JP2020029332A - Transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a transfer device capable of accurately adjusting pitches between sheet members.SOLUTION: A transfer device 20 includes an adjusting part 32 for adjusting a size of an interval between a pair of holding parts 31 adjacent to each other in an X axis direction; accordingly, the adjusting part 32 can align positive electrodes 8 at desired pitches in a conveying part 120 by adjusting the size of the interval between a pair of the holding parts 31; the adjusting part 32 can adjust the interval between the holding parts 31 themselves supporting the positive electrodes 8; such the constitution can accurately adjust the pitches of the positive electrodes 8 in comparison with a constitution of providing a difference in a conveying speed to adjust the pitches of the positive electrodes 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer device.

  Patent Literature 1 describes an apparatus that transfers articles to be conveyed from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor. This apparatus provides a difference in the conveying speed between the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor when there is variation in the interval between the conveyed articles on the upstream conveyor. Thereby, the apparatus aligns the pitch of the conveyed articles on the downstream conveyor so as to be the same.

JP 2005-145608 A

  By the way, there is a transfer device for transferring a transported article from the first transporting section to the second transporting section, which intentionally changes an interval between transported articles. For example, if a conveyed article is a workpiece that is processed and processed on a production line, the pitch may be increased so as not to interfere with an adjacent workpiece at the time of processing, or the conveying speed may be decreased to increase the accuracy in inspection or the like, and the pitch may be reduced. The case exists. When the technology of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is adopted for such a transfer device, the transfer device provides a difference in the transport speed between the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor, and the transfer speed between the conveyors is reduced. By switching, the pitch is adjusted. However, when a conveyed article is a sheet member, it is difficult to adjust the pitch with high accuracy when connecting between conveyers having different conveying speeds. This is because, due to the shape of the sheet member, the timing at which the sheet member comes into contact with the conveyor surface of the downstream conveyor tends to vary at the timing of transition to the downstream conveyor from the upstream conveyor. For this reason, the pitch of each sheet member eventually varies on the downstream conveyor. Therefore, there has been a demand for a transfer device that can accurately adjust the pitch of the sheet members.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer device that can precisely adjust a pitch of a sheet member.

  A transfer device according to one aspect of the present invention is a transfer device that transfers a plurality of sheet members from a first transport unit to a second transport unit, and includes a plurality of holding units that suck and hold the sheet members. Unit, a moving unit that moves the plurality of holding units arranged in the first direction between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit, and a pair of holding units that are adjacent in the first direction. An adjustment unit that adjusts the size of the interval.

  The transfer device is configured to move the plurality of holding units that adsorb and hold the sheet member and the plurality of holding units arranged in the first direction between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit. Unit. Therefore, the holding unit can hold the plurality of sheet members of the first transport unit in a state of being arranged in the first direction and move to the second transport unit. In addition, the holding unit can place a plurality of sheet members on the second transport unit in a state of being arranged in the first direction. Here, the transfer device includes an adjusting unit that adjusts the size of the interval between the pair of holding units that are adjacent in the first direction. Therefore, the adjusting section adjusts the size of the interval between the pair of holding sections, so that the sheet members can be arranged at a desired pitch in the second transport section. In this way, when the adjustment unit adjusts the interval between the holding units that hold the sheet members, the pitch of the sheet members can be adjusted with higher precision than when connecting between conveyors having different conveyance speeds. As described above, the pitch of the sheet member can be adjusted with high accuracy.

  The adjustment unit may arrange three or more holding units at equal intervals in the first direction. Thereby, the adjustment unit can arrange three or more sheet members at the same pitch in the first direction.

  The transfer device may further include a detection unit that detects the sheet member held by the holding unit, and the adjustment unit may adjust the size of the interval based on a detection result of the detection unit. Thereby, the adjusting unit can adjust the interval between the holding units to an appropriate size based on the state of the sheet member held by the holding unit.

  The holding unit may be position-adjustable in a second direction parallel to the suction surface and orthogonal to the first direction. Thus, the position of the sheet member in the second direction can be adjusted.

  The holding unit may be capable of adjusting a position in a rotation direction with respect to an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the suction surface. Thus, the position of the sheet member in the rotation direction can be adjusted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the transfer apparatus which can adjust the pitch of a sheet member accurately can be provided.

It is a sectional view showing the inside of the electric storage device manufactured by applying the electrode manufacturing device to which the transfer device concerning this embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. It is a schematic plan view showing an electrode manufacturing device provided with a transfer device. It is a schematic side view which shows a transfer apparatus and a 2nd conveyance part. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a main body of the transfer device. It is a figure showing the detailed composition of the main part of the transfer device concerning a modification. It is a figure showing the detailed composition of the main part of the transfer device concerning a modification. It is a figure showing the detailed composition of the main part of the transfer device concerning a modification.

  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 an electrode manufacturing device having a transfer device according to an 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 In addition, several spacers are arranged in the gap between the electrode assembly 3 and the case 2 in order to reduce the rattling of the electrode assembly 3 in the laminating direction of the electrode assembly 3. The number of spacers is appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the electrode assembly 3.

  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.

  The positive electrode 8 has a metal foil 14 as 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. 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 tab 14b protrudes from an edge near one end in the longitudinal direction of the foil main body 14a. The tab 14b penetrates through the separator 10. The plurality of tabs 14 b extending from the plurality of positive electrodes 8 are connected (welded) to the conductive member 12 in a state where the foils are collected, and are connected to the positive electrode 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. 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. 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 has a rectangular shape in plan view. Examples of the material for forming the separator 10 include a porous film made of a polyolefin-based resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), or a woven or nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), methyl cellulose, or the like. .

  Next, the transfer device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 including the transfer device 20. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the transfer device 20 and the second transport unit 120. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the main body 22 of the transfer device 20.

  The electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 is an apparatus for manufacturing the positive electrode 11 with a separator among the electrodes described above. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the positive electrode 8 corresponds to a sheet member that is an object of the transfer device 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a transfer device 20, a first transport unit 110, and a second transport unit 120.

  The first transport unit 110 is a device that forms the positive electrode 8 and transports the positive electrode 8. The first transport unit 110 includes a cutting unit 111 and a conveyor 112. The cutting section 111 forms the positive electrode 8 by cutting the strip-shaped electrode member 113 into the shape of the positive electrode 8. The electrode member 113 includes a coated portion 113a to which the active material is applied, and an uncoated portion 113b to which the active material is not applied and the metal foil is exposed. After cutting, the coated portion 113a becomes the positive electrode active material layer 15 of the positive electrode 8, and the uncoated portion becomes the tab 14b of the positive electrode 8. The cutting unit 111 is configured by, for example, a rotary die cutter. The conveyor 112 transports the positive electrode 8 formed by the cutting unit 111 in the transport direction D1.

  The second transport unit 120 is a device that forms the positive electrode 11 with a separator (see FIG. 2) by wrapping the positive electrode 8 in a separator while transporting the positive electrode 8. As shown in FIG. 4, the second transport section 120 includes a conveyor 121, a supply roller 122, and a welding section 123. The conveyor 121 conveys the positive electrode 8 via a belt-like separator member 124A. The conveyor 121 includes rollers 121a and 121b provided at the upstream and downstream ends in the transport direction D1, and a belt 121c bridged between the rollers 121a and 121b. The separator member 124A is placed on the upper surface of the upper portion of the belt 121c that is bridged between the upper ends of the rollers 121a and 121b, and the upper portion moves in the transport direction D1. A suction box 121d is provided on the lower surface side of the upper part of the belt 121c. Therefore, the upper surface of the belt 121c functions as a suction surface by suction of the suction box 121d. A roller 126 is provided downstream of the conveyor 121 in the transport direction D1 to press the positive electrode 8 and the separator member 124A against the conveyor 121.

  The supply roller 122 supplies the separator member 124A to the conveyor 121. The supply roller 122 is disposed upstream of the conveyor 121 in the transport direction D1. A separator member 124A is wound around the supply roller 122 in a roll shape, and the supply roller 122 supplies the separator member 124A by unwinding the separator member 124A. The welded part 123 joins the separator members 124A and 12B while sandwiching the positive electrode 8 between the separator members 124A and 124B. Thereby, the separator members 124A and 124B are joined at the welding point W. The welding portion 123 has a pair of upper and lower rollers, and the separator member 124B is supplied to the upper roller. After welding is performed at the welding portion 123, the cut portion (not shown) cuts the welding location W, thereby forming the positive electrode 11 with a separator (see FIG. 2).

  The transfer device 20 is a device that transfers the plurality of positive electrodes 8 from the first transport unit 110 to the second transport unit 120. As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer device 20 includes a main unit 22 that holds the positive electrode 8, a moving unit 23 that moves the main unit 22, a detecting unit 25, and a control unit 40. The transfer device 20 is disposed between the first transport unit 110 and the second transport unit 120. FIG. 3 shows the main body 22 in a simplified manner.

  The moving section 23 is a section that moves the main body section 22 between the first transport section 110 and the second transport section 120. The moving section 23 moves the main body section 22 holding the plurality of positive electrodes 8 in the first transport section 110 to the second transport section 120. After the positive electrode 8 is placed on the second transport unit 120, the moving unit 23 moves the empty main body 22 to the first transport unit 110. The base end of the moving part 23 is connected to the base 24, and the distal end of the moving part 23 is connected to the main body 22. The base unit 24 is disposed between the first transport unit 110 and the second transport unit 120. The moving unit 23 includes an arm 26 and a joint 27. The joint part 27 rotatably connects between the arm part 26 and the base part 24, between the arm parts 26, and between the arm part 26 and the main body part 22.

  The main body 22 is a part that holds and releases a plurality of (here, three) positive electrodes 8. The main body 22 holds a plurality of (here, three) positive electrodes 8 transported by the first transport unit 110 on the upper surface of the conveyor 112. Further, the main body 22 releases the holding on the upper surface of the conveyor 121 of the second transport unit 120, and places the positive electrode 8 on the second transport unit 120. Here, the pitch of the positive electrodes 8 in the second transport unit 120 is larger than the pitch of the positive electrodes 8 in the first transport unit 110. Therefore, the main body 22 has a mechanism for changing the pitch of the positive electrodes 8 while holding the plurality of positive electrodes 8.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the main body 22 will be described with reference to FIG. The main body 22 includes a plurality of holding units 31 and an adjusting unit 32. In the following description, an XY coordinate system will be used for convenience. The X-axis direction (first direction) is the direction in which the plurality of holding units 31 are arranged. The Y-axis direction (second direction) is a direction parallel to the suction surface and orthogonal to the X-axis. The XY coordinate system here is a relative coordinate system set for the main body 22. When holding the positive electrode 8 and when releasing the holding of the positive electrode 8, the X-axis direction of the main body 22 is parallel to the transport direction D <b> 1 of the transport units 110 and 120. In addition, in order to understand the configuration, in FIG. 5, the pitch between the positive electrodes 8 is greatly emphasized as compared with that shown in FIG.

  The holding unit 31 sucks and holds the positive electrode 8. The holding portion 31 is configured by a suction pad having a lower surface side as a suction surface 31a (see FIG. 4). Here, the holding portion 31 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the up-down direction. The plurality (three in this case) of holding parts 31 are arranged straight in the X-axis direction. The plurality of holding portions 31 are supported by a guide member 33 extending parallel to the X-axis direction so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction. The guide member 33 is disposed above the holding section 31 (see FIG. 4). The guide member 33 is fixed to a frame or the like (not shown) of the main body 22 and has a fixed position in the XY coordinate system.

  The adjusting unit 32 adjusts the size of the interval between the pair of holding units 31 adjacent in the X-axis direction. When holding the positive electrode 8 in the first transport unit 110, the adjustment unit 32 adjusts the pitch of the positive electrode 8 in the first transport unit 110 to a small pitch, and reduces the distance between the holding units 31 (see FIG. State)). Here, the adjusting unit 32 sets the holding units 31 in contact with each other. At this time, the end 31b in the X-axis direction of the holding unit 31 contacts the end 31b of the adjacent holding unit 31. When placing the positive electrode 8 on the second transport unit 120, the adjusting unit 32 increases the distance between the holding units 31 in accordance with the large pitch of the positive electrode 8 in the second transport unit 120 (see FIG. 5). (State of (b)). The timing at which the adjusting unit 32 increases the interval between the holding units 31 is not particularly limited, and after the holding unit 31 holds the positive electrode 8 by the first transport unit 110, The timing may be any time before the stage 8 is placed.

  In the present embodiment, the adjusting section 32 includes a gap forming section 41 that forms a gap between the holding sections 31 and a spring section 42 that generates a restoring force. In the present embodiment, the gap forming section 41 is provided on the positive side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the holding section 31. However, the gap forming portion 41 may be provided on the negative side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the holding portion 31, and in this case, the description on the negative side and the positive side in the Y-axis direction will be reversed.

  The gap forming section 41 includes a wedge member 43, a guide section 44, and an actuator 46. The wedge member 43 is a member that enters between the end portions 31b of the pair of holding portions 31. The wedge member 43 has a tapered distal end 43a at the negative end in the Y-axis direction. As the tip 43a enters between the pair of ends 31b, the separation distance between the ends 31b increases. Thereby, the gap between the pair of holding portions 31 increases. In the present embodiment, since two gaps are formed between the holding portions 31, the gap forming portion 41 has two wedge members 43. The guide portion 44 supports the wedge member 43 slidably in the X-axis direction. Thus, when the wedge member 43 moves to the negative side in the Y-axis direction and enters the gap between the holding portions 31, the guide portion 44 allows the wedge member 43 to move in the X-axis direction.

  The actuator 46 moves the wedge member 43 via the guide portion 44 in the Y-axis direction. The actuator 46 is configured by, for example, an air cylinder. The actuator 46 includes a piston 46a and a rod 46b. The piston 46a is fixed to a frame or the like (not shown) of the main body 22, and its position in the XY coordinate system is fixed. The rod 46b extends and contracts in the Y-axis direction with respect to the piston 46a. The guide part 44 is connected to the tip of the rod 46b. Therefore, when the rod 46b extends to the negative side in the Y-axis direction, the guide portion 44 and the wedge member 43 move to the negative side in the Y-axis direction. When the rod 46b contracts to the positive side in the Y-axis direction, the guide portion 44 and the wedge member 43 move to the positive side in the Y-axis direction. The actuator 46 is not particularly limited as long as it generates a driving force. For example, an electric slider or the like may be employed.

  The spring portion 42 generates a restoring force for returning the holding portion 31 to the original state (the state of FIG. 5A) when the gap between the holding portions 31 increases. One end of the spring portion 42 is fixed to one holding portion 31, and the other end of the spring portion 42 is fixed to an adjacent holding portion 31. When the wedge member 43 returns to the original position (the position shown in FIG. 5A) after the gap between the holding portions 31 is increased by the wedge member 43 (the state of FIG. 5B), the spring The part 42 moves the adjacent holding parts 31 so as to approach each other. As a result, the end portions 31b of the holding portions 31 adjacent to each other come into contact with each other, and the state returns to the state where the gap between the holding portions 31 has disappeared (the state of FIG. 5A).

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the detection unit 25 detects the positive electrode 8 held by the holding unit 31. The detection unit 25 is configured by, for example, a camera. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 25 is provided between the first transport unit 110 and the second transport unit 120. The detection unit 25 is arranged within the movement range of the main unit 22. The detection unit 25 detects the positive electrode 8 in a state before the adjustment unit 32 increases the interval between the holding units 31 (the state in FIG. 5A). The detection unit 25 can detect the attitude, pitch, and the like of the positive electrode 8 held by the holding unit 31.

  The control unit 40 includes an ECU [Electronic Control Unit] that comprehensively manages the entire transfer device 20. The ECU is an electronic control unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a CAN (Controller Area Network) 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 control unit 40 controls the moving unit 23 and the adjusting unit 32 of the main unit 22. Therefore, the control unit 40 functions as a part of the moving unit and the adjustment unit. Further, the control unit 40 acquires the detection result of the detection unit 25.

  The control unit 40 adjusts the size of the interval between the holding units 31 based on the detection result of the detection unit 25. That is, if the control unit 40 can grasp the pitch of the positive electrodes 8 before the adjusting unit 32 increases the distance between the holding units 31 (the state of FIG. 5A), the second transport unit It is possible to grasp how large the interval between the holding portions 31 should be in order to make the pitch required in 120. Therefore, the control unit 40 calculates a necessary interval between the holding units 31 and controls the actuator 46 so as to be the interval.

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

  The transfer device 20 moves the plurality of holding units 31 that adsorb and hold the positive electrode 8 and the plurality of holding units 31 arranged in the X-axis direction between the first transport unit 110 and the second transport unit 120. And a moving unit 23 for moving the moving unit. Therefore, the holding unit 31 can hold the plurality of positive electrodes 8 of the first transport unit 110 in a state of being aligned in the X-axis direction and move to the second transport unit 120. In addition, the holding unit 31 can mount the plurality of positive electrodes 8 on the second transport unit 120 in a state of being arranged in the X-axis direction. Here, the transfer device 20 includes an adjustment unit 32 that adjusts the size of the interval between the pair of holding units 31 adjacent in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the adjustment section 32 adjusts the size of the interval between the pair of holding sections 31, so that the positive electrode 8 can be aligned at a desired pitch in the second transport section 120.

  For example, as a comparative example, the first transport unit 110 and the second transport unit 120 are arranged in series, the transport speed of the second transport unit 120 is set to be higher than the transport speed of the first transport unit 110, and the positive electrode 8 A configuration in which the pitch between the positive electrodes 8 in the second transport unit 120 is increased by switching between the transport units 110 and 120. However, for example, the strip-shaped electrode member 113 which is a precursor of the positive electrode 8 is once wound up in a roll shape in the manufacturing process. For this reason, the electrode member 113 has a curl, and the positive electrode 8 cut by the electrode member 113 has an uneven warpage. In the above-described configuration, the timing at which the positive electrode 8 contacts the transport surface of the second transport unit, or the upper surface of the separator member 124A in the above-described embodiment, differs depending on the degree of warpage of the positive electrode 8. Specifically, if the warpage of the positive electrode 8 is not constant, when the positive electrode 8 moves on the second transport unit 120, at the timing at which 20% of the length in the transport direction is on the second transport unit, There is a variation that some positive electrodes 8 come into contact with the transport surface of the second transport unit 120 and some positive electrodes 8 come into contact with the transport surface at a timing when 40% of the positive electrode 8 falls on the second transport unit. For this reason, the pitch of the positive electrode 8 in the second transport unit 120 cannot be made equal. That is, the configuration according to the comparative example has a problem that it is difficult to adjust the pitch of the positive electrode 8 with high accuracy.

  On the other hand, in the transfer device 20 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment unit 32 can adjust the interval between the holding units 31 themselves that hold the positive electrodes 8. With such a configuration, the pitch of the positive electrode 8 can be adjusted with higher accuracy than when connecting between conveyors having different transport speeds. As described above, the pitch of the positive electrode 8 can be adjusted with high accuracy.

  The adjusting unit 32 arranges the three holding units 31 at equal intervals in the X-axis direction. Thereby, the adjusting unit 32 can arrange the three or more positive electrodes 8 at the same pitch in the X-axis direction.

  Further, in the transfer device 20, the suction surface 31a of the holding unit 31 sucks each positive electrode 8 and holds the positive electrode 8 in an extended state without warpage. In this state, since the positive electrode 8 is transferred to the second transport unit 120, there is no variation in the timing at which each of the positive electrodes 8 contacts the transport surface (the upper surface of the separator member 124A) of the second transport unit 120. The pitch can be aligned with high accuracy.

  The transfer device 20 further includes a detection unit 25 that detects the positive electrode 8 held by the holding unit 31, and the adjustment unit 32 adjusts the size of the interval based on the detection result of the detection unit 25. Thereby, the adjusting unit 32 can adjust the interval between the holding units 31 to an appropriate size based on the state of the positive electrode 8 when being held by the holding unit 31.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, the configuration of the adjustment unit is not particularly limited, and any configuration may be adopted as long as the distance between the holding units can be adjusted. For example, you may employ | adopt the adjustment part 232 as shown in FIG. The adjusting unit 232 has an actuator 246 directly attached to one holding unit 31 and the other holding unit 31. The piston 246a of the actuator 246 is provided on one holding portion 31. The cylinder 246b is arranged to extend from the piston 246a in the X-axis direction. A connecting portion 246c at the tip of the cylinder 246b is provided on the other holding portion 31. With such a configuration, the distance between the pair of holding portions 31 is adjusted by the expansion and contraction of the cylinder 246b with respect to the piston 246a.

  Further, a holding unit 330 as shown in FIG. 7 may be employed. The holding section 330 is position-adjustable in a Y-axis direction parallel to the suction surface 331a and orthogonal to the X-axis direction. Thus, the position of the sheet member in the second direction can be adjusted. Further, the holding section 330 can be adjusted in a rotational direction with respect to an axis CL extending in a direction perpendicular to the suction surface 331a (here, the vertical direction). Thus, the position of the positive electrode 8 in the rotation direction can be adjusted.

  Specifically, the holding unit 330 includes a suction unit 331, a guide unit 332 in the Y-axis direction, a rotatable rotating unit 333, and a slide unit 334 movable in the X-axis direction. The suction part 331 is capable of sucking the positive electrode 8 and slidable in the Y-axis direction along the guide part 332. The guide section 332 is provided on the rotating section 333 and extends in the Y-axis direction. The rotation unit 333 is provided on the slide unit 334, and is rotatable around the axis CL. The axis CL is set so as to pass through the central position of the suction section 331 when viewed from above. The slide part 334 is slidable in the X-axis direction along the guide part 332. With such a configuration, the position of the suction unit 331 can be adjusted in the X-axis direction along the guide unit 332, and the position of the suction unit 331 can be adjusted in the rotation direction around the axis CL by rotation of the rotation unit 333. In addition, the position can be adjusted in the Y-axis direction along the guide portion 332.

  Further, although an actuator constituted by a piston and a rod, such as an air cylinder, is employed as a drive mechanism of the adjustment unit, an actuator of any drive mechanism may be employed. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a drive mechanism using a rack and pinion may be employed. That is, the racks 433A and 433B connecting the pair of holding units 31 may be moved in the X-axis direction by the pinion gear 432. A pinion gear 432 is rotatably fixed to the central holding portion 31. Therefore, the rack 433A increases the distance between the center holding unit 31 and the holding unit 31 on the negative side in the X-axis direction. The rack 433B increases the distance between the center holding unit 31 and the holding unit 31 on the positive side in the X-axis direction. Further, a drive mechanism using a link mechanism as shown in FIG. 8B may be employed. Of the pair of arms 524 pin-connected in an X-shape, the end of one arm 524 is pin-connected to one holding part 31, and the end of the other arm 524 is pin-connected to the other holding part 31. You. Since the main body in FIG. 8B includes three holding portions 31, a total of two pairs of X-shaped arms 524 are provided, and are connected to each other by pins.

  In the above-described embodiment, the detection unit is provided between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit, but the position of the detection unit is not particularly limited. For example, the detection unit may be provided in the main body unit itself, or may be provided in the first transport unit or the second transport unit itself.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment and the modified example, the main body unit includes three holding units, but may include two holding units, or may include four or more holding units.

  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 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.

  Although an electrode is illustrated as a sheet member to be an object of the transfer device, for example, a sheet member such as a resin film or paper may be employed.

  8 ... Positive electrode (sheet member), 20 ... Transfer device, 25 ... Detection unit, 31,330 ... Holding unit, 32,232 ... Adjustment unit, 40 ... Control unit (moving unit, adjustment unit), 110 ... First Conveying unit, 120: second conveying unit, 32, 232: adjusting unit.

Claims (5)

A transfer device for transferring a plurality of sheet members from a first transport unit to a second transport unit,
A plurality of holding units for sucking and holding the sheet member,
A moving unit that moves the plurality of holding units arranged in a first direction between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit;
An adjustment unit that adjusts the size of the interval between the pair of holding units that are adjacent in the first direction.   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit arranges three or more of the holding units at equal intervals in the first direction. Further comprising a detection unit for detecting the sheet member held by the holding unit,
The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the size of the interval based on a detection result of the detection unit.   The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding unit is adjustable in position in a second direction parallel to the suction surface and orthogonal to the first direction.   The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding unit is capable of adjusting a position in a rotation direction based on an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the suction surface.

Images