JP5521892B2 - Kneading apparatus and battery electrode manufacturing method using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for kneading a plurality of materials into a paste.

A series of steps for manufacturing battery electrodes includes a step of kneading electrode materials to manufacture a paste, a step of applying the kneaded paste to a current collector plate, a step of drying the paste, and pressing to form a predetermined thickness It is comprised by the process to perform.
In the process of kneading battery electrode materials (active materials, solvents, conductive additives, binders, etc.), it is known that the viscosity of the paste affects the coating performance, and the mixing of each substance affects the battery performance. Strict management is required for these qualities.

Patent Document 1 discloses a method for measuring the conductive performance of a paste using an AC impedance method. Here, the mixing degree of each substance is determined by determining the conductive performance of the paste, that is, the electrical resistance.
However, in the prior art, it is necessary to take a sample and measure for each paste manufacturing condition. For this reason, it is disadvantageous in that a complicated operation of preparing a large number of samples in which parameters such as kneading time and kneading speed are changed in order to obtain optimum manufacturing conditions. In addition, since it cannot be continuously measured and becomes a discrete sampling inspection, it is disadvantageous in that it cannot cope with changes in the state of the paste over time and contamination with foreign matters during transportation, and waste of the kneaded material It will occur.

JP 2009-115747 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for kneading a paste while continuously measuring quality.

  The kneading apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a kneading apparatus for kneading a plurality of materials in a paste form using a rotational motion, the centrifugal separation layer for removing foreign substances contained in the materials, A kneading layer for kneading a plurality of materials and a quality measuring layer for measuring the quality of the kneaded paste are arranged. At the same time, the material circulates in the order of the centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer.

  In one embodiment of the kneading apparatus, the centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer are each formed by a space formed between an outer cylinder having a cylindrical shape and an inner cylinder arranged coaxially with the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are relatively rotatable about an axis.

  The centrifugal separation layer preferably includes a foreign matter pocket for collecting the foreign matter at a connection portion with the kneading layer.

  It is preferable that the centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer can independently rotate.

  It is preferable that a paste holding space for temporarily storing the paste is provided at a connection portion between the quality measurement layer and the centrifugal separation layer.

  The battery electrode manufacturing method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a step of kneading the battery electrode material using the kneading apparatus according to the first aspect, and the electrode material manufactured by the kneading step is coated. A positive electrode and a negative electrode of a battery including the current collector plate are manufactured.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which knead | mixes a paste can be provided, measuring quality continuously.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a kneading apparatus. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of a kneading apparatus. It is a figure which shows a measuring device. It is a figure which shows the motion of the material thrown into the kneading apparatus. It is a figure which shows the motion of the paste in a centrifuge layer. It is a figure which shows the motion of the paste in a kneading layer. It is a figure which shows a vertical movement apparatus.

Hereinafter, a kneading apparatus 1 that is an embodiment of the kneading apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The kneading apparatus 1 is an apparatus for kneading a plurality of materials including a solvent into a paste.
For example, an electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery including a solvent, an active material, a binder, and a conductive auxiliary material is kneaded into a kneaded product (product) having a predetermined viscosity and a predetermined electric resistance value.

As shown in FIG. 1, the kneading apparatus 1 has a three-layer structure, and a centrifugal separation layer 2, a kneading layer 3, and a quality measurement layer 4 are arranged in order from below and are connected to each other.
The centrifugal separation layer 2 separates and removes a foreign substance having a high density among substances contained in the material by applying a centrifugal force to the material. In the kneading layer 3, the material is kneaded to give a paste by applying a shearing force. In the quality measurement layer 4, the quality of the material (hereinafter, paste) kneaded in the kneading layer 3 is measured. The material thrown into the kneading apparatus 1 is conveyed from the bottom to the top in the order of the centrifugal separation layer 2 → the kneading layer 3 → the quality measurement layer 4, and is again circulated from the quality measurement layer 4 to the centrifugal separation layer 2 in this cycle. repeat.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the specific apparatus structure of the kneading apparatus 1 is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 2, the kneading apparatus 1 includes an outer cylinder 10, an inner cylinder 20, a rotation driving device 30, and a measuring device 40. A material is put into an internal space formed by the outer cylinder 10 and the inner cylinder 20, and the inner cylinder 20 is rotationally driven relative to the outer cylinder 10 by a rotation driving device 30, whereby centrifugal force is applied to the material and the paste. Then, it is transported from below to above by applying surface tension. At this time, the viscosity and electric resistance value of the kneaded paste are measured by the measuring device 40.

  The outer cylinder 10 is a bottomed cylinder having a predetermined strength and a substantially constant thickness, and has a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter that decreases in order from the lower side. More specifically, the lower cylinder 11, the middle cylinder 12, and the upper cylinder 13 having three stages of inner diameters of a large diameter, a medium diameter, and a small diameter in order from the bottom are stacked in the vertical direction. Step portions 11a and 12a, which are flat portions, are formed in the portions. The step portions 11a and 12a are formed as horizontal inner surfaces.

  An inlet 14 for introducing the material to be kneaded by the kneading apparatus 1 is formed at the center of the upper end surface of the outer cylinder 10, and an outlet 15 for discharging the material after kneading is formed at the center of the lower end surface. Is done. In the kneading apparatus 1, the material is input through the input port 14, and the paste after kneading is discharged as a kneaded product through the output port 15. Opening / closing devices such as an openable / closable sealing lid and a valve are disposed at the insertion port 14 and the discharge port 15, and the opening / closing device is appropriately opened / closed at the time of charging / discharging.

A foreign matter pocket 16 is provided at the upper end of the lower cylinder 11 of the outer cylinder 10. The foreign matter pocket 16 is an internal space provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the lower cylinder 11, and is a portion that partially expands the inner side surface that continues in the vertical direction from below toward the outside. That is, the foreign matter pocket 16 is a concave groove formed along the circumferential direction at the upper end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the lower cylinder 11. Moreover, the foreign material pocket 16 of this embodiment has a semicircular cross-sectional shape.
The foreign object pocket 16 is detachably attached to the outer cylinder 10 and is configured to be easily removable at the time of maintenance. More specifically, the foreign matter pocket 16 is disposed at a connection portion between the lower cylinder 11 and the middle cylinder 12 in the outer cylinder 10, for example, a plate-like long member curved or bent in the short direction. The internal space formed by being bent or bent can be configured as the foreign matter pocket 16 by bending into an annular shape, fitting from the outside and turning around, and bolting the seam. In this case, the foreign matter pocket 16 can be attached and detached by a simple operation of tightening / loosening the bolt.

  A magnet 17 is disposed outside the lower cylinder 11 of the outer cylinder 10. The magnet 17 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is arranged at a predetermined distance from the outer periphery of the lower cylinder 11. Due to the presence of the magnet 17, a magnetic force is generated on the outer periphery and the inner periphery of the lower cylinder 11, and the metal foreign matter contained in the material passing through the lower cylinder 11 is attracted to the outer periphery side.

The inner cylinder 20 is a cylinder disposed inside the inner cylinder 20 with a predetermined gap provided between the inner cylinder 20 and the inner surface of the outer cylinder 10. The inner cylinder 20 is arranged coaxially with the outer cylinder 10, and the inner cylinder 20 is arranged inside the outer cylinder 10, whereby a space is formed between the inner surface of the outer cylinder 10 and the outer surface of the inner cylinder 20. Is formed. The space is used as a passage for material and paste (passage from below to above).
The inner cylinder 20 has a shape corresponding to the outer cylinder 10 so that the outer diameter decreases in order from the lower side. More specifically, the inner cylinder 20 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the lower cylinder 21 and the lower cylinder 21 arranged at the lowermost stage, and has a smaller diameter than the middle cylinder 22 and the middle cylinder 22 arranged above the lower cylinder 21. The upper cylinder 23 is disposed above the middle cylinder 22, and the lower cylinder 21, the middle cylinder 22, and the upper cylinder 23 are stacked in the vertical direction.
The lower cylinder 21 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the lower cylinder 11 of the outer cylinder 10 and has an outer surface facing the inner surface of the lower cylinder 11, and the middle cylinder 22 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the middle cylinder 12. The upper cylinder 23 has a smaller diameter than the upper cylinder 13 and has an outer surface facing the inner surface of the upper cylinder 13.
Further, the inner cylinder 20 is formed with step portions 21 a and 22 a that are flat portions at two portions whose diameters change as in the outer cylinder 10. The step portions 21a and 22a are formed as horizontal outer surfaces and face the step portions 11a and 12a, respectively.

A central portion of the inner cylinder 20 (a part including the center of the cylinder and its periphery) is formed as a hollow shaft that penetrates in the vertical direction, and the material and paste can pass through the inside. The inner cylinder 20 is driven to rotate about its axis.
A paste holding space 24 having a predetermined volume is formed in the central portion of the inner cylinder 20 at the upper and lower central portions (the middle-stage cylinder 22 portion) having a larger diameter than other hollow shaft portions. The upper part of the paste holding space 24 is opened toward the charging port 14 of the outer cylinder 10. An open valve 25 that can be opened and closed by electrical control or the like is provided at the lower end. The material charged in the kneading apparatus 1 or the paste after kneading in the kneading apparatus 1 can be temporarily stored in the paste holding space 24, and the outflow / storage is controlled by opening / closing the release valve 25. .

A turbulent flow plate 26 that generates turbulent flow for stirring the material is disposed between the middle cylinders 12 and 22. The turbulent flow plate 26 is a cylindrical thin plate member, and has a large number of holes penetrating the front and back surfaces thereof. The turbulent flow plate 26 is supported by either one of the outer cylinder 10 and the inner cylinder 20 so as not to be relatively rotatable. In this embodiment, it is supported on the outer cylinder 10 side.
Thus, the presence of the turbulent flow plate 26 generates turbulent flow in the paste flowing through the space formed between the middle cylinders 12 and 22, and the surface side of the turbulent flow plate 26 through many holes. Since the paste can be circulated to the back surface side, the substance can be effectively dispersed in the paste.

The rotary drive device 30 includes an electric motor 31. The electric motor 31 is connected to an appropriate power supply device, and its output is controlled by electric control or the like, and can be driven to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed. The rotation drive device 30 rotates the inner cylinder 20 by transmitting a rotational force from the output shaft of the electric motor 31 to the rotation shaft of the inner cylinder 20 via an appropriate gear (not shown). The electric motor 31 can rotationally drive the lower cylinder 21, the middle cylinder 22, and the upper cylinder 23 of the inner cylinder 20 integrally or independently of each other.
In addition, an encoder 32 is attached to the output shaft of the electric motor 31, and the rotational speed (rotational speed) is constantly measured (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 3, the measuring device 40 includes a torque meter 41 for measuring the viscosity of the paste, an electrode pair 42 for measuring the electrical resistance value of the paste, and a monitor 43 for displaying the viscosity and the electrical resistance value. In addition, a control device 44 that calculates the viscosity and the electric resistance value from the measurement results from the torque meter 41 and the electrode pair 42 and controls the monitor 43 is provided.
The control device 44 is also connected to a power supply device that supplies power to the electric motor 31 and the encoder 32, and controls the output (voltage) to the electric motor 31 based on the number of revolutions measured by the encoder 32. Further, the control device 44 controls the opening / closing operation of the release valve 25 arranged in the paste holding space 24.

The torque meter 41 measures the torque generated in the upper cylinder 23 of the inner cylinder 20. That is, the torque generated in the inner cylinder 20 that is actually rotationally driven is measured.
The control device 44 calculates the shear force generated in the paste supplied between the upper cylinders 13 and 23 based on the measurement result by the torque meter 41 and the rotational speed measured by the encoder 32, and determines the viscosity of the paste. calculate.
That is, the mechanism for measuring the viscosity of the paste in the present embodiment has the same shape and function as the coaxial double cylindrical rheometer.

The electrode pair 42 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the upper cylinder 23 in the inner cylinder 20, facing the outer electrode 42 a and the cylindrical outer electrode 42 a disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the upper cylinder 13 in the outer cylinder 10. And a cylindrical inner electrode 42b. The electrode pair 42 receives an AC voltage from an appropriate power supply device.
The control device 44 applies a predetermined alternating voltage in a state where the paste is supplied between the electrode pair 42, measures the current flowing between the electrode pair 42, and determines from the applied voltage value and the measured current value. By analyzing the obtained resistance component using the AC impedance method, the electric resistance value of the paste supplied between the upper cylinders 13 and 23 is calculated.
That is, the mechanism for measuring the electrical resistance value of the paste in the present embodiment applies an AC voltage using an electrode pair of parallel plates and analyzes the measurement result by an AC impedance method.

  The monitor 43 displays the viscosity and electrical resistance value of the paste in real time, and displays the amount of variation from the standard value of the viscosity and electrical resistance value. When the fluctuation amount is large, the control device 44 displays a warning as an abnormality on the monitor 43, stops the operation of the electric motor 31, and stops the kneading device 1.

In the kneading apparatus 1 configured as described above, the inner cylinder 20 is rotationally driven by the operation of the rotation driving device 30, and a relative rotational motion is generated between the inner cylinder 20 and the outer cylinder 10. Due to this rotational movement, centrifugal force acts on the material put into the kneading apparatus 1. The material conveyed to the outside from the central portion of the kneading apparatus 1 by the centrifugal force collides with the inner surface of the outer cylinder 10 and is conveyed upward by the action of surface tension there. Thus, in the kneading apparatus 1, the materials are sequentially conveyed from the lower side to the upper side.
That is, in the kneading apparatus 1, the material supplied to the lowermost stage through the hollow shaft portion (paste holding space 24) of the inner cylinder 20 is formed by the lower cylinders 11 and 21 (the inner surface of the lower cylinder 11 and A space (centrifugal separation layer 2) formed between the outer surface of the lower cylinder 21 and the middle cylinders 12 and 22 (formed between the inner surface of the middle cylinder 12 and the outer surface of the middle cylinder 22). Of the space (kneading layer 3) and the space (quality measurement layer 4) formed by the upper cylinders 13 and 23 (formed between the inner surface of the upper cylinder 13 and the outer surface of the upper cylinder 23). Carried in order.

  Hereinafter, the function of each layer of the kneading apparatus 1 and the flow of the material charged into the kneading apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The material input here includes metal foreign substances such as iron and copper in addition to a plurality of substances having different solvents and particle diameters.

First, the material is charged into the kneading apparatus 1 through the charging port 14. As shown in FIG. 4A, the material charged from the charging port 14 passes through the hollow portion of the inner cylinder 20 and is stored in the paste holding space 24. After the material is charged, the charging port 14 is closed.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the control device 44 starts rotation of the electric motor 31 and opens the release valve 25. Thereby, the material stored in the paste holding space 24 is supplied to the lowermost centrifugal separation layer 2.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), in the centrifugal separation layer 2, when the entire material is carried to the outer peripheral side by the centrifugal force generated by the rotational motion and reaches the outermost outer periphery, that is, the inner peripheral wall surface of the lower cylinder 11, It is carried upward along the wall surface by surface tension generated between them.
Then, as shown in FIG.5 (b), among the foreign materials contained in the material, those having a high density, especially metal foreign materials such as iron powder and copper powder are attracted by the magnet 17 and centrifugal force with other materials. Due to this difference, the material is separated to the outer peripheral side rather than the material having a low density. The foreign matter thus separated on the outer peripheral side is similarly carried to the uppermost part of the lower cylinder 11 by centrifugal force and surface tension and collected in the foreign matter pocket 16.
The relatively low density material that is not collected in the foreign matter pocket 16 moves further upward along the wall surface of the lower cylinder 11 as a supernatant after the foreign matter is centrifuged, and further, the inner circumference along the step portion 11a. Moves to the kneading layer 3. When moving from the centrifugal separation layer 2 to the kneading layer 3 having a small diameter, in addition to the metal particles that cannot move to the inner peripheral side against the centrifugal force, that is, the metal foreign matter having a high density, the particle size of the substance in the paste is Substances that remain large can be separated, and the quality of the paste can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the kneading layer 3 receives shearing force due to contact with the inner wall surface of the middle cylinder 12 and the outer wall surface of the middle cylinder 22, and the materials contained in the paste collide with each other. (Dispersion of substance in solvent) promotes. In addition, the turbulent flow plate 26 disposed between the middle cylinders 12 and 22 generates turbulent flow in the material and promotes stirring in the paste, and a hole penetrating the front and rear surfaces of the turbulent flow plate 26. Dispersion is further promoted by the distribution of the material through.
Here, the gap between the middle cylinders 12 and 22 is appropriately set according to the size of the particles of the substance contained in the material, and the outer surface of the middle cylinder 22 of the inner cylinder 20 and the middle cylinder 12 of the outer cylinder 10. It is set to such an extent that a sufficient shearing force is generated to knead the material carried between the inner surface and the inner surface.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the material (paste) kneaded into a paste by passing through the kneading layer 3 moves upward along the inner wall surface of the middle cylinder 12, and further along the step portion 12a. Then, it moves to the inner circumference side and reaches the quality measurement layer 4.
In the quality measurement layer 4, the torque generated in the upper cylinder 23 of the inner cylinder 20 is measured by the torque meter 41, and the viscosity of the paste is measured by obtaining the correlation between the torque and the rotation speed of the electric motor 31. An AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 42, a current value is measured, and the measured electric resistance value is analyzed by an AC impedance method to measure the electric resistance value of the paste.

The paste after passing through the quality measurement layer 4 reaches the upper end of the inner cylinder 20 and then circulates in the paste holding space 24 through the hollow portion of the inner cylinder 20.
In this way, the paste is sequentially circulated in the paste holding space 24 → the centrifugal separation layer 2 → the kneading layer 3 → the quality measuring layer 4 → the paste holding space 24. By repeating this cycle at a predetermined kneading speed and a predetermined kneading time, a kneaded product having a desired quality is manufactured.
In addition, the paste after repeating the predetermined number of cycles is discharged | emitted from the kneading apparatus 1 through the discharge port 15, and is taken out as a kneaded material (product).

As described above, according to the kneading apparatus 1, it is possible to remove foreign substances contained in the paste and knead while continuously measuring quality. That is, the quality of the paste can be measured while changing the kneading conditions such as the kneading speed and kneading time, and the kneading can be performed efficiently while ensuring the quality of the paste.
The kneading apparatus 1 continuously circulates through the centrifugal separation layer 2, the kneading layer 3, and the quality measurement layer 4 without being exposed to the outside air, so that the state change of the paste at the time of measurement can be kept to a minimum and accurate measurement is possible. In addition, it is not necessary to carry out a sampling inspection and waste of materials can be eliminated.

  The paste holding space 24 provided in the inside of the kneading apparatus 1 can increase the amount of kneading treatment at a time, and can improve productivity. Further, when the paste is circulated in the kneading apparatus 1, the paste always passes through the paste holding space 24, so that there is an advantage that the number of circulations can be easily controlled, and the kneading conditions can be changed for each cycle. Yes, it is easy to ensure the quality of the kneaded product.

In the kneading apparatus 1, the centrifugal force, the kneading work, and the quality measuring work are sequentially performed while transporting upward from the lowermost layer by using the centrifugal force and surface tension generated by the rotational motion, so that a physically natural flow is generated. Can be built. On the other hand, considering the case of conveying from the upper side to the lower side as opposed to the present embodiment, it is necessary to provide a separate conveying mechanism that resists centrifugal force and surface tension for the conveyance between the operations.
Thus, the kneading apparatus 1 has a simple configuration and a physically reasonable configuration.

  In the kneading apparatus 1, since the paste holding space 24 is arranged immediately after passing through the quality measuring layer 4, the paste taken out from the paste holding space 24 through the release valve 25 and the discharge port 15 was subjected to quality measurement. Since it is immediately after, it is excellent in terms of quality assurance of the paste.

In the kneading apparatus 1, the inner cylinder 20 disposed inside the outer cylinder 10 is rotationally driven. For this reason, as compared with the case where the outer cylinder 10 larger than the inner cylinder 20 is rotationally driven, it can be rotationally driven with a small power. That is, the equipment cost concerning the electric motor 31 can be reduced.
Furthermore, since the outer cylinder 10 also serves as a cover for the device that rotates, the entire configuration of the kneading apparatus 1 can be made compact.

The kneading apparatus 1 includes a foreign matter pocket 16 at the uppermost portion of the centrifugal separation layer 2, that is, at the connection portion between the centrifugal separation layer 2 and the kneading layer 3. Since the foreign material pocket 16 defines the outermost periphery in the centrifugal separation layer 2, the foreign material with a large effect of the centrifugal force by rotational motion can be reliably collected.
Moreover, the foreign substance pocket 16 is configured to be detachable, so that the foreign substance removal property and cleaning property during maintenance can be improved, which is advantageous in terms of equipment.

It is preferable that the lower cylinder 21, the middle cylinder 22, and the upper cylinder 23, which are rotationally driven by the rotation drive device 30, can be controlled to rotate at different rotational speeds. In particular, the rotational speed of the lower cylinder 21 can be set to be larger than that of the other middle cylinder 22 and upper cylinder 23, whereby the function as the centrifugal separation layer 2 can be maximized. The foreign matter removal effect can be maximized.
In addition, by independently controlling the rotational speed of the upper cylinder 23 where the torque value is measured by the torque meter 41, the accuracy of the torque value measured by the torque meter 41 can be improved, and the viscosity measurement accuracy of the paste is improved. it can.

As shown in FIG. 7, the kneading device 1 preferably further includes a vertical movement device 50. The vertical movement device 50 moves the outer cylinder 10 in the vertical direction to make the gaps of the stepped portions 11a and 21a and the gaps of the stepped portions 12a and 22a zero.
The vertical movement device 50 is connected to the control device 44 and its operation is controlled.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when the gap between the stepped portion 11a and the stepped portion 21a is zero, the passage from the centrifugal separation layer 2 to the kneading layer 3 is blocked, and the paste is retained in the centrifugal separation layer 2. Can do. Thereby, it becomes possible to adjust the working time of centrifugation suitably.
Moreover, when the gap between the stepped portion 12a and the stepped portion 22a is made zero, the passage from the kneaded layer 3 to the quality measuring layer 4 is blocked, and the paste can be retained in the kneaded layer 3. Thereby, kneading time can be adjusted.

  As described above, the operation of the vertical movement device 50 makes it possible to keep the paste in a desired layer, and to adjust the working time in each layer. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the quality (viscosity / electric resistance value) of the paste by extending the working time in each layer according to the measurement result in the quality measuring layer 4, which contributes to ensuring the quality of the paste. .

  Note that the quality measuring layer 4 may measure the temperature of the paste in addition to measuring the viscosity and electrical resistance of the paste. In particular, when kneading the battery electrode material, by performing temperature control, more strict quality control can be performed, which contributes to ensuring the quality of the paste.

  The kneading apparatus 1 has a three-layer structure laminated along the direction in which gravity acts, but since the centrifugal force and surface tension generated by the rotational motion are sufficiently larger than gravity, the kneading device 1 is directed in the horizontal direction. It can be used even if it is tilted.

Hereinafter, a method for producing a battery electrode using the kneading apparatus 1 will be described.
An electrode material including a solvent, an active material, a binder, and a conductive auxiliary material, which is a battery electrode material, is prepared, and this electrode material is kneaded by the kneading apparatus 1 to produce an electrode mixture.
An electrode mixture is applied to a current collector plate, dried, and then pressed to form an electrode having a predetermined thickness.

  The electrode thus obtained has excellent characteristics as a battery electrode because the electrode mixture is well kneaded.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Kneading apparatus 2 Centrifugal separation layer 3 Kneading layer 4 Quality measurement layer 10 Outer cylinder 20 Inner cylinder 11, 21 Lower cylinder 12, 22 Middle cylinder 13, 23 Upper cylinder 30 Rotating drive device 31 Electric motor 40 Measuring device 41 Torque meter 42 Electrode versus

Claims (6)

A kneading apparatus for kneading a plurality of materials into a paste using a rotary motion,
A centrifuge layer for removing foreign substances contained in the material;
A kneading layer for kneading the plurality of materials;
A quality measuring layer for measuring the quality of the kneaded paste,
A kneading apparatus in which the centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer are arranged in order from below and connected together, and the material circulates in the order of the centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer. The centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer are each configured by a space formed between an outer cylinder having a cylindrical shape and an inner cylinder disposed coaxially with the outer cylinder,
The kneading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are relatively rotatable around an axis.   The kneading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal separation layer includes a foreign matter pocket for collecting the foreign matter at a connection portion with the kneading layer.   The kneading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the centrifugal separation layer, the kneading layer, and the quality measurement layer are capable of rotating independently.   The kneading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a paste holding space for temporarily storing the paste at a connection portion between the quality measurement layer and the centrifugal separation layer.   The manufacturing method of a battery electrode including the kneading | mixing process of kneading | mixing the electrode material of a battery using the kneading apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5.

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