JP4013273B2 - Lithium foil sticking device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lithium foil sticking apparatus for sticking a strip-shaped lithium foil on an electrode plate at predetermined intervals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, lithium batteries incorporating a lithium electrode as a battery electrode have been adopted for various applications. This lithium electrode is usually manufactured by fixing a long lithium foil in the form of a hoop or a sheet to the current collector (electrode plate) surface.
[0003]
In this case, it is desirable to attach strip-like lithium foil to both surfaces of the current collector, and an apparatus for doing this is considered. Specifically, the long current collector is fed out at a constant speed via the transport mechanism, and is applied to the one surface under the action of the first pasting mechanism disposed on one surface side of the current collector. After the strip-shaped lithium foil is pasted, the strip-shaped lithium foil is pasted on the other surface under the action of the second pasting mechanism disposed on the other surface side of the current collector. .
[0004]
By the way, on both surfaces of the current collector, electrode material application portions and non-application portions are alternately provided, and each application boundary site is provided via a detection mechanism provided on each of both surface sides of the current collector. Is detected, and a strip-like lithium foil is pasted on both sides based on the detection result. At that time, the sticking start position of the strip-like lithium foil is different on both sides of the current collector, and the driving information of the transport mechanism, for example, the number of pulses of the servo motor is counted, and the pulse corresponding to the predetermined moving distance, respectively. When the number is counted, the first and second sticking mechanisms are individually driven.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the application timing of the strip-shaped lithium foil is likely to be different on both sides of the current collector, and when the strip-shaped lithium foil is applied to one surface of the current collector, The strip-like lithium foil pasting process may not be started on the other side.
[0006]
For this reason, when NG generate | occur | produces in the strip-shaped lithium foil affixed on one surface, for example, there exists a possibility that this NG information may not be sent correctly to the 2nd sticking mechanism side. If the second pasting mechanism corresponds to between the lithium foil pasting portions of the current collector (intermediate position) during the pasting process of the first pasting mechanism, the NG information of the first pasting mechanism is This is because it is difficult to detect the number of the pasting site in the two pasting mechanism. As a result, there is a problem that the entire control including NG information and data shift is considerably complicated.
[0007]
Furthermore, when the stripping process of the strip-like lithium foil by the first pasting mechanism is completed, if the second pasting mechanism side is in the course of pasting, for example, a servo motor as a drive source is based on the first pasting mechanism side. When standing up, the pasting position by the second pasting mechanism is likely to fluctuate due to the rising speed. As a result, there is a problem that the attaching position of the strip-like lithium foil is changed on both sides of the current collector, and the attaching process with high accuracy is not performed.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to solve this type of problem, and to provide a lithium foil sticking device capable of easily and accurately sticking lithium foil to both surfaces of an electrode plate with a simple configuration. And
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a strip-like lithium foil attached to one surface of a long electrode plate at a predetermined interval via a first attaching mechanism, and the other of the electrode plates. A strip-shaped lithium foil is affixed to the surface at predetermined intervals via a second affixing mechanism. At that time, the length of the conveyance path of the electrode plate can be arbitrarily changed between the first and second sticking mechanisms under the action of the conveyance path length variable mechanism.
[0010]
For this reason, the application timing of the lithium foil by the first and second application mechanisms can be matched by simply changing the length of the conveyance path of the electrode plate via the variable conveyance path length mechanism. It becomes possible to attach the lithium foil to both surfaces easily and with high accuracy. Furthermore, the conveyance path length variable mechanism is merely provided with an adjustment roller that is substantially in sliding contact with the electrode plate and is capable of moving forward and backward under the action of the actuator, and the configuration of the entire conveyance path length variable mechanism is effectively simplified. .
[0011]
In addition, first and second detection means for detecting application boundary portions provided on both surfaces of the electrode plate are provided, and the electrode plate conveyance mechanism and the conveyance path length variable mechanism are based on information from the first and second detection means. Is driven and controlled. As a result, the lithium foil pasting operation can be performed automatically and smoothly.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lithium foil sticking apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
The sticking device 10 has a feed shaft 14 that winds a long electrode plate 12 on which an active material is intermittently applied at regular intervals on a hoop-shaped electrode support, and feeds it at a constant torque by a torque motor (not shown). An electrode plate transport mechanism 16 for transporting the electrode plate 12 fed from the feed shaft 14 in the longitudinal direction (arrow A direction), and a strip-like lithium foil having a predetermined length on one surface 12a of the electrode plate 12 A first pasting mechanism 20 for pasting 18 at predetermined intervals, and a second pasting mechanism 22 for pasting strip-shaped lithium foil 18 having a predetermined length on the other surface 12b of the electrode plate 12 at predetermined intervals. The electrode plate 12 having the strip-like lithium foil 18 attached to both sides 12a and 12b is integrally formed with a separator (interleaf) 24 at a constant tension (for example, 1.5 to 2.0 kgf / width). Winding shaft 26 for winding , Disposed between the first and second applying mechanism 20, 22, and a conveying path length adjustment mechanism 30 which can arbitrarily change the length of the conveying path 28 of the plate 12. The separator 24 is wound around a separator delivery shaft 31, and a reverse tension of 0.2 kgf / width, for example, is applied to the separator delivery shaft 31 in a direction opposite to the delivery direction.
[0014]
The electrode plate transport mechanism 16 sucks and holds the electrode plate 12 and feeds the electrode plate 12 by a fixed amount via a servo motor 32 and the electrode plate 12 from the feed shaft 14 to the take-up shaft 26. And a plurality of pass rollers 36 for transporting. The servo motor 32 is driven and controlled by a control circuit (control means) 38 (see FIG. 2), and the control circuit 38 also controls the first and second pasting mechanisms 20 and 22.
[0015]
The first and second sticking mechanisms 20 and 22 respectively include first and second feed shafts 42 and 44 that integrally wind the long lithium foil 18a and the interleaf 40, and the first and second feed shafts. First and second interleaf paper take-up shafts 46 and 48 for taking up the interleaf paper 40 to feed out the lithium foil 18a from the shafts 42 and 44 are provided. The first and second slip-sheet take-up shafts 46 and 48 are provided in proximity to the first and second feed-out shafts 42 and 44, and the first and second slip-sheet take-up shafts 46 and 48 are arranged in the direction of the arrows. By rotating, the interleaf 40 wound around the lithium foil 18a is wound around the first and second delivery shafts 42 and 44.
[0016]
The first and second feed shafts 42 and 44 and the first and second slip-sheet take-up shafts 46 and 48 are disposed in the first and second units 50 and 52. The first and second units 50 and 52 are movable in a direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) perpendicular to the feeding direction (arrow B and C directions) of the lithium foil 18a.
[0017]
On the transport path of each lithium foil 18a, the lithium foil 18a is intermittently fed from the first and second feed shafts 42 and 44 under the intermittent rotation action of the first and second interleaf paper take-up shafts 46 and 48. The first and second dancer rollers 54 and 56 that apply the tension (10 g to 100 g) are arranged so as to be swingable in the vertical direction.
[0018]
On the downstream side of the first and second dancer rollers 54 and 56, the first and second cutting rollers 58 and 60 that hold the lithium foil 18a on the outer circumferential surface over a predetermined angular range, and the first and second cuttings. First and second transfer that are arranged side by side with the rollers 58 and 60 and rotate intermittently on the one surface 12a side of the electrode plate 12 while holding a lithium foil 18a partly divided by processing means described later. Rollers 62 and 64 are provided.
[0019]
In the vicinity of the peripheral surfaces of the first and second cutting rollers 58 and 60, the lithium foil 18 a is synchronized with the first and second cutting rollers 58 and 60 at predetermined intervals and in the conveying direction of the lithium foil 18 a. First and second processing means 66 and 68 that form openings, for example, perforations, intermittently along cut sections provided orthogonally are disposed so as to freely advance and retract.
[0020]
The first and second transfer rollers are synchronized with the first and second transfer rollers 62 and 64 from the other surface 12b side of the electrode plate 12 at positions facing the first and second transfer rollers 62 and 64. First and second nip rollers 70 and 72 that press the peripheral surfaces of 62 and 64 are disposed.
[0021]
The conveyance path length varying mechanism 30 includes an adjustment roller 76 that is in sliding contact with one surface 12 a of the electrode plate 12 and can be moved forward and backward in the direction of arrow D under the action of a motor (actuator) 74. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a ball screw 80 is connected to a rotation shaft 78 of the motor 74, and the ball screw 80 is fitted to a support body 81 that rotatably supports the adjustment roller 76. . The motor 74 is controlled by the control circuit 38 (see FIG. 2).
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the upstream side of the first sticking mechanism 20, an application boundary part (not shown) between the electrode material application part and the non-application part provided on one surface 12 a of the electrode plate 12. The first sensor (detection means) 82 for detecting) is disposed, and on the upstream side of the second sticking mechanism 22, an application site and an unapplication site provided on the other surface 12b of the electrode plate 12 are provided. A second sensor (detection means) 84 for detecting a coating boundary portion (not shown) of the liquid is disposed. The first and second sensors 82 and 84 are connected to the control circuit 38.
[0023]
The operation of the thus configured lithium foil sticking apparatus 10 will be described below.
[0024]
First, as shown in FIG. 1, a hoop-shaped electrode plate 12 is wound around the feed shaft 14, while the first and second feed shafts 42 and 44 are hoop-shaped which are thin metal foils. The lithium foil 18a is wound in a state of being superimposed on the interleaf paper 40 formed of a non-adhesive material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. This is because the lithium foil 18a does not adhere to a specific material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, but adheres to most other materials. Similarly, a hoop-shaped separator 24 is wound around the separator feed shaft 31.
[0025]
Therefore, the feed shaft 14 is reversely rotated by a torque motor (not shown) to give a certain torque to the electrode plate 12, and this electrode plate 12 is conveyed via the main feed roller 34 under the guide action of the pass roller 36. The main feed roller 34 constitutes a suction drum, which adsorbs the electrode plate 12 and performs quantitative conveyance via the servo motor 32. For this reason, the electrode plate 12 is quantitatively conveyed in the direction of arrow A via the electrode plate conveying mechanism 16 including the main feed roller 34 and the pass roller 36.
[0026]
On the other hand, in the first pasting mechanism 20, a predetermined tension, for example, a tension of 50 g is applied to the lithium foil 18 a via the first dancer roller 54, and the first interleaf winding shaft 46 is rotationally driven to interleave the interleaf. Only 40 is wound. For this reason, the lithium foil 18a is smoothly fed from the first feed shaft 42 under a constant tension by the first dancer roller 54 in a state where no tension fluctuation due to rewinding acts, and is transferred to the first cutting roller 58 side. .
[0027]
The lithium foil 18a is sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the first cutting roller 58 in a state in which a predetermined tension is applied by the first dancer roller 54, and the first cutting roller 58 is intermittently rotated. The lithium foil 18a is intermittently conveyed at a predetermined cutting pitch. When the cutting portion of the lithium foil 18a is stopped at a position corresponding to the first processing means 66, for example, perforations are formed in the lithium foil 18a through the first processing means 66.
[0028]
Since the first cutting roller 58 and the first transfer roller 62 are synchronously rotated in opposite directions, the lithium foil 18a having a perforation is formed from the outer peripheral surface of the first cutting roller 58 to the first It is delivered to the outer peripheral surface side of one transfer roller 62.
[0029]
Next, when the lithium foil 18a sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the first transfer roller 62 reaches the attachment position, the first nip roller 70 rotates the first transfer roller 62 toward the other surface 12b of the electrode plate 12. Move in sync with. As a result, the first nip roller 70 presses the electrode plate 12 toward the first transfer roller 62 with a predetermined nip pressure.
[0030]
When the lithium foil 18a sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the first transfer roller 62 comes into close contact with the electrode plate 12 to a predetermined range, the first nip roller 70 is separated from the electrode plate 12 and the first transfer roller. The rotation of 62 is stopped. Accordingly, the speed difference between the electrode plate 12 that is quantitatively conveyed by the electrode plate conveying mechanism 16 and the lithium foil 18 a that is partially attached to the electrode plate 12 and held on the outer peripheral surface of the first transfer roller 62. The lithium foil 18a is easily and reliably separated from the perforation, and is transferred onto the electrode plate 12 as a strip-like lithium foil 18.
[0031]
The electrode plate 12 having the strip-like lithium foil 18 attached to the one surface 12 a by the first application mechanism 20 is conveyed to the second application mechanism 22 side through the conveyance path length variable mechanism 30. In the second pasting mechanism 22, as in the first pasting mechanism 20, the strip-like lithium foil 18 is pasted on the other surface 12 b of the electrode plate 12. As a result, the strip-shaped lithium foil 18 is affixed to both surfaces 12a and 12b of the electrode plate 12, and the electrode plate 12 is wound around the take-up shaft 26 in a state of being overlapped with the separator 24 fed from the separator feed shaft 31. It is done.
[0032]
By the way, the timing at which the strip-like lithium foil 18 is attached to the one surface 12 a of the electrode plate 12 by the first attaching mechanism 20 is controlled based on the detection signal of the first sensor 82. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the first sensor 82 detects an application boundary portion (not shown) provided on one surface 12 a of the electrode plate 12, the detection signal is sent to the control circuit 38. The control circuit 38 drives the servo motor 32 based on the detection signal and counts the number of pulses. When the number of pulses corresponding to a predetermined movement distance is counted, the first pasting mechanism 20 is driven. .
[0033]
Similarly, the application timing of the strip-like lithium foil 18 by the second application mechanism 22 is determined by detecting the application boundary portion (not shown) provided on the other surface 12b of the electrode plate 12 by the second sensor 84. Done.
[0034]
In this case, when the sticking timing of the strip-like lithium foil 18 between the first sticking mechanism 20 and the second sticking mechanism 22 is different, the conveyance path length variable mechanism 30 is driven via the control circuit 38. As shown in FIG. 3, when the motor 74 constituting the conveyance path length variable mechanism 30 is driven, the ball screw 80 connected to the rotation shaft 78 of the motor 74 rotates. For this reason, the adjustment roller 76 moves in the direction of the arrow D integrally with the support body 81 to which the ball screw 80 is fitted, and the adjustment roller 76 is moved from the position of the solid line to the position of the two-dot chain line in FIG. The total length of the conveyance path 28 of the electrode plate 12 becomes longer.
[0035]
Thus, in this embodiment, the conveyance path length variable mechanism 30 which can change the full length of the conveyance path 28 of the electrode plate 12 is arrange | positioned between the 1st and 2nd sticking mechanisms 20 and 22. FIG. Therefore, by simply changing the length of the transport path 28 via the transport path length varying mechanism 30, the timing of attaching the strip-like lithium foil 18 by the first and second sticking mechanisms 20 and 22 can be matched easily and reliably. be able to. That is, the strip-like lithium foil 18 affixing operation by the first affixing mechanism 20 and the strip-like lithium foil 18 affixing operation by the second affixing mechanism 22 are both electrode plates for one frame (one battery). 12 is carried out at the same timing from the start to the end during conveyance.
[0036]
Thereby, for example, when NG is generated in the strip-like lithium foil 18 attached to the one surface 12a, it is easy to determine the number of attachment parts corresponding to the NG generation part in the second application mechanism 22. It becomes possible to detect. For this reason, the NG information of the first pasting mechanism 20 is accurately sent to the second pasting mechanism 22 side, and the entire control including the NG information and data shift is performed easily and with high accuracy. An effect is obtained.
[0037]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the strip-like lithium foil 18 sticking process by the first sticking mechanism 20 and the strip-like lithium foil 18 sticking process by the second sticking mechanism 22 can be started substantially simultaneously. Therefore, the position of the strip-shaped lithium foil 18 is prevented from fluctuating on both surfaces 12a and 12b of the electrode plate 12 without being affected by the rising speed of the servo motor 32 constituting the electrode plate transport mechanism 16 or the like. Highly accurate pasting processing can be performed.
[0038]
Further, the conveyance path length varying mechanism 30 includes an adjustment roller 76 that is slidably contacted with the electrode plate 12 and can be moved forward and backward in the direction of arrow D under the action of the motor 74. For this reason, there exists an advantage that the whole structure of the conveyance path length variable mechanism 30 is simplified effectively.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the lithium foil sticking apparatus according to the present invention, the strip-like lithium foil is stuck to both surfaces of the long electrode plate at predetermined intervals via the first and second sticking mechanisms. Between the first and second sticking mechanisms, there is disposed a transport path length variable mechanism capable of arbitrarily changing the length of the transport path of the electrode plate. For this reason, it is possible to reliably match the application timings of the lithium foils by the first and second application mechanisms only by changing the length of the electrode plate conveyance path via the conveyance path length variable mechanism. The lithium foil can be easily and accurately attached to both surfaces of the plate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of a lithium foil sticking apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit explanatory diagram of the sticking device.
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the sticking device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pasting apparatus 12 ... Electrode plate 14 ... Delivery axis 16 ... Electrode plate conveyance mechanism 18 ... Strip-shaped lithium foil 18a ... Lithium foil 20, 22 ... Pasting mechanism 26 ... Winding shaft 28 ... Conveyance path 30 ... Conveyance path length variable mechanism 32 ... Servo motor 34 ... Main feed roller 38 ... Control circuit 42, 44 ... Feed shaft 46, 48 ... Interleaf take-up shaft 58, 60 ... Cutting roller 62, 64 ... Transfer roller 66, 68 ... Processing means 70, 72 ... Nip roller 74 ... Motor 76 ... Adjustment roller 82, 84 ... Sensor

Claims (4)

An electrode plate transport mechanism for transporting a long electrode plate in its longitudinal direction;
A first pasting mechanism for pasting a strip-shaped lithium foil having a predetermined length on one surface of the electrode plate at predetermined intervals;
A second sticking mechanism for sticking a strip-shaped lithium foil having a predetermined length to the other surface of the electrode plate at predetermined intervals;
An electrode plate take-up shaft for winding the electrode plate with the lithium foil attached on both sides thereof integrally with a slip sheet;
A conveyance path length variable mechanism which is arranged between the first and second sticking mechanisms and can arbitrarily change the length of the conveyance path of the electrode plate;
A lithium foil sticking device comprising: 2. The sticking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport path length varying mechanism includes an adjustment roller that is slidably contacted with the electrode plate to form a predetermined transport path, and is movable forward and backward under the action of an actuator. Lithium foil sticking device. In the sticking device according to claim 1 or 2, the 1st detection means which detects the application boundary part of the electrode material application part provided in one side of the electrode plate, and the non-application part,
Second detection means for detecting an application boundary portion between an electrode material application portion and an unapplication portion provided on the other surface of the electrode plate;
Control means for driving and controlling the electrode plate transport mechanism and the transport path length variable mechanism based on information from the first and second detection means;
A lithium foil sticking device comprising: The sticking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sticking mechanisms are first and second feed shafts that integrally wind a long lithium foil and a slip sheet, respectively.
First and second slip-sheet take-up shafts that wind up the slip sheet to feed the lithium foil from the first and second feed shafts;
A lithium foil sticking device comprising:

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