JP2023003091A - Battery electrode manufacturing method and battery electrode manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a battery electrode manufacturing method and a battery electrode manufacturing device, capable of suppressing the deterioration of conveying properties of a band-shaped base material film.SOLUTION: There is provided a battery electrode manufacturing method to manufacture an electrode from a band-shaped base material film (current collector 21X) in which a frame body 4 is fixed in the state where a gap is formed in a conveyance direction while an active material 22X is supplied into the frame of the frame body 4. The battery electrode manufacturing method includes: a gripping step of gripping a side edge 21XE in the conveyance direction of the band-shaped current collector 21X conveyed by a conveyance mechanism 300, by gripping tools 734, 735; a placement step of moving the gripping tools 734, 735 in a conveyance direction X in a gripping state where the side edge 21XE in the conveyance direction is gripped, in conjunction with the conveyance of the band-shaped current collector 21X by the conveyance mechanism 300 and placing an area, where the frame body 4 is fixed, of the band-shaped current collector 21X on a conveying table 740; and a cutting step of cutting, by a cutting mechanism 720, the band-shaped current collector 21X at an edge of the frame body 4 on a conveyance direction side and at an edge of the frame body 4 on a side in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a battery electrode manufacturing method and a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus.

Lithium-ion batteries, which have been attracting attention in recent years, generally obtain electrodes by stacking the necessary layers as electrodes on a strip-shaped current collector and then dividing the strip-shaped current collector into single current collectors. Become. For example, in Patent Document 1, a body to be cut is cut, in which a battery structure manufactured by laminating a positive electrode, an electrolyte, a negative electrode, and a second current collector on a strip-shaped first current collector is continuously formed. By doing so, a single battery structure is obtained. For example, in Patent Document 2, a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode active material layer, a separator, and a second current collector are laminated inside a plurality of frames connected and formed on a first current collector. A single unit cell structure is obtained by cutting the continuously formed unit cell structure manufactured in the above manner.

JP-A-2008-53103 JP 2017-41310 A

In manufacturing a battery using a strip-shaped current collector, the strip-shaped current collector is cut as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Therefore, in manufacturing a battery electrode, even when a plurality of frames are fixed on a strip-shaped current collector, an active material is supplied into the frames, and the active material is compressed, the strip-shaped current collector is cut. By doing so, a single electrode is obtained. In this case, it is conceivable that frames adjacent to each other in the transport direction are spaced apart and fixed. Since the strip-shaped current collector is flexible, the current collector positioned between adjacent frame members in the transport direction has low rigidity and may be bent when the strip-shaped current collector is transported by the transport mechanism. be. When transported by a conventional transport mechanism, the current collector may bend in this way, and it takes time to transport the strip-shaped current collector to a mechanism for cutting (for example, a predetermined position for cutting). Manufacturing efficiency may decrease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a battery electrode manufacturing method and a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration in transportability of a strip-shaped base film and improving manufacturing efficiency.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the method for manufacturing a battery electrode of the present invention includes a frame that is fixed with a gap formed in the conveying direction, and an active material is supplied within the frame of the frame. A battery electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing at least a part of a battery electrode from a strip-shaped base film in a state, wherein the continuously transported strip-shaped base film has a conveying direction side end portion held by a gripping tool. and moving the gripping tool in the transport direction in a gripping state in which the end portion on the transport direction side is gripped, and moving the region of the strip-shaped base film to which at least the frame is fixed onto a transport table. and a cutting step of cutting the mounted strip-shaped base film by a cutting mechanism.

Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, in the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the frame is fixed with a gap formed in the conveying direction, and the active material is supplied within the frame of the frame. A battery electrode manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing at least a part of a battery electrode from a strip-shaped base film in a folded state, wherein the transport direction side end of the strip-shaped base film that is continuously transported is a gripping mechanism for gripping with a gripping tool; and cutting the placed strip-shaped base film while a region of the strip-shaped base film to which at least the frame is fixed is placed on a carrier. and a cutting mechanism, wherein the gripping mechanism moves the gripping tool in the transporting direction in a gripping state in which the end portion on the transporting direction side is gripped.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION The battery electrode manufacturing method and battery electrode manufacturing apparatus which concern on this invention are effective in the ability to suppress the deterioration of the conveyability of a strip|belt-shaped base film.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cell. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic configuration diagram of a main part of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic configuration diagram of a main part of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a battery electrode by the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a battery electrode by a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to a modification. FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and a method for detecting the position of a working mechanism in the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or substantially the same components.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment which concerns on this invention is described in detail based on drawing. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, components in the following embodiments include components that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or components that are substantially the same.

[Embodiment]
A battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the electrode 2 applied to the unit cell 1 shown in FIG. Below, first, the basic configuration of the cell 1 and the electrode 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 1, and then the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

<Single battery>
A single battery (also referred to as a battery cell or single cell) 1 is a lithium ion secondary battery, which is a type of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, in the present embodiment. A lithium ion secondary battery is, as shown in FIG. 1, a secondary battery that is charged and discharged by movement of lithium ions between a positive electrode 2a and a negative electrode 2b. In addition, in the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the “positive electrode 2a” and the “negative electrode 2b”, they may simply be referred to as the “electrode 2”.

The unit cell 1 has a positive electrode 2 a, a negative electrode 2 b, a separator 3 and a frame 4 . The positive electrode 2 a is one electrode 2 of the two electrodes (battery electrodes) 2 that constitute the cell 1 . The negative electrode 2 b is the other electrode 2 of the two electrodes 2 forming the cell 1 . The separator 3 is a plate-shaped member arranged between the positive electrode 2a and the negative electrode 2b. The frame 4 is a frame-shaped member that surrounds the periphery of the separator 3 . In the unit cell 1, a positive electrode 2a, a separator 3, and a negative electrode 2b are stacked in this order, and integrated in a positional relationship in which a frame 4 surrounds the periphery of the separator 3. As shown in FIG.

The positive electrode 2a has a positive electrode current collector layer 21a and a positive electrode active material layer 22a, and the positive electrode active material layer 22a is electrically coupled to one of both surfaces of the positive electrode current collector layer 21a. . On the other hand, the negative electrode 2b has a negative electrode current collector layer 21b and a negative electrode active material layer 22b. ing. The positive electrode 2a and the negative electrode 2b constitute a bipolar electrode as a whole. The positive electrode 2a and the negative electrode 2b in this embodiment are formed in a rectangular plate shape.

The separator 3 functions as a partition wall between the positive electrode 2a and the negative electrode 2b, and prevents the positive electrode active material layer 22a and the negative electrode active material layer 22b from coming into contact with each other. The separator 3 in this embodiment is formed in a rectangular plate shape smaller than the positive collector layer 21a and the negative collector layer 21b.

The frame 4 forms the skeleton of the cell 1 . The frame 4 seals the positive electrode active material layer 22a between the positive electrode current collector layer 21a and the separator 3, and seals the negative electrode active material layer 22b between the negative electrode current collector layer 21b and the separator 3. It is something to do. The frame 4 in this embodiment is formed in a frame shape surrounding the outer circumference of the separator 3 .

The unit cell 1 is laminated in the order of the positive electrode current collector layer 21a, the positive electrode active material layer 22a, the separator 3, the negative electrode active material layer 22b, and the negative electrode current collector layer 21b. That is, in the unit cell 1, the positive electrode current collector layer 21a and the negative electrode active material layer 2b are arranged as outermost layers, that is, exposed to the outside of the unit cell 1. FIG.

It should be noted that the unit cell 1 of this embodiment is configured such that a portion of the separator 3 is inserted into the frame 4 . That is, the width of the separator 3 is slightly larger than that of the positive electrode active material layer 2 a and the negative electrode active material layer 2 b whose peripheral portions are surrounded by the frame 4 , and a part of the separator 3 bites into the frame 4 . . However, it is not limited to this, and for example, the positive electrode active material layer 22a, the negative electrode active material layer 22b, and the separator 3 may have the same width. The frame 4 may be manufactured integrally, or may be manufactured, for example, by separately manufacturing the frame 4 on the side of the positive electrode 2a and the frame 4 on the side of the negative electrode 2b and combining them. .

In addition, in the following description, when it is not necessary to specifically distinguish between the “positive electrode current collector layer 21a” and the “negative electrode current collector layer 21b”, they may simply be referred to as “the current collector layer 21”. . Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the "positive electrode active material layer 22a" and the "negative electrode active material layer 22b", they may simply be referred to as the "electrode active material layer 22".

<Battery pack>
A plurality of single cells 1 can be combined and used in the form of an assembled battery in which the voltage and capacity are adjusted, that is, a battery pack. The assembled battery is configured by stacking a plurality of flat unit cells 1 in the thickness direction. Unit cells 1 adjacent in the thickness direction are stacked such that different electrodes 2 are in contact, that is, one positive electrode 2a and the other negative electrode 2b are in contact. In the assembled battery, the unit cells 1 inside are covered with an outer layer film made of a flexible insulating material, such as a laminate film. The assembled battery is provided with extraction portions electrically connected to the positive electrodes 2a and the negative electrodes 2b positioned at both ends of the plurality of cells 1 in the thickness direction. A part of the extraction part is exposed to the outside of the exterior film, and power is supplied to an electrically connected electrical device on the outside.

<Specific example of positive electrode current collector>
As the positive electrode current collector that constitutes the positive electrode current collector layer 21a, a known current collector used in a lithium-ion single battery can be used. A resin current collector (such as the resin current collector described in JP-A-2012-150905 and International Publication No. 2015-005116) can be used. The positive electrode collector constituting the positive electrode collector layer 21a is preferably a resin collector from the viewpoint of battery characteristics and the like.

Metal current collectors include, for example, copper, aluminum, titanium, nickel, tantalum, niobium, hafnium, zirconium, zinc, tungsten, bismuth, antimony, alloys containing one or more of these metals, and the group consisting of stainless alloys. and one or more metal materials selected from These metal materials may be used in the form of thin plates, metal foils, or the like. Alternatively, a metal current collector formed by forming the above metal material on the surface of a base material other than the above metal material by sputtering, electrodeposition, coating, or the like may be used.

The resin current collector preferably contains a conductive filler and a matrix resin. Examples of the matrix resin include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polymethylpentene (PMP) and the like, but are not particularly limited. The conductive filler is not particularly limited as long as it is selected from materials having conductivity. For example, the conductive filler may be a conductive fiber having a fibrous shape.

The resin current collector may contain other components (dispersant, cross-linking accelerator, cross-linking agent, colorant, ultraviolet absorber, plasticizer, etc.) in addition to the matrix resin and the conductive filler. Also, a plurality of resin current collectors may be laminated and used, or a resin current collector and a metal foil may be laminated and used.

Although the thickness of the positive electrode current collector layer 21a is not particularly limited, it is preferably 5 to 150 μm. When a plurality of resin current collectors are laminated and used as the positive electrode current collector layer 21a, the total thickness after lamination is preferably 5 to 150 μm. The positive electrode current collector layer 21a can be obtained, for example, by molding a conductive resin composition obtained by melt-kneading a matrix resin, a conductive filler, and a dispersing agent for a filler used if necessary into a film by a known method. can be done.

<Specific example of positive electrode active material>
The positive electrode active material layer 22a is preferably a non-bound mixture containing a positive electrode active material. Here, the non-bound body means that the position of the positive electrode active material is not fixed in the positive electrode active material layer, and the positive electrode active materials and the positive electrode active materials and the positive electrode active material and the current collector are irreversibly means not fixed. When the positive electrode active material layer 22a is a non-bound body, the positive electrode active materials are not irreversibly fixed to each other. Even when stress is applied to the material layer 22a, the positive electrode active material moves, which is preferable because the destruction of the positive electrode active material layer 22a can be prevented. The positive electrode active material layer 22a, which is a non-binder, can be obtained by a method such as changing the positive electrode active material layer 22a into a positive electrode active material layer 22a containing a positive electrode active material and an electrolytic solution but not containing a binder. can. In this specification, the binder means an agent that cannot reversibly fix the positive electrode active materials together and the positive electrode active material and the current collector, and includes starch, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyl Known solvent-drying type binders for lithium ion batteries such as methylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, tetrafluoroethylene, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyethylene and polypropylene can be used. These binders are used by dissolving or dispersing them in a solvent, and by volatilizing and distilling off the solvent, the surface solidifies without exhibiting stickiness. cannot be reversibly fixed.

Examples of the positive electrode active material include, but are not limited to, a composite oxide of lithium and a transition metal, a composite oxide containing two transition metal elements, and a composite oxide containing three or more metal elements. .

The positive electrode active material may be a coated positive electrode active material in which at least part of the surface is coated with a coating material containing a polymer compound. When the positive electrode active material is covered with the coating material, the volume change of the positive electrode is moderated, and the expansion of the positive electrode can be suppressed.

As the polymer compound constituting the coating material, those described as active material coating resins in JP-A-2017-054703 and WO-2015-005117 can be preferably used.

The coating material may contain a conductive agent. As the conductive agent, the same conductive filler as contained in the positive electrode current collector layer 21a can be preferably used.

The positive electrode active material layer 22a may contain an adhesive resin. As the adhesive resin, for example, a non-aqueous secondary battery active material coating resin described in JP-A-2017-054703 is mixed with a small amount of an organic solvent to adjust its glass transition temperature to room temperature or lower. Also, those described as adhesives in JP-A-10-255805 can be preferably used. In addition, adhesive resin is a resin that does not solidify even if the solvent component is volatilized and dried, and has adhesiveness (the property of adhering by applying a slight pressure without using water, solvent, heat, etc.) means On the other hand, a solution-drying type electrode binder used as a binder is one that dries and solidifies by volatilizing a solvent component, thereby firmly adhering and fixing active materials to each other. Therefore, the binder (solution-drying type electrode binder) and the adhesive resin described above are different materials.

The positive electrode active material layer 22a may contain an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte and a non-aqueous solvent. As the electrolyte, those used in known electrolytic solutions can be used. As the non-aqueous solvent, those used in known electrolytic solutions (eg, phosphate esters, nitrile compounds, mixtures thereof, etc.) can be used. For example, a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) or a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) can be used.

The positive electrode active material layer 22a may contain a conductive aid. As the conductive aid, a conductive material similar to the conductive filler contained in the positive electrode current collector layer 21a can be preferably used.

Although the thickness of the positive electrode active material layer 22a is not particularly limited, it is preferably 150 to 600 μm, more preferably 200 to 450 μm, from the viewpoint of battery performance.

The positive electrode active material layer 22a is preferably wet powder.

<Specific example of negative electrode current collector>
As the negative electrode current collector constituting the negative electrode current collector layer 21b, the same one as the positive electrode current collector can be appropriately selected and used, and can be obtained by the same method. The negative electrode current collector layer 21b is preferably a resin current collector from the viewpoint of battery characteristics and the like. Although the thickness of the negative electrode current collector layer 21b is not particularly limited, it is preferably 5 to 150 μm.

<Specific example of negative electrode active material>
The negative electrode active material layer 22b is preferably a non-bonded mixture containing a negative electrode active material. The reason why the negative electrode active material layer is preferably a non-binder and the reason why the positive electrode active material layer 22a is preferably a non-binder is the method for obtaining the negative electrode active material layer 22b which is a non-binder. , and the method for obtaining the positive electrode active material layer 22a which is a non-binder.

As the negative electrode active material, for example, a carbon-based material, a silicon-based material, a mixture thereof, or the like can be used, but the material is not particularly limited.

The negative electrode active material may be a coated negative electrode active material in which at least part of the surface is coated with a coating material containing a polymer compound. When the periphery of the negative electrode active material is covered with the coating material, the volume change of the negative electrode is moderated, and the expansion of the negative electrode can be suppressed.

As the coating material, the same coating material as that constituting the coated positive electrode active material can be suitably used.

The negative electrode active material layer 22b contains an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte and a non-aqueous solvent. As for the composition of the electrolytic solution, an electrolytic solution similar to the electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode active material layer 22a can be suitably used.

The negative electrode active material layer 22b may contain a conductive aid. As the conductive aid, a conductive material similar to the conductive filler contained in the positive electrode active material layer 22a can be preferably used.

The negative electrode active material layer 22b may contain an adhesive resin. As the adhesive resin, the same adhesive resin as an optional component of the positive electrode active material layer 22a can be preferably used.

Although the thickness of the negative electrode active material layer 22b is not particularly limited, it is preferably 150 to 600 μm, more preferably 200 to 450 μm, from the viewpoint of battery performance.

The negative electrode active material layer 22b is preferably wet powder.

<Specific example of separator>
Examples of the electrolyte retained in the separator 3 include an electrolytic solution and a gel polymer electrolyte. By using these electrolytes, the separator 3 ensures high lithium ion conductivity. Examples of the form of the separator 3 include, but are not limited to, a porous film made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

<Specific example of frame>
The material for the frame 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that is durable against the electrolytic solution. For example, a polymer material is preferable, and a thermosetting polymer material is more preferable. As a material for forming the frame 4, any material having insulating properties, sealing properties (liquid-tightness), heat resistance under the battery operating temperature, and the like may be used, and a resin material is preferably employed. More specifically, examples of the frame 4 include epoxy-based resins, polyolefin-based resins, polyurethane-based resins, and polyvinylidene fluoride resins. preferable.

<Manufacturing equipment>
Next, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is supplied with a strip-shaped current collector 21X from the outside, and manufactures either the positive electrode 2a or the negative electrode 2b. Out. The strip-shaped current collector 21X is a base film, which is divided to form the current collector layer 21, is wound into a roll, and is rotatably supported by a roll holder (not shown). In this state, it is installed outside the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 as a current collector roll 21X'. Here, the X direction in FIGS. 2 to 4 (including FIGS. 5 to 13) is the transport direction of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 in this embodiment. The Y direction is orthogonal to the transport direction and is the width direction of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 in this embodiment. The Z direction is orthogonal to the transport direction and the width direction, and is the vertical direction of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 in this embodiment. The Z1 direction is upward and the Z2 direction is downward.

The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a chamber 200, a transport mechanism 300, a frame supply mechanism 400, an active material supply mechanism 500, a roll press mechanism 600, an electrode formation mechanism 700, a collection box 800, and an electrode mounting mechanism. It has a table 900 and a control unit 1000 . Note that the frame body supply mechanism 400, the active material supply mechanism 500, the roll press mechanism 600, and the electrode formation mechanism 700 are arranged in the internal space S of the chamber 200 and operate on the strip-shaped current collector 21X transported from the outside. It is a working mechanism that performs In the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100, the frame supply mechanism 400, the active material supply mechanism 500, the roll press mechanism 600, and the electrode formation mechanism 700 are installed in the order of the conveying direction X of the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the internal space S. ing. The collection box 800 is arranged in the internal space S of the chamber 200 and collects the transport direction side end portions 21XE of the cut strip-shaped current collectors 21X in the collection space 801 . The electrode mounting table 900 is arranged in the internal space S of the chamber 200, and the manufactured electrode 2 is mounted thereon. The control unit 1000 controls the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 and performs synchronous control of the mechanisms 300 to 700 . Here, the frame supply mechanism 400, the active material supply mechanism 500, the roll press mechanism 600, and the electrode formation mechanism 700 are arranged with respect to the chamber 200 so that the strip-shaped current collector 21X is aligned in the transport direction X, that is, flat. are installed.

The chamber 200 is a room whose interior can be kept under a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. The chamber 200 has a chamber body 201 forming a closed space. The internal space S of the chamber 200 is decompressed below atmospheric pressure by the decompression pump 202 . The pressure of the internal space S may be any value as long as it is reduced below the atmospheric pressure, but for example, it is adjusted to be a low vacuum environment from atmospheric pressure to 1×10 ⁻¹ to 1×10 ⁻² Pa. It may be adjusted to a high vacuum environment of 1×10 ⁻⁶ to 1×10 ⁻⁷ Pa, or an ultrahigh vacuum of 10 ⁻⁸ to 10 ⁻⁹ Pa. It may be a level of extreme high vacuum. The standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 1013 hPa (approximately 10 ⁵ Pa).

The chamber body 201 has slits 203 . The slit 203 introduces the strip-shaped current collector 21X into the internal space S from the outside. It is formed on the upstream side wall 204 in the conveying direction of the chamber body 201 . The slit 203 is formed through the side wall 204 in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. The opening area of the slit 203 is formed small so as not to affect the decompressed state as much as possible when the chamber 200 is decompressed. In this embodiment, one chamber main body 201 is formed, but a plurality of chamber main bodies 201 may be connected.

The transport mechanism 300 is for transporting the strip-shaped current collector 21X, and transports the strip-shaped current collector 21X continuously in the transport direction X in the internal space S. The transport mechanism 300 in this embodiment has a drive roller 301 and a driven roller 302 . The drive roller 301 is arranged above the strip-shaped current collector 21X, and is driven in the direction of transporting the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the transport direction X (arrow A in FIG. 3) under drive control by the control unit 1000. It is rotationally driven. The driven roller 302 is arranged on the lower side of the strip-shaped current collector 21X, and rotates in conjunction with the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the transport direction X by the rotational driving of the driving roller 301. It is. A plurality of transport mechanisms 300 are installed in the internal space S at intervals in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. The most upstream conveying mechanism 300 conveys in the conveying direction X while sandwiching only the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the vertical direction. The transport mechanism 300 on the most downstream side is installed upstream of the electrode mechanism 700, and transports in the transport direction X while sandwiching at least the strip-shaped current collector 21X and the frame 4 in the vertical direction. Here, the controller 1000 causes the transport mechanism 300 to intermittently move the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the control unit 1000 moves the strip-shaped current collector 21X by a certain amount, then temporarily stops it, and then moves it again by a certain amount. The fixed amount in the present embodiment is an amount that forms a gap between adjacent frames 4 in the transport direction X when the frames 4 are continuously supplied to the strip-shaped current collector 21X. is.

The frame body supply mechanism 400 stacks the frame body 4 on the current collection layer 21 by supplying the frame body 4 to the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The frame supply mechanism 400 is installed most upstream in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. The frame supply mechanism 400 has a frame supply table 401 and a robot arm 402 . The frame supply table 401 is fixed to the floor 205 of the chamber main body 201, and supports the strip-shaped current collector 21X when the frame 4 is supplied to the strip-shaped current collector 21X. be. The robot arm 402, for example, transports the frame 4 adhered by air pressure onto the band-shaped current collector 21X, and releases the suction by the air pressure, thereby supplying the frame 4 to the belt-shaped current collector 21X. be. Therefore, the band-shaped current collector 21X is fixed to the frame members 4 with a gap formed in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. Here, the frame 4 is fixed to the strip-shaped current collector 21X with an adhesive layer (not shown). The robot arm 402 is driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and supplies the frame 4 while the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped. The frame 4 conveyed by the robot arm 402 is stacked in the height direction Z outside the strip-shaped current collector 21X when viewed in the height direction Z. As shown in FIG. The robot arm 402 in this embodiment is installed on the frame supply table 401 .

The active material supply mechanism 500 stacks the active material layer 22 on the current collector 21 by supplying the active material 22X to the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The active material supply mechanism 500 is installed downstream of the frame supply mechanism 400 in the transport direction X, and is adjacent to the frame supply mechanism 400 in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. The active material supply mechanism 500 has an active material supply table 501 and a coating mechanism 502 . The active material supply table 501 is fixed to the floor portion 205 of the chamber main body 201, and when the active material 22X is supplied to the inside of the frame 4 fixed to the belt-like current collector 21X, the belt-like current collector 21X is supplied. , and supports the belt-shaped current collector 21X and the frame 4. As shown in FIG. The active material supply table 501 has a plurality of suction holes (not shown) formed in the mounting surface on which the strip-shaped current collector 21X is placed. By sucking the S gas, the band-shaped current collector 21X is supported and the scattered active material is sucked. The coating mechanism 502 is supplied with the active material 22X from an active material supply tank (not shown) installed outside the chamber 200, and discharges a certain amount of the active material 22X into the frame of the frame 4, thereby forming a belt-like film. The active material 22X is applied within the frame of the frame 4 fixed to the current collector 21X. The coating mechanism 502 includes, for example, a discharge mechanism for discharging the active material 22X stored inside the coating mechanism 502 from an opening (not shown), the stored active material 22X, and It also has a dividing mechanism for dividing the applied active material 22X. The coating mechanism 502 is driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and coats the active material 22X within the frame of the frame 4 while the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped. , divides the applied active material 22X. Note that the fixed amount in the present embodiment is the amount of the active material 22X that is filled in the frame of the frame 4, and the coating mechanism 502 partially fills the frame of the frame 4 in the vertical direction. Apply so that it protrudes more.

The roll press mechanism 600 compresses the active material 22X on the conveyed strip-shaped current collector 21X. The roll press mechanism 600 is installed on the downstream side in the transport direction X of the active material supply mechanism 500 and is adjacent to the active material supply mechanism 500 in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. The roll press mechanism 600 has a first compression roller 601 and a second compression roller 602 . The first compression roller 601 is fixed to the floor portion 205 of the chamber body 201 by a roller support portion 603, and is in contact with the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The second compression roller 602 is fixed to the floor portion 205 of the chamber body 201 by a roller support portion 603, and in a state in which a gap is formed between the first compression roller 601 and the first compression roller 601 in the height direction Z. They are arranged to face each other and come into contact with the active material 22X on the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The first compression roller 601 and the second compression roller 602 are rotationally controlled by the control unit 1000, and when the strip-shaped current collector 21X is moving in the transport direction X, the strip-shaped current collector 21X is compressed. By compressing the active material 22X on the belt-shaped current collector 21X, the air in the active material 22X is released to the outside, and the active material 22X is formed into a belt-like shape. is fixed on the current collector 21X. The roll press mechanism 600 in this embodiment fills the active material 22X in the entire frame of the frame 4 fixed to the strip-shaped current collector 21X. A gap between the first compression roller 601 and the second compression roller 602 can be adjusted by a gap adjusting mechanism (not shown).

The electrode forming mechanism 700 cuts the strip-shaped current collector 21X to generate a single current collector 21X in which the frame of the frame 4 is filled with the active material 22X from the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The electrode 2 is manufactured. The electrode mechanism 700 is installed downstream in the transport direction X from the roll press mechanism 600 and is adjacent to the roll press mechanism 600 with the transport mechanism 300 interposed therebetween in the transport direction X. The electroded mechanism 700 has a carriage mounting mechanism 710 , a cutting mechanism 720 , a gripping mechanism 730 and a carriage 740 . The electrode mechanism 700 moves the grippers 734 and 735 in the transport direction X in a gripping state in which the transport direction side end 21XE is gripped in conjunction with transport by the transport mechanism 300 of the strip-shaped current collector unit 21X, and moves up and down. When viewed from the direction, the region of the strip-shaped current collector 21X to which the frame 4 is fixed is placed on the carriage 740 .

The carriage mounting mechanism 710 has a carriage mounting table 711 and a vertical movement mechanism 712 on which a carriage 740 on which the single current collector 21X is conveyed is mounted. The carriage mounting table 711 is fixed to the floor 205 of the chamber main body 201 via a vertical movement mechanism 712, and when the strip-shaped current collector 21X is cut, the strip-shaped collector is moved through the carriage 740. It supports the electric body 21X. The vertical movement mechanism 712 moves the carriage 740 between a support position and a standby position located below the support position. The vertical movement mechanism 712 is, for example, an air cylinder, and moves the carriage 740 in the vertical direction by air pressure. The vertical movement mechanism 712 is driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and moves from the support position to the standby position and then back to the support position in a state in which the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped. The carriage 740 on which the electrode 2 is placed is moved from the support position to the standby position, and the empty carriage 740 is moved from the standby position to the support position.

The cutting mechanism 720 cuts the strip-shaped current collector 21X at the end of the frame 4 on the transport direction side and the end on the opposite direction to the transport direction of the frame 4 when viewed from above and below. be. The cutting mechanism 720 also functions as a pressing mechanism, and has a cutting pressing portion 721 and a vertical movement mechanism 722 . The cutting pressing part 721 presses downward the frame 4 of the strip-shaped current collector 21X placed on the carriage 740, and cuts the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the pressed state. The cutting pressing portion 721 has a pressing jig 723 , a pair of blade moving mechanisms 724 and 725 and a pair of blades 726 and 727 . The pressing jig 723 contacts the frame 4 and presses the frame 4 downward. The pressing jig 723 is formed in a frame shape so as to overlap the frame body 4 when viewed from above and below. The pressing jig 723 in this embodiment is formed so as not to overlap the active material 22X filled in the frame of the frame 4 when viewed from above. The blade moving mechanisms 724 and 725 correspond to the blades 726 and 727, respectively, and move the blades 726 and 727 between the cutting position and the waiting position located above the cutting position. It is. The blade moving mechanisms 724 and 725 in this embodiment are provided at both ends of the pressing jig 723 when viewed in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. Each blade moving mechanism 724, 725 is, for example, a direct-acting mechanism, and moves each blade 726, 727 in the vertical direction by being rotationally driven by a motor. The blade moving mechanisms 724 and 725 are driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and move from the standby position to the cutting position in a state where the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped, and then again to the standby position. In the state where the frame 4 is pressed by the pressing jig 723, the region where one frame 4 is fixed is cut off from the band-shaped current collector 21X. Each of the blades 726 and 727 cuts the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The blades 726 and 727 in the present embodiment are arranged at both ends in the conveying direction X of the pressing jig 723 when viewed from the width direction Y, and the blades are formed at the ends on the downward side. The length in the direction Y is formed longer than the length in the width direction Y of the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The vertical movement mechanism 722 moves the cutting pressing portion 721 between a standby position and a pressing position located below the standby position. The vertical movement mechanism 722 is, for example, an air cylinder, and moves the cutting pressing portion 721 in the vertical direction by air pressure. The vertical motion mechanism 722 is driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and moves from the standby position to the pressed position and then to the standby position again in a state in which the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped. The cutting pressing portion 721 is moved from the standby position to the pressing position, the pressing jig 723 presses the frame 4, and the blade moving mechanisms 724 and 725 move from the standby position to the cutting position and return to the standby position. After moving, the cutting pressing portion 721 is moved from the pressing position to the standby position.

The gripping mechanism 730 grips the transport direction side end 21XE of the strip-shaped current collector 21X transported by the transport mechanism 300 with grippers 734 and 735, which will be described later. The grasping mechanism 730 has a robot arm 731 and a pressing jig 723 . The robot arm 731 moves the grippers 734 and 735 in the transport direction X while maintaining the gripping state of the transport direction side end 21XE by the grippers 734 and 735 . The robot arm 731 is driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and moves the pressing jig 723 in the transport direction X to the transport direction side end 21XE in a state where the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped. In a state in which the strip-shaped current collector 21X is moved in the transport direction X, the pressing jig 723 is moved in the transport direction X in conjunction with the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X by the transport mechanism 300. It is something that makes The pressing jig 723 grips the transport direction side end 21XE, and has a base portion 733 , a gripper 734 , and a gripper 735 . The base portion 733 is fixed to the tip portion of the robot arm 731 . The base portion 733 holds the gripping tools 734 and 735 in a state in which the gripping tools 734 and 735 are spaced apart in the width direction, and in this embodiment, the length is less than the length in the width direction of the strip-shaped current collector 21X. Each of the gripping tools 734 and 735 grips the transport direction side end portion 21XE. Each gripper 734, 735 has two contact portions that move between an open position and a closed position around a rotation axis (not shown). Each gripper 734, 735 is opened and closed, for example, by pneumatic pressure. The gripping tools 734 and 735 are driven and controlled by the control unit 1000, and when the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped, the gripping tools 734 and 735 are changed from the open state to the closed state, and the conveying direction side end portion 21XE is closed. is held, the closed state is maintained while the belt-shaped current collector 21X is moving in the transport direction X, and the movement of the belt-shaped current collector 21X is temporarily stopped again. The closed state is changed to the open state in conjunction with the movement, and the gripping of the cut conveying direction side end portion 21XE is completed.

The transport table 740 transports the manufactured electrode 2, and is transported to the vicinity of the electrode mounting table 900 located downstream of the electrode forming mechanism 700 by a transport table transport mechanism such as a robot arm or a conveyor (not shown). . When the electrode 2 is mounted on the electrode mounting table 900, the conveying table 740 is again placed on the carriage mounting table 711 in an empty state by the carriage conveying mechanism.

Next, manufacturing of the electrode 2 by the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described. Here, the internal space S of the chamber 200 is depressurized below the atmospheric pressure by the decompression pump 202, the chamber 200 is in a decompressed state, and the strip-shaped current collector 21X is intermittently moved in the transport direction X by the transport mechanism 300. It is assumed that

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the frame supply mechanism 400 performs a frame fixing step of supplying the frame 4 to the strip-shaped current collector 21X and fixing the frame onto the strip-shaped current collector 21X. (S1).

Next, the active material supply mechanism 500 performs an active material supply step of supplying the active material 22X into the frame of the frame 4 fixed to the strip-shaped current collector 21X (S2).

Next, the roll press mechanism 600 performs a press step of compressing the active material 22X supplied within the frame of the frame 4 fixed to the strip-shaped current collector 21X (S3).

Next, the gripping mechanism 730 of the electrode mechanism 700 performs a gripping step of gripping the transport direction side end 21XE of the strip-shaped current collector 21X with the gripping tools 734 and 735 (S4). Here, the conveying direction end 21XE of the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the internal space S is positioned downstream of the roll press mechanism 600, and in this embodiment, is positioned downstream of the most downstream conveying mechanism 300. It will be done. The gripping mechanism 730 closes the open grippers 734 and 735 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. The direction side end 21XE is gripped.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the gripping mechanism 730 of the electrodeization mechanism 700 moves the robot arm in the direction of arrow B while maintaining the gripping state in conjunction with the transportation of the strip-shaped current collector 21X by the transportation mechanism 300. , the carrying direction side end 21XE is moved in the carrying direction X, and the placing step of placing the region of the band-shaped current collector 21X to which the frame 4 is fixed on the carrying table 740 is performed. (S5). Here, the carriage mounting mechanism 710 moves the carriage mounting table 711 in the direction of arrow C (upward) as shown in FIG. The table 711 is changed from the standby position to the supporting position.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the cutting mechanism 720 of the electrode mechanism 700 performs a pressing step of pressing the frame 4 on the strip-shaped current collector 21X downward with a pressing jig 723 (S6). Here, the vertical movement mechanism 722 moves the cutting pressing portion 721 in the direction of arrow D (downward) as shown in FIG. 6, and moves the cutting pressing portion 721 from the standby position as shown in FIGS. Set to the pressing position. Since the strip-shaped current collector 21X positioned on the lower side of the frame 4 is placed on the carrier table 740, the frame body 4 is pressed against the carrier table 740. As shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the frame 4 before the cutting process described later, and to suppress the strip-shaped current collector 21X including the frame 4 from moving with respect to the carriage 740 during the cutting process. be able to. As a result, it is possible to suppress the cutting position deviation of both ends in the conveying direction X in the cutting step, improve the cutting accuracy of the strip-shaped current collector 21X, and the current collector constituting the manufactured electrode 2 Uniformity of the layer 21 can be achieved, and the yield of the manufactured electrode 2 can be improved.

Next, the cutting mechanism 720 of the electrode forming mechanism 700 performs a cutting step of cutting the strip-shaped current collector 21X (S7). Here, the cutting mechanism 720 moves the blades 726 and 727 in the direction of arrow E (downward) as shown in FIG. 8, and moves the blades 726 and 727 from the standby position to the cutting position as shown in FIG. Then, the strip-shaped current collector 21X is cut at the end of the frame 4 on the transport direction side and the end of the frame 4 on the side opposite to the transport direction.

Next, the cutting mechanism 720 of the electrode forming mechanism 700 performs a cutting step of cutting the strip-shaped current collector 21X (S7). Here, the cutting mechanism 720 moves the blades 726 and 727 in the direction of arrow E (downward) as shown in FIG. 8, and moves the blades 726 and 727 from the standby position to the cutting position as shown in FIG. Then, the strip-shaped current collector 21X is cut at the end of the frame 4 on the transport direction side and the end of the frame 4 on the side opposite to the transport direction. Note that the gripping mechanism 730 maintains the gripping state of the transport direction side end portion 21XE in the cutting process.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10 , the electrode mechanism 700 moves the blades 726 and 727 in the direction of arrow G (upward) to move the blades 726 and 727 from the cutting position to the standby position, and the cutting pressing portion 721 is moved in the direction of arrow H (upward), the cutting pressing portion 721 is moved from the pressing position to the standby position, and the grippers 734 and 735 are moved in the direction of arrow F (conveyance direction X). , when the gripping tools 734 and 735 face the collecting box 800, the gripping tools 734 and 735 are changed from the closed state to the open state, and the transport direction side end 21XE of the cut strip-shaped current collector 21X is moved to the collection space. 801, the carriage mounting table 711 is moved in the direction of arrow I (downward), and as shown in FIG.

Next, in the electrode forming mechanism 700, the electrode 2 manufactured by cutting the strip-shaped current collector 21X is placed on the electrode placing table 900 by the transport table moving mechanism, and then the holding tools 734 and 735 are moved to the direction indicated by the arrows. By moving in the K direction, it moves to the vicinity of the newly generated transport direction side end 21XE. A carrier table 740 is placed on the table table 711, and the above steps are repeated.

As described above, the gripping mechanism 730 in the present embodiment is interlocked with the transport of the strip-shaped current collector 21X by the transport mechanism 300, and grips the transport direction side end 21XE of the strip-shaped current collector 21X. The transport direction side end 21XE is transported. Therefore, when the strip-shaped current collector 21X is transported to the transport table 740, the gripping mechanism 730 gripping the transport direction side end 21XE pulls the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the transport direction X, and the transport mechanism 300 moves to the upstream side. This is performed by pushing out the strip-shaped current collector 21X in the transport direction X. As shown in FIG. As a result, compared to the case where the strip-shaped current collector 21X is transported to the transport table 740 only by the transport mechanism 300 on the most downstream side, the transport-direction-side end portion 21XE is not disturbed during transport, and the strip-shaped base film can be easily transported. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the transportability of the electrodes 2, and to improve the yield of the electrode 2 to be manufactured.

Further, the gripping mechanism 730 in this embodiment grips the transport direction side end portion 21XE even when the strip-shaped current collector 21X is cut by the cutting mechanism 720 . Therefore, it is possible to suppress bending of the transport direction side end portion 21XE during the cutting process. As a result, the cutting accuracy of the strip-shaped current collector 21X can be improved, the current collecting layer 21 constituting the manufactured electrode 2 can be made uniform, and the yield of the manufactured electrode 2 can be improved. be able to.

Note that the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment may manufacture the electrode 2 with the separator 3 placed thereon. In this case, a separator arrangement mechanism (not shown) is arranged in the internal space S between the active material supply mechanism 500 and the roll press mechanism 600, and as shown in FIG. , the separator 3 is preferably arranged with respect to the frame 4 during the pressing process by the roll press mechanism 600 . For example, the separator arrangement mechanism arranges the strip-shaped separator 3 on the frame 4, and the roll-pressing mechanism 600 compresses the active material 22X through the strip-shaped separator 3, and the roll-pressing mechanism 600 and the electrode A single separator 3 corresponding to each frame 4 is cut from the belt-shaped separator 3 by a separator cutting and fixing mechanism installed between the separating mechanism 700, and the single separator 3 is separated by a fixing method such as heat sealing. It is fixed to the frame 4. As shown in FIG. 13 , the electrode forming mechanism 700 cuts the strip-shaped current collector 21X with the separator 3 fixed to the frame 4 . When compressing the active material 22X, the roll press mechanism 600 can compress the active material 22X via the separator 3 without making direct contact with the active material 22X. In particular, when the active material 22X is wet powder, it is possible to reliably prevent the active material 22X from adhering to the second compression roller 602 of the roll press mechanism 600 .

Further, the frame supply mechanism 400 in this embodiment is arranged in the internal space S, but is not limited to this, and may be arranged outside the chamber 200 . In this case, the strip-shaped current collector 21X is carried into the internal space S with the frame 4 fixed.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the current collector 21X is used as the base film, but the present invention is not limited to this. The base film may be the separator 3 or a transfer film in addition to the current collector 21X. When the base film is the separator 3, the belt-shaped separator 3 is carried into the chamber 200, the frame 4 is fixed by the frame supply mechanism 400, and the active material 22X is applied to the frame of the frame 4 by the active material supply mechanism 500. The active material 22X on the strip-shaped separator 3 supplied inside and transported by the roll press mechanism 600 is compressed, the strip-shaped separator 3 is cut by the electrode mechanism 700, and the strip-shaped separator 3 is cut from the strip-shaped separator 3 into the frame 4. A single separator 3 filled with the active material 22X, that is, a part of the electrode 2 may be produced. When the base film is a transfer film, a belt-shaped transfer film is carried into the chamber 200, and a mask or the like having a space in which an active material can be formed is placed on the transfer film. The material supply mechanism 500 may supply the active material 22X, the roll press mechanism 600 may compress the active material 22X on the belt-shaped transfer film, and the electrode mechanism 700 may cut the belt-shaped transfer film. . The active material layer (part of the electrode) formed on the transfer film is transferred onto the current collector or the current collector on which the frame 4 is placed (framed current collector), whereby the current collector is Electrodes are formed on the body. At that time, the frame 4 may be installed either before forming the electrodes or after forming the electrodes.

1: cell, 2: electrode, 2a: positive electrode, 2b: negative electrode, 21: collector layer,
21a: positive electrode current collector layer, 21b: negative electrode current collector layer, 21X: current collector,
22: electrode active material layer, 22a: positive electrode active material layer, 22b: negative electrode current collector layer,
22X: active material, 3: separator, 4: frame,
100: battery electrode manufacturing apparatus, 200: chamber, 300: transport mechanism,
400: frame supply mechanism, 500: active material supply mechanism, 600: roll press mechanism,
700: Electrode Mechanism 710: Platform Mounting Mechanism 720: Cutting Mechanism
730: gripping mechanism, 740: carrier, 800: collection box,
900: Electrode mounting table

Claims (6)

A battery in which at least a part of a battery electrode is manufactured from a strip-shaped base film in which a frame is fixed with a gap formed in the conveying direction, and an active material is supplied into the frame of the frame. An electrode manufacturing method for
A gripping step of gripping an end portion of the strip-shaped base film that is continuously transported in the transport direction with a gripper;
A placing step of moving the gripping tool in the transport direction in a gripping state in which the end portion on the transport direction side is gripped, and placing at least a region of the strip-shaped base film to which the frame is fixed on a carrier. When,
a cutting step of cutting the mounted strip-shaped base film by a cutting mechanism;
A method for manufacturing a battery electrode comprising: In the method for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 1,
including a pressing step of pressing the frame against the carriage with a pressing jig;
The pressing step is performed between the placing step and the cutting step,
A method for manufacturing a battery electrode. In the battery electrode manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2,
The gripping tool maintains the gripping state in the cutting step.
A method for manufacturing a battery electrode. In the method for manufacturing a battery electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
an active material supply step of supplying a powdery active material to the strip-shaped base film transported by the transport mechanism;
A pressing step of compressing the active material on the strip-shaped base film conveyed by the conveying mechanism by a pressing mechanism;
A method for manufacturing a battery electrode comprising: In the method for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 4,
The strip-shaped base film is a strip-shaped current collector,
Further comprising a separator arranging step of arranging a separator with respect to the frame fixed to the strip-shaped current collector,
The separator placement step is performed between the active material supply step and the pressing step,
A method for manufacturing a battery electrode. A battery in which at least a part of a battery electrode is manufactured from a strip-shaped base film in which a frame is fixed with a gap formed in the conveying direction, and an active material is supplied into the frame of the frame. An electrode manufacturing device for
a gripping mechanism that grips a transport direction side end of the belt-shaped base film that is continuously transported with a gripper;
a cutting mechanism that cuts the mounted strip-shaped base film in a state where at least a region of the strip-shaped base film to which the frame is fixed is placed on a carrier;
has at least
The gripping mechanism moves the gripper in the transport direction in a gripping state in which the transport-direction-side end is gripped.
Battery electrode manufacturing equipment.

Images