JP6717159B2 - Electrode manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing device.

A laminated electrode assembly used in a power storage device has a plurality of sheet-shaped electrodes that are alternately laminated with a separator interposed therebetween. Generally, these electrodes are manufactured by forming an active material layer on both surfaces of a strip-shaped metal foil to form a strip-shaped electrode material, and then cutting this electrode material into individual pieces. Known methods for cutting the electrode material include press cutting, rotary die cutting, and laser cutting. The cutting method using a blade, such as press cutting and rotary die cutting, has problems of abrasion of the blade by hard active material particles and adhesion of metal foil to the cutting edge. Therefore, maintenance of the blade edge or replacement of the blade must be performed in a relatively short period of time, and laser cutting is advantageous from the viewpoint of running cost.

Patent Document 1 discloses a device for cutting a strip-shaped electrode material with a laser beam. This apparatus conveys the strip-shaped electrode material on the belt conveyor and moves the laser beam cutting machine in synchronization with this to enable cutting of the strip-shaped electrode material on the belt conveyor.

JP, 2013-136437, A

In order to improve the cutting quality by laser cutting, it is important to accurately adjust the focal position of laser light to the position of the electrode material. However, since the electrode material is thin and has low rigidity, it is easily displaced in the thickness direction. In addition, the electrode material may have a partially wavy deformation due to undulations caused by roll pressing in the process of forming the active material layer, curl quirks caused by winding on a reel, and the like.

The device of Patent Document 1 uses an adsorption conveyor to fix the electrode material on the belt. However, since it is not possible to correct the above-mentioned waviness and curl by the suction by the suction conveyor, it is possible to sufficiently improve the positional accuracy in the thickness direction of the electrode material and sufficiently cut the electrode material. Difficult to raise.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode manufacturing apparatus capable of improving the cutting quality of electrode material.

An electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is an electrode manufacturing apparatus that transports and cuts an electrode material to manufacture an electrode, and is arranged on one side and the other side of a transporting surface of the electrode material to sandwich the electrode material. Together with a pair of plate members for transporting along the transport surface, a drive unit for driving the pair of plate members, a laser irradiation unit for cutting the electrode material by laser light irradiation, an electrode material and an electrode An adsorption unit for adsorbing, and at least a drive unit, a laser irradiation unit, and a control unit for controlling the adsorption unit, the pair of plate members, a slit having a shape corresponding to the shape of the electrode is provided, One plate member of the pair of plate members is provided with a suction hole that opens on the surface facing the transport surface, the suction unit sucks the electrode material and the electrode through the suction hole, and the control unit drives By controlling the section and driving the pair of plate members, the first process of aligning the slits of the pair of plate members with each other and sandwiching the electrode material by the pair of plate members, and controlling the laser irradiation unit, A second process of irradiating the electrode material sandwiched by a pair of plate members with laser light through a slit, and a first adsorption of the electrode material and the electrode by controlling the adsorption unit. 3 processing, and a fourth processing in which the electrode material and the electrode are conveyed along the conveying surface together with the one plate member by driving the one plate member in the state where the electrode material and the electrode are adsorbed by controlling the driving unit. By controlling the suction part, a fifth process of canceling the suction of the electrode material and the electrode on one of the plate members is executed.

In this electrode manufacturing apparatus, slits corresponding to the shape of the electrodes to be manufactured are formed on the pair of plate members. Further, a suction hole is formed on the surface of the plate member facing the transport surface of the electrode material. These plate members are driven by the drive unit under the control of the control unit. That is, the control unit controls the drive unit to drive the pair of plate members to match the slits of the pair of plate members with each other and sandwich the electrode material between the pair of plate members (first process). Then, the control unit irradiates the electrode material with the laser beam through the slit by controlling the laser irradiation unit in the state where the electrode material is sandwiched by the pair of plate members (second process). .. Thereby, the electrode material is cut along the slits of the plate member, and the electrode is manufactured. After that, the control unit controls the adsorption unit to adsorb the electrode material and the electrode to the one plate member (third processing), and then controls the drive unit to remove the electrode material and the electrode together with the one plate member. Transport (fourth process). Then, the control unit further controls the adsorption unit to release the adsorption of the electrode material and the electrode to the one plate member (fifth processing), and supplies the electrode to the subsequent process. As described above, in this electrode manufacturing apparatus, in a state where the electrode material is sandwiched by the electrode material and the pair of plate members used for transporting the electrode, the laser beam is irradiated through the slit provided in the plate member. The electrode material is cut by. Therefore, according to this electrode manufacturing apparatus, at the time of cutting the electrode material, the plate member that contributes to the transport of the electrode material is used to sufficiently enhance the positional accuracy in the thickness direction of the electrode material to improve the cutting quality of the electrode material. Can be improved.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit controls the drive unit to control the other plate member of the pair of plate members before the electrode material and the electrode are transferred along the transfer surface in the fourth process. The sixth process of separating the other plate member from the electrode material and the electrode may be performed by driving the plate member in a direction away from the other plate member. In this case, when the electrode material and the electrode are transported by the one plate member, it is possible to suppress the contact between the other plate member and the electrode material and the electrode.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the other plate member is provided with an adsorption hole that is open on the surface facing the transport surface, and the control unit controls the adsorption unit between the fourth process and the fifth process. The seventh process of adsorbing the electrode material to the other plate member of the pair of plate members may be executed by controlling the above, and the first process may be executed after the fifth process. In this case, in a state where the other plate member adsorbs and supports the electrode material, the first process is performed again to drive the one plate member so that the electrode material is sandwiched. You can

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the pair of plate members each have a first region and a second region which are arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the electrode material, and in the transport direction. The length of each of the first region and the second region corresponds to the length of the electrode in the transport direction, and the control unit causes the first regions to face each other and the second regions to face each other in the first processing. In the fourth process, one plate member may be driven such that the first region of the one plate member faces the second region of the other plate member of the pair of plate members. In this case, while the electrode material is conveyed by the length corresponding to the electrodes, the laser light irradiation is performed in each of the first region and the second region. Therefore, it becomes possible to independently perform laser processing on the portion of the electrode material corresponding to one electrode between the first regions and between the second regions.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the slit is provided in the first region, the first slit having a shape corresponding to a part of the shape of the electrode, and the slit provided in the second region, and the remaining portion of the shape of the electrode. And a second slit having a corresponding shape. In this case, since the slit is provided separately in two regions, it is possible to prevent the plate member from being separated into a plurality of members by the slit, and to integrate the plate member into one member. Therefore, control of driving the plate member and the like becomes easy.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the laser irradiation unit has a first irradiation unit and a second irradiation unit that can irradiate laser light independently of each other, and the control unit performs the first irradiation process in the first process. By controlling the irradiation unit, the electrode material is irradiated with laser light through the first slit, and by controlling the second irradiation unit, the electrode material is irradiated with laser light through the second slit. May be. In this case, the cutting of the electrode material can be divided into two, that is, the cutting by the combination of the first irradiation section and the first slit and the cutting by the combination of the second irradiation section and the second slit, and can be performed simultaneously. As a result, the time required to manufacture the electrode can be shortened.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the electrode material includes a metal foil and an active material layer provided on the metal foil, and the first slit has a metal foil in which the metal foil is an active material layer. The second slit may correspond to the uncoated region exposed from the above, and the second slit may correspond to the coated region of the electrode material in which the active material layer is provided on the metal foil. In this case, the cutting by the combination of the first irradiation unit and the first slit and the cutting by the combination of the second irradiation unit and the second slit may be performed under conditions suitable for the uncoated region and the coated region, respectively. it can.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electrode manufacturing apparatus which can improve the cutting quality of an electrode material can be provided.

It is a figure which shows an example of the electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the electrode material used as the origin of the electrode shown in FIG. It is a typical side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a top view of the plate member shown by FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. It is a figure for explaining control by a control part. It is a figure for explaining control by a control part. It is a figure for explaining control by a control part. It is a figure which shows the shape of a scrap material. It is a schematic side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus which concerns on a modification. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the plate member shown in FIG. 10. It is a schematic side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus which concerns on another modification. It is a top view and a sectional view of a plate member concerning a modification. It is a top view of the plate member which concerns on a modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent elements, and duplicate description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode 50 has a metal foil 51 and an active material layer 52 provided on the metal foil 51. The electrode 50 is, for example, a positive electrode or a negative electrode used in a lithium ion secondary battery. When the electrode 50 is a positive electrode, the metal foil 51 is, for example, an aluminum foil, and the active material layer 52 is a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is formed, for example, by coating the metal foil 51 with an electrode paste for a positive electrode. This electrode paste contains a positive electrode active material, a binder, a solvent and the like. The main structure of the active material layer 52 is a porous layer in which a large number of particles of the active material are fixed to each other and to the metal foil 51 by a binder.

The positive electrode active material is, for example, a composite oxide, a sulfur-based material, or the like. The composite oxide contains at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum, and lithium. The binder is, for example, a thermoplastic resin (polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorine-containing resin such as fluororubber, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like), imide resin (polyimide, polyamideimide, or the like), or an alkoxysilyl group. It is a contained resin. The solvent is, for example, an organic solvent (NMP (N-methylpyrrolidone), methanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, or the like) or water. The electrode paste may contain a conductive auxiliary agent such as carbon black, graphite, acetylene black, or Ketjen Black (registered trademark). The electrode paste may include a thickening agent such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

When the electrode 50 is a negative electrode, the metal foil 51 is, for example, a copper foil, and the active material layer 52 is a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is formed, for example, by coating the metal foil 51 with an electrode paste for a negative electrode. This electrode paste contains a negative electrode active material, a binder, a solvent, and the like. Examples of the negative electrode active material include carbon (graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, hard carbon, soft carbon, etc.), alkali metal (lithium, sodium, etc.), metal compound, silicon-based material (Si, or SiOx, etc.), tin-based materials (Sn, SnOx, etc.), or boron-added carbon. As the binder and the solvent, for example, the same ones as those for the positive electrode described above are used. The negative electrode active material layer may also contain a conductive additive and a thickener, as in the above-described positive electrode.

The electrode 50 includes an uncoated area 53 in which the metal foil 51 is exposed from the active material layer 52, and a coated area 54 in which the active material layer 52 is provided on the metal foil 51. In the coating region 54, for example, the active material layer 52 is provided on both surfaces of the metal foil 51, and the metal foil 51 is covered with the active material layer 52. In the uncoated area 53, a tab 55 used for electrical connection of the electrode 50 is projected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrode material which is a base of the electrode shown in FIG. By cutting the electrode material 10 shown in FIG. 2, the electrode 50 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode material 10 has a strip shape (long shape). The electrode material 10 has a metal foil 11 and an active material layer 12 provided on the metal foil 11. The metal foil 11 corresponds to the metal foil 51 (see FIG. 1) and is made of the same material as the metal foil 51. The active material layer 12 corresponds to the active material layer 52 (see FIG. 1) and is made of the same material as the active material layer 52. The electrode material 10 includes, for example, two uncoated areas 13 and one coated area 14.

The uncoated area 13 is an area where the metal foil 11 is exposed from the active material layer 12. The coated area 14 is an area in which the active material layer 12 is provided on the metal foil 11 and the metal foil 11 is covered with the active material layer 12. The uncoated region 13 and the coated region 14 have a strip shape extending along the longitudinal direction of the electrode material 10 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “longitudinal direction”). The uncoated region 13 is a region that forms both ends of the electrode material 10 in the short-side direction (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “short-side direction”). That is, the uncoated areas 13 are arranged so as to be separated from each other along the lateral direction. The coating area 14 is an area forming a central portion in the lateral direction. The coated area 14 is arranged between the uncoated areas 13.

The uncoated region 13 is a region where the uncoated region 53 (see FIG. 1) of the electrode 50 is cut out. The coating region 14 is a region where the coating region 54 (see FIG. 1) of the electrode 50 is cut out. Here, each uncoated region 13 includes the uncoated region 53 of one electrode 50. The coating region 14 includes the coating regions 54 of the two electrodes 50 arranged along the lateral direction. Therefore, the electrode material 10 includes the two electrodes 50 arranged along the lateral direction.

The electrode 50 is manufactured by cutting the above-mentioned electrode material 10 along a cutting line L set in the electrode material 10. The cutting line L is, for example, a virtual line, and matches the shape of the electrode 50 (the outer shape of the electrode 50 in plan view). The cutting line L has a first cutting line L1 set in the uncoated area 13 and a second cutting line L2 set in the coated area 14.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 is an apparatus that transports and cuts the electrode material 10 to manufacture the electrode 50 (see FIG. 1). Here, since the electrode material 10 is conveyed along the longitudinal direction, the conveying direction of the electrode material 10 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “conveying direction”) corresponds to the longitudinal direction.

The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a supply roll 2, a pair of nip rolls 3, an accumulation mechanism 4, a pair of plate members 5 and 6, a drive unit 7, a laser irradiation unit 8, a suction unit 9, and a control unit C. And are equipped with. The supply roll 2 continuously delivers the electrode material 10 by rotation. The pair of nip rolls 3 sandwich the electrode material 10 fed from the supply roll 2 in a sandwiched state.

The accumulation mechanism 4 is arranged between the supply roll 2 and the nip roll 3. Here, the accumulation mechanism 4 includes three rollers 4a to 4c. The electrode material 10 is laid over the rollers 4a to 4c in order. The accumulation mechanism 4 changes the path length of the electrode material 10 from the roller 4a to the roller 4c by moving the roller 4b up and down while the electrode material 10 is continuously fed from the supply roll 2. As a result, the accumulation mechanism 4 intermittently carries out the electrode material 10 from the roller 4c. As will be described later, the electrode material 10 is intermittently conveyed by the plate member 5. The accumulation mechanism 4 carries out the electrode material 10 from the roller 4c in synchronization with the timing at which the plate member 5 carries the electrode material 10 under the control of the controller C, for example.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the plate member shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plate member 5 is arranged on one side of the transport surface F of the electrode material 10. The plate member 6 is arranged on the other side of the transport surface F. The transport surface F is a virtual surface that extends along the transport direction as well as the front surface and the back surface of the electrode material 10. The plate members 5 and 6 are members for sandwiching the electrode material 10 in the thickness direction of the electrode material 10 and carrying the electrode material 10 along the carrying surface F. The plate members 5 and 6 have a rectangular shape in a plan view and have a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the plate members 5 and 6 is set to a thickness that can correct the deformation of the electrode material 10 when the electrode material 10 is sandwiched. The plate members 5 and 6 are made of a metal material such as SUS. The shapes of the plate members 5 and 6 differ in the number and position of the suction holes H described later, but are the same in other points.

Each of the plate members 5 and 6 has a first region R1 and a second region R2 arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. The length of each of the first region R1 and the second region R2 in the transport direction corresponds to the length of the electrode 50 (see FIG. 1) in the transport direction. The lengths of the first region R1 and the second region R2 in the lateral direction correspond to the length of the electrode material 10 in the lateral direction.

The plate members 5 and 6 are provided with slits S having a shape corresponding to the shape of the electrode 50 (the outer shape of the electrode 50 in plan view). The slit S is provided in the first region R1 and has a shape corresponding to a part of the shape of the electrode 50. The slit S is provided in the second region R2 and has a shape corresponding to another part of the shape of the electrode 50. And a second slit S2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, specifically, the first slit S1 corresponds to the uncoated region 13 of the electrode material 10. When the first slit S1 overlaps with the first cutting line L1 when viewed from a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the transport surface F (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “intersecting direction”), the entire first cutting line L1 is the first slit S1. It is formed so as to be exposed from one slit S1. The second slit S2 corresponds to the coating region 14 of the electrode material 10. When the second slit S2 overlaps with the second cutting line L2 when viewed from the crossing direction, a line other than the line L2a forming the downstream end of the second cutting line L2 in the transport direction is the second slit S2. It is formed to be exposed from. The line L2a extends along the lateral direction.

The first slit S1 and the second slit S2 are connected to each other. Further, neither the first slit S1 nor the second slit S2 reaches the outer edges of the plate members 5 and 6, and does not form a closed curve. For this reason, the plate members 5 and 6 are not separated by the first slit S1 and the second slit S2, respectively, and are configured by one member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plate member 5 has a facing surface 5a facing the transport surface F (see FIG. 3) and an opposite surface 5b opposite to the facing surface 5a. The plate member 5 is provided with a plurality of suction holes H having a circular cross-section opening to the facing surface 5a and a single negative pressure introducing hole 5c opening to the opposite surface 5b. Each of the plurality of suction holes H communicates with the negative pressure introducing hole 5c inside the plate member 5, for example. The plurality of suction holes H are provided in both the first region R1 and the second region R2 of the plate member 5.

The plate member 6 has a facing surface 6a facing the transport surface F, and an opposite surface (not shown) opposite to the facing surface 6a. The plate member 6 is provided with a plurality of suction holes H each having a circular cross-section opening to the facing surface 6a and a single negative pressure introducing hole (not shown) opening to the opposite surface 6b. Each of the plurality of suction holes H communicates with the negative pressure introduction hole, for example, inside the plate member 6. In the plate member 6, the plurality of suction holes H are provided only in the first region R1.

One space A1 for suction is formed on the first region R1 of the plate member 5. The space A1 is a space defined by the plurality of suction holes H in the first region R1 of the plate member 5. On the second region R2 of the plate member 5, two suction spaces A2 that are arranged in the lateral direction with the second slit S2 interposed therebetween are formed. The space A2 is a space defined by the plurality of suction holes H in the second region R2 of the plate member 5. One space A1 for suction is formed on the first region R1 of the plate member 6. The space A1 is a space defined by the plurality of suction holes H in the first region R1 of the plate member 6.

The drive unit 7 shown in FIG. 3 is a device for driving the plate members 5 and 6. The drive unit 7 is, for example, a motor.

The laser irradiation unit 8 is a device for cutting the electrode material 10 by irradiation with the laser beam LB. The laser irradiation unit 8 irradiates the electrode material 10 sandwiched by the plate members 5 and 6 with the laser light LB through the slit S. The laser irradiation unit 8 has a first irradiation unit 8a and a second irradiation unit 8b that can irradiate the laser light LB independently of each other. The 1st irradiation part 8a and the 2nd irradiation part 8b are arrange|positioned in order toward the downstream side from the upstream of the conveyance direction of the electrode material 10.

The 1st irradiation part 8a irradiates the electrode material 10 with the laser beam LB which is a pulsed laser beam via the 1st slit S1, for example. The 2nd irradiation part 8b irradiates the electrode material 10 with the laser beam LB which is a CW laser beam via the 2nd slit S2, for example. In this case, the uncoated area 13 (see FIG. 2) is irradiated with the pulsed laser light, and the coated area 14 (see FIG. 2) is irradiated with the CW laser light.

The adsorption unit 9 is a device for adsorbing the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 (see FIG. 1) to the plate members 5 and 6. The adsorption unit 9 is, for example, a negative pressure source (negative pressure pump) and a switching valve. The suction portion 9 supplies or blocks a negative pressure to or from the suction hole H of the plate member 5 through the negative pressure introduction hole 5c, and also with respect to the suction hole H of the plate member 6 through the negative pressure introduction hole of the plate member 6. Supply or shut off the negative pressure. As a result, the adsorption unit 9 adsorbs the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 via the adsorption holes H. In the present embodiment, the adsorption unit 9 adsorbs the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 on the plate member 5 and also adsorbs the electrode material 10 on the plate member 6.

The control unit C is a device for controlling at least the drive unit 7, the laser irradiation unit 8, and the suction unit 9. The control unit C is electrically connected to at least the drive unit 7, the laser irradiation unit 8, and the suction unit 9. The control unit C includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory) that are main storage devices, a communication module for performing communication, and hardware such as an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk. It is configured as a computer including. The functions of the control unit C (for example, each processing described later) are realized by the operation of these components by a program or the like.

Control of the drive unit 7, the laser irradiation unit 8, and the suction unit 9 by the control unit C will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the control by the control unit.

First, as shown in FIG. 3 in particular, the control unit C controls the drive unit 7 to drive the pair of plate members 5 and 6 so that the slits S are aligned with each other and the pair of plate members 5 and 5 are aligned. The first process of sandwiching the electrode material 10 by 6 is performed. Here, making the slits S coincide with each other means that the entire slits S are overlapped with each other when viewed from the intersecting direction. In the first processing, the control unit C causes the first regions R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 and the second regions R2 of the plate members 5 and 6 to face each other.

Subsequently, the control unit C controls the laser irradiation unit 8 to irradiate the laser beam LB via the slit S to the electrode material 10 sandwiched between the pair of plate members 5 and 6. Execute the process. Specifically, in the second processing, the control unit C controls the first irradiation unit 8a to irradiate the electrode material 10 with the laser beam LB via the first slit S1, and at the same time, the second irradiation unit. By controlling 8b, the electrode material 10 is irradiated with the laser beam LB through the second slit S2. As a result, the electrode material 10 is cut along the cutting line L as shown in FIG. Specifically, the uncoated area 13 is cut along the first cutting line L1, and the coated area 14 is cut along the second cutting line L2.

As will be described later, the electrode material 10 is transported by the length of the electrode 50 (see FIG. 1) in the transport direction each time the laser cutting is performed. That is, the portion of the electrode material 10 disposed between the first regions R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 is cut along the first cutting line L1 and is then conveyed to the second regions of the plate members 5 and 6. It is placed between R2. Therefore, the portion of the electrode material 10 disposed between the second regions R2 of the plate members 5 and 6 has been cut along the first cutting line L1. In this way, the portion that has been cut along the first cutting line L1 is further cut along the second cutting line L2 between the second regions R2 of the plate members 5 and 6. Thereby, the electrode 50 and the end material 60 (see FIG. 9) are obtained from the electrode material 10 between the second regions R2. By continuously performing the laser cutting, the plurality of electrodes 50 are continuously formed from the electrode material 10. The line L2a of the second cutting line L2 is cut as a part of the second cutting line L2 of the electrode 50 formed immediately before.

Subsequently, the control unit C controls the adsorption unit 9 to perform a third process of adsorbing the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 on the plate member 5. Specifically, the first region R1 of the plate member 5 adsorbs a portion of the electrode material 10 that has been cut along the first cutting line L1. The electrode 50 obtained between the second regions R2 is adsorbed to the second region R2 of the plate member 5. The third process may be performed after the second process is completed, or may be performed in parallel with the first process or the second process. By performing the third process in parallel with the first process or the second process, the next process can be performed immediately after the completion of the second process, so that the cycle time can be shortened.

Subsequently, as shown in particular in FIG. 6, the control unit C controls the drive unit 7 to drive the plate member 6 in the direction away from the plate member 5, thereby causing the plate member 6 to move to the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50. The sixth process of separating from (see FIG. 1) is executed. At this time, the plate member 6 is driven along the intersecting direction. Since the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 are adsorbed and supported by the plate member 5, the positions of the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 do not change due to the sixth treatment. The control unit C performs the sixth process before the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 are transported along the transport surface F in the fourth process described later.

Subsequently, as particularly shown in FIG. 7, the control unit C controls the driving unit 7 to drive the plate member 5 in a state in which the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 are adsorbed, so that the electrode member together with the plate member 5 is driven. A fourth process of transporting the electrode 10 and the electrode 50 (see FIG. 1) along the transport surface F is performed. In the fourth processing, the control unit C drives the plate member 5 so that the first region R1 of the plate member 5 faces the second region R2 of the plate member 6. As a result, the electrode material 10 is transported by a length corresponding to the electrode 50 in the transport direction.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8 in particular, the control unit C controls the drive unit 7 to drive the plate member 6 in a direction approaching the plate member 5, thereby bringing the plate member 6 into contact with the electrode material 10. Execute the process. At this time, the plate member 6 is driven along the intersecting direction. Specifically, the first region R1 of the plate member 6 contacts the uncut portion of the electrode material 10. The second region R2 of the plate member 6 comes into contact with the portion of the electrode material 10 that has been cut at the first cutting line L1.

Subsequently, the control section C controls the adsorption section 9 to execute the seventh process of adsorbing the electrode material 10 on the plate member 6. Specifically, the electrode material 10 is adsorbed to the first region R1 of the plate member 6 where the adsorption holes H are provided. The control unit C executes the seventh process between the above-mentioned fourth process and the below-mentioned fifth process.

Subsequently, the control unit C controls the adsorption unit 9 to execute a fifth process of releasing the adsorption of the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 to the plate member 5. As a result, the electrode 50 falls due to gravity. The dropped electrode 50 is supplied to the subsequent process by, for example, the transport conveyor 20 arranged below. The transport conveyor 20 is arranged so that the fall distance of the electrode 50 is, for example, 5 mm or less. Since the electrode material 10 is adsorbed and supported by the plate member 6, the position of the electrode material 10 does not change.

The control unit C executes the first process after the fifth process. As a result, the electrode material 10 is again sandwiched between the plate member 5 and the plate member 6 with the slits S aligned with each other. Then, the control unit C repeatedly executes the processes after the first process, whereby the electrode material 10 is intermittently conveyed by the plate member 5, and the electrode material 10 is laser-cut by the laser irradiation unit 8, The electrodes 50 are sequentially manufactured.

When the electrode material 10 is adsorbed on the plate member 6 between the first treatment and the sixth treatment, the control unit C controls the adsorption unit 9 to cause the electrode material 10 to adhere to the plate member 6. The process of canceling the adsorption of is executed. Since the electrode material 10 is sandwiched between the plate members 5 and 6, the position of the electrode material 10 does not change.

As described above, the control unit C controls the drive unit 7 to drive the plate member 5 in a box motion. That is, first, in the plate member 5, the first regions R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 are in the second region of the plate member 6 from the state where the first regions R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 are opposite to each other. It is driven downstream in the transport direction along the transport surface F until it faces R2. Subsequently, the plate member 5 is driven along the intersecting direction and separated from the electrode material 10. Then, the plate member 5 is driven toward the upstream side in the transport direction along the transport surface F until the first regions R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 and the second regions R2 of the plate members 5 face each other. Subsequently, the plate member 5 is driven along the intersecting direction until it contacts the electrode material 10. As a result, the electrode material 10 is sandwiched between the plate members 5 and 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a scrap material. As shown in FIG. 9A, when the cutting line L does not reach both ends in the lateral direction of the electrode material 10, that is, the length in the lateral direction of the electrode material 10 is defined by the cutting line L. If the region is longer than the length in the widthwise direction, continuous scraps 60 are generated from both ends in the widthwise direction of the electrode material 10. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the cutting line L reaches both ends in the lateral direction of the electrode material 10, that is, the length in the lateral direction of the electrode material 10 is defined by the cutting line L. When the length is equal to the widthwise direction of the region, a plurality of pieces of the end material 60 is obtained from each of both ends of the electrode material 10 in the widthwise direction.

As described above, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, the slit S corresponding to the shape of the electrode 50 to be manufactured is formed in the pair of plate members 5 and 6. Further, suction holes H are formed in the facing surface 5 a of the plate member 5 and the facing surface 6 a of the plate member 6. These plate members 5 and 6 are driven by the drive unit 7 under the control of the control unit C. That is, the control unit C controls the drive unit 7 to drive the pair of plate members 5 and 6 so that the slits S of the pair of plate members 5 and 6 are aligned with each other and the pair of plate members 5 and 6 are used. The electrode material 10 is sandwiched (first treatment). Then, the control unit C controls the laser irradiation unit 8 in such a state that the electrode material 10 is sandwiched by the pair of plate members 5 and 6 so that the laser light is emitted to the electrode material 10 through the slit S. Irradiate LB (second process). Thereby, the electrode material 10 is cut along the slits S of the plate members 5 and 6, and the electrode 50 is manufactured. After that, the control unit C controls the adsorption unit 9 to adsorb the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 on the plate member 5 (third process), and then controls the drive unit 7 so that the plate member 5 and the electrode material are controlled. 10 and the electrode 50 are conveyed (4th process). Then, the control unit C further controls the adsorption unit 9 to release the adsorption of the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 to the plate member 5 (fifth treatment), and supplies the electrode 50 to the subsequent process. As described above, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, the electrode material 10 is provided on the plate members 5 and 6 in a state where the electrode material 10 is sandwiched by the pair of plate members 5 and 6 used for transporting the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50. The electrode material 10 is cut by the irradiation of the laser beam LB through the slit S thus formed. Therefore, according to the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, when the electrode material 10 is cut, the plate members 5 and 6 that contribute to the transportation of the electrode material 10 are used to sufficiently enhance the positional accuracy of the electrode material 10 in the thickness direction. Therefore, the cutting quality of the electrode material 10 can be improved.

The controller C separates the plate member 6 from the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 before the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 are transported in the fourth processing (sixth processing). Therefore, when the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50 are conveyed by the plate member 5, it is possible to suppress contact between the plate member 6 and the electrode material 10 and the electrode 50.

The plate member 6 is provided with an adsorption hole H on the facing surface 6a, and the control unit C adsorbs the electrode material 10 on the plate member 6 between the fourth treatment and the fifth treatment (seventh treatment). Therefore, in the state where the plate member 6 adsorbs and supports the electrode material 10, the first process is performed again to drive the plate member 5 so that the electrode material 10 is clamped. You can

Each of the plate members 5 and 6 has a first region R1 and a second region R2 arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. The length of each of the first region R1 and the second region R2 in the transport direction corresponds to the length of the electrode 50 in the transport direction. The control unit C causes the first regions R1 to face each other and the second regions R2 to face each other in the first process, and the first region R1 of the plate member 5 and the second region R2 of the plate member 6 in the fourth process. The plate members 5 are driven so as to face each other. Therefore, while the electrode material 10 is conveyed by the length corresponding to the electrode 50, the laser beam LB is irradiated in each of the first region R1 and the second region R2. Therefore, it is possible to independently perform laser processing on a portion of the electrode material 10 corresponding to one electrode 50 between the first regions R1 and between the second regions R2.

The slit S is provided in the first region R1 and has a shape corresponding to a part of the shape of the electrode 50. The slit S is provided in the second region R2 and has a shape corresponding to another part of the shape of the electrode 50. And a second slit S2. Since the slit S is provided in two regions in this manner, it is possible to prevent the plate members 5 and 6 from being separated into a plurality of members by the slit S, and to integrate the plate members 5 and 6 into one member. Therefore, control of driving the plate members 5 and 6 becomes easy.

The laser irradiation unit 8 has a first irradiation unit 8a and a second irradiation unit 8b that can irradiate the laser light LB independently of each other. In the second processing, the control unit C controls the first irradiation unit 8a to irradiate the electrode material 10 with the laser beam LB via the first slit S1, and controls the second irradiation unit 8b. Thus, the electrode material 10 is irradiated with the laser beam LB through the second slit S2. Therefore, the cutting of the electrode material 10 is divided into two, that is, the cutting by the combination of the first irradiation portion 8a and the first slit S1 and the cutting by the combination of the second irradiation portion 8b and the second slit S2, and are performed simultaneously. You can As a result, the time required to manufacture the electrode can be shortened.

The electrode material 10 has a metal foil 11 and an active material layer 12 provided on the metal foil 11. The first slit S1 corresponds to the uncoated area 13 where the metal foil 11 is exposed from the active material layer 12, and the second slit S2 corresponds to the coated area 14 where the active material layer 12 is provided on the metal foil 11. It corresponds. Therefore, cutting by the combination of the first irradiation unit 8a and the first slit S1 and cutting by the combination of the second irradiation unit 8b and the second slit S2 are suitable for the uncoated region 13 and the coated region 14, respectively. It can be done under conditions. Specifically, the uncoated area 13 can be cut by irradiation with pulsed laser light, and the coated area 14 can be cut by irradiation with CW laser light.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, since the plate members 5 and 6 sandwich the electrode material 10 at the time of laser cutting, spatter (foreign matter) generated at the time of laser cutting or other foreign matter scattered by the assist gas accompanying the laser cutting. Will not adhere to the surface of the electrode 50. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the electrode 50 with high safety.

The above embodiments describe one aspect of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above. The present invention can be arbitrarily modified from the above without departing from the scope of the claims.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to a modification. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the plate member shown in FIG. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1A according to the modification is provided on the plate members 5 and 6 as shown in FIG. 10, in which the laser irradiation unit 8 has only the second irradiation unit 8b, and as shown in FIG. The slit S is different from the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment.

The slit S is not provided in the first region R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 according to the modification, and the entire slit S is provided in the second region R2. The electrode material 10 is cut only by the irradiation of the laser beam LB by the second irradiation section 8b. The first regions R1 of the plate members 5 and 6 are provided to adsorb and convey the electrode material 10. The slit S is a series of slits and corresponds to a line other than the line L2a in the cutting line L shown in FIG. The slit S is formed so that when the cutting line L overlaps with the cutting line L when viewed from the intersecting direction, lines other than the line L2a of the cutting line L are exposed from the slit S. In this case, since the slit S does not correspond to the line L2a and does not form a closed curve, it is possible to prevent the plate members 5 and 6 from being separated into a plurality of members by the slit S and to make the plate members 5 and 6 into one member. it can. Therefore, also in the first modified example, it becomes easy to control the driving of the plate members 5 and 6.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to another modification. As shown in FIG. 12, an electrode manufacturing apparatus 1B according to another modification is different from the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment in that it further includes a box 61 for collecting the scrap material 60. The box 61 is arranged below the plate member 6. By providing the box 61, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1B can efficiently collect the scrap material 60. Similarly, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1A may be configured to include the box 61.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatuses 1, 1A and 1B, the first irradiation unit 8a may emit laser light LB other than pulsed laser light, and the second irradiation unit 8b may emit laser light LB other than CW laser light. May be. The 1st irradiation part 8a and the 2nd irradiation part 8b may irradiate the same laser beam LB. In the plate member 6, the suction holes H may be provided not only in the first region R1 but also in both the first region R1 and the second region R2.

Each of the electrode manufacturing apparatuses 1, 1A, and 1B may further include an air supply source so that pressurized air can be supplied to the suction holes so as to be switchable with the suction unit 9. Even if the adsorption is released by the fifth process, the electrode 50 may not immediately fall from the plate member 5 due to the action of static electricity or the like. Therefore, the electrode 50 can be reliably dropped by switching to the suction portion 9 and supplying pressurized air to the suction hole.

Here, in the electrode manufacturing apparatuses 1, 1A, and 1B, the shape of the suction holes H of the plate members 5 and 6 is not limited to a circular cross section, and it is sufficient that the electrodes 50 and the electrode material 10 can be sucked. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the suction hole H has a slit shape. Here, three suction holes H are provided in the first region R1. Each suction hole H has a slit shape and extends along the lateral direction. The three suction holes H are arranged in parallel along the transport direction. The other suction holes H of the plate members 5 and 6 may be similarly configured. Note that FIG. 13 is a plan view and a sectional view of the plate member according to the modification. Specifically, FIG. 13A is a plan view of the plate member 5 according to the modification, and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIIIb-XIIIb of FIG. 13A. ..

Further, for example, in the plate member 6, the suction holes H may be provided in the second region R2 as well. Specifically, in the plate member 6 shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of suction holes H are provided at both ends in the lateral direction of the second region R2. The adsorption holes H are arranged so as to avoid the portion of the electrode material 10 shown in FIG. 2 that is inside the cutting line L (that is, the portion that becomes the electrode 50 shown in FIG. 1). In this case, in the seventh process, the plate material 6 adsorbs the end material 60 (see FIG. 9) together with the electrode material 10. Therefore, the electrode 50 and the end material 60 can be reliably separated. 14 is a plan view of the plate member according to the modification.

1, 1A, 1B... Electrode manufacturing apparatus, 5, 6... Plate member, 7... Driving section, 8... Laser irradiation section, 8a... First irradiation section, 8b... Second irradiation section, 9... Adsorption section, 10... Electrode Material, 11... Metal foil, 12... Active material layer, 13... Uncoated area, 14... Coating area, 50... Electrode, C... Control part, F... Transport surface, H... Adsorption hole, LB... Laser light, R1... 1st area|region, R2... 2nd area|region, S... slit, S1... 1st slit, S2... 2nd slit.

Claims (7)

An electrode manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an electrode by transporting and cutting an electrode material,
A pair of plate members arranged on one side and the other side of the transport surface of the electrode material, for sandwiching the electrode material and transporting the electrode material along the transport surface,
A drive unit for driving the pair of plate members,
A laser irradiation unit for cutting the electrode material by irradiation of laser light,
An adsorption part for adsorbing the electrode material and the electrode,
At least the drive unit, the laser irradiation unit, and a control unit for controlling the suction unit,
Equipped with
The pair of plate members is provided with a slit having a shape corresponding to the shape of the electrodes,
The one plate member of the pair of plate members is provided with a suction hole that opens to a surface facing the transport surface,
The adsorption unit adsorbs the electrode material and the electrode through the adsorption hole,
The control unit is
By controlling the drive unit and driving the pair of plate members, a first process of aligning the slits of the pair of plate members with each other and sandwiching the electrode material by the pair of plate members,
By controlling the laser irradiation unit, a second process of irradiating the electrode material sandwiched by the pair of plate members with laser light through the slit,
A third process of adsorbing the electrode material and the electrode on the one plate member by controlling the adsorbing part;
By controlling the drive unit to drive the one plate member in a state where the electrode material and the electrode are adsorbed, the electrode material and the electrode are carried along with the one plate member along the carrying surface. Fourth processing,
A fifth process of releasing the adsorption of the electrode material and the electrode to the one plate member by controlling the adsorption unit;
Run the
Electrode manufacturing equipment. The control unit controls the driving unit to transfer the other plate member to the one of the pair of plate members before the electrode material and the electrode are transferred along the transfer surface in the fourth process. A sixth process for separating the other plate member from the electrode material and the electrode by driving the plate member away from the plate member.
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1. The other plate member of the pair of plate members is provided with a suction hole that opens to a surface facing the transport surface,
The controller performs a seventh process of adsorbing the electrode material on the other plate member of the pair of plate members by controlling the adsorption unit between the fourth process and the fifth process. And executing the first process after the fifth process,
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Each of the pair of plate members has a first region and a second region arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the electrode material,
The length of each of the first region and the second region in the transport direction corresponds to the length of the electrode in the transport direction,
The control unit is
In the first processing, the first regions are opposed to each other, and the second regions are opposed to each other,
In the fourth processing, the one plate member is driven so that the first region of the one plate member faces the second region of the other plate member of the pair of plate members,
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1. The slit is provided in the first region and has a first slit having a shape corresponding to a part of the shape of the electrode, and the slit is provided in the second region and having a shape of a shape corresponding to another part of the shape of the electrode. 2 slits, and
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4. The laser irradiation unit has a first irradiation unit and a second irradiation unit that can irradiate laser light independently of each other,
In the second processing, the control unit irradiates the electrode material with a laser beam through the first slit by controlling the first irradiation unit, and controls the second irradiation unit. By irradiating the electrode material with laser light through the second slit,
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5. The electrode material has a metal foil and an active material layer provided on the metal foil,
In the electrode material, the first slit corresponds to an uncoated region where the metal foil is exposed from the active material layer,
The second slit corresponds to a coating region of the electrode material, in which the active material layer is provided on the metal foil,
The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5.

Images