JP3153426B2 - Processing method of battery electrode sheet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a means for processing an electrode sheet for a battery containing a metal fiber as a current collector (electrode plate for a battery), and more particularly to an electrode for a battery containing a metal fiber as a current collector. The present invention relates to means for fusing and removing metal fibers protruding from a cut surface of a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Nickel-metal hydride batteries having a configuration in which an electromotive section formed by spirally winding a laminate of a positive electrode sheet, an insulator sheet, a negative electrode sheet and an insulator sheet in an outer container are sealed. Or, they are widely used in practical applications such as nickel cadmium batteries. Incidentally, in the configuration of the electromotive section of the battery, for example, metal fibers such as fine nickel fibers (nickel felt-based fibers) of about 10 to 30 μm are used.
A felt-like sheet contained as a current collector is used for the electrode. In other words, this kind of felt-like sheet is a so-called fine porous body, easily supports a large amount of the electrode active material, and the supported electrode active material is unlikely to fall off. This is because it is expected to contribute to higher performance or longer life.

[0003] Such a battery electrode sheet is formed into a predetermined size or required shape by cutting a felt-like base material containing metal fibers as a current collector, for example, by press punching or cutting. In particular, press punching is generally adopted as a mass production means.

[0004]

However, the formed battery electrode sheet has the following problems in practical use. That is, in any case where the forming of the battery electrode sheet is performed by press punching or cutter cutting, the nickel felt-based fiber partially protrudes (extrudes) and remains on the cut surface of the battery electrode sheet. hand,
There is a risk of impairing the battery function. In this regard, to further mention, for example, metal fibers such as nickel felt fibers are generally thin and soft, having a diameter of about 10 to 30 μm. It is practically difficult to do. As a result, when spirally wound to form the electromotive section, the metal fibers protruding (extruding) on the cut surface of the formed battery electrode sheet are arranged adjacently. There is a possibility that insulation failure may occur inside the battery, such as through the insulating sheet and coming into contact with another electrode sheet. Due to such concerns, an effective means for easily and surely removing metal fibers protruding from the cut surface of the battery electrode sheet has been desired, but a sufficiently satisfactory means has not yet been obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is intended to easily and surely melt and remove metal fibers protruding (extruding) from a cut surface of a formed battery electrode sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for processing an electrode sheet for a battery capable of performing the above.

[0006]

Processing method of an electrode sheet for a battery according to the present invention In order to achieve the above object, according to the battery electrode sheet containing the metal fibers as current collector as one electrode, it from sliding contact body
Contact the other electrode with the cut surface of the battery electrode sheet.
And a pulse is applied between the two electrodes while relatively sliding the two.
A potential is applied to blow and remove metal fibers protruding from a cut surface of the battery electrode sheet .
Further, the battery electrode sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, a mounting table for mounting a battery electrode sheet containing metal fibers as a current collector, and one of the battery electrode sheet mounted on the mounting table described above. A first potential applying mechanism for applying a polar potential, and at least a cut surface of the battery electrode sheet to which the one polarity potential has been applied is relatively contact-slid, and a pulse is generated between the first electrode and the battery electrode sheet. A second potential applying mechanism for applying the other polarity potential generated, and a power supply for supplying a required potential to the first potential applying mechanism and the second potential applying mechanism. And

[0007]

According to the method for processing an electrode sheet for a battery according to the present invention, a cut surface of a workpiece (electrode sheet for a battery) provided with one polarity potential is provided with a slide provided with the other polarity potential. A pulse is generated at the sliding contact portion while the moving contact body is in contact. That is, by the action of the pulse generated by the contact between the fine metal fiber protruding and protruding from the cut surface and the sliding contact body provided with the corresponding polar potential, the metal fiber protrudes and protrudes from the cut surface. Fine metal fibers are easily melted, and protrusions and protrusions on the cut surface are completely removed and eliminated, and a uniform flat surface is obtained.

Further, according to the apparatus for processing a battery electrode sheet according to the present invention, a processing method exhibiting the above-described functions and effects can be constantly performed, and a highly reliable battery electrode sheet can be mass-produced. And can be processed with good yield.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a configuration of a main part of a processing apparatus according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a controller which controls a mechanism unit 2 which will be described later and oscillates and supplies pulse power. The power oscillating unit 4 is a pulse power feeding mechanism. Here, the oscillation unit 3 of the pulse power, a first gate 3b serving as an active state at the output S ₁ from the flip-flop (FF ₁₎ 3a, the first gate 3b is a pulse output S ₂ when the active state first monostable multivibrator (MM ₁₎ 3c for generating said first output S ₃ and the first gate 3b of the second gate 3d pulse output S ₂ of the monostable multivibrator 3c is inputted, the second second monostable multivibrator (MM ₂₎ 3e for generating a pulse output S ₅ by the output S ₄ of the gate 3d, the third monostable multivibrator pulse output S ₅ is input (MM ₃₎ 3f, and pulse output first volume for varying and controlling the pulse width of the S ₅
(VOL ₁ ) It is composed of 3g.

On the other hand, the pulse power supply mechanism 4 and the second monomultivibrator (M
M ₂₎ a first power transistor having a pulse output S ₅ from 3e is input (Q ₁₎ 4a, second and third power transistors an output of the first power transistor (Q ₁₎ 4a is input (Q ₂ , Q ₃ ) 4b, 4c, the second and third
Of the power transistor _{(Q 2, Q 3) 4b} , a second volume for varying and controlling the pulse output S ₅ outputted through the 4c to the pulse width of the required current value (VOL ₂₎ 4d, and the first of the power transistor (Q ₁₎ which is configured by a sliding contact member 4f that connects to the collector of 4a, the output of the pulse power feeding mechanism 4, the required potential to the mechanism portion 1 through the power supply terminal 4e give. Here, the mechanism unit 1 includes, for example, a mounting table (not shown) on which the battery electrode sheet 5 with the tab 5a is mounted.
The power supply terminal 4e of the pulse power supply mechanism 4 is connected to the tab 5a of the battery electrode sheet 5 so that the cut surface of the battery electrode sheet 5 can be contacted and slid. The collecting contact 4f is arranged. The second mono-multivibrator (MM ₂ ) 3e of the pulse power oscillating unit 3
By Falling pulse output S ₅ from the third volume third monostable multivibrator (MM ₃₎ 3f is for generating a pulse output S _6, for varying and controlling the pulse width (VOL ₃₎
Possible variable pulse width 3h, while the pulse output S ₆ is generated, the pulse output S ₅ from the second monostable multivibrator (MM ₂₎ 3e is paused. Then, at the falling edge of the pulse output S _6, the fourth monostable multivibrator of the oscillator 3 of the pulsed power (MM ₄₎ is
It generates a pulse signal S ₇ of narrow pulses as compared to the pulse output S ₅ and pulse output S _6, the first gate 3b
And through a second gate 3d, it is output as a pulse output S _4.

[0012] In such a configuration, the pulse width of the pulse output S ₅ of the oscillator 3 of the pulsed power first volume for variably-controlled (VOL ₁₎ 3 g, and the pulse width of the current value of the feed mechanism 4 Variable and controlled second volume (VOL ₂ ) 4d
The power transistors 4a, 4b, and 4c of the power supply mechanism 4 are turned on and off at a pulse width and a pulse oscillation interval determined by the equation (1), and the pulse power is supplied to the power supply terminal 4e. ₁ ) Continuous oscillation is performed until input to 3a.

Next, a processing method or a processing operation by the processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

First, the battery electrode sheet 5 is positioned on a mounting table (not shown), and the power supply terminal 4e of the power supply mechanism 4 is lowered to be connected to the tab 5a of the battery electrode sheet 5. On the cut surface of the sheet 5, the collecting contact 4f is arranged so as to be able to contact and slide. In this state, a start signal is output from the controller 1 to the flip-flop (FF ₁ ) 3a, and oscillation of required pulse power and supply of pulse power are performed. That is, when the start signal from the controller 1 is inputted to the flip-flop (FF ₁₎ 3a, the output S ₁ of the flip-flop (FF ₁₎ 3a, a first gate 3b becomes the active state, the first mono the output S ₂ generated by the multivibrator (MM _1), is input to the second gate 3d. The output S ₄ of the second gate 3d is
Is input to the monostable multivibrator (MM ₂₎ 3e, generated pulse output S _5, the pulse output S ₅ are input to the first power transistors 4a and the third monostable multivibrator (MM _3).

The output of the first power transistor 4a is a base of the second power transistors 4b and the third power transistor 4c to on, during the pulse width of the pulse output S _5, the DC input of the second Power transistor 4b
And output via the third power transistor 4c,
The current value is set by the second volume (VOL ₂ ) 4d and output to the power supply terminal 4e side. Then, a required pulse potential is output between the first power transistor 4a and the collector contact 4f connected to the collector side of the first power transistor 4a. Is blown and removed. FIG. 2 schematically shows a state in which the metal fiber is melted and removed at this time. In the figure, reference numeral 5b denotes a metal fiber projecting (protruding) from the cut surface.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the voltage and current in the power supply mechanism 4 and the fusing / removing state of the metal fiber 5b digging into the cut surface in the processing apparatus. It is broadly divided into a current fusing region where fusing occurs due to reddening of heat, a corona fusing region where instantaneous thermal breakage occurs due to corona generation, and an intermediate region between these. In other words, in the direction where the current is small, the welding between the metal fiber 5b and the contacting member 4f or the electrode sheet 5
The heat-induced discoloration of the battery electrode sheet 5 is liable to occur even when the current is large. The optimal conditions for fusing the metal fibers 5b are that the heat discoloration is small, that there is no residual fusing of the metal fibers 5b, and that the surface of the battery electrode sheet 5 is little damaged. It is desirable to set the current and voltage in

Further, FIG. 4 shows the same processing apparatus as in the above-mentioned processing apparatus, in which the fusing current pulse width and the metal fibers digging into the cut surface are shown.
This shows the relationship between the melted and removed state of 5b, and when the length of the metal fiber 5b protruding into the cut surface to be blown or removed is longer, the wider pulse width is more effective, and the metal fiber 5b When the length of the pulse was short, the narrower the pulse width, the more effective. Therefore, the pallet width is selected by the first volume (VOL ₁ ) 3e of the pulse power generation unit 3 in consideration of the damageability of the battery electrode sheet 5 and the length of the metal fiber 5b protruding into the cut surface. On the other hand, it is preferable to supply the pulse power at the pulse interval optimal for the sliding speed of the sliding contact body 4e by the _third volume (VOL ₃ ) 3h of the pulse power generating unit 3 while setting.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the electrode sheet for a battery is not limited to being used for lamination and winding (band shape), but may be applied to a case where it is punched or cut into a disk shape or the like. Can be done.

[0019]

As can be seen from the description of the embodiments, the means (method / apparatus) for processing the electrode sheet for a battery according to the present invention.
According to the present invention, the metal sheet remaining on the cut surface of a battery electrode sheet formed by punching or cutting an electrode sheet base material containing fine metal fibers as a current collector is easily and completely removed. Can be blown and removed. Therefore, the occurrence of insulation failure or the like due to the metal fibers protruding and remaining on the cut surface due to the molding will be completely avoided or eliminated, and together with its mass-producible workability,
It can be said that this greatly contributes to the production of a highly reliable battery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of a device for processing a battery electrode sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing an embodiment of fusing and removing the extruded metal fibers in the processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the state of fusing and removal of extruded metal fibers and the current and voltage in the processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the length of a protruding metal fiber and a current pulse width required for fusing and removing in the processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Controller 2 ... Mechanism part 3 ... Pulse power oscillation part 3a ... Flip-flop 3b ... First gate
3c: first monomultivibrator 3d: second gate 3e: first monomultivibrator
3f… 2nd mono multivibrator 3g…
1st volume 3h 3rd volume 3i 3rd mono multivibrator 4 pulse power supply mechanism 4a 1st power transistor 4b 2nd power transistor
4c: third power transistor 4d: second regulator 4e: power supply terminal 4f: sliding contact member 5: battery electrode sheet 5a: tab
5b …… Metal fiber protruding from the cut surface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01M 4/04 H01M 4/80 B23H 9/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An electrode sheet for a battery containing a metal fiber as a current collector is used as one electrode, and the other is made of a sliding contact body.
Contact with the cut surface of the battery electrode sheet,
Pulse potential between the two electrodes while relatively sliding
A method for processing an electrode sheet for a battery , wherein the metal fiber protruding from a cut surface of the electrode sheet for a battery is melted and removed.