). The cutting section 31 forms the welding areas W2 and W4 by cutting the welding area W7. The cutting section 31 is constituted by a rotary cutter. Specifically, the cutting section 31 has a pair of rollers 31a and 31b. The rollers 31a and 31b are arranged to face each other across the separator members 18a and 18b along a direction (here, the Z-axis direction) intersecting the transport path (transport surface). The rollers 31a and 31b each have a columnar shape, and rotate around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) intersecting the transport path as a rotation axis. The roller 31b has a blade 31c for cutting the separator members 18a, 18b. The blade portions 31c for cutting the welding region W6 extend along the Y-axis direction and are provided at a predetermined pitch (here, 180 ° pitch) in the circumferential direction of the roller 31b. The blade part 31d for cutting the welding area W7 extends along the circumferential direction of the roller 31b. The roller 31a has no blade, and supports the separator members 18a and 18b on the peripheral surface from the side opposite to the blade 31c. The rollers 31a and 31b are rotated by a drive source (not shown) while cutting the separator members 18a and 18b.

  The receiving section 32 is disposed downstream of the cutting section 31 in the transport path. The receiving section 32 receives the separator members 18a and 18b before being cut by the cutting section 31, and enables cutting by the cutting section 31 in a state where tension is applied. The receiving section 32 sends out the cut separator members 18a and 18b (hereinafter, referred to as the separator 10) to the downstream side. The receiving section 32 has nip rolls 32a and 32b. The nip rolls 32a and 32b are arranged to face each other across the separator 10 along a direction (here, the Z-axis direction) intersecting the transport path (transport surface). The nip rolls 32a and 32b each have a columnar shape, and rotate around a direction (here, the Y-axis direction) intersecting the transport path as a rotation axis. The nip rolls 32a, 32b are rotated by a driving source (not shown) while sandwiching the separator members 18a, 18b, so that the nip rolls 32a, 32b are driven (transported) in the transport direction so as to pull in the separator members 18a, 18b (and the separator 10). .

  Here, the guide rollers 23 and 24, the pressing roller 28, the heater roller 25, and the heater roller 26 (the rollers 26a and 26b) are driven rollers that rotate as the separator members 18a and 18b are conveyed. . However, the guide rollers 23 and 24, the heater roller 25, and the heater roller 26 (the rollers 26a and 26b) may be drive rollers having independent drive sources.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the configuration of the rear stage of the packaging device 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the packaging device 20 includes the above-described cutting unit 31, the above-described receiving unit 32, the detecting unit 50, the discharging unit 60, and the control unit 100. The separator-equipped positive electrode 11 is transported while being placed on the upper surface of the conveyor 71, and then transported while being sucked on the lower surface of the suction conveyor 72.

  The detection unit 50 detects a shift of the cutting position of the cutting unit 31 from the reference position CL (see FIG. 6) on the downstream side of the cutting unit 31. Further, the detection unit 50 may detect the dimension of the positive electrode 11 with a separator. For example, it is possible to detect that the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode 11 with the separator deviates from the reference dimension SL (see FIG. 7). The detection unit 50 includes, for example, a camera 51 for dimension measurement and the control unit 100. The camera 51 captures an image by photographing each welding region of the positive electrode 11 with a separator. The camera 51 transmits the obtained image to the control unit 100. The detection of the dimensional deviation by the control unit 100 will be described later. The light 52 may be illuminated from below the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 and the conveyor 71 so that the camera 51 can easily photograph each welding area.

  The discharge unit 60 discharges the positive electrode 11 with the separator from the transport path (here, the suction conveyors 72 and 73) on the downstream side of the cutting unit 31. The discharge unit 60 discharges the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 determined to be defective based on a control signal from the control unit 100. The discharge unit 60 includes a jetting unit 61 and a collection box 62. The jetting unit 61 drops the positive electrode with separator 11 by jetting air from above toward the defective positive electrode with separator 11. The ejection unit 61 is provided at a position corresponding to a gap between the suction conveyor 72 and the suction conveyor 73. The ejection unit 61 ejects air based on a control signal from the control unit 100. That is, the ejection unit 61 ejects air when the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 determined to be defective by the control unit 100 has passed through. The jetting unit 61 stops the air when the positive electrode 11 with the separator determined by the control unit 100 to be not defective is passed. The collection box 62 is provided below a gap between the suction conveyor 72 and the suction conveyor 73. Thereby, the collection box 62 collects the dropped positive electrode 11 with the separator.

  The control unit 100 controls the entire operation of the packaging device 20. The control unit 100 includes an ECU [Electronic Control Unit] that comprehensively manages the entire apparatus. The ECU is an electronic control unit having a CPU [Central Processing Unit], a ROM [Read Only Memory], a RAM [Random Access Memory], a communication circuit, and the like. The ECU implements various functions by, for example, loading a program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing the program loaded into the RAM by the CPU. The ECU may be composed of a plurality of electronic units. The control unit 100 includes a shift determination unit 101, a position adjustment unit 102, and a discharge control unit 103.

  The shift determination unit 101 of the control unit 100 acquires the width dimensions of the welding regions W1 and W3 from the image captured by the detection unit 50. Further, the shift determining unit 101 determines whether the cutting position is shifted from the reference position CL (see FIG. 6) based on the width dimensions of the welded regions W1 and W3 after cutting. As described above, the shift determination unit 101 functions as a part of the detection unit 50 that detects the shift of the cutting position by the cutting unit 31 from the reference position CL. Specifically, the positive electrode with separator 11 shown at the top of FIG. 7 is cut without shifting from the reference position CL. Therefore, each of the welding regions W1 and W3 has a determined width (half the width of the welding region W6 in FIG. 6), and has the same width as each other. On the other hand, the positive electrode with separator 11 shown in the middle part of FIG. 7 is cut off from the reference position CL. Therefore, the width of the welding region W1 is small, and the width of the welding region W3 is large. The shift determination unit 101 determines whether or not there is a shift in the cutting position by determining whether or not the width dimensions of the welding regions W1 and W3 are within a predetermined range. For example, the shift determining unit 101 determines that there is no shift if the widths of the welding regions W1 and W3 are within the range of the error with reference to the half width of the welding region W6.

  The position adjusting unit 102 of the control unit 100 adjusts the relative position between the cutting unit 31 and the work WK when the detecting unit 50 detects the displacement. The work WK is a member constituted by the separator members 18a and 18b before cutting and the positive electrode 11 with a separator, and is a target to be cut by the cutting unit 31. The position adjusting unit 102 adjusts the relative position between the cutting unit 31 and the work WK by controlling the phase of the cutting unit 31 that is a rotary cutter. For example, in a normal state, as shown at the top of FIG. 7, the phases of the cutting portion 31 and the work WK are matched so that cutting is performed at the reference position CL on both sides of the welding regions W1 and W3. I have. On the other hand, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 7, in the state where the displacement occurs, the cutting is performed on the inside of the reference position CL in the welding area W1, and the cutting is performed on the outside of the reference position CL in the welding area W3. Thus, the phases of the cutting section 31 and the work WK are matched. In addition, the phase of the cutting portion 31 and the work WK is set such that, in a state where a shift occurs, the cutting is performed outside the reference position CL in the welding region W1, and the cutting is performed inside the reference position CL in the welding region W3. In some cases, they can be matched. Accordingly, the position adjusting unit 102 controls the cutting unit 31 to rotate the rollers 31a and 31b temporarily at a low speed or a high speed so that the cutting unit 31 and the work are brought into the uppermost state in FIG. Adjust the phase of WK.

  The discharge control unit 103 of the control unit 100 controls the discharge unit 60 to discharge the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 determined to be defective. For example, when it is determined that the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 (denoted as “11A”) that exists immediately below the camera 51 among the separator-equipped positive electrodes 11 illustrated in FIG. Air is ejected from the ejection unit 61 at the timing when the cathode with separator 11A reaches the position of the ejection unit 60 so that at least the cathode 11A with separator according to the determination is ejected. The discharge control unit 103 calculates the discharge timing from the relationship between the distance between the camera 51 and the discharge unit 60 and the transport speed.

  An example of the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 cut immediately after the position adjustment is performed is shown in the lowermost row in FIG. For example, when the position adjustment is performed by the position adjustment unit 102 at the time when the state illustrated in FIG. 5 is reached, the lower blade 31c of the cutting unit 31 in the figure is shifted from the reference position CL (see FIG. 7). The workpiece WK is cut at the position where it was set. Accordingly, as in the lowermost positive electrode 11 with a separator in FIG. 7, the width dimension of the welded region W3 is as large as the welded region W3 of the positive electrode 11 with a middle separator. On the other hand, the upper blade 31c in FIG. 5 can cut the work WK at the reference position CL (see FIG. 7) by position adjustment at the time of the next cutting. Therefore, like the lowermost positive electrode 11 with a separator in FIG. 7, the width dimension of the welding area W1 is the same as the welding area W1 of the uppermost positive electrode 11 with a separator.

  As shown at the bottom of FIG. 7, in the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 cut immediately after the position adjustment is performed, the dimension in the longitudinal direction is larger than the reference dimension SL due to the large width dimension of the welding region W3. . When the welding region W3 is cut inside the reference position CL, the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode 11 with the separator cut immediately after the position adjustment is made smaller than the reference size SL. The reference dimension SL is a dimension in the longitudinal direction of the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 when the cut portion 31 forms the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 without position adjustment. As shown in the middle part of FIG. 7, even in the case where the displacement occurs, the longitudinal dimension of the positive electrode 11 with the separator becomes the reference dimension SL.

  Next, the operation and effect of the packaging device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The packaging device 20 includes, on the downstream side of the cutting unit 31, a detecting unit 50 that detects a shift of the cutting position of the cutting unit 31 from the reference position CL, and, when the detecting unit 50 detects a shift, the cutting unit 31 and the work WK. And a position adjusting unit 102 for adjusting a relative position with respect to. Since the detection unit 50 detects a shift on the downstream side of the cutting unit 31, the shift can be detected based on a product actually cut by the cutting unit 31. Therefore, the detection unit 50 can accurately detect the deviation regardless of the influence of a change in the tension of the separator members 18a and 18b. In addition, since the position adjustment unit 102 adjusts the position based on the detection result of the detection unit 50, the relative position between the cutting unit 31 and the work WK can be accurately adjusted. As described above, the displacement of the cutting position by the cutting unit 31 can be reduced.

  The cutting unit 31 is configured by a rotary cutter, and the position adjusting unit 102 adjusts a relative position between the cutting unit 31 and the work WK by controlling the phase of the rotary cutter. Since the rotary cutter cuts the work WK at a constant pitch by rotation, the position adjustment unit 102 can easily adjust the position only by controlling the phase of the rotary cutter. Further, since a camera for dimensional inspection can be shared as the camera 51, complication of the entire apparatus can be suppressed as compared with a case where a new detection mechanism is added.

  The joining portion where the separator members 18a and 18b are provided on both surfaces of the positive electrode 8 is constituted by a heater roller 25 serving as a welding portion for welding the separator members 18a and 18b. A shift is detected based on the width of the welded regions W1 and W3 after cutting. Thus, the detection unit 50 can easily detect the displacement only by using the width of the welded areas W1 and W3 after cutting.

  The packaging device 20 further includes, on the downstream side of the cutting unit 31, a discharge unit 60 that discharges the positive electrode with separator 11 from the transport path. The discharge unit 60 is cut immediately after the position is adjusted by the position adjustment unit 102. The positive electrode 11 with the separator is discharged. The length of the positive electrode 11 with separator cut immediately after the position adjustment may be different from the reference dimension SL (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the discharge unit 60 can discharge such a positive electrode 11 with a separator.

  The receiving section 32 receives (sandwiches) the separator members 18a and 18b before being cut by the cutting section 31, and applies tension thereto. When the tension applied to the separator members 18a, 18b is increased, cutting is facilitated, while the welded region consisting of only the separator members 18a, 18b expands and contracts, which tends to cause displacement. On the other hand, since the position is adjusted by the position adjusting unit 102, the displacement is suppressed, and the tension can be easily applied.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, the overall configuration of the packaging device may be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the heater roller is used as the welding portion. However, a structure using another welding method may be used, for example, an ultrasonic welding structure may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the welding of the welding region W6 and the welding regions W4 and W7 is performed at different timings, but they may be performed simultaneously.

  In the above-described embodiment, only the positive electrode 11A with the separator determined to be defective from the captured image is discharged. In addition, the cut positive electrodes 11B and 11C with separator may be discharged at the time of determination. Similarly, the discharging unit 60 may discharge the positive electrode with separator 11 that has been cut immediately after the position adjustment by the position adjusting unit based on the defect determination of the positive electrode with separator 11A. As described above, when the positive electrode with separator 11A is defective, it is highly likely that these positive electrodes with separator 11 are also defective.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, an electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 with a separator according to a modified example will be described. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 with a separator joins the first separator member 124 to the electrode material 120, cuts the electrode material 120 into the shape of the positive electrode 113, and then joins and cuts the second separator member 155. This is an apparatus for forming a positive electrode 110 with a separator (an electrode with a separator).

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a supply unit 131 that supplies the electrode material 120. The supply unit 131 includes a supply reel 132 that supports the electrode material 120 wound in a roll shape. The supply reel 132 sends out the electrode material 120 according to the transport speed of the electrode material 120.

  The separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a first separator supply unit 134 that supplies the first separator member 124. The first separator supply unit 134 includes a supply reel 135 that supports the first separator member 124 wound in a roll shape. The supply reel 135 sends out the first separator member 124 according to the transport speed of the first separator member 124.

  The separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a first joining roller unit 136 on the downstream side of the supply unit 131 in the transport direction D1. The first joining roller unit 136 includes a pair of joining rollers 136a and 136b. The conveyed electrode material 120 and the first separator member 124 pass between the pair of joining rollers 136 a and 136 b of the first joining roller unit 136, so that the first separator member 124 is joined to the electrode material 120. Then, the electrode material 120 is fixed (joined) to the first separator member 124, and the primary precursor 125 is manufactured. The joining roller 136a of the first joining roller unit 136 is a rotary heater. The bonding method is not particularly limited, and any method such as a method using an adhesive, a method of bonding by heat, and a method of pressure bonding without using heat may be adopted.

  The electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 with a separator includes a rotary cutter 140 as a first cutting apparatus. The rotary cutter 140 includes a cutter roll 141 and an anvil roll 142. In the present embodiment, the cutter roll 141 is disposed below the anvil roll 142. The rotary cutter 140 cuts only the electrode material 120 into the shape of the positive electrode 113 (see FIG. 9), and does not cut the first separator member 124, that is, performs a so-called half cut. An end material 151 formed by cutting the electrode material 120 is removed by the end material removing device 152. Thereby, a secondary precursor 150 including the first separator member 124 and the positive electrode 113 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a cleaner 148 disposed downstream of the rotary cutter 140 in the transport direction D1. The cleaner 148 is arranged below the secondary precursor 150 to be conveyed. The cleaner 148 opens toward the secondary precursor 150 to be conveyed. When the cleaner 148 is driven, the inside of the cleaner 148 becomes a negative pressure, and the foreign matter attached to the secondary precursor 150 is sucked together with the air, and the foreign matter removing step is performed.

  The separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a second separator supply unit 156 downstream of the cleaner 148 in the transport direction D1. The second separator supply unit 156 supplies the second separator member 155. Note that the second separator member 155 is a material of the separator. The second separator supply unit 156 includes a supply reel 157 that supports the second separator member 155 wound in a roll shape. The supply reel 157 sends out the second separator member 155 in accordance with the transport speed of the secondary precursor 150.

  The separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a second joining roller unit 160 (joining portion) as a second joining roller unit downstream of the second separator supply section 156. The second joining roller unit 160 includes a pair of joining rollers 160a and 160b. The transported secondary precursor 150 and the second separator member 155 pass between the pair of joining rollers 160a of the second joining roller unit 160, so that the secondary precursor 150 is joined to the second separator member 155. , Stick (joined). At this time, the second separator member 155 is joined to the surface of the positive electrode 113 on the side where the first separator member 124 is not joined. The joining roller 160b of the second joining roller unit 160 is a rotary heater. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the tertiary precursor 162 (work) in which the positive electrode 113 is sandwiched between the separator members 124 and 155 from both sides is manufactured.

  The separator-equipped electrode manufacturing apparatus 130 includes a rotary cutter 163 (cutting portion) as a second cutting device downstream of the second joining roller unit 160 in the transport direction D1. The rotary cutter 163 is a device for cutting the first separator member 124 and the second separator member 155 of the tertiary precursor 162. The rotary cutter 163 includes a cutter roll 164 and an anvil roll 165.

  As shown in FIG. 9, between the separator members 124 and 155, the positive electrodes 113 are arranged in two rows at an equal pitch. A gap is provided between the end portions 113c and 113d in the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode 113, and a joint portion where the separator members 124 and 155 are joined to each other is formed in the gap. The rotary cutter 163 performs cutting at a center position between the end portions 113c and 113d, that is, at a reference position CL set at the center position of the joint.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the electrode-equipped manufacturing apparatus with separator 130 includes a detection unit 180 that detects a shift of a cutting position by the rotary cutter 163 from a reference position CL on a downstream side of the rotary cutter 163. Moreover, the electrode-equipped manufacturing apparatus 130 with a separator adjusts the relative position between the rotary cutter 163 and the tertiary precursor 162 so as to adjust the displacement detected by the detection unit 180.

  The joining portion where the separator members 124 and 155 are provided on both surfaces of the positive electrode 113 is constituted by a second joining roller unit 160 that joins the separator members 124 and 155 and the positive electrode 113. The shift is detected based on the width of the region after cutting (the width between the end 113c and the reference position CL and the width between the end 113d and the reference position CL). Thus, the detection unit 180 can easily detect the displacement only by using the width of the region between the adjacent positive electrodes 113 after cutting.

   The current collector is not limited to a metal foil as long as the active material mixture can be applied. For example, a woven or mesh sheet may be used. The electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus with separator 130 may be a negative electrode.

   The power storage device can be applied to a power storage device other than a secondary battery, such as a capacitor. The secondary battery may be a lithium ion secondary battery or another secondary battery. In short, any material may be used as long as ions move between the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material and transfer charges.

  In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the rotary cutter is used as the cutting unit. Instead, a cutting section such as a shear cutter or a laser cutter may be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment and the modification, the relative position between the cutting portion and the workpiece is adjusted by controlling the cutting portion. Instead, the feed speed of the workpiece may be adjusted instead of or in addition to the cutting section.

  8, 113 ... positive electrode (electrode), 10 ... separator, 11, 110 ... positive electrode with separator (electrode with separator), 18a, 18b, 124, 155 ... separator member, 20 ... packaging device (electrode manufacturing device with separator), 25 , 26: heater roller (joining portion, welding portion), 31: cutting portion, 160: second joining roller unit (joining portion), 163 rotary cutter (cutting portion).

Claims (5)

An electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator for manufacturing an electrode with a separator provided with a separator on the electrode while transporting the electrode along a transport path,
Joints provided on both sides of the electrode, a separator member which is a base material of the separator,
A cutting portion provided on the downstream side of the joining portion, for cutting a portion of the work where the separator members face each other,
On the downstream side of the cutting unit, a detection unit that detects a shift of a cutting position by the cutting unit from a reference position,
An electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator, comprising: a position adjustment unit that adjusts a relative position between the cutting unit and the work when the detection unit detects the displacement. The cutting unit is configured by a rotary cutter,
The electrode manufacturing apparatus with a separator according to claim 1, wherein the position adjusting unit adjusts a relative position between the cutting unit and the work by controlling a phase of the rotary cutter. The joining portion is configured by a welding portion that welds the separator members to each other,
3. The apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the displacement based on a width after cutting of a welded region where the separator members are welded to each other. 4. On the downstream side of the cutting section, further comprising a discharge section for discharging the electrode with a separator from a transport path,
The electrode-equipped apparatus with a separator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the discharge unit discharges the cut electrode with the separator immediately after the position adjustment by the position adjustment unit. The joining portion is configured by a joining portion that joins the separator member and the electrode,
3. The apparatus for manufacturing an electrode with a separator according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the displacement based on a width of the region between the adjacent electrodes after cutting. 4.

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