JP6409274B2 - Power storage device manufacturing method and power storage device electrolyte injection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a power storage device and an electrolyte solution injection device for the power storage device, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a power storage device in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution are housed in a case and an electrolyte solution injection device for the power storage device.

  Power storage devices such as secondary batteries and capacitors are widely used as power sources because they can be recharged and can be used repeatedly. In general, a secondary battery (power storage device) having a large capacity includes a case for accommodating an electrode assembly, and the electrode assembly and an electrolytic solution are accommodated in the case. In assembling the secondary battery, the electrode assembly is accommodated in the case body, and then the case lid is welded to the case body. Then, after pouring electrolyte solution into the case from a liquid injection hole (injection hole) formed in the lid, the liquid injection hole is sealed.

  When injecting the electrolyte into the battery, in order to increase the injection rate, an injection chamber for sealing the opening of the unsealed battery is provided, and a supply pipe is connected between the electrolyte tank and the injection chamber. There has been proposed a method in which the inside of a battery is set in a reduced pressure state, and an electrolytic solution in a tank is injected into the battery through a liquid supply pipe (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 5, in Patent Document 1, a cap 54 is connected to an upper opening end 52a of a battery case 52 in an unsealed battery 51 via a seal packing 53, and the opening of the battery case 52 is opened. An injection chamber 55 for sealing the part is formed. The injection chamber 55 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) through an air discharge port 56, and is maintained in a reduced pressure state, that is, a predetermined degree of vacuum.

  The electrolytic solution tank 58 containing the electrolytic solution 57 and the injection chamber 55 are connected via a liquid supply pipe 59, and the inside of the electrolytic solution tank 58 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) via an air discharge port 56. In a reduced pressure state, that is, a predetermined vacuum level smaller than that in the battery 51 is maintained. The liquid supply pipe 59 is provided with a liquid injection valve 60. Then, in a state where the degree of vacuum in the battery case 52 is higher than the degree of vacuum in the electrolytic solution tank 58, the injection valve 60 is opened and the electrolytic solution 57 in the electrolytic solution tank 58 is injected.

JP-A-9-35074

  However, in the electrolytic solution injection method of Patent Document 1, an injection chamber 55 that seals the opening of the battery case 52 in the unsealed battery 51 is formed, and the electrolytic solution tank 58 and the injection chamber 55 are connected to the supply pipe 59. And the inside of the electrolyte tank 58 and the injection chamber 55 need to be depressurized to a predetermined degree of vacuum by a vacuum pump.

  For example, when using a product in which a plurality of electrolytic solutions are mixed as an electrolytic solution, the amount of volatilization under reduced pressure changes due to the different boiling points of the electrolytic solutions, and the composition of the electrolytic solution changes. In addition, if an excessive electrolyte is added in consideration of the above problems, the yield is poor and the process time is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to shorten the time for injecting the electrolyte without reducing the pressure in the case of the power storage device or the electrolyte tank with a vacuum pump. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a power storage device and an electrolyte injection device for the power storage device.

  A method of manufacturing a power storage device that solves the above problems includes an electrolyte tank disposed above a case in which an electrode assembly is housed and sealed with a lid, and the inside of the electrolyte tank is in communication with the atmosphere. And holding the electrolyte tank and the injection hole of the case in a state in which the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank is guided in an airtight manner to the injection hole, the side wall of the case being outside the case A state in which the side wall is temporarily deformed by applying at least one of a first urging force for urging the side wall and a second urging force for urging the side wall toward the inside of the case; and a state in which the deformation of the side wall is eliminated And an electrolytic solution injection step.

  According to this configuration, in the electrolytic solution injection step, the electrolytic solution tank is above the case of the power storage device, the inside of the electrolytic solution tank is in communication with the atmosphere, and the electrolytic solution tank and the injection hole of the case are The electrolytic solution is injected in a state where the electrolytic solution in the tank is held in a state of being guided in an airtight manner to the injection hole. The state in which the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank is guided to the injection hole in an airtight state is a state in which the discharge port of the electrolyte tank is arranged in an airtight state directly in the injection hole of the case, or the discharge port of the electrolyte tank And the case liquid injection hole are connected via a pipe, and the pipe is connected to the discharge port of the electrolyte tank and the case liquid injection hole in an airtight state.

  When the first urging force is applied to the side wall of the case, the side wall of the case is deformed outward, the inside of the case is in a reduced pressure state before the deformation, and the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic solution tank falls naturally. Falls into the case at a faster speed than When the second urging force is applied to the side wall of the case, the side wall of the case is deformed inward and the gas in the case is discharged into the electrolyte tank. In addition, when releasing the second urging force from the state in which the second urging force is applied to the side wall, the side wall returns to the state before the deformation, so that the inside of the case is also in a reduced pressure state, The electrolytic solution in the electrolytic solution tank falls into the case at a higher speed than natural dropping. In addition, when the application of the first urging force is released from the state in which the first urging force is applied to the side wall of the case, the side wall returns to the state before the deformation. Thus, the gas in the case is discharged into the electrolyte tank. Therefore, by repeating at least one of the first urging force and the second urging force to temporarily deform the side wall and the state in which the deformation of the side wall is eliminated, the inside of the case of the power storage device or the electrolytic The electrolyte injection time can be shortened without reducing the pressure in the liquid tank with a vacuum pump.

  An electrolytic solution injecting device for a power storage device that solves the above problem includes an electrolytic solution tank that is disposed above a case of the power storage device in which an electrode assembly is housed and sealed with a lid. Holding means for holding the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank in a state of airtightly guiding the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank to the injection hole, and biasing the sidewall to the outside of the case on the side wall of the case A state in which the side wall is temporarily deformed by applying at least one of a first urging force to be applied and a second urging force to urge the side wall toward the inside of the case, and the deformation so that the deformation of the side wall is eliminated. Pressure application means that can be changed to a state in which the action of the first urging force and the second urging force are released.

  According to this configuration, the electrolytic solution tank has the case where the electrolytic solution tank and the injection hole of the case are in an airtight state in which the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic solution tank is guided to the injection hole by the action of the holding unit. Arranged above. In this state, when the pressure applying means is operated, at least one of the first urging force for urging the side wall toward the outside of the case and the second urging force for urging the side wall toward the inside of the case with respect to the side wall of the case. And the state of temporarily deforming the side wall and the state of releasing the action of the first urging force and the second urging force so as to eliminate the deformation of the side wall are repeated. Therefore, the time for injecting the electrolyte can be shortened without reducing the pressure in the case of the power storage device or in the electrolyte tank with the vacuum pump.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time for injecting the electrolyte without reducing the pressure in the case of the power storage device or the electrolyte tank with the vacuum pump.

1 shows a first embodiment, (a) is a schematic perspective view of a secondary battery and pressure applying means, (b) is a schematic side view. (A), (b) is a schematic diagram explaining an effect | action. The schematic side view of the secondary battery and pressure provision means of 2nd Embodiment. (A), (b) is a schematic diagram explaining an effect | action. Sectional drawing which shows a prior art.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), an electrode assembly 12 is accommodated in a case 11 of a secondary battery 10 as a power storage device in the middle of manufacture (during assembly). The case 11 includes a bottomed square cylindrical case main body 11a and a lid 11b that closes an opening for inserting the electrode assembly 12 into the case main body 11a. The case main body 11a and the lid body 11b are joined by welding. The case 11 is made of, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the secondary battery 10 is, for example, a lithium ion battery.

  The lid body 11b is formed with a liquid injection hole 14 for injecting the electrolyte solution 13 (shown in FIG. 1B) into the case body 11a. A positive terminal 15 and a negative terminal 16 electrically connected to the electrode assembly 12 are fixed to the lid 11b.

Next, the electrolytic solution injection process of the method for manufacturing the power storage device will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the electrolytic solution injection device for performing the electrolytic solution injection step holds the electrolytic solution tank 17 above the case 11 sealed by the lid 11b except for the liquid injection hole 14. Holding means 18, and a pressure applying means 19 for applying a biasing force to the pair of side walls 11c having a larger area of the case 11.

  The holding means 18 includes a support portion 20 on which the electrolyte tank 17 disposed above the case 11 of the secondary battery 10 disposed at a predetermined position is placed in a downward state, a discharge port of the electrolyte tank 17, A pipe 21 having an end connected to the liquid injection hole 14 in an airtight state is provided. That is, the holding means 18 includes the electrolytic solution tank 17 disposed above the case 11, the electrolytic solution tank 17 and the injection hole 14 of the case 11, and the electrolytic solution 13 in the electrolytic solution tank 17. To keep the airtight state.

  The pressure applying means 19 is arranged in a state of being opposed to each other, and a vacuum pad 25 as an adsorbing portion capable of adsorbing the side wall 11c of the case 11 and a first direction for urging the vacuum pad 25 toward the outside of the case 11c. And a drive unit 26 that reciprocates linearly in a second direction that urges the inside of the case. The vacuum pad 25 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown) through a flexible pipe 27. An electromagnetic valve (not shown) is provided in the middle of the pipe 27, and the inside of the vacuum pad 25 is adjusted to a reduced pressure (vacuum) state and a reduced pressure release state by the electromagnetic valve. The drive unit 26 is constituted by, for example, an air cylinder 28, and the tip of the piston rod 28 a is fixed to the pipe 27 via a bracket 29.

Next, an electrolytic solution injection method using the electrolytic solution injection apparatus will be described.
When injecting the electrolytic solution 13 into the case 11, as shown in FIG. 1B, the electrolytic solution tank 17 is supported by the support portion 20 above the case, and the electrolytic solution tank 17 and the injection hole of the case 11 are filled. 14 is held in a state in which the electrolytic solution 13 in the electrolytic solution tank 17 is guided to the liquid injection hole 14 in an airtight state. In addition, the electrolyte tank 17 is set in communication with the atmosphere.

  From this state, the pressure applying means 19 is operated, and the vacuum pad 25 is kept in a vacuum state. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the vacuum pad 25 is moved in a direction in which a first urging force for urging the side wall 11c toward the outside of the case is applied to the side wall 11c, and the side wall 11c is moved outward. It is deformed so as to bend toward the front. With the deformation of the side wall 11c, the volume of the case 11 increases from before the deformation, and the inside of the case 11 is in a reduced pressure state before the deformation. As a result, a suction force is applied from the case 11 side to the electrolytic solution 13 in the electrolytic solution tank 17, and the electrolytic solution 13 in the electrolytic solution tank 17 falls into the case 11 at a higher speed than natural falling. To do.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the vacuum pad 25 is moved in a direction in which a second urging force for urging the side wall 11c toward the inside of the case is applied to the side wall 11c, the side wall 11c is moved to the inner side. It deform | transforms so that it may bend toward. Then, the gas in the case 11 is discharged into the electrolyte tank 17. 2A and 2B, the drive unit 26 is not shown and the deformed state of the side wall 11c is exaggerated for easy understanding of the deformed state.

  Next, the vacuum pad 25 is moved in a direction in which a first urging force for urging the side wall 11c to the outside of the case is applied to the side wall 11c again, and the side wall 11c is deformed so as to bend outward. At this time, compared with the case where the side wall 11c is first deformed outward, the decompressed state in the case 11 becomes larger, and the electrolytic solution 13 in the electrolytic solution tank 17 is faster than the spontaneous fall. Fall into.

  Thereafter, the vacuum pad 25 is repeatedly moved in the direction in which the second urging force is applied and the direction in which the first urging force is applied to the side wall 11c. Note that the time during which the vacuum pad 25 is applied with the first urging force or the state where the second urging force is applied and the moving speed of the vacuum pad 25 are set by conducting a test in advance.

  Then, after a predetermined amount of the electrolyte 13 is injected into the case 11, the driving of the pressure applying means 19 is stopped and the vacuum pad 25 is released from the vacuum state. In addition, the electrolyte tank 17 is set in a state incapable of communicating with the atmosphere, and the injection operation of the electrolyte 13 is completed. Thereafter, the liquid injection hole 14 is closed by a sealing member (not shown).

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the electrolytic solution injection step in the method for manufacturing the secondary battery 10, the electrolytic solution tank 17 is disposed above the case 11 in which the electrode assembly 12 is housed and sealed with the lid 11 b. A state in which the inside of the tank 17 is in communication with the atmosphere, and the electrolytic solution tank 17 and the injection hole 14 of the case 11 are held in a state in which the electrolytic solution 13 in the electrolytic solution tank 17 is guided to the injection hole 14 in an airtight state. Done in Then, a first urging force that urges the side wall 11c to the outside of the case is applied to the side wall 11c of the case 11 to temporarily deform the side wall 11c, and the side wall 11c to the inside of the case 11c. A state of applying a second urging force to urge and temporarily deforming the side wall 11c is repeated. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time for injecting the electrolyte without reducing the pressure in the case 11 of the power storage device (secondary battery 10) or the electrolyte tank 17 with a vacuum pump.

  (2) The electrolytic solution injection device for the secondary battery 10 includes an electrolytic solution tank 17 disposed above the case 11 in which the electrode assembly 12 is housed and sealed by the lid 11b. And holding means 18 for holding the electrolyte solution 13 in the electrolyte tank 17 in a state of guiding the electrolyte solution 13 in the electrolyte tank 17 to the solution injection hole 14 in an airtight state. In addition, the electrolyte injection device applies a first urging force for urging the side wall 11c to the outside of the case and a second urging force for urging the side wall 11c to the inside of the case to the side wall 11c of the case 11. Pressure applying means 19 that can be held in a state of being temporarily deformed and a state of releasing the action of the first urging force and the second urging force so as to eliminate the deformation of the side wall 11c is provided. According to this configuration, the above-described electrolytic solution injection step can be performed. Therefore, the time for injecting the electrolyte can be shortened without reducing the pressure in the case of the power storage device or in the electrolyte tank with the vacuum pump.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, since 2nd Embodiment is the structure which changed the structure of the pressure provision means 19 of 1st Embodiment, the same part as 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits detailed description.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure applying means 30 can be disposed at a position that covers the entire outer surface of the side wall 11c of the case 11 in an airtight state, and is disposed at a position that covers the entire outer surface of the side wall 11c in an airtight state. The pressure adjustment part 32 which comprises the pressure adjustment chamber 31 with the side wall 11c, and the piping 33 by which one end was connected to the pressure adjustment part 32 and the other end were connected to the pressure source which is not shown in figure are provided. The pressure adjusting chamber 31 is divided into a state in which negative pressure is supplied (depressurized) from a pressure source, a state in which the pressure is adjusted to atmospheric pressure, and a state in which pressurized gas is supplied by a control unit (not shown). It has come to be adjusted.

  When the negative pressure is supplied from the pressure source to the pressure adjusting unit 32 and the pressure adjusting chamber 31 is depressurized from the state shown in FIG. 3, the first side wall 11 c of the case 11 is urged to the outside of the case 11. As shown in FIG. 4A, the urging force is applied, and the side wall 11c is deformed so as to bend outward. Along with this deformation of the side wall 11c, the volume of the case 11 increases from before the deformation, and a suction force acts on the electrolyte solution 13 in the electrolyte solution tank 17 from the case 11 side. The liquid 13 falls into the case 11 at a faster speed than natural falling.

  When a pressurized gas is supplied from the pressure source to the pressure adjusting unit 32 and the pressure adjusting chamber 31 is pressurized after a predetermined time has elapsed, a second urging force is applied to the side wall 11c to urge the side wall 11c toward the inside of the case. As shown in FIG. 4B, the side wall 11c is deformed so as to bend inward. Then, the gas in the case 11 is discharged into the electrolyte tank 17.

  Thereafter, the pressure in the pressure adjustment chamber 31 is adjusted and the liquid injection operation is performed so that the pressure adjustment chamber 31 alternately repeats the depressurized state and the pressurized state. Then, after a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution 13 is injected into the case 11, the pressure supply from the pressure source is stopped, the inside of the pressure adjustment chamber 31 is restored to the atmospheric pressure, and the injection operation of the electrolytic solution 13 is completed.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(3) The pressure applying means 30 can be disposed at a position that covers the entire outer surface of the side wall 11c of the case 11 in an airtight state, and is pressured together with the side wall 11c in a state that is disposed at a position that covers the entire outer surface of the side wall 11c in an airtight state. The pressure adjustment part 32 which comprises the adjustment chamber 31 and the piping 33 by which one end was connected to the pressure adjustment part 32 and the other end was connected to the pressure source which is not shown in figure are provided. Therefore, unlike the first embodiment, the pressure in the pressure adjusting chamber 31 is only reduced or increased, and the pressure adjusting unit 32 is not moved, and the side wall 11c is not moved. Thus, the state can be switched between a state in which the first urging force is applied and a state in which the second urging force is applied.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
In the electrolyte injection step, the side wall 11c is applied by applying at least one of a first urging force for urging the side wall 11c to the outside of the case and a second urging force for urging the side wall 11c to the inside of the case. It is sufficient to repeat the state of temporarily deforming and the state in which the deformation of the side wall 11c is eliminated, and it is not necessary to positively apply both the first urging force and the second urging force. For example, only the first urging force for urging the side wall 11c toward the outside of the case is positively applied, and the force for urging the side wall 11c toward the inner side of the case is determined by the side wall 11c when the first urging force is released. The resilience to return to the state. Further, only the second urging force for urging the side wall 11c toward the inside of the case is positively applied, and the force for urging the side wall 11c toward the outer side of the case is determined by the side wall 11c when the second urging force is released. It is good also as the restoring force which returns to the state of.

  ○ In the case where the pressure applying means is configured to apply only the second urging force for urging the side wall 11c to the inside of the case on the side wall 11c of the case 11, the pressure applying means simply presses the side wall 11c without adsorbing the side wall 11c. In this state, the forward drive is performed, and the backward movement may be performed by the restoring force of the side wall 11c.

  The pressure applying means is not necessarily limited to the configuration in which at least one of the first urging force and the second urging force is applied to the both side walls 11 c of the case 11, but only the first side wall 11 c of the case 11 is the first. A configuration in which at least one of the urging force and the second urging force is applied may be employed.

  The case 11 is not limited to aluminum or aluminum alloy, but may be made of stainless steel, for example. In the case of ferritic stainless steel, an electromagnet may be used in place of the vacuum pad 25 as an adsorbing part that can adsorb the side wall 11c.

The electrode assembly 12 may be either a laminated type or a wound type.
The secondary battery 10 is not limited to a lithium ion battery, and may be another secondary battery such as a nickel hydride secondary battery or a nickel cadmium secondary battery.

The power storage device is not limited to the secondary battery 10 and may be a capacitor such as an electric double layer capacitor or a lithium ion capacitor.
The following technical idea (invention) can be understood from the embodiment.

  (1) In the invention according to claim 2, the pressure applying means is arranged in an opposing state and can adsorb the adsorbing portion that can adsorb the side wall of the case, and the adsorbing portion to the outside of the case. And a drive section that reciprocates linearly in a first direction that urges the case to the inside.

  (2) In the invention described in claim 2, the pressure applying means can be disposed at a position that covers the entire outer surface of the side wall of the case in an airtight state, and is disposed at a position that covers the entire outer surface of the side wall in an airtight state. The pressure adjustment part which comprises a pressure adjustment chamber with the said side wall in the state, and the piping which one end was connected to the pressure adjustment part and the other end was connected to the pressure source which is not shown in figure are provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Case, 11b ... Lid, 11c ... Side wall, 12 ... Electrode assembly, 13 ... Electrolyte, 14 ... Injection hole, 17 ... Electrolyte tank, 18 ... Holding means, 19, 30 ... Pressure application means

Claims (4)

A method for manufacturing a power storage device, comprising:
The electrode assembly is accommodated therein, and arranged upward the electrolytic tank case sealed with the lid, the electrolyte tank to the atmosphere communication with, whether One prior Symbol the case with vacuum pump Without reducing the pressure, the electrolytic solution tank and the injection hole of the case are held in a state in which the electrolytic solution in the electrolytic solution tank is guided in an airtight manner to the injection hole so that the volume of the case increases. The first state in which the first urging force for urging the side wall of the case to the outside of the case to deform the side wall is applied and the second state in which the deformation of the side wall to the outside of the case is eliminated are repeated. Having an electrolyte injection process,
In the electrolytic solution injecting step, the adsorbing portion that adsorbs the side wall of the case is caused to reciprocate linearly together with the side wall.   In the electrolyte solution injection step, while the second state is changed to the first state again, the side wall is deformed by urging the side wall toward the inside of the case so as to reduce the volume of the case. The method for manufacturing a power storage device according to claim 1, wherein a third state in which an urging force of 2 is applied and a fourth state in which deformation of the side wall toward the inside of the case is eliminated. An electrolyte injection device for a power storage device,
The electrode assembly is accommodated therein, and an electrolytic solution tank which is disposed above the casing of the electric storage device sealed by the lid, the electrolyte tank holds the atmosphere communication with, before Symbol Case without depressurizing the inner with vacuum pump, and holding means for holding the injection hole of the said electrolytic solution tank case, the electrolyte of the electrolytic solution tank in a state guided in an airtight state to the injection hole ,
A first state in which a first urging force is applied to the side wall of the case to urge the side wall to the outside of the case so as to increase the volume of the case and to deform the side wall, and the deformation of the side wall is eliminated. Pressure applying means that can be changed to the second state in which the action of the first urging force is released,
The pressure applying means is an electrolyte injection device for a power storage device, comprising: an adsorbing unit that adsorbs the side wall; and a drive unit that reciprocally moves the adsorbing unit that adsorbs the side wall together with the side wall.
The pressure applying means deforms the side wall by adding the side wall of the case to the first state and the second state and urging the side wall to the inside of the case so as to reduce the volume of the case. The third state in which the second biasing force to be applied can be changed, and the fourth state in which the action of the second biasing force is canceled so that the deformation of the side wall can be eliminated. Electrolyte injection device for power storage device.