JP4183839B2 - Gel electrode active substance filling method and filling device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a filling method and a filling apparatus for a gel-like active substance for electrodes, and more particularly to a filling method capable of quantitatively filling a gel-like active substance having poor fluidity and a filling apparatus suitable for carrying out the method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In portable electronic devices such as a portable liquid crystal display, an image pickup device, or a telephone, a battery is often used as a driving power source. As these batteries, alkaline manganese batteries, for example, are mainly used because of their ease of handling compared to lead-acid batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. On the other hand, the quality aspects including reliability are also important. , It is emphasized along with the yield of mass production. Here, the quality or performance / reliability of the battery depends on each member constituting the battery, and in the case of batteries of the same type and the same standard, for example, the uniformity of the negative electrode active material (active material) composition and the filling amount It is desirable that the (injection amount) be a constant amount.
[0003]
By the way, the coin type alkaline manganese battery generally has the following structure. That is, a negative electrode current collector and a gelled negative electrode active substance (for example, a uniform dispersion system of Zn powder in carboxymethyl cellulose) are sequentially embedded and filled on the bottom wall surface in the negative electrode case that opens at one end. Furthermore, a positive electrode active substance system (for example, a positive electrode mixture of electrolytic manganese dioxide-graphite) and a positive electrode current collector are sequentially provided via a separator (for example, a non-woven fabric of alkali-resistant fibers such as vinylon), while the negative electrode case has an opening. A lid that functions as a positive electrode terminal is hermetically sealed while being electrically insulated.
[0004]
In the configuration of the coin-type alkaline manganese battery or the like, the gel-like negative electrode active substance is supplied and filled as follows. That is, a support jig with a negative electrode case is pushed out to a conveyance path (for example, a conveyor) by a push-in cylinder, and is conveyed to an installation position of a discharge nozzle connected to a quantitative pump such as a plunger type pump. A certain amount of gelled negative electrode active substance is discharged and filled (supplied) into a negative electrode case mounted on a support jig via a nozzle.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of batteries such as alkaline manganese batteries, in order to increase the capacity of the battery, for example, improvement of the negative electrode active material component or increase in the concentration of the negative electrode active material component tends to occur, and the gelled negative electrode active material tends to increase in viscosity. is there. On the other hand, since the support jig for mounting the negative electrode case is repeatedly used, damage on the outer shape occurs, and as a result, the outer dimension changes. Here, the damage of the outer shape or the change of the outer dimension causes a difference in the feeding distance (conveying distance) by the pushing cylinder, which may cause a positional deviation with respect to the discharge nozzle.
[0006]
That is, there is a problem that bubbles are likely to remain inside, and the gelled negative electrode active substance cannot be densely filled, or the gelled negative electrode active substance cannot be filled and supplied with high accuracy. Here, it is difficult to maintain the filling amount of the gel-like negative electrode active substance with high accuracy, and there is a concern that the following problems may be caused / invited in practical use in the high capacity and compactness of this type of battery. The That is, to suppress the filling amount of the gelled negative electrode active substance to a small amount has a great influence on the battery characteristics due to a slight difference in the filling amount. Therefore, a slight variation in the filling amount greatly affects the manufacturing yield and quality of the battery.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a gel electrode active substance filling method and filling apparatus capable of easily and accurately filling a predetermined amount of a gel electrode active substance. For the purpose of provision.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the support jig on which the charging case is positioned and the battery case is mounted is disposed on the transfer path at the charging port of the battery case while propelling the transfer path. from the discharge nozzle of the quantitative pump, a gel agent a filling method of the electrode gel agent that predetermined discharge amount and filling, the support jig is stopped when the battery case has come below the discharge nozzle A step of intermittently propelling the battery case on the conveyance path at a predetermined pitch, and a holding means that can move up and down to hold the support jig that has come under the discharge nozzle. A step in which the tip of the nozzle is inserted from the charging port of the battery case and reaches the inner bottom, and the support jig is vibrated through the gripping means, and the gel-like action is applied from the discharge nozzle. material While discharging a predetermined amount into the battery case, the gripping means is lowered until the support jig reaches the transport path so as to maintain a state where the tip of the discharge nozzle is close to the surface of the discharged gel-like active substance. Process,
A method of filling a gel-like electrode active substance, comprising sequentially opening the gripping means and returning the support jig to the transport path .
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport path for transporting a support jig for mounting the battery case with the charging port positioned upward, and the support with the battery port mounted with the charging port positioned upward. a pushing mechanism for successively pushing the jig to the conveying path, wherein is arranged at a predetermined position in the transport path, and a discharge nozzle for discharging and filling a predetermined amount of the gel-like agent for a battery in the battery case, to the discharge nozzle The support jig is raised until the tip of the discharge nozzle is inserted from the charging port of the battery case and reaches the inner bottom , and the discharge nozzle causes the gel-like active substance for the battery to flow. in discharging within a cam mechanism for lowering the support jig to maintain the state in which the tip of the discharge nozzle proximate to the gel agent surface discharged into the battery case, the cam mechanism That said at increased in conjunction with the rise and fall of the support jig wherein the supporting jig holding clamping, the holding mechanism for opening the support jig after lowering, upon lowering of the support jig by the holding mechanism, the A gel-like electrode- acting substance filling apparatus comprising: a vibration applying mechanism that applies vibration to the support jig through a gripping mechanism .
[0010]
That is, in each of the above-described inventions, the electrode case is accurately positioned in each electrode case by a quantitative pump such as a plunger-type pump, while the electrode case is positioned accurately, and the discharge / As the filling process progresses, the discharge nozzle and the battery case are relatively separated (separated) while applying vibration to the electrode case to ensure precise filling and high-precision filling. .
[0011]
In the first and second aspects of the invention, the electrode case is generally for a cylindrical battery, but may be for a square battery. The electrode case has a filling opening for filling and supplying the gel-like active substance for the electrode. The filling opening is opposed to the discharge nozzle for the gel-like active substance and is supported by a support jig. Is done. In the discharge nozzle and the battery case, the discharge tip of the discharge nozzle is sequentially separated from the bottom surface of the battery case or the gel-like active material filling surface in the battery case during the discharge / filling of the gel-like active material. As described above, at least one of them is set so as to be able to advance and retreat, for example, to advance and retreat by a cam mechanism.
[0012]
Further, at the time of discharging / filling the gel-like substance, the support jig for supporting the battery case is configured to be vibrated in conjunction with the relative advance / retreat operation with respect to the discharge nozzle. Here, the configuration for applying vibration in conjunction with the relative advance / retreat operation with respect to the discharge nozzle is performed, for example, in the following configuration.
[0013]
That is, a cam mechanism or the like is arranged facing the battery case in an aligned conveying / moving direction to move the battery case forward and backward with respect to the discharge nozzle. On the other hand, by reaching the top dead center of the open-and-close claw arm attached to the cam mechanism, the side wall surface of the support jig is pressed, and is also attached to or adjacent to the cam mechanism and separated from the support jig. A configuration is adopted in which the vibration is imparted and supported so as to be in contact with the vibration imparting body. In addition, when the nail type arm is lowered to the bottom dead center as the support jig is lowered, the nail type arm releases the clamping.
[0014]
In the first and second aspects of the invention, the gel-like substance filled / supplied in the electrode case is, for example, a gel-like substance composed of carboxymethylcellulose, sodium polyacrylate, or a mixed system thereof and, for example, a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution. Examples thereof include those in which Zn powder is uniformly dispersed. Here, the viscosity of the gelled negative electrode active substance is not particularly limited, but is effective even at a high viscosity of, for example, about 120,000 cp, and is also applicable to cases other than alkaline manganese batteries.
[0015]
According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, in discharging and filling the gel electrode active substance into the battery case, the discharge nozzle is performed so as to be in contact with the filling surface of the gel electrode active substance. To be resolved. On the other hand, since vibration is imparted to the battery case, the gel electrode active material to be filled is densely filled. In other words, regardless of the shape, the battery case is filled with the gel electrode active substance with high accuracy, easily and stably or reproducibly.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a top view showing a configuration example of a main part of a filling device for a gel electrode active substance, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration example of a main part of a filling apparatus for a gel electrode active substance, and FIG. 2A and 2B show a configuration example of a filling mechanism section of the filling apparatus, wherein FIG.
[0018]
1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a workpiece supply unit that supplies workpieces 2 in an aligned manner, where the workpiece 2 is a negative electrode case (battery case) 3 having a filling port 3 a and a support that detachably supports the battery case 3. A jig (negative electrode case support) 4 is formed. 5 is a transport path for transferring and transporting the support jig 4 for mounting and supporting the electrode case 3 in an aligned manner, and 6 is a support jig that is supplied to the work supply unit 1 and transferred to the transport path 5. 4 is a push-in mechanism (for example, a push-in cylinder) that intermittently pushes and sends 4.
[0019]
Reference numeral 7 denotes a discharge nozzle that is disposed on the upper surface side of the transport path 5 for transferring and transporting the support jig 2, and intermittently discharges the gel electrode active substance. Reference numeral 8 denotes the gel electrode active substance from the discharge nozzle 7. It is a plunger type pump for discharging. The discharge nozzle 7 is formed so that the support jig 4 supporting and mounting the battery case 3 presses and conveys the conveyance path 5 in an aligned manner, and when the conveyance is stopped, It arrange | positions so that it may oppose. In other words, the push-in conveyance of the support jig 4 in the conveyance path 5 is arranged and set so as to correspond to (control) the installation position of the discharge nozzle 7.
[0020]
Further, 9 is a push-in conveyance in the conveyance path 5. When the support jig 4 for mounting and supporting the battery case 3 stops facing the discharge nozzle 7, the support jig is interlocked with the stop operation. 4 is a cam mechanism that automatically raises 4 and acts so that the front end of the discharge nozzle 7 facing the battery case 3 to be mounted and supported is inserted. The discharge nozzle 7 is inserted into the inner bottom portion of the battery case 3, and in this state, discharge / injection of the gel electrode active substance is started by the operation of the plunger type pump 8.
[0021]
Furthermore, 10 is a claw-type arm attached to the cam mechanism 9, 11 is a vibration applying mechanism (for example, a vibrator) that is also disposed adjacent to the cam mechanism 9, and 12 is a front end surface of the vibration applying mechanism 10. It is a contact plate attached to the. Here, the claw arm 10 attached to the cam mechanism 9 reaches the top dead center with the operation of the cam mechanism 9 (the raising of the support jig 4), and is attached to the tip surface of the vibration applying mechanism 11. The contact plate 12 thus pressed is pressed so as to sandwich the outer peripheral side surface of the support jig 4.
[0022]
On the other hand, vibration is applied to the battery case 3 through the contact plate 12 and the support jig 4 by the operation of the vibration applying mechanism 11. It should be noted that the battery case 3 can be easily centered and the positioning with respect to the discharge nozzle 7 can be accurately performed by the sandwiched support by the claw arm 10 and the contact plate 12.
[0023]
In this state, the discharge / injection of the gel electrode active substance starts, and the discharge / injection of the gel electrode active substance proceeds. As the filling / injection progresses, the amount of filling / injection in the battery case 3 increases and the operation of the cam mechanism 9 (lowering of the supporting jig 4) continues to fill and inject the tip of the discharge nozzle 7. The state of being adjacent or close to the surface of the gel-like electrode active substance is maintained.
[0024]
As described above, as the support jig 4 is lowered corresponding to the progress of discharge / filling, the support jig 4 is sequentially separated from the contact plate 12 mounted on the front end surface of the vibration applying mechanism 11, and the claw-shaped arm. By reaching the bottom dead center of 10, the clamping pressing on the outer peripheral side surface of the support jig 4 is released. In other words, (1) ascending / descending of the supporting jig 4 by the cam mechanism 9 and (2) pinching pressure / vibration application by the claw-type arm 10 and the contact plate 12 mounted on the tip surface of the vibration application mechanism 11 (3) Opening of vibration application (4) Repeated operation of feeding the support jig 4 for mounting and supporting the battery case 3 to the next process side.
[0025]
Next, the operation | movement thru | or usage example of the said gelled negative electrode active substance filling apparatus is demonstrated.
[0026]
For example, when the cylindrical negative electrode case 3 is mounted and supported and the support jig 4 is supplied to the workpiece supply unit 1 and sequentially fed to the conveyance path 5 side, the push-in mechanism 6 operating at a preset pitch intermittently Then, the discharge nozzle 7 is moved and transported in an aligned manner toward the set position. The support jig 4 that is moved and transported in the transport path 5 in an aligned manner is moved toward the opposing discharge nozzle 7 by the cam mechanism 9 that has reached the position facing the discharge nozzle 7. The battery case 3 rises until it comes close to the inner bottom surface.
[0027]
At this time, the claw-type arm 10 provided along with the cam mechanism 9 moves up and moves to the outer peripheral wall surface side of the support jig 4, reaches the top dead center, and comes into contact with the outer peripheral wall surface of the support jig 4. . On the other hand, the outer peripheral wall surface of the support jig 4 opposite to the contact surface of the claw arm 10 is in contact with the vibration imparting body 11 via the contact plate 12 and is supported and attached to the support jig 4. As a result, the filling port 3 a of the case 3 is centered with respect to the discharge nozzle 7.
[0028]
In this state, the pre-vibration applying mechanism 11 is operated, and the discharge and injection (filling) of the gel-like negative electrode active substance from the blanker type pump 8 is started into the battery case 3 via the discharge nozzle 7. Then, as the filling amount of the gelled negative electrode active substance increases, the support jig 4 that supports and attaches the battery case 3 descends relatively, and the gelled negative electrode action in which the discharge nozzle 7 is filled and injected. It is controlled not to be located in the substance. By this vibration application and the position control of the discharge nozzle 7, dense injection / filling without bubbles remaining in the battery case 3 is performed.
[0029]
When the gelled negative electrode active substance is charged and injected into the battery case 3 at the final stage, that is, when the discharge nozzle 7 is relatively lifted from the battery case 3 (support treatment with the battery case 3 supported). When the tool 4 is lowered), the crimping by the claw-shaped arm 10 is released, so that vibration is substantially eliminated. Then, the supporting jig 4 for supporting and mounting the gelled negative electrode active substance on the filling / injecting battery case 3 is returned to the conveyance path 5 and sequentially pushed out to the next process side in a line.
[0030]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention. For example, the composition and type of gelled negative electrode (or positive electrode) active substance, its viscosity, and the type of battery and the capacity and shape of the battery case can be appropriately selected and set. Further, instead of advancing and retreating the support jig side with respect to the discharge nozzle, the support jig side may be fixed and the discharge nozzle side may be advanced and retracted. That is, the claw-type arm and the contact plate (integrated on the vibration applying mechanism side) that sandwich the side wall surface portion of the support jig may be opened and closed in conjunction with the advancement and retreat of the discharge nozzle.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, a predetermined amount of the gel electrode active substance can always be densely filled in the battery case with high accuracy and good reproducibility. That is, regardless of the viscosity of the gel electrode active substance, a stable quantitative supply and filling of the gel electrode active substance is performed by good centering, appropriate position setting of the discharge nozzle, and appropriate vibration application. . In addition, in the process of discharging and injecting the gel electrode active substance, damage and deformation of the support jig caused by contact between the support jigs can be avoided, so that misalignment in conveyance can be prevented. Therefore, it can be said that the battery manufacturing process greatly contributes to mass productivity and improvement of product quality or reliability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a top view showing a configuration of a main part of a gelled negative electrode active material filling apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the main configuration of the gelled negative electrode active substance filling device according to the embodiment.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views showing the configuration of the main part of a gelled negative electrode active material filling area according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3B is an upper surface of a supporting jig sandwiched by a nail-type arm or the like. Figure.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Work supply part 2 ... Work 3 ... Battery case 3a ... Filling port 4 ... Support jig 5 ...... Transfer path 6 ... Pushing mechanism 7 ... Discharge nozzle 8 ... Plunger type pump 9 …… Cam mechanism 10 …… Claw arm 11 …… Vibration imparting mechanism 12 …… Contact plate

Claims (2)

From the discharge nozzle of the metering pump disposed on the transfer path to the charging port of the battery case, the support jig mounted with the battery case with the charging port positioned upward is propelled on the transfer path. , a gel agent a filling method of the electrode gel agent that predetermined discharge amount and filling,
A step of intermittently propelling the battery case on the conveyance path at a predetermined pitch at which the support jig stops when the battery case comes below the discharge nozzle;
The support jig that has come under the discharge nozzle is gripped by gripping means that can move up and down, and the gripping means is inserted until the tip of the discharge nozzle is inserted from the charging port of the battery case and reaches the inner bottom. A step of raising;
The gel-like active substance in which the tip of the discharge nozzle is discharged while vibrating the support jig through the gripping means and discharging a predetermined amount of the gel-like active substance from the discharge nozzle into the battery case. Lowering the gripping means until the support jig reaches the transport path so as to maintain a state close to a surface;
A method of filling a gel electrode active substance, comprising: sequentially opening the gripping means and returning the support jig to the transport path . A transport path for transporting the support jig for mounting the battery case in a row with the filling port positioned above;
A push-in mechanism that sequentially pushes the support jig on which the battery case is mounted with the filling port positioned upward;
Is arranged at a predetermined position of the transport path, and a discharge nozzle for discharging and filling the gel-like agent for a predetermined amount of the battery in the battery case,
The discharge nozzle is arranged facing the discharge nozzle, and the support jig is raised until the discharge nozzle tip is inserted from the filling port of the battery case and reaches the inner bottom , and the discharge nozzle is a gel-like active substance for the battery. A cam mechanism for lowering the support jig so as to maintain a state where the tip of the discharge nozzle is close to the surface of the gel-like active substance discharged into the battery case when discharging into the battery case ;
A holding mechanism that holds and holds the support jig when lifted in conjunction with the rise / fall of the support jig by the cam mechanism, and opens the support jig after the lowering ,
A gel electrode active substance filling device, comprising: a vibration applying mechanism that applies vibration to the support jig through the gripping mechanism when the support jig is lowered by the holding mechanism .

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