JP6670769B2 - Inspection device and winding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection device for inspecting a winding element used for a secondary battery or the like, and a winding device provided with the inspection device.

  As a wound element, an element used for a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery is known. This kind of wound element is rotatable in a state where a positive electrode sheet coated with a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode sheet coated with a negative electrode active material are interposed with a separator sheet for insulating both electrode sheets. It is manufactured by being wound by a suitable core.

  By the way, during the winding of each sheet, the sheet may be displaced (position displacement in the sheet width direction) or the active material application position may be displaced. There is a possibility that a displacement along the width direction may occur. Such a displacement may cause, for example, a short circuit or the like, and may cause deterioration in the quality of the manufacturing element.

  Therefore, as an inspection device for detecting the presence / absence of a winding deviation, the separator sheet and the separator sheet are separated by an imaging unit (photographing device) arranged corresponding to a sheet conveyance path upstream of the winding core (rotary shaft). There has been proposed a technique in which an image of an electrode sheet is taken through a watermark and an inspection for a winding deviation is performed based on the obtained image data (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, this inspection device merely detects the positional deviation of the sheet before being wound by the core. Therefore, there is a possibility that the result of the pass / fail judgment by the inspection device does not always match the pass / fail of the actual winding element obtained by winding each sheet. Therefore, it may not be possible to accurately determine the quality of the wound element.

  On the other hand, there has been proposed an inspection apparatus which takes an image of each sheet wound around a core and determines whether there is a winding deviation in a winding element based on the obtained image (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3). ).

JP 2009-170136 A JP 2006-145298 A JP-A-2006-58179

  By the way, in the inspection apparatus as described above, it is preferable to increase the measurement resolution (image resolution) as much as possible from the viewpoint of enhancing the reliability of the inspection.

  However, increasing the measurement resolution results in a shallower depth of field in the imaging means. Therefore, as each sheet is wound up, the thickness of each sheet wound around the core increases, and when each sheet to be imaged comes close to the imaging unit, the respective sheets are focused. And the image may be blurred.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable to configure so that each sheet is focused when the winding of each sheet advances, but in this case, immediately after the winding of each sheet is started, that is, from the imaging unit. When each sheet to be imaged is separated, it is not possible to focus on each sheet, and the image may be blurred.

  As described above, if the depth of field is set to be shallow to increase the measurement resolution, it is not possible to sufficiently cope with a change in the distance between each sheet and the imaging unit due to the winding, and as a result, the inspection becomes difficult. Such reliability may not be sufficiently improved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to more accurately determine the quality of a wound element and to sufficiently improve the reliability of the inspection. Device and a winding device.

  Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above-mentioned object will be described in terms of items. In addition, the function and effect peculiar to the corresponding means will be added if necessary.

Means 1. A winding manufactured by winding a band-shaped positive electrode sheet coated with an active material and a negative electrode sheet with a rotatable core in an alternately superimposed state via a band-shaped separator sheet made of an insulating material. An inspection device used in the manufacturing process of the element,
Irradiating means for irradiating the inspection target with predetermined light, with each of the sheets wound around the core being an inspection target,
Imaging means for imaging the inspection target irradiated with light by the irradiation means,
Imaging timing control means for controlling the timing of imaging by the imaging means;
Based on an image obtained by the imaging means, comprising a good or bad judgment means for judging the good or bad of the inspection target,
An outer peripheral surface of the core, on which the respective sheets are wound, has a non-circular cross-section, and is configured such that a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the core to the imaging unit changes with rotation of the core. Has been
The imaging timing control unit controls timing of imaging by the imaging unit according to a rotation angle of the core so that imaging is performed when the imaging unit is focused on the inspection target. Inspection equipment.

  The expression "wrapped around the core" means that the core is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface or sheet of the core located in the lower layer without being lifted.

  According to the above means 1, the electrode sheet or the separator sheet wound around the core is to be inspected, the inspection object is imaged by the imaging means, and based on the image obtained by this imaging, the pass / fail judgment means determines the inspection object. The quality is determined. That is, the pass / fail determination unit determines pass / fail of the inspection target that is actually wound. The pass / fail determination may be performed, for example, with respect to the presence or absence of a sheet winding deviation, or the position of a portion of the electrode sheet where the active material is applied (active material coated portion) or the position of a tab provided on the electrode sheet. You may go for other items. By performing the pass / fail judgment on the inspection target in the actually wound state, the pass / fail regarding the quality of the wound element can be more accurately determined.

  Further, according to the means 1, the outer peripheral surface of the core on which each sheet is wound has a non-circular cross-section, and the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the core to the imaging means (hereinafter, referred to as "distance between the two"). Varies in accordance with the rotation angle of the core. Utilizing this point, the imaging timing control unit controls the timing of imaging by the imaging unit according to the rotation angle of the core so that imaging is performed when the imaging unit is focused on the inspection target. For example, when the winding of each sheet progresses and the thickness of each sheet wound around the core increases (the winding amount of each sheet increases), the imaging timing control unit sets the rotation angle of the core to When the angle becomes a predetermined angle and the distance between the two becomes relatively large, imaging is executed. In addition, for example, immediately after the start of winding of each sheet and when each sheet wound around the core is thin, the imaging timing control unit sets the rotation angle of the core to a predetermined angle and the distance between the two is relatively small. Then, the imaging is executed. This makes it possible to more reliably focus on the inspection object while reducing the depth of field and increasing the measurement resolution. In other words, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the case where both the measurement resolution and the depth of field (expanding the focusing range) which are in a trade-off relationship are realized at the same time. it can. As a result, the reliability of the inspection can be sufficiently improved.

  Means 2. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit has a predetermined lens and is configured to be relatively movable with respect to the core along the optical axis direction of the lens.

  According to the above-mentioned means 2, in the case where the fluctuation of the diameter of each sheet during winding is relatively large between the start of winding and the end of winding, such as when the winding element is large. Even in this case, since the imaging unit moves relative to the core, it is possible to more reliably focus on each sheet to be inspected. Therefore, it is possible to accurately inspect wound elements of various sizes.

Means 3. The separator sheet is transparent or translucent,
The imaging unit is configured to image at least one of the two electrode sheets at a time by transmitting at least one of the two electrode sheets through the separator sheet and imaging the two electrode sheets and the separator sheet at a time. 3. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

  According to the above means 3, both the electrode sheet and the separator sheet can be imaged at once. Therefore, an image required for inspection can be obtained with a small number of times of imaging, and inspection efficiency can be improved.

Means 4. It is configured to be operable in a teaching mode for acquiring the timing of imaging by the imaging unit in advance,
In the teaching mode, the imaging object is continuously imaged by the imaging unit in a state where the respective sheets are wound by the winding core. Detecting what the imaging means is in focus, and obtaining the rotation angle of the core when obtaining the image in focus,
The imaging timing control unit controls the timing of imaging by the imaging unit based on a rotation angle of the core acquired in advance in the teaching mode. Inspection equipment.

  According to the means 4, the timing of imaging is controlled based on the rotation angle of the core when focusing is obtained by actually winding the sheet. Therefore, imaging can be performed at a more appropriate timing based on factors such as a temporal change in the shape of the portion where the sheet is wound and the hardness and thickness of the sheet. As a result, a focused image can be obtained more reliably, and the reliability of the inspection can be further increased.

  Means 5. In the teaching mode, based on the brightness of the image, the image capturing device is configured to detect an image in which the imaging unit is in focus with respect to the inspection target among the plurality of images. Inspection device as described.

  Comparing an image when the imaging means is in focus and an image when the image is out of focus, there is a difference in terms of luminance. For example, in the case where the image is in focus, the luminance is higher or the luminance changes more steeply.

  By utilizing this point, according to the means 5, the in-focus image is detected based on the luminance of the image. Therefore, an in-focus image can be more easily detected. As a result, it is possible to more easily and more reliably acquire an appropriate imaging timing.

  Means 6. A winding device comprising the inspection device according to any one of means 1 to 5.

  According to the above-described means 6, basically the same operation and effect as those of the above-described means 1 and the like can be obtained.

It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the structure of a battery element. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating a configuration of a battery element. It is a schematic structure figure of a winding device. It is a schematic block diagram of a winding part. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a camera and the like. It is a flowchart of a winding process. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of teaching mode. It is a flowchart of an inspection process. It is a flowchart of a process at the time of winding mode. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the angle of the winding core when a focused image is obtained immediately after winding of various sheets is started. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an angle of a winding core when a focused image is obtained immediately before winding of various sheets is completed. It is a schematic diagram of the image obtained by the camera. It is a schematic structure figure of a winding part at the time of starting winding. It is a schematic structure figure of a winding part when a separator sheet is cut.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of a lithium ion battery element as a winding element obtained by the winding device will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a lithium ion battery element 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “battery element 1”), a positive electrode sheet 4 and a negative electrode sheet 5 are sandwiched between two separator sheets 2 and 3. It is manufactured by being wound in a state of being overlapped. In the following, the separator sheets 2 and 3 and the electrode sheets 4 and 5 may be collectively referred to as “various sheets 2 to 5”.

  Each of the separator sheets 2 and 3 has a band shape having the same width, and is made of an insulating material such as polypropylene (PP) in order to prevent different electrode sheets 4 and 5 from contacting each other and causing a short circuit. It consists of. The separator sheets 2 and 3 are transparent or translucent. Therefore, the positive electrode sheet 4 and the negative electrode sheet 5 can be visually recognized through the separator sheets 2 and 3.

  The electrode sheets 4 and 5 are made of a thin metal sheet, and an active material is applied to both front and back surfaces thereof. As the positive electrode sheet 4, for example, an aluminum foil sheet is used, and a positive electrode active material (for example, lithium manganate particles or the like) is applied to both front and back surfaces. For example, a copper foil sheet is used for the negative electrode sheet 5, and a negative electrode active material (for example, activated carbon or the like) is applied to both front and back surfaces.

  The electrode sheets 4 and 5 are electrode sheets of a continuous coating form, and predetermined portions in the sheet width direction become active material coated portions 4a and 5a (parts with a dotted pattern in FIG. 2) and the remaining portions. Are active material non-coated portions 4b and 5b. Then, ion exchange between the positive electrode sheet 4 and the negative electrode sheet 5 can be performed via the active material coating sections 4a and 5a. More specifically, ions move from the positive electrode sheet 4 side to the negative electrode sheet 5 side during charging, and ions move from the negative electrode sheet 5 side to the positive electrode sheet 4 side during discharging.

  Further, the negative electrode sheet 5 is narrower than the separator sheets 2 and 3, and the positive electrode sheet 4 is narrower than the negative electrode sheet 5. Then, in the battery element 1, the positive electrode sheet 4 is covered with the negative electrode sheet 5. This causes a problem that the positive electrode sheet 4 is not covered with the negative electrode sheet 5 (for example, a needle-like precipitate is formed on the positive electrode sheet 4 and the separator sheets 2 and 3 are damaged). Is suppressed, and the quality of the battery element 1 is improved.

  Further, a plurality of unillustrated positive electrode leads extend from one end in the width direction of the positive electrode sheet 4, and a plurality of unillustrated negative leads extend from the other end in the width direction of the negative electrode sheet 5.

  In order to obtain a lithium ion battery, the battery element 1 is disposed in a cylindrical battery container (case) (not shown) made of metal, and the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead are combined. Then, the assembled positive electrode lead is connected to a positive electrode terminal component (not shown), and the similarly assembled negative electrode lead is connected to a negative electrode terminal component (not shown), and both terminal components are opened at both ends of the battery container. By being provided so as to be closed, a lithium ion battery can be obtained.

  Next, the winding device 10 for manufacturing the battery element 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the winding device 10 includes a winding unit 11 for winding various sheets 2 to 5 and a positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 for supplying the positive electrode sheet 4 to the winding unit 11. A negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41 for supplying the negative electrode sheet 5 to the winding section 11, separator supply mechanisms 51 and 61 for supplying the separator sheets 2 and 3 to the winding section 11, respectively, and pass / fail judgment. And a control device 81 as an imaging timing control means. Various devices in the winding device 10, such as the winding unit 11 and the supply mechanisms 31, 41, 51, and 61, are configured to be operation-controlled by the control device 81.

  The positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 includes a positive electrode sheet raw material 32 in which the positive electrode sheet 4 is wound in a roll shape. The positive electrode sheet raw material 32 is supported by a support shaft 33 that is rotatable by driving means (not shown). With the rotation of the support shaft 33, the positive electrode sheet 4 is pulled out from the positive electrode sheet raw material 32.

  Further, the positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 includes a sheet insertion mechanism 71, a sheet cutting cutter 72, a tension applying mechanism 73, and a buffer mechanism 75.

  The sheet insertion mechanism 71 supplies the positive electrode sheet 4 to the winding unit 11. The sheet insertion mechanism 71 is configured to supply the positive electrode sheet 4 to the winding unit 11 along the transport path of the positive electrode sheet 4 and to move away from the winding unit 11. It is configured to be movable between the separated positions. The sheet insertion mechanism 71 includes a pair of chucks 71a and 71b that can hold the positive electrode sheet 4. The chucks 71a and 71b are configured to be able to open and close by driving means (not shown). When the positive electrode sheet 4 is supplied to the winding section 11, the sheet insertion mechanism 71 approaches the winding section 11 after the positive electrode sheet 4 is gripped by the chucks 71a and 71b. I have.

  The sheet cutting cutter 72 is for cutting the positive electrode sheet 4, and includes a pair of blade portions 72 a and 72 b located on both sides of the positive electrode sheet 4. The sheet cutting cutter 72 is movable between a sheet cutting position where the pair of blade portions 72 a and 72 b sandwich the positive electrode sheet 4 and a retracting position where the sheet cutting cutter 72 is retracted out of the transport path of the positive electrode sheet 4. It is configured.

  The cutting of the positive electrode sheet 4 is performed while the positive electrode sheet 4 is held by the chucks 71a and 71b. When the sheet insertion mechanism 71 moves closer to the winding unit 11 to supply the positive electrode sheet 4 to the winding unit 11, the pair of blades 72a and 72b transport the positive electrode sheet 4 respectively. By moving away from the path, the movement of the sheet insertion mechanism 71 is not hindered.

  The tension applying mechanism 73 has a pair of rollers 73a and 73b and a dancer roller 73c provided between the two rollers 73a and 73b so as to be swingable. The dancer roller 73c operates by a predetermined constant torque motor (not shown), and is configured to always apply a constant tension to the positive electrode sheet 4. By applying tension to the positive electrode sheet 4, the loosening of the positive electrode sheet 4 is prevented.

  The buffer mechanism 75 temporarily stores the positive electrode sheet 4 sent from the positive electrode sheet material 32. The buffer mechanism 75 has a pair of driven rollers 75a and 75b, and an elevating roller 75c provided between the two rollers 75a and 75b so as to be vertically displaceable. The vertical position of the lifting roller 75c is displaced based on the stored amount of the positive electrode sheet 4.

  The negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41 includes, on the most upstream side thereof, a negative electrode sheet material 42 in which the negative electrode sheet 5 is wound in a roll shape. The negative electrode sheet material 42 is supported by a support shaft 43 that is rotatable by driving means (not shown). With the rotation of the support shaft 43, the negative electrode sheet 5 is pulled out from the negative electrode sheet material 42.

  Similarly to the positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31, the negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41 includes a sheet insertion mechanism 71, a sheet cutting cutter 72, a tension applying mechanism 73, and a buffer mechanism 75. These are the same as those provided in the positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 except that they function for the negative electrode sheet 5. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  On the other hand, the separator supply mechanisms 51 and 61 include raw separators 52 and 62 formed by winding separator sheets 2 and 3 in a roll shape, respectively. The separator webs 52 and 62 are supported in a freely rotatable state, from which the separator sheets 2 and 3 are appropriately pulled out.

  Further, the separator supply mechanisms 51 and 61 include a tension applying mechanism 73, similarly to the electrode sheet supply mechanisms 31 and 41. The tension applying mechanism 73 is the same as that provided in the positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 except that the tension applying mechanism 73 functions for the separator sheets 2 and 3. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Further, a pair of nip rollers 78a and 78b are provided in the middle of the transport path of the various sheets 2 to 5. The nip rollers 78a and 78b are in a state where the various sheets 2 to 5 are stacked so that the various sheets 2 to 5 are conveyed along the same conveyance path. Various sheets 2 to 5 that are stacked by the nip rollers 78 a and 78 b are supplied to the winding unit 11.

  In addition, the rotation amount of the nip rollers 78a and 78b (in this embodiment, the rotation amount of the nip roller 78b) can be grasped by a nip roller encoder (not shown). Then, information on the rotation amount of the nip roller 78b is input to the control device 81 from the nip roller encoder. The rotation amount of the nip roller 78b corresponds to the feed amount of each of the sheets 2 to 5.

  Next, the configuration of the winding unit 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the winding unit 11 includes a turret 12 formed of two opposed disk-shaped tables rotatably provided by a drive mechanism (not shown), and a turret 12 spaced by 180 ° in the rotation direction of the turret 12. The two winding cores 13 and 14, the chuck portions 15a and 15b, the separator cutter 16, the pressing roller 17 for preventing the various sheets 2 to 5 after being wound from coming apart, and a predetermined fixing. And a tape sticking mechanism 18 for sticking a tape for use.

  The winding cores 13 and 14 are for winding the various sheets 2 to 5 on their outer peripheral sides, respectively, and are configured to be rotatable around their own central axes by a driving mechanism (not shown). The rotation amounts of the cores 13 and 14 can be detected by a core encoder (not shown), and information on the rotation amounts of the cores 13 and 14 is input to the control device 81 from the core encoder. It has become.

  The winding cores 13 and 14 are provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from one of the tables constituting the turret 12 along the axial direction of the turret 12 (the depth direction in the drawing of FIG. 4 and the like). When the cores 13 and 14 protrude from the one table, the leading ends thereof are inserted into receiving holes formed in the other table, and the cores 13 and 14 are rotatable by the two tables. It has become supported.

  In addition, each of the winding cores 13 and 14 is configured such that its outer shape is non-circular in a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis. In the present embodiment, the winding cores 13 and 14 have an elliptical shape in a cross section orthogonal to their own rotation axes. Therefore, in this embodiment, the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the cores 13 and 14 to the camera 20 described later fluctuates with the rotation of the cores 13 and 14. Therefore, as the cores 13 and 14 rotate, the distance from the various sheets 2 to 5 wound around the cores 13 and 14 to the camera 20 also changes.

  Further, the winding core 13 (14) includes a pair of core pieces 13a, 13b (14a, 14b) extending along its own axis direction (the depth direction in the drawing of FIG. 4). A gap 13c (14c) is formed between the core pieces 13a, 13b (14a, 14b).

  The winding cores 13 and 14 are configured to be able to pivot between a winding position P1 and a removal position P2 when the turret 12 rotates.

  The winding position P1 is a position where the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound by the winding cores 13 and 14. Various sheets 2 to 5 are supplied from the supply mechanisms 31, 41, 51, 61 to the winding position P1.

  The removal position P2 is a position for removing the wound various sheets 2 to 5, that is, the battery element 1. A detaching device (not shown) for detaching the battery element 1 from the winding cores 13 and 14 is provided around the detaching position P2.

  The chuck portions 15a and 15b are for holding the separator sheets 2 and 3 between the winding position P1 and the removing position P2. The chuck portions 15a and 15b are configured to be pivotable about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axes of the turret 12 and the winding cores 13 and 14 by a driving unit (not shown). The chuck portions 15a and 15b are movable between a holding position and a retracted position, respectively. When the chuck portions 15a and 15b move to the sandwiching positions, the chuck portions 15a and 15b can sandwich the separator sheets 2 and 3 arranged from the nip rollers 78a and 78b to the removal position P2 (see FIG. 13). On the other hand, when each of the chuck portions 15a and 15b is moved to the retracted position, the chuck portions 15a and 15b are arranged at positions that do not hinder the movement of the cores 13 and 14 and the separator sheets 2 and 3 (see FIG. 3).

  The separator cutter 16 is disposed between the winding position P1 and the removal position P2, and is provided closer to the removal position P2 than the chuck portions 15a and 15b. The separator cutter 16 is capable of reciprocating in a vertical direction between a predetermined upper position and a lower position, and cuts the separator sheets 2 and 3 by moving from the upper position to the lower position.

  The press roller 17 is disposed near the removal position P2, and has a close position where it approaches the turret 12 and presses the various sheets 2 to 5, and a retreat position where it is separated from the turret 12 and does not hinder the movement of the cores 13 and 14. It is configured to be movable between.

  The tape sticking mechanism 18 is arranged near the detaching position P2, and sticks the fixing tape to the end portions of the separator sheets 2 and 3 at the end of the winding. By attaching the fixing tape, the battery element 1 is stopped.

  Further, the winding unit 11 includes illumination devices 19a and 19b as irradiation means and a camera 20 as imaging means. The lighting devices 19a and 19b and the camera 20 are provided corresponding to the winding position P1, respectively.

  The illuminating devices 19a and 19b emit a predetermined light (e.g., to a portion including at least the widthwise edge of each of the various sheets 2 to 5 to be inspected) wound around the cores 13 and 14 positioned at the winding position P1. , Visible light or near infrared light). The illuminating devices 19a and 19b irradiate light at positions that are at least displaced from the rotation axes of the cores 13 and 14 by less than the short diameter of the cores 13 and 14. Thereby, the various sheets 2 to 5 can be constantly illuminated while the various sheets 2 to 5 are being wound by the winding cores 13 and 14.

  The camera 20 has sensitivity in the wavelength region of light emitted from the lighting devices 19a and 19b, and captures images of at least various sheets 2 to 5 (inspection objects) illuminated by the lighting devices 19a and 19b. It is.

  In the present embodiment, two sets of the lighting devices 19a and 19b and the camera 20 are provided, one set is provided corresponding to one edge in the width direction of each of the various sheets 2 to 5, and the other set is various types. It is provided corresponding to the other width direction edge of the sheets 2 to 5.

  Further, in the imaging range of the camera 20, the positive electrode sheet 4 is located at the outermost periphery, the separator sheet 3 is located therebelow, the negative electrode sheet 5 is located therebelow, and the separator sheet 2 is located therebelow. It is in a state. Therefore, at least the positive electrode sheet 4, the separator sheet 3, the negative electrode sheet 5 visible through the separator sheet 3, and the separator sheet 2 are imaged by the camera 20 at a time.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the camera 20 includes a lens 21, an image sensor 22, a trigger signal output unit 23, an image memory 24, a focus search unit 25, a calculation unit 26, and an output unit 27.

  The lens 21 collects light reflected from the various sheets 2 to 5 among the light emitted from the illumination devices 19a and 19b, and forms an image on the image sensor 22. The lens 21 may be a general lens or a telecentric lens.

  The imaging element 22 converts light passing through the lens 21 into an electric signal, and is configured by, for example, a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor.

  The trigger signal output unit 23 outputs a trigger signal to the image sensor 22. Each time the trigger signal is output, the image sensor 22 is exposed, and images (image data) of the various sheets 2 to 5 are output from the image sensor 22 to the image memory 24. The obtained image includes at least the positive electrode sheet 4, the separator sheet 3, the negative electrode sheet 5 transmitted through the separator sheet 3 and the image, and the separator sheet 2 (see FIG. 12). However, since the edges 2E and 3E (edges in the width direction) of the separator sheets 2 and 3 usually overlap, the separator sheet 2 may not be distinguished in the image. In the present embodiment, the depth of field of the camera 20 is configured to be relatively shallow, and the obtained image has a relatively high resolution, that is, a relatively high measurement resolution. .

  Further, a teaching mode signal or an imaging execution signal described later is input from the control device 81 to the camera 20. When the teaching mode signal is input, the trigger signal output unit 23 receives the teaching mode end signal described later. Until the trigger signal is output, a trigger signal is repeatedly output at regular intervals. Thus, continuous imaging is performed, and a plurality of images are output from the imaging element 22 to the image memory 24. On the other hand, when the imaging execution signal is input to the camera 20, the trigger signal output unit 23 outputs one trigger signal. As a result, imaging is performed only once, and the image of one image is output from the image sensor 22 to the image memory 24.

  The image memory 24 stores an image input from the image sensor 22. Further, in the image memory 24, a number indicating an imaging order is stored after being associated with each image. The processing relating to the number indicating the imaging order is executed by the arithmetic unit 26.

  The focus search unit 25 operates only when a teaching mode signal is input from the control device 81. The focus search unit 25 detects an image in which various sheets 2 to 5 are in focus among a plurality of images obtained by continuous imaging. More specifically, when the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound, the focus search unit 25 sets a value based on a luminance value for each image based on a plurality of images obtained while the cores 13 and 14 make one rotation. Calculate each. Then, an image having the largest calculated value is detected as an in-focus image. This is because a focused image basically has a higher luminance value of each pixel.

  If there are a plurality of images having the largest calculated values, one of them is detected as an in-focus image. As a result, the focus search unit 25 detects one in-focus image for each rotation of the winding cores 13 and 14. The value based on the luminance value may be, for example, an average value of the luminance values of a plurality of pixels forming the image, a difference between the luminance values of adjacent predetermined pixels, and the like.

  When a teaching mode signal is input from the control device 81, the arithmetic unit 26 executes a process of associating a number indicating the imaging order of the image with the image when storing the image in the image memory 24. The arithmetic unit 26 is provided with a counter for ascertaining the order of imaging, and performs a process of increasing the value of the counter by one each time a trigger signal is output from the trigger signal output unit 23. When the teaching mode end signal is input, the value of the counter is reset to the initial value.

  When a teaching mode signal is input from the control device 81, the calculation unit 26 outputs from the image memory 24 the focused image detected by the focus search unit 25 and a number indicating the imaging order of the image. Send to section 27. On the other hand, when the imaging execution signal is input from the control device 81, the calculation unit 26 sends the image stored in the image memory 24 to the output unit 27.

  The output unit 27 transmits an image and a number indicating the imaging order of the image or only the image to the control device 81. In the present embodiment, the number of images sent from the output unit 27 to the control device 81 is equal to or less than the number of rotations of the cores 13 and 14 when the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a special transmission line having excellent processing capability and communication capability as the output unit 27 and the transmission path connecting the output unit 27 and the control device 81. Therefore, an image can be sent from the output unit 27 to the control device 81 using a general transmission system technology (for example, a general image transmission technology).

  Next, the control device 81 will be described. The control device 81 includes a CPU as an arithmetic unit, a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing various data such as operation data and input / output data, and a hard disk for storing operation data and the like for a long period of time. . As described above, the control device 81 controls the operation of various devices in the winding device 10 such as the winding unit 11 and the supply mechanisms 31, 41, 51, and 61.

  The control device 81 is configured to be able to switch the operation mode of the winding device 10 to the teaching mode or the winding mode. The teaching mode is an operation method for the purpose of acquiring the imaging timing of the camera 20 in the winding mode while manufacturing the battery element 1. The winding mode is an operation method used when manufacturing the battery element 1 using the imaging timing acquired in the teaching mode. Even when the winding device 10 is operated in one of the two modes, the control device 81 performs an inspection on the positional deviation of the various sheets 2 to 5 based on the image sent from the camera 20. A specific method of the inspection will be described later.

  Whether the operation mode of the winding device 10 is set to the teaching mode or the winding mode is determined by an input to the control device 81 from a predetermined input device (not shown). The input content is stored in a hard disk or the like of the control device 81.

  When operating the winding device 10 in the teaching mode, the control device 81 operates as follows. That is, the control device 81 starts the winding process of the various sheets 2 to 5 and outputs a teaching mode signal to the camera 20.

  With the output of the teaching mode signal, an image and a number indicating the imaging order of the image are sequentially input to the control device 81 from the camera 20. The input image is an in-focus image. The control device 81 performs an inspection such as a displacement of each of the sheets 2 to 5 based on the input image. In addition, based on the input number indicating the imaging order, the cumulative total of the rotation angles of the cores 13 and 14 when the image corresponding to this number is captured is acquired. This is performed based on, for example, a preset table indicating the relationship between the number indicating the imaging order and the total rotation angle. Then, the control device 81 stores the acquired total of the rotation angles in the hard disk or the like as the imaging execution angle. As a result, the same number of imaging execution angles as the input image are stored.

  When operating the winding device 10 in the winding mode, the control device 81 operates as follows. That is, the control device 81 starts the winding process of the various sheets 2 to 5 and, at the same time, calculates the total of the rotation angles of the winding cores 13 and 14 from the start of the winding process with the imaging execution angle obtained in the teaching mode. Each time they become equal, an imaging execution signal is output. Thus, the camera 20 captures images of the various sheets 2 to 5 located in the focusing range. The in-focus images are sequentially input from the camera 20 to the control device 81. The control device 81 performs an inspection such as a displacement of each of the sheets 2 to 5 based on the input image.

  In the present embodiment, an inspection device 100 for inspecting the battery element 1 is configured by the camera 20 and the control device 81.

  Next, the winding process of the various sheets 2 to 5 by the winding device 10 will be described. Prior to the winding step, separator sheets 2 and 3 are arranged in advance in gaps 13c (14c) of one of the winding cores 13 (14), and the separator sheets 2 and 3 are attached to chuck portions 15a and 15b. (See FIG. 13).

  In the winding step, as shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S11, one of the cores 13 (14) is rotated by a predetermined number, so that one of the cores 13 (14) is Is wound by a predetermined amount. Thereafter, the chuck portions 15a and 15b are respectively moved to the retracted positions.

  Next, in step S12, the negative electrode sheet 5 is supplied to one of the cores 13 (14) by the sheet insertion mechanism 71 of the negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41. Specifically, the sheet insertion mechanism 71 that grips the negative electrode sheet 5 approaches the winding unit 11 side, and the negative electrode sheet 5 is supplied by being inserted between the separator sheets 2 and 3. Is done. After the insertion, the gripping of the negative electrode sheet 5 by the sheet insertion mechanism 71 is released, and the sheet insertion mechanism 71 returns to the original position.

  In the following step S13, after the supply of the negative electrode sheet 5, when the one core 13 (14) rotates a predetermined number of times (for example, one rotation), the sheet insertion mechanism 71 moves the one core 13 (14) toward the one core 13 (14). On the other hand, the positive electrode sheet 4 is supplied. Specifically, the sheet insertion mechanism 71 that grips the positive electrode sheet 4 approaches the winding part 11 side, and the positive electrode sheet 4 is supplied by being inserted between the separator sheets 2 and 3. Is done. After the insertion, the gripping of the positive electrode sheet 4 by the sheet insertion mechanism 71 is released, and the sheet insertion mechanism 71 returns to the original position.

  Next, in step S14, it is determined whether or not the selected operation mode is the teaching mode based on the input content to the control device 81. When the selected operation mode is the teaching mode (step S14: YES), the process proceeds to step S15, and the processing in the teaching mode is performed to operate the winding device 10 in the teaching mode.

  In the process in the teaching mode, as shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S31, one of the cores 13 (14) is controlled to rotate at a constant speed, and various sheets 2 to 5 are wound. The rotation speeds of the winding cores 13 and 14 when winding the various sheets 2 to 5 are the same in the teaching mode and the winding mode.

  Next, in step S32, a teaching mode signal is output to the camera 20. Thereby, the various sheets 2 to 5 being wound are continuously imaged by the camera 20. Then, the camera 20 inputs the image detected as being in focus by the focus search unit 25 and the number indicating the imaging order of the image to the control device 81.

  Next, in step S33, it is determined whether or not the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4 has reached a preset predetermined amount. That is, it is determined whether the end condition of the teaching mode processing is satisfied. As the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4, the feed amounts of the various sheets 2 to 5 from the start of winding obtained by the nip roller encoder are used. The predetermined amount corresponds to the length of the positive electrode sheet 4 constituting one battery element. When the positive electrode sheet 4 is sent to the winding cores 13 and 14 by the predetermined amount, the terminal end of the positive electrode sheet 4 for one element is placed in a state corresponding to the sheet cutting cutter 72.

  If a negative determination is made in step S33, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, it is determined whether an image or the like has been input from the camera 20. If a negative determination is made in step S34, the process returns to step S33. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S34, the process shifts to step S35 to execute an inspection process.

  In the inspection process, as shown in FIG. 8, first, in step S101, based on the input image, the edge 3E (width direction edge) of the separator sheet 3, the edge 2E of the separator sheet 2, the positive electrode sheet 4 and the edge 5E of the negative electrode sheet 5 are extracted (see FIG. 12). If the edges 2E and 3E overlap and the edge 2E cannot be extracted, the edge 3E is treated as the edge 2E.

  In the following step S102, based on the input image, the boundary 4T between the active material coated part 4a and the active material non-coated part 4b in the positive electrode sheet 4, and the active material coated part 5a and the negative electrode sheet 5 in the negative electrode sheet 5. The boundary portion 5T of the active material non-coated portion 5b is extracted (see FIG. 12).

  Next, in step S103, various distances are calculated based on the edges 2E, 3E, 4E, 5E and the boundaries 4T, 5T extracted in steps S101 and S102. That is, the positional shift amounts of the various sheets 2 to 5 wound around one of the cores 13 (14) are calculated.

  Specifically, the distance L1 to the boundary 4T in the sheet width direction, the distance L2 to the edge 4E in the sheet width direction, and the distance L3 to the boundary 5T in the sheet width direction with reference to the edge 3E. The distance L4 to the edge 5E in the sheet width direction and the distance (not shown) to the edge 2E in the sheet width direction are calculated (see FIG. 12).

  Thereafter, in step S104, it is determined whether each distance is within a preset allowable range based on each distance calculated in step S103.

  Here, when it is determined that any of the distances is not within the allowable range, that is, it is considered that the winding deviation in the various sheets 2 to 5 and the application position deviation of the active material coating units 4a and 5a have occurred. If yes, in step S105, it is determined to be defective, and the inspection processing ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that each of the distances is within the allowable range, it is determined that the distance is good in step S106, and the inspection processing ends.

  Returning to FIG. 7, after the execution of the inspection processing, the process proceeds to step S36, and it is determined whether or not a good determination was made in the immediately preceding inspection processing. If a negative determination is made in step S36, that is, if a failure is determined in the inspection processing, the process proceeds to step S37, in which the rotation of the cores 13 and 14 is stopped, thereby winding the various sheets 2 to 5. Stop the round on the way. If the processing in step S39 described later has already been performed and the imaging execution angle is stored in a hard disk or the like, the stored imaging execution angle is discarded. Then, in step S38, the battery element 1 being wound is determined to be defective, and the process proceeds to step S42.

  On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S36, that is, when a good determination is made in the inspection processing, the process proceeds to step S39, and based on the input number indicating the imaging order, imaging of the image corresponding to this number is performed. Is obtained, the total of the rotation angles of the winding cores 13 and 14 at the time of performing. Then, the acquired total of the rotation angles is stored in a hard disk or the like as the imaging execution angle.

  After step S39, the process returns to step S33. As described above, in the teaching mode processing, until the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4 reaches the predetermined amount, each time an image or the like is input from the camera 20, unless a defect determination is made in the inspection processing, Step S 35, The processing of S39 is repeatedly performed. As a result, a plurality of imaging execution angles are acquired, and the acquired plurality of imaging execution angles are stored in a hard disk or the like. Inspection processing is performed on a plurality of focused images, respectively.

  The storage of the imaging execution angle and the inspection processing are performed smoothly, and when the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4 reaches a predetermined amount (step S33: YES), the rotation of one of the cores 13 and 14 is stopped in step S40. . Next, in step S41, the battery element 1 including the various sheets 2 to 5 being wound is determined to be non-defective, and the process proceeds to step S42.

  Then, in step S42, a teaching mode end signal is output to the camera 20, and the processing in the teaching mode ends. By the processing of step S42, the output of the trigger signal from the trigger signal output unit 23 is stopped.

  Returning to FIG. 6, if a negative determination is made in step S14, the process proceeds to step S16, where it is determined whether or not the selected operation mode is the winding mode based on the input to the control device 81. I do. If a negative determination is made in step S16, that is, if the operation mode is not selected, an abnormal-time process is executed in step S19, and the winding process ends. In the abnormal process, for example, a process for notifying an operator or the like that the operation mode is not selected or that the imaging execution angle is not stored is executed.

  On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S16, the process proceeds to step S17, and information on whether or not the imaging execution angle is already stored, that is, information on the timing of performing imaging in the winding mode is already stored. Is determined. If a negative determination is made in step S17, an abnormal-time process is executed in step S19, and the winding process ends.

  On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S17, the process proceeds to step S18, and a winding mode process is performed to operate the winding device 10 in the winding mode.

  In the winding mode process, as shown in FIG. 9, first, in step S51, one of the cores 13 (14) is controlled to rotate at a constant speed, and various sheets 2 to 5 are wound.

  Next, in step S52, it is determined whether or not the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4 has reached a preset predetermined amount. That is, it is determined whether the end condition of the winding mode process is satisfied.

  If a negative determination is made in step S52, in step S53, the cumulative rotation angle of one of the cores 13 (14) from the start of winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 is stored in a plurality of imaging execution angles stored in advance. Is determined. In consideration of a time lag in a later process, it may be determined whether or not the cumulative rotation angle of one of the cores 13 (14) has reached a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the imaging execution angle.

  If a negative determination is made in step S53, the process returns to step S52. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S53, an imaging execution signal is output to the camera 20 in step S54. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, various sheets 2 to 5 located in the in-focus range R are imaged by the camera 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, immediately after the winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 is started, when the distance from the outer peripheral surface of one of the cores 13 (14) to the camera 20 is relatively small, The various sheets 2 to 5 are located in the focusing range R. Therefore, imaging is performed by the camera 20 using this time as the imaging timing. On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, immediately before the winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 ends, when the distance from the outer peripheral surface of one of the winding cores 13 (14) to the camera 20 is relatively large, The various sheets 2 to 5 are located in the range R where the 20 focuses. Therefore, imaging is performed by the camera 20 using this time as the imaging timing.

  Returning to FIG. 9, in step S55 following step S54, it is determined whether the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4 has reached a predetermined amount set in advance. This determination is performed to terminate the winding mode process when the positive electrode sheet 4 is wound by a predetermined amount before the image is sent from the camera 20. If an affirmative determination is made in step S55, the process proceeds to step S61.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S55, it is determined in step S56 whether an image has been input from the camera 20. If a negative determination is made in step S56, the process returns to step S55. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S56, the process shifts to step S57 to execute the above-described inspection processing.

  After the execution of the inspection processing, the flow shifts to step S58, and it is determined whether or not a good determination was made in the immediately preceding inspection processing. If a negative determination is made in step S58, that is, if a failure is determined in the inspection processing, the process proceeds to step S59, in which the rotation of the cores 13 and 14 is stopped, and the winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 is stopped. Stop the round on the way. Then, in step S60, the battery element 1 including the various sheets 2 to 5 in the middle of the winding is determined to be defective, and the winding mode process ends.

  On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step S58, the process returns to step S52. As a result, in the winding mode process, the process of step S57 is repeatedly performed until the feed amount of the positive electrode sheet 4 reaches the predetermined amount, unless a defect is determined in the inspection process. As a result, the inspection process is performed on each of the plurality of focused images.

  Inspection processing is performed smoothly, and when a positive determination is made in step S52 or step S55, rotation of one of the cores 13 and 14 is stopped in step S61. Next, in step S62, the battery element 1 including the various sheets 2 to 5 being wound is determined to be non-defective, and the winding mode process ends.

  Returning to FIG. 6, after performing the process in the teaching mode or the process in the winding mode, in step S20, the positive electrode sheet 4 is gripped by the sheet insertion mechanism 71, and then the positive electrode sheet 4 is gripped by the sheet cutting cutter 72. The sheet 4 is cut. In the process in the teaching mode or the process in the winding mode, if the battery element 1 being wound is determined to be a non-defective product, the battery element 1 is cut off at the end of the positive electrode sheet 4 for one element. On the other hand, if the battery element 1 being wound is determined to be defective in the teaching mode process or the winding mode process, the positive electrode sheet 4 is cut at a position before the terminal end.

  In a succeeding step S21, it is determined whether or not the non-defective item is determined in the process in the teaching mode or the process in the winding mode. If an affirmative determination is made in step S21, the rotation of one of the cores 13 (14) is restarted, and the process proceeds to step S22.

  On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S21, the process proceeds to step S23 without restarting the rotation of the one core 13 (14). That is, when the battery element 1 being wound is determined to be defective, the negative electrode sheet 5 is prevented from being supplied any more.

  In step S22, the determination as to whether or not the feed amount of the negative electrode sheet 5 from the start of the supply has reached a predetermined amount is repeatedly performed until the condition is satisfied. This predetermined amount corresponds to the length of the negative electrode sheet 5 constituting one battery element. The feed amount of the negative electrode sheet 5 is derived based on the feed amounts of the various sheets 2 to 5 obtained by the nip roller encoder. If an affirmative determination is made in step S22, that is, if the end of the currently wound negative electrode sheet 5 for one element has reached the sheet cutting cutter 72, the rotation of one of the cores 13 (14) is performed. Is temporarily stopped, and then the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, after the negative electrode sheet 5 is gripped by the sheet insertion mechanism 71, the negative electrode sheet 5 is cut by the sheet cutting cutter 72.

  Next, in step S24, by restarting the rotation of one of the cores 13 (14), the end portions (remaining unwound portions) of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 are wound up.

  In step S25 following step S24, the turret 12 is rotated counterclockwise without cutting the separator sheets 2 and 3. As a result, the one winding core 13 (14) located at the winding position P1 moves toward the removal position P2 while pulling out the separator sheets 2 and 3 from the separator supply mechanisms 51 and 61. On the other hand, the other winding core 14 (13) located at the removal position P2 is moved toward the winding position P1 in a state where it is submerged in one table of the turret 12.

  Subsequently, in step S26, one of the winding cores 13 (14) around which the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the turret 12.

  Then, in the next step S27, the winding process is completed by executing a winding end process.

  In the winding end processing, first, when the rotation amount of one of the winding cores 13 (14) from the time of cutting the negative electrode sheet 5 reaches a predetermined amount, which is grasped by the winding core encoder, one of the winding cores The rotation of 13 (14) is stopped. The rotation of the turret 12 is stopped before, simultaneously with, or after the rotation of the one core 13 (14) is stopped.

  When the rotation of the one core 13 (14) and the turret 12 is stopped, the one core 13 (14) at the winding position P1 is located at the removal position P2, and the other at the removal position P2. The core 14 (13) is located at the winding position P1.

  In this state, the pressing roller 17 is made to approach one of the cores 13 (14), and the various sheets 2 to 5 are pressed by the pressing roller 17. Further, by moving the chuck portions 15a and 15b from the retracted position to the sandwiching position, the separator sheets 2 and 3 are held between the positions P1 and P2. Then, when the separator cutter 16 approaches the separator sheets 2 and 3, the separator sheets 2 and 3 are cut (see FIG. 14).

  Further, the other core 14 (13) protrudes from one table of the turret 12, whereby the separator sheets 2 and 3 are arranged in the gap 14c (13c) of the other core 14 (13). In the next winding step, the other core 14 (13) is rotated by a predetermined amount, so that the separator sheets 2 and 3 are wound around the outer periphery by a predetermined amount. Then, the electrode sheets 4 and 5 are supplied to the other core 14 (13) around which the separator sheets 2 and 3 are wound.

  After the separator sheets 2 and 3 are cut, one of the cores 13 (14) is rotated while the various sheets 2 to 5 are pressed by the pressing roller 17. As a result, the end portions of the separator sheets 2 and 3 and the electrode sheets 4 and 5 are completely wound without being separated. After that, the end portions of the separator sheets 2 and 3 are stopped by the fixing tape by the tape attaching mechanism 18, and the winding end process is completed. The wound battery element 1 is removed from one of the cores 13 (14) by the removal device. Then, the battery element 1 determined to be non-defective is sent to a regular line. On the other hand, the battery element 1 determined to be defective is sent out to a predetermined defective product discharging mechanism.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the electrode sheets 4 and 5 and the separator sheets 2 and 3 wound around the cores 13 and 14 are inspected, and the inspection target is imaged by the camera 20. The control device 81 determines the quality of the inspection target based on the image obtained by the imaging. That is, the control device 81 determines pass / fail of the inspection target that is actually wound. By performing the pass / fail judgment on the inspection target that is actually wound up in this way, pass / fail regarding the quality of the battery element 1 can be more accurately determined.

  The outer peripheral surfaces of the cores 13 and 14 on which the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound are non-circular in cross section, and the distance from the outer peripheral surfaces of the cores 13 and 14 to the camera 20 is It changes according to the rotation angle of 14. Utilizing this point, the control device 81 controls the timing of imaging by the camera 20 according to the rotation angles of the cores 13 and 14 so that imaging is performed when the camera 20 is focused on the inspection target. I do. In the present embodiment, when the cumulative rotation angle of the cores 13 and 14 reaches the imaging execution angle, the control device 81 outputs an imaging execution signal to the camera 20 so as to execute imaging by the camera 20. This makes it possible to more reliably focus on the inspection object while reducing the depth of field and increasing the measurement resolution. In other words, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the case where both the measurement resolution and the depth of field (expanding the focusing range) which are in a trade-off relationship are realized at the same time. it can. As a result, the reliability of the inspection can be sufficiently improved.

  Further, the camera 20 can image the electrode sheets 4 and 5 and the separator sheets 2 and 3 at a time. Therefore, an image required for inspection can be obtained with a small number of times of imaging, and inspection efficiency can be improved.

  Further, the timing of imaging is controlled based on the imaging execution angle obtained by actually winding the various sheets 2 to 5. Therefore, it is possible to perform imaging at a more appropriate timing based on factors such as the shape change over time of the site where the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound and the hardness and thickness of the various sheets 2 to 5. As a result, a focused image can be obtained more reliably, and the reliability of the inspection can be further increased.

  Further, in obtaining the imaging execution angle, an in-focus image is detected based on the luminance of the image. Therefore, an in-focus image can be more easily detected. As a result, it is possible to more easily and more reliably acquire an appropriate imaging timing.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the content described in the above embodiment, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Of course, other application examples and modifications not illustrated below are naturally possible.

  (A) In the above embodiment, the winding device 10 is operated in the teaching mode, and the various types of sheets 2 to 5 are actually wound to acquire the imaging execution angle. On the other hand, the imaging execution angle may be acquired by calculation or the like based on the shapes of the cores 13 and 14 and the thicknesses of the various sheets 2 to 5. That is, the imaging timing may be acquired without actually winding the various sheets 2 to 5. Then, information about the acquired imaging timing may be input to the control device 81 in advance, and the imaging timing may be controlled based on this information.

  (B) In the above embodiment, based on the obtained images, the inspection is performed for the winding deviation of the various sheets 2 to 5 and the application position deviation of the active material coating units 4a and 5a, but the inspection items are not limited to these. It is not something to be done. Therefore, for example, when tabs are provided for the electrode sheets 4 and 5, an inspection regarding the positions of the tabs along the width direction of the electrode sheets 4 to 5 may be performed based on the obtained images. As the tab, a welding tab welded to the active material non-coated portions 4b, 5b of the electrode sheets 4, 5 or a notch formed by intermittently forming a notch at one end in the width direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5 is provided. There are tabs and so on. Of course, inspections for other items may be performed based on the obtained images. Regardless of the inspection item, the inspection is performed based on the focused image, so that the reliability of the inspection can be sufficiently improved.

  (C) Although not particularly described in the above embodiment, the camera 20 may be configured to be relatively movable with respect to the cores 13 and 14 along the optical axis direction of the lens 21. With such a configuration, the fluctuation of the diameters of the various sheets 2 to 5 during winding becomes relatively large during winding from the start to the end of winding, such as when the battery element 1 is large. Even in such a case, by moving the camera 20 relative to the winding cores 13 and 14, it is possible to more reliably focus on the various sheets 2 to 5 to be inspected. Therefore, battery elements 1 of various sizes can be inspected accurately.

  Note that the camera 20 may move gradually in accordance with the winding of the various sheets 2 to 5, or may move to the predetermined position when the winding amount of the various sheets 2 to 5 reaches the predetermined amount. It may move.

  (D) In the above embodiment, an image is output from the camera 20 to the control device 81, and the control device 81 determines the quality of the various sheets 2 to 5 based on the image. On the other hand, the camera 20 (for example, the arithmetic unit 26) may be configured to determine the quality of each of the sheets 2 to 5 based on the image and to output the determination result to the control device 81. In this case, the amount of data transmitted from the camera 20 to the control device 81 can be made smaller, and the processing load can be reduced.

  (E) In the above embodiment, the pass / fail judgment is made based on the relative positions of the various sheets 2 to 5, but the pass / fail judgment may be made based on the absolute positions of the various sheets 2 to 5. In this case, for example, the absolute positions of the various sheets 2 to 5 may be obtained using the marks attached to the cores 13 and 14.

  In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which the quality is determined by comparing a plurality of focused images. For example, when an image obtained immediately after the start of winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 and an image obtained immediately before the end of winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 are compared, in the width direction of the various sheets 2 to 5 If the amount of change in the position of the various sheets 2 to 5 along the direction is large, the various sheets 2 to 5 may be determined to be defective, assuming that the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound obliquely with respect to the rotation axes of the cores 13 and 14. With such a configuration, it is possible to grasp the degree of the overall position variation in the various sheets 2 to 5, and to determine the quality of the battery element 1 more accurately.

  (F) In the above embodiment, the separator sheets 2 and 3 and the two electrode sheets 4 and 5 are configured to be supplied to the cores 13 and 14 through the same transport path. And it is comprised so that the separator sheets 2 and 3 and the both electrode sheets 4 and 5 may be imaged at once. In contrast, one of the two separator sheets 2 and 3 and one of the two electrode sheets 4 and 5 and the other of the two separator sheets 2 and 3 and the other of the two electrode sheets 4 and 5 pass through separate transport paths. You may comprise so that it may be supplied to a core. In this case, one of the two separator sheets 2 and 3 wound around the core and one of the two electrode sheets 4 and 5 and the other of the separator sheets 2 and 3 wound around the core and the two The other of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 may be separately imaged. That is, in the above embodiment, four sheets are imaged at one time, but two sheets may be separately imaged.

  (G) In the above embodiment, the cores 13 and 14 are configured such that the outer peripheral shape around which the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound is configured to be elliptical. It is not limited to this. Therefore, for example, a core whose outer peripheral shape is rectangular (flat), polygonal, oval, or the like may be adopted.

  (H) The materials of the separator sheets 2 and 3 and the electrode sheets 4 and 5 are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the separator sheets 2 and 3 are formed of PP, but the separator sheets 2 and 3 may be formed of another insulating material. Further, for example, the active material applied to the electrode sheets 4 and 5 may be appropriately changed.

  (I) In the above embodiment, the winding portion 11 has a configuration including two winding cores 13 and 14, but the number of winding cores is not limited to this, and three or more winding cores are provided. It is good also as composition provided with a core. When there is one core, the turret 12 and the like can be omitted.

  (J) In the above embodiment, the various sheets 2 to 5 are configured to be wound directly around the outer periphery of the rotatable winding cores 13 and 14, but the rotatable shaft portion and the outer periphery of the shaft portion are configured. The core may be configured by a cylindrical core arranged in the above-described manner, and various sheets 2 to 5 may be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core. In this case, the outer peripheral surface of the core should be non-circular in cross section.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery element (winding element), 2, 3 ... separator sheet, 4 ... Positive electrode sheet, 5 ... Negative electrode sheet, 10 ... Winding device, 13, 14 ... Winding core, 19a, 19b ... Lighting device (irradiation) Means), 20: camera (imaging means), 21: lens, 81: control device (imaging timing control means, pass / fail judgment means), 100: inspection apparatus.

Claims (7)

A winding manufactured by winding a band-shaped positive electrode sheet coated with an active material and a negative electrode sheet with a rotatable core in an alternately superimposed state via a band-shaped separator sheet made of an insulating material. An inspection device used in the manufacturing process of the element,
Irradiating means for irradiating the inspection target with predetermined light, with each of the sheets wound around the core being an inspection target,
Imaging means for imaging the inspection target irradiated with light by the irradiation means,
Imaging timing control means for controlling the timing of imaging by the imaging means;
Based on an image obtained by the imaging means, comprising a good or bad judgment means for judging the good or bad of the inspection target,
An outer peripheral surface of the core, on which the respective sheets are wound, has a non-circular cross-section, and is configured such that a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the core to the imaging unit changes with rotation of the core. Has been
The imaging timing control unit includes a rotation angle of the core , and a thickness of each sheet wound around the core, so that imaging is performed when the imaging unit is focused on the inspection target. An inspection apparatus for controlling the timing of imaging by the imaging means according to It is configured to be operable in a teaching mode for acquiring the timing of imaging by the imaging unit in advance,
In the teaching mode, the imaging object is continuously imaged by the imaging unit in a state where the respective sheets are wound by the winding core. Detecting what the imaging means is in focus, and obtaining the rotation angle of the core when obtaining the image in focus,
The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging timing control unit controls the timing of imaging by the imaging unit based on a rotation angle of the core acquired in advance in the teaching mode. A winding manufactured by winding a band-shaped positive electrode sheet coated with an active material and a negative electrode sheet with a rotatable core in an alternately superimposed state via a band-shaped separator sheet made of an insulating material. An inspection device used in the manufacturing process of the element,
Irradiating means for irradiating the inspection target with predetermined light, with each of the sheets wound around the core being an inspection target,
Imaging means for imaging the inspection target irradiated with light by the irradiation means,
Imaging timing control means for controlling the timing of imaging by the imaging means;
Based on an image obtained by the imaging means, comprising a good or bad judgment means for judging the good or bad of the inspection target,
An outer peripheral surface of the core, on which the respective sheets are wound, has a non-circular cross-section, and is configured such that a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the core to the imaging unit changes with rotation of the core. Has been
The imaging timing control unit controls the timing of imaging by the imaging unit according to the rotation angle of the core so that imaging is performed when the imaging unit is focused on the inspection target. ,
It is configured to be operable in a teaching mode for acquiring the timing of imaging by the imaging unit in advance,
In the teaching mode, the imaging object is continuously imaged by the imaging unit while the respective sheets are being wound by the winding core, and the plurality of images obtained by the continuous imaging are used for the inspection object with respect to the inspection object. Detecting what the imaging means is in focus, and obtaining the rotation angle of the core when obtaining the image in focus,
An inspection apparatus, wherein the imaging timing control unit controls the timing of imaging by the imaging unit based on a rotation angle of the core acquired in advance in the teaching mode. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein in the teaching mode, an image in which the imaging unit is in focus with respect to the inspection target is detected from among the plurality of images based on luminance of the image. Or the inspection device according to 3 . The imaging means may have a predetermined lens, in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that along the optical axis of the lens is configured to be relatively moved with respect to the winding core Inspection device as described. The separator sheet is transparent or translucent,
The imaging unit is configured to image at least one of the two electrode sheets at a time by transmitting at least one of the two electrode sheets through the separator sheet and imaging the two electrode sheets and the separator sheet at a time. The inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein A winding device comprising the inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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