JP2662715B2 - A device that spirally winds and forms a strip electrode and separator for a battery - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facility for manufacturing a spiral type electrode set built in a cylindrical lithium battery or the like, and more particularly, to a spirally wound positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator. It relates to a molding device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a cylindrical lithium battery or the like, a positive electrode and a negative electrode formed in a belt shape are stacked so that a separator is interposed therebetween, and the whole is spirally wound and formed into a cylindrical electrode set. Is known (referred to as a spiral electrode type battery).

[0003] This kind of spiral electrode type battery has a completely different electrode structure from manganese batteries, alkaline batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, etc., which have been mass-produced in the past. At present, they cannot be diverted and are produced in a state close to handmade. Since the belt-shaped positive electrode is formed by using a punched metal as a core material and adhering powder to both surfaces thereof, the core material is often not positioned parallel to the center position. In such a case, at the time of the winding process, the core material is rolled on the basis of the surface of the core material, and there is a possibility that the core material collapses.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of automatically and efficiently performing an operation of stacking a strip-shaped positive electrode, a strip-shaped negative electrode, and a strip-shaped separator, spirally winding the same, and forming a cylindrical electrode set. To provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there are provided two first and second fixed guides disposed so as to be continuous with a winding work space therebetween. A first movable guide which takes a position overlapping the first fixed guide and a position away therefrom, and a second movable guide which takes a position overlapping the second fixed guide and a position away therefrom A plurality of work jig sets each having the following arrangement are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and an indexing table is provided which is divided and rotated with the work jig set interval being one unit. A first electrode setting means for setting one band-shaped electrode on the first fixed guide of the work jig set in an initial state at a certain indexing position; and a first electrode set with respect to a rotation direction of the indexing table. A first movable guide which is arranged at a predetermined indexing position downstream of the means and is superimposed on a first fixed guide on which the one strip electrode is set while the work jig set is being divided and rotated; On the guide,
Separator setting means for setting a long strip-shaped separator so as to bridge the second fixed guide; and a predetermined indexing position further downstream of the separator setting means, which overlaps with the second fixed guide. A second electrode setting means for setting another band-shaped electrode on the second movable guide, and the work jig set which has been processed by the second electrode setting means is divided and rotated. Means for winding the separator and both band-shaped electrodes around a core that rotates by rotating the work jig set, and means for taking out a spirally shaped electrode set from the winding work space of the working jig set that has been processed by the winding means. .

[0006]

A station having the function of each of the means is provided around the indexing table, and each work jig set sequentially passes through each station as the indexing table is divided and rotated. A spiral electrode set is automatically formed using the strip electrode, the strip separator, and the second strip electrode as raw materials.

[0007]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall schematic configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates an index table which is a central element of the device. The following sets of working jigs are respectively arranged at positions that divide the outer peripheral surface of the circular indexing table 10 into six equal parts, and the indexing table 10 is rotated clockwise by 60 degrees and divided into six parts. Make a full rotation. The first to sixth work stations St are provided around the indexing table 10.
n1 to Stn6 are set, and the indexing table 10
The spiral-type electrode sets are sequentially manufactured in a process in which each work jig set passes through each station in turn and makes a round. The movement of the work jig set and the movement of the peripheral device at the first to sixth stations are shown in FIGS.

First, the construction of the working jig set will be described with reference to these drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a deep concave portion 10a is formed at a position that divides the outer peripheral surface of the indexing table 10 into six equal parts, and the concave portion 10a is the above-described winding work space. Indexing table 1 with this recess 10a interposed
Two first and second fixed guides 11 and 12 are disposed so as to be continuous in the circumferential direction of zero.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the first fixed guide 11 is formed with a concave groove 11a for setting the band-shaped positive electrode 1 which is one band-shaped electrode. A concave groove 12a for setting the band-shaped separator 3 is formed in the groove 12. These concave grooves 11a, 1
2a are arranged on the same circumferential line across the recess 10a.
A magnet for stably holding the belt-shaped positive electrode 1 mounted in the concave groove 11a is provided inside the first fixed guide 11, although not shown.

A fine adjustment guide 13 is provided at the tip of the first fixed guide 11. This fine adjustment guide 13
Can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the concave grooves 11a, and the width thereof is made to match the width of the belt-shaped positive electrode 1. Note that the width of the concave groove 11a is set slightly wider than the width.

Corresponding to the first fixed guide 11, a first movable guide 14 is provided by a displacement drive mechanism (not shown) at a position overlapping the first fixed guide 11 and a position separated therefrom. ing. The groove 1 for setting the band-shaped separator 3 on the first movable guide 14 is also provided.
4a are formed.

Further, the first movable guide 14 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a large number of through holes 14b are formed in the bottom surface of the concave groove 14a, and the external suction pump 1 is formed through the internal space 14c.
5 is connected. Accordingly, when the suction pump 15 is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the internal space 14c, and the band-shaped separator 3 mounted in the concave groove 14a is suction-held.

Then, the first movable guide 14 is
When it is arranged on the fixed guide 11 of the
4a is adjusted so as to be located on the same plane as the concave groove 12a of the second fixed guide 12. Although not shown, the concave groove 12a is also provided with a vacuum suction mechanism for adsorbing the strip-shaped separator 3 similarly to the first movable guide 14.

On the other hand, corresponding to the second fixed guide 12, the second fixed guide 12 is driven by a displacement driving mechanism (not shown).
A second movable guide 16 is provided which takes a position overlapping the upper part and a position apart therefrom. The second movable guide 16 has a concave groove 16a for setting the band-shaped negative electrode 2 as the other band-shaped electrode, and is provided with a vacuum suction mechanism like the above-mentioned guide.

A magnet weight 17b corresponding to the first movable guide 14 and a magnet weight 17a corresponding to the second movable guide 16 are disposed via a holding mechanism to be described later. When the separator 3 is wound, a desired tension is given to them.

Furthermore, the core shaft 18a and 18b, which are divided into two, are provided in the recess 10a. These core shafts 18a and 18b are moved forward and backward in the axial direction and are rotationally driven by a winding drive mechanism described later.

The configuration of the working jig set has been described above. Next, the operation of the work jig set and the peripheral mechanism at each work station will be described in order. First, in the first station, the belt-shaped positive electrode 1 is set on the first fixed guide 11. As shown in FIG. 2, an adhesive tape 5 is attached to an end of the belt-shaped positive electrode 1 in a protruding state. The strip-shaped positive electrode 1 with the adhesive tape 5 is set in the concave groove 11a of the first fixed guide 11 by a vacuum suction type handling mechanism 19 as a first electrode setting means shown in FIG. Then, on the first fixed guide 11, the strip-shaped positive electrode 1 is attracted and held by a magnet (the positive electrode 1 is made of a core material of punched metal and is magnetically attracted). In the first station, next, the first fixed guide 11 on which the belt-like positive electrode 1 is set is placed on the first fixed guide 11.
Of the movable guides 14 are overlapped. FIG. 9 shows this state.

Next, as the work jig set rotates in two steps from the first station to the second station and further to the third station, as shown in FIG. The long band-shaped separator 3 is set so as to bridge the concave groove 14a of the guide 14. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a separator supply drum 2 constituting a part of the separator setting means is provided in the second station.
0 is provided. The separator pulled out from the roll 4 on which the belt-shaped separator 3 is continuously wound is placed on a drum 20.
Then, a predetermined portion of the separator adsorbed on the drum 20 is cut into a predetermined length by a hot-wire cutter 21,
The adhesive tape 7 is attached to the tip of the next separator in a protruding state. That is, the separator 3 pulled out from the roll 4 is guided to the drum 20 via the plurality of rollers 22a and 22b. The return device 23 that holds the separator 4 near the drum 20 and pulls the separator 4 in the reverse direction is used. After being disposed and cut by the hot-wire cutter 21, the following separator is retracted by a predetermined amount, separated from the preceding separator 4 by a predetermined distance, and then the adhesive tape 7 is applied. The slack of the separator 4 at the time of retreat is absorbed by the tension roller 22b.

When the work jig set rotates from the first station to the second station, the drum 20 rotates synchronously, and the separator 3 is attached to the second fixed guide 12.
Of the separator 3 is set in the first movable guide 14, and the other half of the separator 3 is set in the first movable guide 14. Then, the separator 3 set on the second fixed guide 12 and the first movable guide 14 is held by the vacuum suction mechanism as described above.

In the next third station, as shown in FIG. 4, the second fixed guide 1 on which the separator 3 is set is set.
The second movable guide 16 is overlaid on the second movable guide 16. Fig. 1
Also shown at 0.

Next, as the work jig set rotates from the third station to the fourth station, as shown in FIG.
Set to. As shown in FIG. 1, the third station has a negative electrode supply mechanism 25 as a second electrode setting means. This is a belt-type transport mechanism. The belt-like negative electrode 2 with the adhesive tape 6 protruding from the end is attached to the vacuum chamber 2.
6, the belt 27 having holes is rotated as the indexing table 10 is rotated, and the belt-shaped negative electrode 2 adsorbed on the belt 27 is set on the second movable guide 16. . The strip-shaped negative electrode 2 is held by the second movable guide 16 by a vacuum suction mechanism.

At the next fourth station, as shown in FIG. 5, the holding jig 30 enters the concave portion 10a, and first presses the end of the strip-shaped negative electrode 2 so that the adhesive tape 6 is separated from the separator 3.
Then, the separator 3 is pressed, and the adhesive tape 5 at the end of the strip-shaped positive electrode 1 is attached to the separator 3. Further, in a state where the separator 3 is pressed by the holding jig 30, the core shafts 18a,
18b advance each other, and sandwich the pressed separator 3 between the distal ends of the half-shaped core shafts 18a and 18b.
When the separator 3 is sandwiched between the core shafts 18a and 18b, the holding jig 30 returns to the original position.

At the same time, at the fourth station, the magnet weights 17a and 17b move, and the magnet weights 1a and 1b are attached to the end of the separator 3 set on the first movable guide 14.
7b overlap, and the magnet weight 17a overlaps the end of the strip-shaped negative electrode 2 set on the second movable guide 16. The magnet weights 17a and 17b have built-in magnets, and are provided with first and second movable guides 14 and 1 made of a magnetic material.
6 is magnetically attracted with the strip-shaped negative electrode 2 and the separator 3 interposed therebetween. By setting the magnet weights 17a and 17b in this way, resistance is given to the strip-shaped negative electrode 2 and the separator 3 at the time of winding in the next step, and winding is performed while applying an appropriate tension thereto.

Here, these magnet weights 17a, 17
The holding mechanism b will be described. As shown in FIG. 11 and FIGS. 9 and 10, the magnet weights 17a and 17
b is parallel to two guide rails 31, 31 arranged along the periphery of the indexing table 10 on both sides thereof, and along the guide rails 31, that is, of the indexing table 10, The indexing table 10 can be moved forward and backward along the circumferential surface in the rotation direction of the indexing table 10. The guide rail 31 is supported by a support member 32 and is moved closer to the peripheral surface of the indexing table 10 by a drive mechanism (not shown) connected to the support member 32.
It is designed to be able to move away from and to move in a lateral direction perpendicular thereto. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the initial position of the preceding magnet weight 17b for the separator (third position)
A metal holding bracket 33 attached to the indexing table 10 is disposed near the position where the separator 3 is sandwiched by the station, and the magnet weight 17b in the standby state is provided.
Is magnetically attracted to the holding bracket 33 and rotates with the rotation of the indexing table 10 while maintaining a predetermined standby position.

Next, during the rotation of the work jig set from the fourth station to the fifth station and further to the sixth station, the core shafts 18a and 18b rotate integrally with the rotation of the indexing table 10. And the cores 18a and 1
8b, a strip-shaped negative electrode 2 disposed on one half of the upper surface and adhered to the separator 3 with an adhesive tape 6, and an adhesive tape disposed on the other half of the lower surface. The belt-shaped positive electrode 1 adhered to the separator 3 at 5 is wound around the core shafts 18a and 18b while being pulled out from the fixed guide and the movable guide, respectively.

At this time, the band-shaped positive electrode 1 set on the first fixed guide 11 is pressed by the first movable guide 14, and one end of the separator 3 set on the second fixed guide 12 is located above the positive electrode 1. Are pressed by the second movable guide 16, so that the concave grooves 11 a and 12 a
The posture at the time of being dragged out from is not disturbed, and it can be rolled in without causing wrinkles. Also, the second movable guide 1
The magnet weight 17a is attached to the rear end of the strip-shaped negative electrode 2 set to 6 and the magnet weight 17b is attached to the end of the separator 3 set to the first movable guide 14. A moderate resistance (load) is applied to the strip-shaped negative electrode 2 and the separator 3 that are dragged out,
It can be rolled in without any wrinkles when moderate tension is applied. Further, the free roller 35 contacts the electrode set wound around the core shafts 18a and 18b to adjust the outer shape.

In the fifth station, the winding process has progressed to about half, but a proximity sensor 36 is provided at a predetermined position of the fifth station, and the magnet weight 17a,
By detecting the position of 17b, it is possible to detect whether or not the separator 3, the strip-shaped negative electrode 2, and the strip-shaped positive electrode 1 are normally pulled out of the guide by the winding and are wound around the core shafts 18a, 18b. ing. If it is determined that the electrode set is not normal, the defective electrode set in the subsequent process is excluded.

At the stage when the work jig set is indexed to the sixth station, the spiral forming of the spiral electrode set by the core shafts 18a and 18b is completed, and the separator 3
The end of the electrode set 40 is stopped by the adhesive tape 7 at the rear end. At the sixth station, the completed spiral electrode set 40 is taken out, and at this station and at the next first station, the working jig set returns to the initial state.

FIG. 12 shows the details of the operation at the sixth station.
16 to FIG. That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the manipulator 41 enters the concave portion 10a,
The electrode set 40 completed by winding the core shafts 18a and 18b is grasped and fixed. In this state, the core shaft 18a
And 18b are reversed by about 90 degrees, and the center hole of the winding start portion of the electrode set 40 is adjusted (corrected) to a shape close to a cylinder (FIG. 14), and then the core shafts 18a and 18b are retracted away from each other. (FIG. 15). Thereafter, the manipulator 41 carries out the electrode set 40 (FIG. 16).

Here, a mechanism for rotating the core shafts 18a and 18b in the forward and reverse directions will be described. A fixed gear formed in an internal tooth shape along the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the indexing table 10 is connected to the core shafts 18a and 18b. The connected rotary gears mesh with each other, and as the indexing table 10 rotates, the core shafts 18a, 18
When b revolves, it rotates in a predetermined direction due to the engagement of both gears. By this rotation, winding of both band-shaped electrodes 1 and 2 and separator 3 is performed. That is, the above-mentioned free roller 35, the fixed gear, the rotating gear, and the like constitute a means for winding the separator and both band-shaped electrodes around the core.

On the other hand, when the core shafts 18a and 18b are reversed for correcting the center hole of the electrode set 40, one end of an L-shaped swing lever 43 is attached to the core shafts 18a and 18b as shown in FIG. The tip of a cylinder rod 45a of the air cylinder 45 can contact the other end of the swing lever 43. Then, the swing lever 43 has one end 43a.
Is rotated in a predetermined direction around the core shaft 18.
a and 18b rotate in opposite directions. The rotation of the swing lever 43 is performed by the extension of the air cylinder 43. When the air cylinder 45 contracts, the swing lever 43 returns to its original position by the elastic restoring force of the torsion spring (elastically deformed during the rotation) attached to the swing lever 45 (not shown). . That is, the swing lever 43 and the air cylinder 45 constitute a center hole correcting unit.

When the above processing in the station 6 is completed, the guide rails 31 of the magnet weights 17a and 17b move backward and separate from the respective guides. Then, the action of the magnetic attraction generated between the guide and the guide is released, and the magnet weights 17a and 17b move (fall) in a predetermined direction along the guide rail 31 by their own weight. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, both are located at the lower end of the guide rail 31. At this time, the preceding one of the magnet weights 17b is attracted to the holding bracket 33, and thereafter the station 3
Keep that position until. Also, the other magnet weight 17a
Moves along the guide rail 31 relatively backward along with the rotation of the indexing table 10, and finally is located at the rearmost end of the guide rail 31.
Prepare for processing in.

The band-shaped positive electrode 1 is formed by using a punched metal as a core material and adhering manganese dioxide powder to both surfaces thereof, so that the core material is not located at the center. That is, it is preferable that the belt is parallel to the plane of the belt-shaped positive electrode 1, but actually, the bias is generated. As a result, bias occurs at the time of winding, and the winding cannot be performed neatly. Therefore, by moving the fine adjustment guide 13 in a predetermined direction, winding can be performed neatly.

The positioning of the fine adjustment guide 13 is performed each time a band-shaped positive electrode manufactured by using a different rod is used. That is, once the alignment is performed, it is not performed while the same rod is used.

As described above, the work proceeds continuously at each station, and the completed spiral electrode set 40 is taken out from the sixth station every time the indexing table 10 rotates once. That is, one rotation of the indexing table 10 completes the six electrode sets 40.

[0036]

As described in detail above, in the apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of working jig sets are arranged on the indexing table at equal intervals, and a plurality of working stations are set around the indexing table. Then, the respective sharing steps are performed in parallel at each station, and the operation of stacking and winding the strip-shaped positive electrode, the strip-shaped negative electrode, and the strip-shaped separator into a cylindrical shape can be automatically performed in a progressive manner.

In particular, the work jig set is provided with two fixed guides and two movable guides, and the strip-shaped positive electrode, the strip-shaped negative electrode, and the strip-shaped separator, which are the materials of the spiral electrode set, are respectively set in dedicated guides. Therefore, when these are wound around the core shaft, the respective materials are pulled out from the respective guides in a stable posture, so that wrinkles are not generated, and the materials are not spirally shifted and wound.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the entire apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram of a working jig set at a first station of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram of a work jig set at the second station.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram of a work jig set at the third station.

FIG. 5 is a state diagram of a work jig set at the fourth station.

FIG. 6 is a state diagram of a work jig set at the fifth station.

FIG. 7 is a state diagram of a work jig set at the sixth station.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a first movable guide is overlapped with a first fixed guide in the embodiment device.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a second movable guide is overlaid on a second fixed guide in the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining a magnet weight holding mechanism of the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an operation process diagram No. 1 of a sixth station of the apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a second view showing the operation process at a sixth station of the apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an operation process diagram No. 3 of the sixth embodiment in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an operation process diagram No. 4 of the sixth embodiment in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an operation process diagram No. 5 of the sixth embodiment in the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a view of an operation process in a sixth station of the apparatus in the embodiment, No. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 strip-shaped positive electrode 2 strip-shaped negative electrode 3 strip-shaped separator 4 separator roll 5 adhesive tape 6 adhesive tape 7 adhesive tape 10 indexing table 10 a recessed portion (winding work space) 11 first fixed guide 12 second fixed guide 13 fine adjustment guide 14 1 movable guide 16 second movable guide 17a, 17b magnet weights 18a, 18b core axis 19 positive electrode supply handling mechanism (first electrode setting means) 20 separator supply drum (separator setting means) 21 hot wire cutter 25 negative electrode supply mechanism ( Second electrode setting means) 30 Holding jig 35 Free roller 40 Spiral electrode set 41 Manipulator 43 Swing lever (Center hole correcting means) 45 Air cylinder (Center hole correcting means)

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first and a second fixed guide disposed so as to be continuous with a winding work space therebetween, a position overlapping the first fixed guide and a position separated therefrom. A plurality of working jig sets each including a first movable guide that takes a position, and a second movable guide that takes a position overlapping the second fixed guide and a position distant therefrom are provided at equal intervals on a circumference. An indexing table which is provided as a set and is divided and rotated with the interval of the work jig set as one unit; A first electrode setting means, which is disposed at a predetermined indexing position on the downstream side of the first electrode setting means with respect to the rotation direction of the indexing table, and wherein the work jig set is divided and rotated, The one strip electrode is Separator setting means for setting a long strip-shaped separator so as to extend over the first movable guide superimposed on the set first fixed guide, and the second fixed guide; A second electrode setting means which is arranged at a predetermined indexing position on the downstream side and sets another band-shaped electrode on a second movable guide superimposed on the second fixed guide; and Means for winding the separator and both band-shaped electrodes around a winding core rotating in the winding work space in a process in which the processed working jig set is divided and rotated; and the working jig set which has been processed by the winding means. And a separator for taking out the spirally shaped electrode set from the winding work space. Apparatus for molding involving the spirally. 2. A magnet weight located at a position overlapping with the first and second movable guides and a position away from the first and second movable guides, and the magnet weight is allowed to move in a stable state along the guide direction of the movable guide. And a predetermined portion of each of the first and second movable guides is made of a magnetic material, and the band-shaped separator and the magnetic separator are formed by magnetic attraction generated between the magnet weight and the magnetic material. The band for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the other band-shaped electrode is sandwiched between the magnet weight and each of the movable guides to apply a predetermined entanglement load during the entanglement process. A device that spirally winds and forms an electrode and a separator. 3. The band-shaped electrode for a battery according to claim 2, further comprising detection means for detecting the position of the magnet weight during the winding process, so that it is possible to determine whether the winding state is appropriate. And a device that winds and forms a spiral with a separator. 4. The fixed and movable guides on which the band-shaped electrode on the negative electrode side and the band-shaped separator among the two band-shaped electrodes are set are formed with a large number of through-holes on the set surface, and the through-holes are sucked. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the suction means is connected to the suction means and sucked and held on the set surface of each guide by a negative pressure generated by the suction means.
An apparatus for winding and forming a strip-shaped electrode for a battery and a separator in a spiral shape according to the above. 5. The band-shaped electrode for a battery according to claim 2, further comprising a center hole correcting means for rotating the winding core in a direction opposite to the winding direction. And a device that winds and forms a spiral with a separator. 6. A fine adjustment guide is disposed at a tip of the predetermined guide for setting a positive electrode side band electrode among the two band electrodes so as to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a drawing direction thereof. Any one of claims 2 to 4
An apparatus for spirally winding and forming the strip electrode for a battery and the separator described in the above section.