JP5708478B2 - Electrode manufacturing apparatus, power storage device, vehicle, and electrode manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing device, a power storage device including an electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing device, a vehicle equipped with the power storage device, and an electrode manufacturing method.

  Conventionally, lithium ion secondary batteries, nickel metal hydride secondary batteries, and the like are well known as power storage devices. Such a secondary battery has a configuration in which an electrode body formed by winding or laminating electrodes coated with an active material on both surfaces of a metal foil (metal thin plate) such as an aluminum foil or a copper foil is housed in a case. It is said that.

  As an apparatus for manufacturing such an electrode, a metal foil is immersed in a paste-like active material stored in a tank, and the active material is applied, and the metal foil is passed through the gap, so that the width of the gap is met. A material that is shaped to the thickness of the active material has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). Since the manufacturing apparatus of patent document 1 is comprised so that an active material can be apply | coated simultaneously with respect to both surfaces of metal foil, compared with the structure which apply | coats an active material one side at a time, the manufacturing speed of an electrode is improved. Yes.

JP-A-9-134722

  However, recently, the amount of metal foil that can be applied with an active material per unit time is increased with the reduction of the time required to form an electrode body by winding or stacking electrodes, Furthermore, it is expected to improve production efficiency.

  This invention was made paying attention to the problem which exists in the said prior art, and is providing the manufacturing method of an electrode which can improve production efficiency, an electrical storage apparatus, a vehicle, and the manufacturing method of an electrode. is there.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is an electrode manufacturing apparatus that applies an active material to both surfaces of a strip-shaped metal thin plate, and the manufacturing apparatus applies an application of the active material. And a shaping part for shaping the thickness of the active material layer of the metal thin plate coated with the active material, the shaping parts being spaced apart from each other and facing each other. The present invention includes a plurality of gap forming portions arranged in parallel in the thickness direction of the thin metal plate during coating, and a plurality of shaping gaps formed by the gap forming portions are formed.

  According to this, the shaping portion includes a plurality of gap forming portions spaced apart from each other and facing each other and arranged in parallel in the thickness direction of the metal thin plate, and a plurality of shaping gaps formed by the gap forming portions. Is formed. For this reason, the thickness of the active material is simultaneously adjusted to the thickness of the gap forming portion with respect to the plurality of metal thin plates by passing the metal thin plates coated with the active material on both sides through the plurality of shaping gaps. Can be shaped. For this reason, it is possible to apply an active material to a plurality of metal thin plates in parallel, and it is possible to increase the amount of metal thin plates to which the active material can be applied per unit time. Therefore, the production efficiency of the electrodes can be improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the first aspect, the shaping portion includes a scraping portion that scrapes off an active material at at least one of the edges of the thin metal plate. The gist is that a scraping gap narrower than the shaping gap is formed by the scraping portion.

  According to this, the thickness of the active material can be shaped by passing through the shaping gap, and the active material on at least one edge can be scraped off by the scraping portion. For this reason, the area | region for electrically connecting the electrode terminal and electrode in a electrical storage apparatus can be formed simply, for example.

The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a changing mechanism for changing a separation distance of the gap forming portion.
According to this, the separation distance of the gap forming portion can be changed by the changing mechanism. For this reason, the thickness of the active material can be easily changed. Therefore, for example, when changing the type of electrode to be manufactured, the setup can be easily changed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the manufacturing apparatus pressurizes and feeds the active material toward the metal sheet. The gap forming portion is provided with a discharge port for applying the active material to the thin metal plate.

  According to this, the active material can be applied to the metal thin plate by discharging the pressurized active material. For this reason, even if it is a case where the viscosity of the active material to apply | coat is high, an active material can be apply | coated to a metal thin plate. Therefore, the range of the viscosity of the active material that can be applied to the metal thin plate can be widened.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the gap forming portion is a columnar member, and the shaping portion includes a plurality of the columnar members arranged in parallel. The shaping gaps are formed between the opposing surfaces of each other, and among the plurality of columnar members, each columnar member sandwiched between the two columnar members on both sides in the juxtaposed direction includes the columnar member. The gist is that a supply section for supplying the pressurized active material to the discharge ports respectively provided on both opposing surfaces is provided.

  According to this, among the plurality of columnar members forming the shaping portion, each columnar member sandwiched between the two columnar members on both sides in the juxtaposed direction is provided with discharge ports provided on both opposing surfaces of the columnar member, respectively. There is provided a single supply unit for supplying the pressurized active material. For this reason, compared with the case where a supply part is provided for every discharge port, the structure of an apparatus can be simplified.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 6 is that the power storage device includes the electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. According to this, the production efficiency as a power storage device can be improved as the production efficiency of the electrodes is increased.

  The gist of the invention according to claim 7 is that the power storage device according to claim 6 is mounted in a vehicle. According to this, as a result of improving the production efficiency as the electrode and the power storage device, it is possible to improve the production efficiency as a vehicle on which the electrode is mounted.

The invention according to claim 8 is a method for manufacturing an electrode in which an active material is applied to both surfaces of a strip-shaped metal thin plate, and gap forming portions that are separated from each other and face each other are applied at the time of application of the active material. a plurality arranged in a thickness direction of the sheet metal in, in the shaping portion configured Nde including a plurality of shaping gap formed between the gap forming portions, said active material by a coating unit for coating the active material The gist is to shape the thickness of the active material to a thickness corresponding to the separation distance of the gap forming portion by transporting and passing the metal thin plates applied on both sides to each shaping gap .

  According to this, the thickness of the active material is simultaneously reduced with respect to the plurality of metal thin plates by passing the metal thin plates coated with the active material on both sides through the plurality of shaping gaps formed in the shaping portion. The thickness can be shaped according to the separation distance. For this reason, an active material can be apply | coated to a some metal thin plate in parallel, and the quantity of the metal thin plate which can apply | coat an active material per unit time can be improved. Therefore, the production efficiency of the electrodes can be improved.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electrode manufacturing method according to the eighth aspect, the gap forming portion is provided when the metal thin plate coated with the active material is passed through the shaping gap. The gist is that the active material applied to at least one edge of each metal thin plate is scraped off by a scraping gap formed by the scraping section and narrower than the shaping gap.

  According to this, the thickness of the active material can be shaped by passing through the shaping gap, and further, the active material on at least one edge can be scraped off by the scraping gap. For this reason, the area | region for electrically connecting the electrode terminal and electrode in a electrical storage apparatus can be formed simply, for example.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the electrode manufacturing method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein in each gap forming portion, from the discharge port provided on the upstream side in the passage direction of the metal thin plate from the shaping gap, The gist is to apply the active material to the plurality of metal thin plates by discharging the pressurized active material.

  According to this, the pressurized active material is discharged and the active material is applied to the metal thin plate. For this reason, even if it is a case where the viscosity of the active material to apply | coat is high, an active material can be apply | coated to a metal thin plate. Therefore, the range of the viscosity of the active material that can be applied to the metal thin plate can be widened.

  According to the present invention, production efficiency can be improved.

The perspective view which shows a secondary battery typically. The disassembled perspective view which shows an electrode body typically. The schematic diagram of an electrode manufacturing apparatus. The perspective view which shows typically the shaping part of an electrode manufacturing apparatus. (A) is a front view which shows typically the shaping part of an electrode manufacturing apparatus, (b) is a right view similarly. The schematic diagram of the electrode manufacturing apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a top view which shows typically the shaping part of the electrode manufacturing apparatus in 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a right view similarly. AA line sectional view shown in Drawing 7 (a). BB sectional drawing shown to Fig.7 (a).

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment, a secondary battery 10 as a power storage device will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a secondary battery 10 mounted on a vehicle (for example, an industrial vehicle or a passenger vehicle) includes a case 11 having a flat and generally cubic shape. The case 11 has a flat plate shape (this embodiment) assembled to the main body member 12 so as to seal the main body member 12 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape (square tube shape in the present embodiment) and the opening 12a of the main body member 12. It is formed from a lid member 13 having a rectangular flat plate shape. The main body member 12 and the lid member 13 are both made of metal (for example, stainless steel or aluminum).

  On the outer surface (upper surface) of the lid member 13, a positive electrode terminal 15 and a negative electrode terminal 16 having a cylindrical shape (substantially cylindrical shape) are provided so as to protrude. Further, the base end (one end) of the positive electrode current collecting terminal 17 made of metal (for example, aluminum) and electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 15 is fixed to the inner surface (lower surface) of the lid member 13. Further, a base end (one end) of a negative electrode current collecting terminal 18 made of metal (for example, copper) and electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal 16 is fixed to the inner surface of the lid member 13. In the present embodiment, the positive electrode terminal 15, the negative electrode terminal 16, the positive electrode current collector terminal 17, and the negative electrode current collector terminal 18 are in a state of being insulated from the case 11 (the main body member 12 and the lid member 13).

  In addition, the case 11 accommodates an electrode body 21 having a flat cubic shape in the left-right direction, and this electrode body is an electrode sheet as an electrode in which an active material is applied to both surfaces of a conductive base material. 24 is formed so as to form a layer (laminated structure) with a separator (diaphragm) 23 sandwiched between them.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the separator 23 is a rectangular porous sheet made of an insulating resin material. Each electrode sheet 24 includes a metal foil 25 as a thin metal plate as a base material having a rectangular sheet shape. The metal foil 25 is formed of a type of metal (for example, copper or aluminum) according to the type of the secondary battery 10 such as a lithium ion secondary battery or a nickel hydride secondary battery. Moreover, even if it is the same secondary battery 10, the metal used for the electrode sheet 24 for positive electrodes is aluminum, for example, and the metal used for the electrode sheet 24 for negative electrodes is copper, for example, and a kind differs.

  An active material corresponding to the type of the secondary battery 10 is applied to both surfaces of each metal foil 25 over the entire surface (substantially the entire surface) excluding the non-application region 27 set with a certain width from the upper end of each metal foil 25. An active material layer 26 is formed. In addition, even if it is the secondary battery 10 of the same kind, the kind of active material apply | coated to the metal foil 25 differs for positive electrodes and for positive electrodes.

  A positive electrode tab 28a having a substantially rectangular shape extends toward the lid member 13 (upward) by punching a non-application region 27 at the upper left end portion of each electrode sheet 24 (metal foil 25) for positive electrode. It is formed to do. On the other hand, a negative electrode tab 28b having a substantially rectangular shape faces the lid member 13 (upward) by punching the non-application area 27 at the upper right end of each electrode sheet 24 (metal foil 25) for the negative electrode. It is formed to extend. In the electrode body 21, the positive electrode sheets 24 and the negative electrode sheets 24 are alternately stacked via the separators 23.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each positive electrode tab 28a has an electrode sheet with respect to the tip (the other end) of the positive electrode current collector terminal 17 arranged so as to be inserted between the positive electrode tabs 28a from the lid member 13 side. In the thickness direction of 24, in a state where the positive electrode current collecting terminals 17 are close to each other, they are joined and electrically connected by, for example, ultrasonic joining or spot joining (resistance welding). Similarly, the negative electrode tab 28b is arranged in the thickness direction of the electrode sheet 24 with respect to the tip (the other end) of the negative electrode current collector terminal 18 disposed so as to be inserted between the negative electrode tabs 28b from the lid member 13 side. 2 are joined and electrically connected in a state of being offset from both sides of the negative electrode current collecting terminal 18. The case 11 is filled with an electrolyte corresponding to the type of the secondary battery 10.

  Next, an electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 as a manufacturing apparatus for the electrode sheet 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of this embodiment applies an active material to both surfaces of the strip-shaped metal foil 25 in a state where it is not cut (cut) into a rectangular shape, and manufactures a long strip-shaped electrode sheet 24. It has become. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the direction indicated by the arrow Y1 in FIG. 3 is indicated as the up-down direction, the direction indicated by the arrow Y2 is indicated as the left-right direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow Y3 in FIG. In FIG. 3, the end of each metal foil 25 is illustrated, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface (the front-rear direction) is the width direction of the metal foil 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment is equipped with a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) holders 31 a to 31 c that attach the metal foil 25 wound up in a roll shape and supply the metal foil 25. It has.

  In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30, a tank 33 for storing an active material paste 32 prepared by mixing an active material, a binder, and a conductive agent is provided below the holders 31a to 31c. In the present embodiment, the tank 33 serves as an application unit that applies the active material paste 32 to the metal foil 25. In addition, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) first roller members 34 a to 34 c for drawing the metal foils 25 fed from the holders 31 a to 31 c into the active material paste 32 are provided in the tank 33. Is provided. The first roller member 34a corresponds to the holder 31a, the roller member 34b corresponds to the holder 31b, and the first roller member 34c corresponds to the holder 31c. In the tank 33, the active material paste 32 is stored up to a height at which the first roller members 34 a to 34 c are buried in the active material paste 32.

  Also, in order to shape the thickness of the active material paste 32 applied over the entire surface on both sides of each metal foil 25 to a target thickness by being drawn into the active material paste 32 above the tank 33. The shaping part 35 is provided. That is, the shaping unit 35 shapes the thickness of the active material paste 32 layer of the metal foil 25 to which the active material paste 32 is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shaping portion 35 separates a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) columnar members 37 that form a rectangular column shape (square rod shape) extending in the front-rear direction and faces each other. By arranging them side by side, a plurality of gaps 38 are formed as shaping gaps through which the metal foil 25 is passed between the opposing surfaces 37a of the columnar members 37. Each columnar member 37 is made of, for example, a metal (for example, stainless steel) or a resin material (for example, a fluororesin). In the present embodiment, each columnar member 37 serves as a gap forming portion, and the upward direction is the shaping portion 35. When the active material paste 32 is applied to each metal foil 25, the direction in which each metal foil 25 passes (conveys) Direction).

  That is, each columnar member 37 extends in the width direction of the metal foil 25 and is perpendicular to the width direction of the metal foil 25 and the conveying direction (left-right direction), that is, the metal when the active material paste 32 is applied. The foils 25 are juxtaposed in the thickness direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the left-right direction is the direction in which the columnar members 37 are arranged. Each columnar member 37 is supported by a support member 39 such that the opposing surfaces 37a are parallel to each other. Accordingly, the gaps 38 are formed so as to extend along the width direction of the metal foil 25 and to be aligned in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the width direction of the metal foil 25 and the conveyance direction. Further, the separation distance in the left-right direction (width of the gap 38) in each columnar member 37 is set to a distance obtained by adding the thickness of the metal foil 25 and the thickness of the target active material layer 26 (for both surfaces). In this way, each gap 38 has a slit shape.

  Further, the upper surface of each columnar member 37 is made to correspond to at least one edge portion (the front edge portion 25a in the present embodiment) of the edge portions extending along the length direction of the metal foil 25 passing through the gap 38. A scraping unit 40 that scrapes the applied active material paste 32 is assembled. Each scraping portion 40 is formed in a cubic shape (substantially cubic shape) and is disposed so as to be opposed to each other with the metal foil 25 interposed therebetween. The separation distance as a scraping gap between the pair of scraping portions 40 is set to be the same (substantially the same) as the thickness of the metal foil 25. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a scraping gap narrower than the gap 38 is formed by the scraping portion 40. Moreover, each scraping part 40 is formed from resin material (for example, fluororesin etc.) with good slipperiness.

  Further, the support member 39 described above functions as a changing mechanism for changing the separation distance (the width of the gap 38) of the columnar members 37. Specifically, in the shaping unit 35 of the present embodiment, by rotating a knob (not shown) provided on the support member 39, the widths of all the gaps 38 are kept the same, and the columnar members 37 have the same width. The separation distance can be enlarged or reduced. In addition, the scraping part 40 of this embodiment is supported so that it can move to the left-right direction separately, and even if it is a case where the separation distance of each columnar member 37 is changed, the separation of the scraping part 40 which makes a pair is separated. The distance can be matched with the thickness of the metal foil 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a dryer 41 that dries the active material paste 32 applied to each metal foil 25 is provided above the shaping unit 35. In this embodiment, the dryer 41 is formed in the square cylinder shape extended along the conveyance direction (up-down direction) of the metal foil 25. As shown in FIG. And the dryer 41 vaporizes (evaporates) the binder contained in the active material paste 32 by blowing hot air (warm air) on the metal foil 25 conveyed upward, and thereby the active material paste 32 (active material layer 26) is dried.

  Further, winders 43 a to 43 c are provided above the dryer 41 to individually wind the respective metal foils 25 (electrode sheets 24) having the active material layers 26 formed on both surfaces thereof in a roll shape. The winding part 43a takes the metal foil 25 sent out from the holder 31a, the winding part 43b takes the metal foil 25 sent out from the holder 31b, and the winding part 43c takes the metal foil 25 sent out from the holder 31c. It is designed to wind up. In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of this embodiment, each metal foil 25 is conveyed by winding each metal foil 25 by each winding part 43a-43c.

  Moreover, between the dryer 41 and each winding part 43a-43c, the 2nd roller members 44a-44c which change the conveyance direction of each metal foil 25 from the up-down direction to the direction which goes to each winding part 43a-43c, respectively. Is provided. In the present embodiment, the metal foil 25 fed out from the holder 31a is placed at the center in the left-right direction in the gap 38 by being spanned over the first roller member 34a and the second roller member 44a. Similarly, the metal foil 25 sent out from the holder 31b is arranged at the center in the left-right direction in the gap 38 by being stretched over the first roller member 34b and the second roller member 44b. Further, the metal foil 25 fed out from the holder 31c is placed at the center in the left-right direction in the gap 38 by being passed over the first roller member 34c and the second roller member 44c.

Next, the manufacturing method of the electrode sheet 24 using the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of this embodiment is demonstrated according to FIG. 5 with the effect | action.
First, the metal foil 25 formed in a long band shape is wound into a roll shape, and the roll of the metal foil 25 is assembled to each of the holders 31a to 31c. The metal foil 25 used differs depending on the type of secondary battery to be manufactured and whether the electrode sheet 24 to be manufactured is for a positive electrode or a negative electrode.

  Next, the metal foil 25 is pulled out from the roll of the metal foil 25 assembled to the holder 31a, and the first roller member 34a and the second roller member 44a are spanned to fix the tip of the metal foil 25 to the winding portion 43a. Similarly, the tips of the metal foils 25 assembled to the holders 31b and 31c are fixed to the winding portions 43b and 43c, respectively. At this time, the metal foil 25 supplied from the holder 31a is supplied to the right end gap 38 among the three gaps 38 in the shaping portion 35, and the metal foil 25 supplied from the holder 31b is supplied to the center gap 38 from the holder 31c. The supplied metal foil 25 is inserted through the gap 38 at the left end.

  Then, the active material paste 32 is put into the tank 33 until the first roller members 34a to 34c are buried. The active material contained in the active material paste 32 differs depending on the type of secondary battery to be manufactured and whether the electrode sheet 24 to be manufactured is for the positive electrode or the negative electrode.

  And in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30, while starting winding of the metal foil 25 by each winding part 43a-43c, while the metal foil 25 is sent out from each holder 31a-31c, each corresponding 1st roller member 34a-. The active material paste 32 is drawn so as to be buried in the active material paste 32 toward the side 34c, and the active material paste 32 is applied to both surfaces thereof. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the metal foil 25 is drawn upward from the active material paste 32, each metal foil 25 has an active material paste 32 (active material layer 26) targeted by the active material paste 32. The coating is thicker than the thickness of the film.

  And each gap | interval 38 is passed by conveying each metal foil 25 further upwards, respectively. As described above, the separation distance of each columnar member 37 (the width of each gap 38) is set to a distance obtained by adding the thickness of the metal foil 25 and the thickness of the target active material layer 26 (for both surfaces). Yes. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5A, the active material paste 32 applied to each metal foil 25 is formed by the lower surface of each columnar member 37 when the surplus active material paste 32 passes through the gaps 38. It is scraped off and shaped to the target thickness.

  In particular, each metal foil 25 is stretched over each of the first roller members 34a to 34c and the second roller members 44a to 44c arranged to form a pair, so that each of the metal foils 25 is centered in the left-right direction in the gap 38. It is supposed to be held. For this reason, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30, the thickness of the active material paste 32 applied to both surfaces of each metal foil 25, that is, the active material layer 26 formed on both surfaces can be made the same.

  And in this embodiment, since the metal foil 25 is each passed through the some clearance gap 38 provided in the shaping part 35, about the metal foil 25 of multiple (this embodiment three), the active material paste 32 is simultaneously carried out. The thickness can be shaped to a target thickness (thickness corresponding to the separation distance between the columnar members 37). Therefore, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment, the amount of the metal foil 25 to which the active material paste 32 can be applied per unit time can be increased compared to a configuration having only a single gap 38.

  Further, since the metal foil 25 that has passed through the gap 38 continues to pass between the scraping portions 40, the active material paste 32 applied to the front edge portion 25 a of each metal foil 25 by the scraping portion 40. Can be scraped off. For this reason, in the shaping part 35, while being able to shape the thickness of the active material paste 32 about the some metal foil 25 simultaneously, the active material paste 32 of the front edge part 25a can be scraped off further. In the present embodiment, the region (front edge portion 25 a) where the active material paste 32 is scraped off by the scraping unit 40 becomes the non-application region 27.

  Each metal foil 25 that has passed through the shaping unit 35 is further transported to a dryer 41, and is dried by blowing hot air in the dryer 41. And the electrode sheet 24 completed by drying the active material paste 32 is each wound up by each winding part 43a-43c in roll shape.

  Next, the electrode sheet 24 manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 is pressed (compressed) by, for example, a roll press to improve the density of the active material and the surface smoothness in the active material layer 26. In the present embodiment, the electrode sheet 24 including the non-application region 27 is cut into a substantially rectangular shape by punching, and the positive electrode tab 28a and the negative electrode tab 28b are formed and used.

  Next, the cut-out positive electrode sheet 24 and the negative electrode sheet 24 are alternately laminated in a state where the separator 23 obtained in another step is interposed (intervened state), and an electrode body is obtained. 21 is formed. The positive electrode current collector terminal 17 is joined and electrically connected to the positive electrode tab 28 a of the electrode body 21, and the positive electrode current collector terminal 17 is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 15. Further, the negative electrode current collector terminal 18 is electrically connected to the negative electrode tab 28 b of the electrode body 21, and the negative electrode current collector terminal 18 is electrically connected to the negative electrode current collector terminal 18. Subsequently, the electrode body 21 is housed in the main body member 12, and the lid member 13 is assembled to the main body member 12 with the positive electrode terminal 15 and the negative electrode terminal 16 protruding from the outer surface. Then, the case 11 is filled with an electrolyte corresponding to the type of the secondary battery 10 to complete the secondary battery 10.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The shaping portion 35 includes a plurality of columnar members 37 that are spaced apart from each other and face each other and arranged in parallel in the thickness direction of the metal foil 25, and a plurality of gaps 38 formed by the columnar members 37. Is formed. For this reason, by passing the metal foil 25 coated with the active material paste 32 on both sides through the plurality of gaps 38, the thickness of the active material paste 32 is simultaneously reduced for the plurality of metal foils 25. It can be shaped to a thickness according to the Therefore, the active material paste 32 can be applied to the plurality of metal foils 25 in parallel, and the amount of the metal foil 25 that can apply the active material paste 32 per unit time can be increased. Therefore, the production efficiency of the electrode sheet 24 can be improved.

  (2) The shaping portion 35 includes a scraping portion 40 that scrapes the active material paste 32 in the front edge portion 25a among the edges in the metal foil 25, and the scraping portion 40 has a scraping gap narrower than the gap 38. It is formed. Therefore, the thickness of the active material paste 32 can be shaped by passing through the gap 38, and the active material paste 32 at the front edge portion 25a can be scraped off. Therefore, for example, the positive terminal 15 and the non-application region 27 for electrically connecting the negative terminal 16 and the electrode sheet 24 in the secondary battery 10 can be easily formed.

  (3) The shaping unit 35 is provided with a support member 39 that functions as a changing mechanism that changes the separation distance between the columnar members 37. For this reason, the thickness of the active material paste 32 shaped by the gap 38 can be easily changed. Therefore, for example, when changing the type of the electrode sheet 24 to be manufactured, the setup can be easily changed.

  (4) By forming the active material layer 26 on the metal foil 25 by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30, the production efficiency of the secondary battery 10 can be improved as the production efficiency of the electrode sheet 24 is increased. Moreover, the man-hour required for manufacture of the secondary battery 10 can be reduced, and cost reduction can be aimed at.

  (5) The metal foil 25 coated with the active material paste 32 on both sides is allowed to pass through the plurality of gaps 38 formed in the shaping portion 35. For this reason, about the some metal foil 25, the thickness of the active material paste 32 can be shape | molded simultaneously to the thickness according to the separation distance of the columnar member 37. FIG. Therefore, the active material paste 32 is applied to the plurality of metal foils 25 in parallel, and the amount of the metal foil 25 that can apply the active material paste 32 per unit time can be improved. Therefore, the production efficiency of the electrode sheet 24 can be improved.

(6) When the metal foil 25 having the active material paste 32 applied on both sides is passed through the gaps 38, the scraping portion 40 formed on the columnar member 37 applies the active foil paste 32 to the front edge portion 25a of each metal foil 25. The active material paste 32 is scraped off. For this reason, the non-application area | region 27 can be simply formed with respect to the front edge part 25a of the metal foil 25. FIG.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the already described embodiments, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment, the active material paste 32 stored in the tank 45 is pressurized by a pump 46 as a pressurizing means, and the pressurized active material The paste 32 is supplied to the shaping unit 35 via four pipes 47 that connect the pump 46 and the shaping unit 35. Note that the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment is not provided with a tank 33 for drawing the metal foil 25 into the active material paste 32.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, each pipe 47 is connected to the rear end surface of each columnar member 37 constituting the shaping portion 35. Each opposed surface 37 a of the columnar member 37 is formed with a discharge port 37 b that opens along the width direction (front-rear direction) of each metal foil 25, and is formed inside each columnar member 37. Is provided with a supply path 37c that connects the pipe 47 and the discharge port 37b and supplies the active material paste 32 from the pipe 47 to the discharge port 37b. The length of each discharge port 37b in the front-rear direction is the same as the width of the metal foil 25 in the width direction. Therefore, the gap 38 of the present embodiment is formed on the upper end side of the facing surface 37a of each columnar member 37, and each discharge port 37b is formed upstream of the gap 38 in the transport direction of the metal foil 25. ing. In the present embodiment, a supply unit is configured by the supply path 37 c and the pipe 47.

  Further, on the lower end side of the facing surface 37 a in each columnar member 37, a plate-like portion 37 d that extends in the width direction of the metal foil 25 and protrudes toward the adjacent columnar member 37 is provided. . Each plate-like portion 37d is disposed so as to face and separate from the plate-like portion 37d of the adjacent columnar member 37, and between each plate-like portion 37d (columnar member 37), the metal foil 25 A receiving hole 49 through which the metal foil 25 is passed is formed so as to extend along the width direction (front-rear direction). The separation distance (the width of the receiving hole 49) between the plate-like portions 37 d is set slightly wider than the thickness of the metal foil 25. Further, a rod-like lip seal 50 that contacts the metal foil 25 passing through the receiving hole 49 is provided at the tip of each plate-like portion 37d so as to extend along the width direction (front-rear direction) of the metal foil 25. .

  The lip seal 50 is made of, for example, fluorine rubber. The lip seal 50 prevents the active material paste 32 pressurized by the pump 46 from leaking from between the wall surface of the receiving hole 49 and the metal foil 25. Further, the lip seal 50 guides the metal foil 25 so that the metal foil 25 is positioned at the center in the left-right direction in the gap 38. In the present embodiment, the gap 38 and the receiving hole 49 are formed so that the center lines in the left-right direction in a plan view coincide with each other.

Next, the manufacturing method of the electrode sheet 24 using the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of this embodiment is demonstrated with the effect | action.
The metal foil 25 assembled to the holder 31a spans the first roller member 34a and the second roller member 44a in a state where the receiving hole 49 and the gap 38 in the shaping portion 35 are inserted, and the tip thereof is the metal foil 25. Is fixed to the winding part 43a. Similarly, the tips of the metal foils 25 assembled to the holders 31b and 31c are fixed to the winding portions 43b and 43c in a state where the receiving holes 49 and the gaps 38 are inserted.

  Then, by driving the pump 46, the active material paste 32 supplied from the tank 45 is pressurized, and the pressurized active material paste 32 is supplied to the supply path 37 c of each columnar member 37 via each pipe 47. To do. The active material paste 32 supplied to the supply path 37 c is discharged from the discharge port 37 b and applied to the metal foil 25 passing through the gap 38. At this time, since the discharge ports 37b are formed on the opposing surfaces 37a so as to face the columnar members 37 on both sides, the active material paste 32 can be simultaneously applied to both surfaces of the metal foil 25. Then, each metal foil 25 is conveyed upward while passing through the gap 38, whereby the active material paste 32 having a target thickness is applied to both surfaces of the metal foil 25.

  Moreover, the active material paste 32 is supplied to the supply path 37c of each columnar member 37 through the pipe 47 so that the outside air is not touched from the tank 45 to the discharge port 37b. For this reason, it can suppress suitably that the coating amount to the metal foil 25 becomes non-uniform | heterogenous, when a binder vaporizes from the prepared active material paste 32 and the viscosity of the active material paste 32 changes.

  In addition, among the plurality of columnar members 37 constituting the shaping unit 35, one columnar member 37 provided so that both sides in the juxtaposed direction are sandwiched between the other columnar members 37 includes a columnar member in the columnar member 37. A single pipe 47 and a supply path 37c for supplying the active material paste 32 are provided to the discharge ports 37b respectively provided on both opposing surfaces 37a in the direction in which the members 37 are juxtaposed. Therefore, for example, the configuration of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 can be simplified as compared with a configuration in which the piping 47 and the supply path 37c are separately provided for each discharge port 37b.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) to (6) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(7) In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment, the active material paste 32 can be applied to the metal foil 25 by discharging the pressurized active material paste 32. For this reason, even if the viscosity of the active material paste 32 to be applied is high, the active material paste 32 can be applied to the metal foil 25. Therefore, the viscosity range of the active material paste 32 that can be applied to the metal foil 25 can be widened.

  (8) Among the plurality of columnar members 37 constituting the shaping unit 35, each columnar member 37 sandwiched between two columnar members 37 on both sides in the juxtaposed direction includes both opposing surfaces in the left-right direction of the columnar member 37. A single pipe 47 and a supply path 37c for supplying the active material paste 32 are provided to the discharge ports 37b provided in the respective 37a. Therefore, for example, the configuration of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 can be simplified as compared with a configuration in which the piping 47 and the supply path 37c are separately provided for each discharge port 37b.

  (9) The active material paste 32 is applied to the metal foil 25 by being discharged while being pressurized by the pump 46. For this reason. Even when the viscosity of the active material paste 32 to be applied is high, the active material paste 32 can be applied to the metal foil 25. Therefore, the viscosity range of the active material paste 32 that can be applied to the metal foil 25 can be widened.

(10) Since the active material paste 32 is applied to the metal foil 25 while being pressurized, the adhesion between the metal foil 25 and the active material paste 32 (active material layer 26) can be improved.
(11) The active material paste 32 is supplied to the supply path 37 c of each columnar member 37 through the pipe 47. For this reason, it can suppress suitably that the coating amount to the metal foil 25 becomes non-uniform | heterogenous, when a binder vaporizes from the prepared active material paste 32 and the viscosity of the active material paste 32 changes.

The embodiment is not limited as described above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
The punching metal may be used for the metal foil 25. In this case, the active material paste 32 can also be filled in the apertures to improve the amount of active material per unit area. In particular, in the second embodiment, even when punching metal is used, the active material paste 32 is pressurized and applied, so that it is possible to reliably fill the active material paste 32 in the openings. It becomes.

Further, although the metal foil 25 is used as the metal thin plate, it may be a thin plate having a thickness that does not affect the battery capacity reduction or the battery fabrication.
○ Each columnar member 37 may be integrally formed.

  The shaping unit 35 may be composed of three columnar members 37 or may be composed of five or more columnar members 37. In other words, the shaping unit 35 may be provided with two, or four or more gaps 38.

The shaping unit 35 may be configured such that the separation distance between the columnar members 37 cannot be changed.
The scraping part 40 may be provided corresponding to both edges of the metal foil 25, and the active material paste 32 may be scraped off simultaneously from both edges of the metal foil 25. Alternatively, the active material paste 32 may be scraped off only from one side of the metal foil 25. In the above embodiment, the scraping unit 40 may be omitted.

(Circle) the electrode manufacturing apparatus 30 may further be equipped with a press roll machine, and may press the active material layer 26 formed in the metal foil 25 after drying with this press roll machine.
In each columnar member 37, a heater may be embedded corresponding to the facing surface 37a. According to this, while shaping the active material paste 32 to a target thickness, preheating before drying by the dryer 41 can be performed, and the binder can be easily vaporized.

  ○ A magnetic field or ultrasonic waves may be applied to the active material paste 32. According to this, the active material etc. in the active material paste 32 can be disperse | distributed and made uniform by cavitation, and a viscosity can be stabilized.

In the second embodiment, the supply path 37c and the pipe 47 may be provided independently for each discharge port 37b.
In the second embodiment, the discharge port 37b is provided on the opposing surface 37a of the columnar member 37. However, the discharge port 37b may be provided upstream of the gap 38 in the passage direction of the thin metal plate.

  ○ The electrode body 21 is formed by forming the separator 23 and the electrode sheet 24 in a long sheet shape, and winding the electrode sheet 24 in a swirl shape with the separator 23 interposed therebetween (intervened state). The electrode sheet 24 may be layered. In this case, the electrode sheet for the positive electrode and the electrode sheet for the negative electrode 24 are overlapped so that the non-application areas 27 are arranged at both ends of the electrode sheet 24 in the width direction, and the electrode sheet 24 is wound in this state. Thus, the positive electrode tab 28a can be provided at one end in the width direction of the electrode body 21, and the negative electrode tab 28b can be provided at the other end. Further, the positive electrode current collector terminal 17 is inserted between the positive electrode tabs 28 a from the outside in the width direction of the electrode body 21, and the layered positive electrode tab 28 a is joined to the positive electrode current collector terminal 17. On the other hand, when the negative electrode current collector terminal 18 is inserted between the negative electrode tabs 28 b from the outside in the width direction of the electrode body 21 and the negative electrode tabs 28 b forming a layer are joined to the negative electrode current collector terminals 18. Good.

  In addition, when the electrode body 21 is formed by winding the electrode sheet 24, the width direction (direction in which the winding axis extends) of the electrode sheet 24 may be arranged in the vertical direction and stored in the case 11. In this case, the positive electrode tab 28a and the negative electrode tab 28b may be formed on the upper end portion (end portion on the lid member 13 side) of the electrode body 21 so as to extend upward. Further, the electrode body 21 may be laminated by bending the electrode sheet 24 into a bellows shape with the separator 23 interposed therebetween.

  (Circle) you may change suitably the number of the electrode sheets 24 which comprise the electrode body 21. FIG. For example, it is good also as the electrode body 21 provided with the electrode sheet 24 for positive electrodes, and the electrode sheet 24 for negative electrodes respectively.

The shape of the case 11 may be formed in a columnar shape or an elliptical column shape that is flat in the left-right direction.
○ The secondary battery 10 of the above embodiment is mounted on a vehicle (for example, an industrial vehicle or a passenger vehicle), and is charged by a generator installed in the vehicle. Alternatively, an electric motor for driving the wheels or an electrical component such as a car navigation system may be driven. According to this, as a result of improving the production efficiency as the electrode sheet 24 and the secondary battery 10, it is possible to improve the production efficiency as a vehicle equipped with the same. Further, the number of steps required for manufacturing the secondary battery 10 and the vehicle can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  The present invention may be embodied in an electric double layer capacitor as a power storage device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Secondary battery (electric storage apparatus), 24 ... Electrode sheet (electrode), 25 ... Metal foil, 25a ... Front edge part (edge part), 30 ... Electrode manufacturing apparatus (electrode manufacturing apparatus), 32 ... Active material paste , 35 ... shaping part, 37 ... columnar member (gap forming part), 37a ... opposing surface, 37b ... discharge port, 37c ... supply path (supply part), 38 ... gap, 39 ... support member (change mechanism), 40 ... Scraping section, 47 ... piping (supply section).

Claims (10)

An electrode manufacturing apparatus for applying an active material to both sides of a strip-shaped metal thin plate,
An application part for applying the active material;
A shaping part for shaping the thickness of the active material layer of the metal thin plate coated with the active material,
The shaping portion includes a plurality of gap forming portions arranged in parallel in the thickness direction of the metal thin plate at the time of application of the active material, being spaced apart from each other and facing each other,
An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode, wherein a plurality of shaping gaps formed by the gap forming portion are formed. The shaping portion includes a scraping portion that scrapes off an active material on at least one of the edges of the thin metal plate,
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scraping gap narrower than the shaping gap is formed by the scraping portion.   The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing mechanism that changes a separation distance of the gap forming portion.   The manufacturing apparatus includes a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the active material and sends the active material toward the metal thin plate, and the gap forming portion is provided with a discharge port for applying the active material to the metal thin plate. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The gap forming part is a columnar member,
The shaping portion is formed by arranging a plurality of the columnar members in parallel and forming the shaping gaps between the opposing surfaces of the columnar members,
Among the plurality of columnar members, each columnar member sandwiched between the two columnar members on both sides in the juxtaposed direction is added to the discharge ports respectively provided on both opposing surfaces of the columnar member. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a supply unit configured to supply the pressed active material.   A power storage device comprising an electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1.   A vehicle comprising the power storage device according to claim 6. A method of manufacturing an electrode in which an active material is applied to both sides of a strip-shaped metal thin plate,
Apart from each other, and mutual gap forming portion opposite is more aligned in the thickness direction of the sheet metal during the coating of the active material in a plurality of shaping gap formed between the gap forming portions including In the shaping part constituted by the active material, the thickness of the active material is reduced by conveying the metal thin plate coated with the active material on both sides by the application part for applying the active material to each shaping gap. A method for manufacturing an electrode, wherein the electrode is shaped to a thickness corresponding to a separation distance of a forming portion.   When the metal thin plate coated with the active material is passed through the shaping gap, the scraping portion provided in the gap forming portion forms a scraping gap narrower than the shaping gap to form each metal thin plate. The method for producing an electrode according to claim 8, wherein the active material applied to at least one edge is scraped off.   In each gap forming portion, the active material is applied to the plurality of thin metal plates by discharging the pressurized active material from a discharge port provided upstream of the shaping gap in the passage direction of the thin metal plate. The method for producing an electrode according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: