JP6627420B2 - Electrode laminating apparatus and electrode laminating method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode stacking apparatus and an electrode stacking method.

  Devices described in Patent Literatures 1 to 4 are known as electrode stacking devices. These are all devices for stacking sequentially supplied electrodes. In the device described in Patent Document 1, a continuously transported electrode plate is discharged into the air and dropped. The electrode plates are stacked on the stacking table such that the drop position of the electrode plate is at a predetermined position. In the device described in Patent Literature 2, the electrode plates sequentially conveyed and supplied are applied to a front receiving plate and placed on a lower receiving plate. In these devices, the plates are transported and supplied by a belt conveyor.

  In the device described in Patent Literature 3, the sheet-like body is supplied by a supply mechanism, cut and discharged, and the sheet-like body is dropped and moved using gravity by a drop moving unit disposed below the supply mechanism. Let it. A guide laminating means is arranged below the drop moving means, and the guide laminating means sequentially guides and laminates the sheet-like bodies. Further, two supply mechanisms are arranged side by side in two upper and lower stages, and two different types of sheet-like bodies such as a positive electrode body and a negative electrode body are alternately laminated. In the device described in Patent Literature 4, a single cathode plate, a separator, a single anode plate, and a separator sequentially conveyed by a conveyor are repeatedly laminated by a lamination device.

JP-A-5-41208 JP 2009-123598 A JP 2012-91372 A JP-A-63-164175

  When it is assumed that the electrodes are transported and stacked at a high speed, the moving speed of the electrodes also tends to increase. In the stacking section where the electrodes are stacked, it is necessary to stop the electrodes transported at a high speed by using some means. For example, a stop means for bringing the electrode into contact with a stop provided upright in the direction of transport of the electrode (in other words, the moving direction) can be considered. . For example, it is conceivable that the electrode is damaged or powder is dropped from the active material layer.

  Then, the present inventors are studying to reduce the impact when the electrode stops at the laminated portion. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode laminating apparatus and an electrode laminating method that can reduce an impact when an electrode stops at a lamination portion.

  One embodiment of the present invention is an electrode stacking apparatus that stacks sheet-like electrodes sequentially supplied by its own weight, and a sliding unit that slides the electrodes along a sliding surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, A laminating unit disposed on the downstream side and laminating the electrodes, wherein the sliding unit is provided with a braking unit that reduces the moving speed of the electrode that slides on the sliding surface.

  According to this electrode laminating apparatus, the sliding portion is provided with the braking portion that reduces the moving speed of the electrode that slides on the sliding surface. Since the sliding portion is disposed on the upstream side of the stacked portion, the braking portion can reduce the moving speed of the electrode at a position on the upstream side of the stacked portion. As described above, by reducing the moving speed of the electrode at a position on the upstream side of the stacked portion, it is possible to reduce the impact when the electrode stops at the stacked portion.

  The braking unit includes a gas blowing unit that blows gas toward the sliding surface from a position separated from the sliding surface. In this case, the electrode that slides on the sliding surface is pressed against the sliding surface by being blown with gas from the gas blowing unit. Thereby, in addition to the frictional force with the sprayed gas, the frictional force from the sliding surface side due to being pressed against the sliding surface side is applied to the electrode. These frictional forces function as braking forces on the electrodes.

  The braking unit includes a suction unit that can suck an electrode that slides on the slide surface toward the slide surface. In this case, the electrode sucked toward the sliding surface is pressed toward the sliding surface. Thus, the electrode is pressed against the sliding surface, whereby a frictional force is applied from the sliding surface. This friction force functions as a braking force on the electrode.

  The braking unit includes an ultrasonic wave generating unit that generates a traveling wave from a downstream side to an upstream side on the running surface. Thus, a force is applied to the electrode from the downstream side to the upstream side by the vibration of the traveling wave. Such a force functions as a braking force on the electrode.

  In the braking section, the braking force generated on the downstream side is larger than the braking force generated on the upstream side of the running surface. This makes it possible to apply a sufficient braking force on the downstream side while suppressing a sudden change in the moving speed when the electrode reaches the sliding portion.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an electrode laminating method for laminating sheet-like electrodes sequentially supplied by its own weight, comprising: a sliding step of sliding the electrodes along a sliding surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction; And a laminating step of laminating the electrodes. In the sliding step, a braking step of reducing the moving speed of the electrodes sliding on the sliding surface is performed.

  According to this electrode laminating method, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described electrode laminating apparatus can be obtained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the impact at the time of an electrode stopping in a laminated part can be reduced.

It is a figure showing typically the electrode lamination device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing typically the braking part of the electrode lamination device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the electrode lamination apparatus which concerns on a comparative example. It is a figure showing typically the braking part of the electrode lamination device of a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the positional relationship of a suction part. It is a figure showing typically the braking part of the electrode lamination device of a 3rd embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

(1st Embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 1, an electrode stacking apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment will be described. The electrode stacking apparatus 1 is an apparatus used in a production line of a power storage device such as a lithium ion secondary battery. The power storage device production line generally includes a positive electrode production line, a negative electrode production line, and an assembly line for assembling the power storage device with a case and the like using the electrodes (positive electrode and negative electrode) produced by each electrode production line. Is done. The electrode stacking apparatus 1 is an apparatus that is arranged on an assembly line and stacks a positive electrode and a negative electrode to obtain a laminate X that is a precursor of an electrode assembly.

  The electrode stacking device 1 stacks the positive electrode 11, the separator 13, and the negative electrode 12 of the power storage device. The electrode assembly of the power storage device includes a positive electrode 11, a negative electrode 12, and a bag-shaped separator 13 disposed between the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12. One of the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12 can be accommodated in the separator 13. In the present embodiment, the positive electrode 11 is housed in the separator 13. With the positive electrode 11 stored in the separator 13, the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12 are alternately stacked via the separator 13. That is, the electrode stacking apparatus 1 alternately stacks the negative electrodes 12 and the positive electrodes with separators 10 which are sheet-like electrodes (work).

  The positive electrode 11 is formed by forming a positive electrode active material layer on both sides of a rectangular metal foil made of, for example, an aluminum foil. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material and a binder. Examples of the positive electrode active material include a composite oxide, lithium metal, sulfur, and the like. The composite oxide contains, for example, at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum, and lithium. The positive electrode 11 of the present embodiment has a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. On one of the long sides, a tab (projection) 11a used for connection to the positive electrode terminal is formed.

  The portion of the positive electrode 11 excluding the tab 11 a is accommodated in a bag-shaped separator 13. Examples of the material for forming the separator 13 include a porous film made of a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), and a woven or nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), methylcellulose, and the like. The tab 11 a of the positive electrode 11 protrudes outward from the long side of the substantially rectangular separator (main body) 13. As described above, the positive electrode 11 is accommodated in the bag-shaped separator 13 to constitute the positive electrode 10 with the separator. The width in the left-right direction of the bag-shaped separator 13 used in the electrode stacking apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is the same as the width of the negative electrode 12. Further, the height of the separator 13 is slightly larger than the height of the negative electrode 12 main body. The separator 13 is not limited to a bag shape, but may be a sheet shape.

  On the other hand, the negative electrode 12 is formed by forming a negative electrode active material layer on both surfaces of a metal foil made of, for example, a copper foil. The negative electrode active material layer is formed including a negative electrode active material and a binder. Examples of the negative electrode active material include graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, carbon such as hard carbon and soft carbon, alkali metals such as lithium and sodium, metal compounds, SiOx (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1.5 ) And boron-added carbon. The negative electrode 12 of the present embodiment includes a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. On one of the long sides, a tab (projection) 12a used for connection to the negative electrode terminal is formed. The tab 12a of the negative electrode 12 protrudes outward from the long side of the rectangular main body 12b on which the negative electrode active material layer is formed. The tabs 11a and 12a are formed at positions where they do not overlap each other when the positive electrode 11 (that is, the positive electrode 10 with a separator) and the negative electrode 12 are stacked.

  The binder is, for example, a fluorine-containing resin such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or fluororubber, a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, an imide-based resin such as polyimide or polyamideimide, or an alkoxysilyl group-containing resin.

  The electrode laminating apparatus 1 slides the transport unit 2 that alternately transports the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 with a separator, which are two different types of electrodes, and the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 with the separator, which are discharged from an outlet 2 b of the transport unit 2. And a laminated portion 4 for alternately receiving the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 with the separator slid on the sliding portion 20 and forming a laminated body X of the electrodes in the laminated region A.

  The transport unit 2 is, for example, a belt conveyor having a belt 2d. The transport unit 2 alternately places the negative electrodes 12 and the positive electrodes with separators 10 on the transport surface 2a of the belt 2d, and transports them in the transport direction D1. The transport direction D1 in the transport unit 2 is, for example, a horizontal direction. Note that the transport direction D1 is not limited to the horizontal direction, and may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The transport unit 2 transports the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 so that the tabs 12a and 11a are located on the upstream side in the transport direction D1. In other words, the transport unit 2 transports the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 such that the other long side on which the tabs 12a and 11a are not formed is the front side. In addition, a positive electrode supply unit and a negative electrode supply unit (not shown) are arranged on the upstream side of the transport unit 2. The positive electrode with separator 10 is supplied and placed on the transport surface 2a by the positive electrode supply unit. The negative electrode supply unit supplies and loads the negative electrode 12 on the transport surface 2a. In addition, the conveyance part 2 may be another conveyance means, such as a roller conveyor, as long as the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator can be conveyed similarly.

  The transport unit 2 is provided with a drive unit 2c. The driving unit 2c runs the belt 2d by rotating the roller. The drive unit 2c also has a function as a control unit, and can change and adjust the traveling speed of the belt 2d. The tip of the transport surface 2a is an outlet 2b for alternately discharging the transported negative electrode 12 and positive electrode 10 with separator. In the transport section 2, the transport speed is increased, and high-speed transport of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator is possible. The negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 discharged from the outlet 2b are supplied to the sliding section 20 by dropping toward the sliding section 20 by their own weight.

  The sliding section 20 is disposed diagonally below the outlet 2b of the transport section 2. The sliding section 20 is disposed on an extension of the sliding section 20 when viewed in a plan view. In other words, the sliding section 20 is disposed below an extension extending from the exit section 2b in the transport direction D1. A space may be provided between the outlet 2b and the sliding section 20. The size of this space may be set based on the transport speed in the transport unit 2, the number of stacked electrodes in the laminate X, and the like. Alternatively, a space may not be provided between the outlet 2b and the sliding section 20.

  The sliding section 20 is disposed between the transport section 2 and the stacking section 4. The upper end of the sliding section 20 faces the outlet 2 b of the transport section 2, and the lower end of the sliding section 20 faces the upper end of the stacking section 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the sliding section 20 has a rectangular bottom plate section 24 provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The surface of the bottom plate portion 24 is a sliding surface 24a on which the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 slide. The inclination angle of the bottom plate part 24 is 15 to 25 ° with respect to the laminated part 4. The sliding portion 20 has a pair of parallel side plate portions 25, 25 erected on the left and right side portions of the bottom plate portion 24. The sliding portion 20 having a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape includes a surface facing the sliding surface 24a, a surface on the upper end side (that is, a surface closest to the outlet 2b), and a surface on the lower end side (that is, a surface closest to the laminated portion 4). And are open. The portion opened on the upper end side constitutes an entry portion 20 a in which the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 can enter the sliding portion 20. The portion opened at the lower end constitutes an outlet portion 20 b capable of discharging the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 from the sliding portion 20. The pair of side plate portions 25, 25 are respectively arranged so as to be orthogonal to the bottom plate portion 24. The pair of parallel side plate portions 25 has an interval slightly larger than the width of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator, and moves the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator from the entrance portion 20a to the exit portion 20b. invite. The moving directions of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 that are discharged from the transport unit 2 and enter the stacked unit 4 are substantially equal to the inclination direction of the sliding surface 24a.

  The laminating part 4 is disposed diagonally below the outlet part 20b of the sliding part 20. The stacked portion 4 is arranged on an extension of the sliding portion 20 when viewed in a plan view. A space is provided between the outlet part 20b and the laminated part 4. The size of this space is set based on the transport speed in the sliding section 20, the number of stacked electrodes in the stacked body X, and the like.

  The stacking unit 4 is mounted on the support unit 9. The support section 9 has a holding frame 9a for holding the stacked section 4, and the stacked section 4 is placed and held on the holding frame 9a. The support section 9 may have a structure that can be slid in the front-rear direction or the up-down direction so that the relative position of the stacked section 4 to the outlet section 2b can be changed. Here, the front-back direction is a direction parallel to the direction in which the transport direction D1 is projected on a horizontal plane.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laminated portion 4 includes a rectangular bottom plate portion 6 provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, a stop plate portion 7 erected at the lower end of the bottom plate portion 6, and a bottom plate portion. 6 and a pair of parallel side plate portions 8, 8 erected on the left and right side portions. The surface of the bottom plate 6 is a mounting surface 6a on which the laminate X is mounted. The stacked portion 4 having a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape includes a surface facing the mounting surface 6a (that is, a surface from which the stacked body X is taken out) and a surface facing the stop plate portion 7 (that is, a surface closest to the outlet portion 20b). Is open. From these opened portions, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 can enter.

  The moving direction of the negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 discharged from the sliding section 20 and entering the laminated section 4 varies depending on the positional relationship between the sliding section 20 and the laminated section 4 and the moving speed in the sliding section 20. This is a direction in which the angle with respect to the horizontal plane is slightly larger than the inclination direction of the placing surface 6a. The moving direction of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator may be substantially equal to the inclination direction of the mounting surface 6a.

  The stop plate 7 erected at the lower end (one end in the moving direction) of the bottom plate 6 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the bottom plate 6, and the negative electrode 12 that moves in the inclination direction or the movement direction of the mounting surface 6a. And the positive electrode 10 with a separator is stopped. The pair of side plates 8, 8 are arranged to be orthogonal to the bottom plate 6 and the stop plate 7, respectively. A laminated area A where the laminated body X is formed is provided between the bottom plate part 6, the stop plate part 7, and the side plate parts 8,8. The pair of parallel side plate portions 8, 8 has an interval slightly larger than the width of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator, and guides the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator toward the lamination region A. In order to facilitate the guidance of the negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10, the upper portions of the side plates 8, 8 (portions opened toward the outlet 2b) are tapered at wider intervals toward the top. The negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator are guided by the side plates 8, 8, and are stacked on the mounting surface 6 a in a state of contacting the stop plate 7. Therefore, the lamination region A is a rectangular parallelepiped region in contact with the bottom plate portion 6, the stop plate portion 7, and the side plate portions 8, 8.

  Next, the braking unit 21 of the electrode stacking apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The sliding portion 20 is provided with a braking portion 21 that reduces the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 that slides on the sliding surface 24a and the moving speed of the positive electrode 10 with the separator. The braking unit 21 includes a gas blowing unit 22 that blows gas toward the sliding surface 24a from a position separated from the sliding surface 24a. The gas blowing unit 22 can apply a frictional force due to the blown gas by blowing the gas to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 that slide on the sliding surface 24a. The gas blowing unit 22 can apply a force to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator in a non-contact manner toward the sliding surface 24a. Accordingly, the pressed negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 are provided with a frictional force on the sliding surface 24a side. These frictional forces function as braking forces for reducing the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator.

  The gas blowing unit 22 is disposed at a position separated from the sliding surface 24a so as to face the sliding surface 24a. The gas blowing unit 22 is configured to blow gas toward a moving path of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 in the stacking unit 4. The gas is not particularly limited, but air, nitrogen, other inert gas, or the like is used. The gas blowing unit 22 is separated from the sliding surface 24a by a distance at least larger than the thickness of the negative electrode 12 and the thickness of the positive electrode 10 with a separator. In the present embodiment, the gas blowing unit 22 is disposed so as to face a substantially central position in the moving direction of the sliding surface 24a. However, the gas blowing unit 22 may be disposed anywhere as long as a braking force can be applied to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 by blowing gas onto the sliding surface 24a. For example, the gas blowing unit 22 may be arranged so as to face a region on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a, or may be arranged so as to face a region on the downstream side of the sliding surface 24a. Further, the gas blowing unit 22 may be a blower type ionizer (static electricity removing device). A function of preventing sticking of the electrodes may be provided by neutralizing static electricity generated between the electrodes during lamination with ions. In addition, by neutralizing the static electricity, dust and dust in the air can be prevented from adhering to the electrode surface, and a stacking deviation between the electrodes can be prevented.

  The gas blowing part 22 has a gas blowing part 22a directed to the sliding surface 24a. The gas blowing unit 22 has a blower, a pipe, a nozzle, and the like (not shown). The tip of the nozzle corresponds to the gas blowing part 22a. The blowing area 22b to which the gas is blown from the gas blowing unit 22 may have a conical shape centered on the gas blowing unit 22a. Further, since the gas blowing section 22 has a plurality of gas blowing sections 22a (that is, nozzles) arranged in the width direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2), the blowing area 22b may have a triangular prism shape that is long in the width direction. .

  The center line of the blowing area 22b is orthogonal to the running surface 24a, for example. The center line of the gas blowing section 22 may be at an angle to the running surface 24a. The center line of the blowing area 22b is set so as to intersect the approximate center position in the moving direction of the sliding surface 24a. However, the center line of the spray area 22b may be set at any position as long as a braking force can be applied to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator. For example, the center line of the blowing area 22b may be arranged so as to intersect with the region on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a, or may be arranged so as to intersect with the region on the downstream side of the sliding surface 24a. The shape (that is, the blowing range) of the blowing area 22b in the gas blowing unit 22 and the strength of the blowing are adjustable.

  The gas blowing unit 22 is connected to a control unit (not shown) that controls blowing. The control unit controls the amount of gas to be blown and the timing of blowing. The control unit may spray gas intermittently at the timing when the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 pass through the sliding unit 20, and may always blow gas during operation regardless of the timing of passage. Further, a measurement unit for measuring the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 may be provided at any position on the upstream side of the sliding unit 20. The control unit may adjust the braking force of the braking unit 21 based on the moving speed measured by the measuring unit.

  Next, an electrode stacking method in the electrode stacking apparatus 1 will be described. The transport unit 2 transports the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 sequentially. The negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 discharged from the outlet 2b move in the space between the outlet 2b and the sliding section 20. Subsequently, the negative electrode 12 or the positive electrode with separator 10 enters the sliding surface 24a of the sliding portion 20. Thus, a sliding step of sliding the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 along the sliding surface 24a inclined with respect to the horizontal direction is performed. The negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 move so as to fall along the sliding surface 24a.

  In the sliding step, a braking step for reducing the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 sliding on the sliding surface 24a is executed. Specifically, the gas blowing unit 22 blows gas to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 that slide on the sliding surface 24a. The negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 that have received the gas can reduce the speed in the moving direction while sliding on the sliding surface 24a by the frictional force from the gas and the frictional force from the sliding surface 24a.

  After the sliding step, a laminating step of laminating the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 in the laminating section 4 is performed. In the laminating step, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 supplied from the sliding unit 20 to the laminating unit 4 are the uppermost surfaces of the laminate X of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 already laminated (unfinished laminate). Is supplied to a position overlapping with, and abuts against the stop plate portion 7 to be stopped. Thereby, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 are alternately stacked.

  Next, the operation and effect of the electrode stacking device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, an electrode stacking apparatus according to a comparative example will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrode stacking device according to the comparative example does not include the braking unit 21 unlike the present embodiment. In the laminating section 4 where the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 are stacked, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 transported at a high speed stop when they come into contact with the stop plate 7. If the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 hit the stop plate portion 7 at high speed, problems may occur in several aspects. For example, the negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 may be damaged or fall off.

  On the other hand, according to the electrode laminating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the sliding portion 20 is provided with the braking portion 21 that reduces the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator that slide on the sliding surface 24a. Since the sliding section 20 is arranged on the upstream side of the laminated section 4, the braking section 21 reduces the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 at a position on the upstream side of the laminated section 4. be able to. As described above, by lowering the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 at a position on the upstream side of the stacked unit 4, it is possible to reduce the impact when the electrode stops at the stacked unit 4.

  Further, in the electrode stacking apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the braking unit 21 includes a gas blowing unit 22 that blows gas toward the sliding surface 24a from a position separated from the sliding surface 24a. In this case, the negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 that slide on the sliding surface 24a are pressed against the sliding surface 24a by blowing gas from the gas blowing unit 22. As a result, in addition to the frictional force with the sprayed gas, the frictional force from the sliding surface 24a side due to being pressed against the sliding surface 24a is applied to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator. These frictional forces function as braking forces on the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with separator.

(2nd Embodiment)
As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the electrode stacking device according to the second embodiment, the braking unit 121 includes a suction unit 33 that can suck the negative electrode 12 that slides on the sliding surface 24 a and the positive electrode 10 with the separator toward the sliding surface 24 a. . In this electrode laminating apparatus, an air supply hole 32 for forming an air layer 31 and a suction part 33 are formed in the bottom plate part 24.

  The air supply hole 32 is constituted by a plurality of minute through holes penetrating the bottom plate 24. The air supply hole 32 is connected to a blower, a pipe, a nozzle, and the like (not shown) at an end opposite to the sliding surface 24a. The air supply hole 32 forms a thin air layer 31 on the surface of the sliding surface 24a, the negative electrode 12, and the positive electrode 10 with a separator by supplying air from the sliding surface 24a. Thereby, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator move along the sliding surface 24a in a non-contact state with the sliding surface 24a. By forming an air layer in the air supply holes 32 in this manner, it is possible to prevent the suction marks of the through holes of the suction portions 33 from remaining on the suction-side surfaces of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10. However, the air supply holes 32 may be omitted.

  The suction part 33 is constituted by a plurality of through holes penetrating the bottom plate part 24. The suction part 33 is connected to suction means such as a pump (not shown) at an end opposite to the sliding surface 24a. The suction unit 33 sucks air from the sliding surface 24a at a predetermined pressure. The suction part 33 is formed on a moving path of the sliding surface 24a through which the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 pass. The number and arrangement of the suction units 33 are not particularly limited, but may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

  The braking unit 121 generates a larger braking force on the downstream side than on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a. That is, the suction force generated on the downstream side is larger than the suction force generated on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a. A configuration for adjusting the suction force will be described with reference to FIG. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5A, the suction force of one suction unit 33 increases from the upstream side to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 5A, the suction unit 33 is formed in the same pattern on the upstream side and the downstream side. Here, the suction portions 33 are formed in an array of two rows. The air pressure (suction pressure) of the suction unit 33 is higher on the downstream side than on the upstream side. For example, the air pressure of the suction unit 33 is set to 0.2 MPa, 0.3 MPa, 0.4 MPa, and 0.5 MPa in order from the upstream side to the downstream side. However, the specific air pressure may be set to any numerical value.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5B, the number of the suction units 33 increases from the upstream side to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 5B, the suction units 33 are provided in a plurality of stages along the moving direction, and the number of the suction units 33 increases by one for each stage toward the downstream side. Note that the suction force of each suction unit 33 is equal. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5C, the diameter of the suction unit 33 increases from the upstream side to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 5C, the suction unit 33 is provided in a plurality of stages along the moving direction, and the diameter of the suction unit 33 increases with each stage toward the downstream side.

  As described above, the braking unit 121 includes the suction unit 33 that can suction the negative electrode 12 that slides on the sliding surface 24a and the positive electrode 10 with the separator toward the sliding surface 24a. In this case, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 sucked toward the sliding surface 24a are pressed toward the sliding surface 24a. As a result, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 are pressed against the sliding surface 24a to apply a frictional force from the sliding surface 24a. This frictional force functions as a braking force for the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator.

  Further, the braking force generated by the braking unit 121 on the downstream side is larger than the braking force generated on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a. This makes it possible to apply a sufficient braking force on the downstream side while suppressing a sudden change in the moving speed.

(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 6, in the electrode stacking device according to the third embodiment, the braking unit 221 includes the ultrasonic wave generating unit 40 that generates a traveling wave from the downstream side to the upstream side on the sliding surface 24a. In this electrode laminating apparatus, the ultrasonic generator 40 includes ultrasonic vibrators 40A and 40B provided on the back surface of the bottom plate 24.

  The tip of the ultrasonic transducer 40A is connected to a region on the upstream side of the bottom plate 24. The tip of the ultrasonic transducer 40 </ b> B is connected to a region on the downstream side of the bottom plate 24. The phase of the upstream ultrasonic transducer 40A is ahead of the phase of the downstream ultrasonic transducer 40B. When the reference oscillator is used as the lower oscillator 40B and a phase difference is added to the upper oscillator 40A, a traveling wave is generated on the upper side. For example, the phase difference between the upstream ultrasonic transducer 40A and the downstream ultrasonic transducer 40B is 0 to 90 degrees. Accordingly, the traveling wave generated on the sliding surface 25a travels from the downstream side to the upstream side. That is, the traveling wave travels in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10. Thus, the traveling wave generated by the ultrasonic wave generating unit 40 functions as a braking unit that reduces the moving speed of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator. In addition, when this configuration is employed, since ultrasonic vibration is generated on the sliding surface 24a, a radiation pressure is generated, so that the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with a separator 10 can be transported in a substantially non-contact manner. .

  As described above, the braking unit 221 includes the ultrasonic wave generating unit 40 that generates a traveling wave from the downstream side to the upstream side on the sliding surface 25a. As a result, a force from the downstream side to the upstream side is applied to the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 by the vibration of the traveling wave. Such a force functions as a braking force on the electrode.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, the braking unit 221 may make the braking force generated on the downstream side larger than the braking force generated on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a. Specifically, the bottom plate 24 is divided into an upstream side and a downstream side, the ultrasonic vibrators 40A and 40B are provided on the upstream bottom plate 24, and the ultrasonic vibrators 40C and 40D are provided on the downstream side bottom plate 24. Provide. Further, the braking force by the traveling waves generated by the downstream ultrasonic transducers 40C and 40D is larger than the braking force by the traveling waves generated by the upstream ultrasonic transducers 40A and 40B. Thereby, when the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator reach the sliding portion 20, it is possible to apply a sufficient braking force on the downstream side while suppressing a sudden change in the moving speed.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the gas blowing unit 22 is arranged at one position in the moving direction. Instead, they may be arranged at a plurality of positions in the movement direction. Further, the blowing force of the gas blowing unit 22 arranged on the downstream side may be larger than the blowing force of the gas blowing unit 22 arranged on the upstream side. As a result, the braking unit 21 generates a larger braking force on the downstream side than on the upstream side of the sliding surface 24a.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the apparatus in which the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator are alternately laminated to obtain the laminate X which is the precursor of the electrode assembly has been described. Alternatively, the present invention may be applied to a laminating apparatus having only the negative electrode 12. The present invention may be applied to a laminating apparatus for laminating an intermediate that is not an electrode assembly and is used in a positive electrode production line or a negative electrode production line. That is, the “stacking unit” is not limited to the mechanism for stacking electrodes in the form described in the above embodiment, but may be a buffer, a magazine, or the like.

  The transport unit is not limited to a belt conveyor. For example, a pallet conveyance type conveyance unit that is conveyed on a circulation path by a timing belt or a chain may be used. In addition, the transport unit may be a transport unit using sliding by gravity. A sliding section may be provided between the transport section and the stacking section.

  In the above-described embodiment, the gas blowing unit, the suction unit, and the ultrasonic wave generating unit are exemplified as the braking unit, but two or more of these units may be used in combination.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrode lamination apparatus, 4 ... Lamination part, 10 ... Positive electrode (electrode) with a separator, 12 ... Negative electrode (electrode), 20 ... Sliding part, 21,121,221 ... Brake part, 22 ... Gas blowing part, 33 ... Suction Unit, 40 ... Ultrasonic generator.

Claims (4)

An electrode laminating apparatus for laminating sheet-like electrodes sequentially supplied by its own weight,
A sliding portion for sliding the electrode along a sliding surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction,
A stacking unit that is arranged downstream of the slide unit and stacks the electrodes,
The sliding unit is provided with a braking unit that reduces the moving speed of the electrode that slides on the sliding surface ,
The electrode stacking device , wherein the braking unit generates a braking force generated on the downstream side larger than a braking force generated on the upstream side of the sliding surface .   2. The electrode stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the braking unit includes a gas blowing unit that blows gas toward the sliding surface from a position separated from the sliding surface. 3.   3. The electrode stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the braking unit includes a suction unit that can suck the electrode that slides on the sliding surface toward the sliding surface. 4.   The electrode stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the braking unit includes an ultrasonic wave generating unit that generates a traveling wave from a downstream side to an upstream side of the sliding surface.