JP6757876B2 - Battery electrode slurry processing device, battery electrode slurry processing method, manufacturing device, and manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus, a battery electrode slurry processing method, a fabrication apparatus, and a fabrication method.

Conventionally, batch kneading is generally used as a method of kneading a plurality of materials to obtain a slurry. Batch kneading is to put all the plurality of materials necessary for preparing the slurry into a cauldron and knead them until the plurality of materials are uniformly mixed.

However, in batch kneading, it is necessary to take a long kneading time because a plurality of materials are put together at once and then mixed uniformly. In addition, it is necessary to manually perform cleaning work such as replacement of the cauldron, a blade for kneading, and scraping work inside the cauldron. In addition, the cleaning work described above is required each time the cauldron is replaced. From the above, batch kneading has been a cause of an increase in man-hours in the process of producing a slurry.

Further, in batch kneading, it takes time from when all the plurality of materials are put into the cauldron until the slurry is obtained. Therefore, in order to obtain a certain amount of slurry in a short time, it is necessary to increase the amount of slurry obtained by one batch kneading, and it is necessary to enlarge the cauldron. Therefore, it has been difficult to miniaturize the device.

In batch kneading, the process of putting the material into the cauldron and the process of transferring the produced slurry from the cauldron to the next device are performed in the atmospheric environment, so the material and slurry are affected by the moisture in the atmosphere. It was a cause of adversely affecting the quality of the slurry.

Further, in batch kneading, the degree of freedom in the amount of slurry to be produced is low, and a large amount of slurry is produced so as not to run short, so that a time lag until a large amount of obtained slurry is used may become a problem.

Therefore, a pre-kneading section for coarsely kneading a plurality of materials and a main kneading section for main kneading the materials roughly kneaded in the pre-kneading section are provided, and the materials roughly kneaded in the pre-kneading section are main-kneaded by a mono pump. A kneading device for supplying to the unit has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-333924

However, in the kneading apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, coarse kneading by the pre-kneading portion is still batch kneading. For this reason, as described above, manpower is required in the process of producing the slurry, and the quality of the slurry may be deteriorated because the material and the slurry are exposed to the atmosphere.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize stable slurry quality and automation of the entire slurry production process.

The present invention proposes the following items in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, the description will be given with reference numerals corresponding to the embodiments of the present invention, but the description is not limited thereto.

(1) The present invention is a battery electrode slurry processing device (for example, corresponding to the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 of FIG. 1) for producing and applying a battery electrode slurry (for example, corresponding to a positive electrode slurry described later). First supply means (for example, binder supply unit 11 in FIG. 1 and supply of positive electrode material) for supplying a plurality of materials (for example, corresponding to a binder, a positive electrode active material, and a conductive auxiliary agent described later) for producing the battery electrode slurry. A unit 12 (corresponding to the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13) and a first transportation means (for example, corresponding to the pipes 21, 22, 23 in FIG. 1) for transporting a plurality of materials supplied from the first supply means. The first kneading means (for example, corresponding to the pre-kneading portion 14 in FIG. 1 and the kneading portion 114 in FIG. 12) for kneading and continuously discharging the plurality of materials transported by the first transport means, and the above. A second transport means for transporting the material discharged from the first kneading means (for example, corresponding to the pipes 24 and 25 in FIG. 1) and a circulation means for circulating the material transported by the second transport means (for example, FIG. It has a circulation pipe 28 (corresponding to the circulation pipe 28 of 1) and a storage portion (for example, corresponding to the storage tank 1911 of FIG. 7) connected to the circulation means for storing a part of the material circulated by the circulation means. , A coating means (for example, corresponding to coaters 191 and 192 in FIG. 1) for applying the material stored in the storage portion to an electrode plate (for example, corresponding to a current collector described later), and the first transportation means. The urging means (for example, the mono pump 51 of FIG. 1) that urges at least one of the material transported by the second transportation means, the material transported by the second transportation means, and the material circulated by the circulation means. , 73, corresponding to the pre-kneading section 14, and the main kneading section 15), the first supply means, the first transport means, the first kneading means, the second transport means, and the above. In-space control means (for example, the space control unit 31 of FIG. 1) in which the circulation means and the storage unit communicate with each other to form a closed space, and the space is decompressed or filled with an inert gas. A battery electrode slurry processing apparatus is proposed, which further comprises (corresponding to).

According to the present invention, a space in which the first supply means, the first transportation means, the first kneading means, the second transportation means, the circulation means, and the storage portion of the coating means are communicated with each other and closed. It was formed, and the space was decompressed or filled with an inert gas by the control means in the space. For this reason, these materials and the battery electrode slurry are exposed to the atmosphere between the time when the material is charged into the first supply means and the time when the electrode slurry stored in the storage portion is applied to the electrode plate. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the quality of the battery electrode slurry can be stabilized, and a stable coating process can be performed by the coating means regardless of the production state of the battery electrode slurry.

Further, the material kneaded by the first kneading means is circulated by the circulation means during the period from the transportation by the second transportation means to the supply to the storage portion of the coating means. Therefore, since the battery electrode slurry continues to flow during the above-mentioned period, it is possible to prevent the battery electrode slurry from being separated or settled, and it is possible to prevent the quality of the battery electrode slurry from deteriorating.

Further, the urging means urges at least one of a material transported by the first transportation means, a material transported by the second transportation means, and a material circulated by the circulation means. did. Therefore, the urging force of the urging means transfers the materials and emissions of each means into the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus. Therefore, the entire manufacturing process of the battery electrode slurry can be automated.

(2) In the present invention, regarding the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus of (1), the total amount of a plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means per unit time and the total amount of the materials discharged by the first kneading means per unit time. We have proposed a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus characterized in that the amount of the above is equal to.

Here, when the total amount of the plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means per unit time is smaller than the amount of the materials discharged by the first kneading means per unit time, there is no object to be kneaded in the first kneading means. Therefore, there will be a time when the first kneading means does not discharge the material. According to this, the material cannot be continuously supplied to the coating means.

On the other hand, when the total amount of the plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means per unit time is larger than the amount of the materials discharged by the first kneading means per unit time, the plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means At least a part of them will stay in at least one of the first transportation means and the first kneading means.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus (1), the total amount of the plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means per unit time and the total amount of the materials discharged by the first kneading means per unit time. The amount was equal to. Therefore, the plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means can be continuously transferred to the coating means without staying in either the first transportation means or the first kneading means.

(3) The present invention relates to the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the first supply means is a plurality of sub-first supply means (for example, FIG. 1) for supplying each of the plurality of materials. (Corresponding to the binder supply unit 11, the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13), the first transportation means provides each of the plurality of materials supplied from the plurality of sub-first supply means. We have proposed a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus including a plurality of sub-first transportation means (for example, corresponding to the pipes 21, 22, and 23 in FIG. 1) for transportation.

According to the present invention, in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus of (1) or (2), a plurality of sub-first supply means for supplying each of a plurality of materials are provided in the first supply means, and the first transport means is provided. , A plurality of sub-first transport means for transporting each of the plurality of materials supplied from the plurality of sub-first supply means are provided. Therefore, each of the plurality of materials can be supplied to the first kneading means in a timely manner via different sub-first supply means and different sub-first transport means.

(4) In the present invention, with respect to the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus of (3), the urging means uses a material transported by at least one of the plurality of sub-first transport means and the second transport means. We have proposed a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus characterized in that at least one of a material to be transported and a material circulated by the circulation means is urged.

According to the present invention, in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus (3), a material transported by at least one of a plurality of sub-first transport means and a material transported by the second transport means by the urging means. And, at least one of the materials circulated by the circulation means was urged. Therefore, the material and the discharged material in each means are transferred in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus by the urging force by the urging means, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned effect can be obtained.

(5) In the present invention, with respect to the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), the second transport means receives and transports the material discharged from the first kneading means (5). For example, the inlet portion (corresponding to the inlet portion 241 of FIG. 1) and an outlet portion (for example, corresponding to the outlet portion 251 of FIG. 1) for discharging the material transported via the inlet portion are provided with the inlet portion. A second kneading means (for example, corresponding to the main kneading portion 15 in FIG. 1) which is arranged between the outlet portion and kneads the material transported from the inlet portion and continuously discharges the material toward the outlet portion. We are proposing a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus characterized by further comprising.

According to the present invention, in any one of the battery electrode slurry processing devices (1) to (4), the material transported from the inlet portion is kneaded between the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the second transport means. A second kneading means was provided to continuously discharge the mixture toward the outlet. Therefore, the material kneaded by the first kneading means can be further kneaded by the second kneading means.

(6) In the present invention, with respect to the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), a plurality of the first kneading means are provided, and the plurality of first kneading means are provided in parallel. We are proposing a battery electrode slurry processing device characterized by this.

According to the present invention, in any one of the battery electrode slurry processing devices (1) to (4), a plurality of first kneading means are provided, and the plurality of first kneading means are provided in parallel. Therefore, each of the first kneading means can be independently driven as appropriate according to the target amount of the battery electrode slurry to be produced, the maintenance situation such as cleaning, and the like. Specifically, for example, even if one of the plurality of first kneading means is stopped for cleaning, kneading by the other first kneading means can be continued to continue supplying the material to the coating means. ..

(7) In the present invention, with respect to the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus of (5), at least one of the first kneading means and the second kneading means is provided in plurality, and a plurality of the first kneading means are provided. If so, the plurality of first kneading means are provided in parallel, and when a plurality of the second kneading means are provided, the plurality of second kneading means are provided in parallel, and the first kneading means is provided in parallel. Each of the means and each of the second kneading means are independently controlled, and the total processing amount of each of the first kneading means and the total processing amount of each of the second kneading means are controlled. We have proposed a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus characterized in that

According to the present invention, in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus (5), when at least one of the first kneading means and the second kneading means is provided, and a plurality of the first kneading means are provided, these plurality of kneading means are provided. When the first kneading means was provided in parallel and a plurality of second kneading means were provided, these plurality of second kneading means were provided in parallel. In addition, each of the first kneading means and each of the second kneading means are independently controlled to obtain the total processing amount of each of the first kneading means and the total processing amount of each of the second kneading means. Was decided to be equal. Therefore, while continuously supplying the material kneaded by the first kneading means to the second kneading means, the first kneading means is appropriately used according to the target amount of the battery electrode slurry to be produced and the maintenance situation such as cleaning. And each of the second kneading means can be driven independently. Specifically, for example, even if one of the plurality of first kneading means is stopped for cleaning, kneading by the other first kneading means is continued and the material is continuously supplied to the second kneading means. Even if one of the plurality of second kneading means is stopped for cleaning, kneading by the other second kneading means can be continued to continue the production of the battery electrode slurry.

Further, when the processing amount of the first kneading means is smaller than the processing amount of the second kneading means, there is no object to be kneaded in the second kneading means, and a time occurs in which the second kneading means does not discharge the material. I will end up. According to this, the second kneading means cannot continuously discharge the kneaded material.

On the other hand, when the processing amount of the first kneading means is larger than the processing amount of the second kneading means, at least a part of the material discharged from the first kneading means is at least one of the second transportation means and the second kneading means. It will stay in either.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus (5), the total processing amount of each of the first kneading means and the total processing amount of each of the second kneading means are assumed to be equal. .. Therefore, the material kneaded by the second kneading means can be continuously discharged from the second kneading means without retaining the material discharged from the first kneading means by either the second transportation means or the second kneading means. ..

(8) The present invention relates to the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to (5) or (7), wherein the first supply means is, as the plurality of materials, at least an active material (for example, corresponding to a positive electrode active material described later) and A binder (for example, corresponding to a binder described later) is supplied, the first kneading means coarsely kneads the plurality of materials, and the second kneading means uses the materials transported by the second transport means. We have proposed a battery electrode slurry processing device characterized by main kneading.

According to the present invention, in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus (5) or (7), at least an active material and a binder are supplied as a plurality of materials by the first supply means, and a plurality of active materials and a binder are supplied by the first kneading means. The material was coarsely kneaded, and the material transported by the second transportation means was main-kneaded by the second kneading means so that the material was not exposed to the outside air until it was applied by the coating means. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a battery electrode in which a high-quality battery electrode slurry is applied to an electrode plate.

(9) The present invention is a battery electrode slurry in a battery electrode slurry processing device (for example, corresponding to the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 in FIG. 1) for producing and applying a battery electrode slurry (for example, corresponding to a positive electrode slurry described later). In the first step of supplying a plurality of materials (for example, corresponding to a binder, a positive electrode active material, and a conductive auxiliary agent described later) for producing the battery electrode slurry, and the first step, which is a treatment method. A second step of transporting the plurality of supplied materials, a third step of kneading and continuously discharging the plurality of materials transported in the second step, and discharging in the third step. A fourth step of transporting the material, a fifth step of circulating the material transported in the fourth step, and a part of the material circulating in the fifth step are stored and stored. The sixth step of applying the material to the electrode plate, the material transported in the second step, the material transported in the fourth step, and the material circulated in the fifth step. A space in which the first step is performed, a space in which the second step is performed, and a third step including a seventh step for urging at least one of the materials. A space in which the space where the fourth step is performed, the space where the fourth step is performed, the space where the fifth step is performed, and the space in which the material is stored in the sixth step are communicated and closed. We propose a battery electrode slurry processing method characterized by further comprising an eighth step of forming the space and making the space decompressed or filled with an inert gas.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-mentioned effect.

(10) The present invention is a manufacturing apparatus (for example, corresponding to the manufacturing apparatus 1A of FIG. 8) for producing a production object using a plurality of mixed materials, and is a first supply means for supplying the plurality of materials. (For example, corresponding to the first material supply unit 11A, the second material supply unit 12A, and the third material supply unit 13A in FIG. 8) and a plurality of materials supplied from the first supply means are transported. A first mixing means (for example, FIG. 8) in which the first transportation means (for example, corresponding to the pipes 21, 22, and 23 in FIG. 8) and a plurality of materials transported by the first transportation means are mixed and continuously discharged. The premixing section 14A of No. 8 and the mixing section 114A of FIG. 13) and the second transporting means for transporting the material discharged from the first mixing means (for example, corresponding to the pipes 24 and 25 of FIG. 8). The circulation means for circulating the material transported by the second transportation means (for example, corresponding to the circulation pipe 28 in FIG. 8) and the circulation means for storing a part of the material circulated by the circulation means. A manufacturing means (for example, corresponding to coaters 191 and 192 in FIG. 8) having a connected storage section and using the material stored in the storage section to manufacture the object to be manufactured, and the first transportation means. The urging means (for example, the mono pump 51 of FIG. 8) that urges at least one of the material transported by the second transportation means, the material transported by the second transportation means, and the material circulated by the circulation means. , 73, corresponding to the premixing unit 14A, and the main mixing unit 15A), the first supply means, the first transportation means, the first mixing means, the second transportation means, and the above. In-space control means (for example, the space control unit 31 of FIG. 8) in which the circulation means and the storage unit communicate with each other to form a closed space, and the space is decompressed or filled with an inert gas. We are proposing a manufacturing apparatus characterized by further providing (corresponding to).

According to the present invention, a space in which the first supply means, the first transportation means, the first mixing means, the second transportation means, the circulation means, and the storage portion of the manufacturing means are communicated with each other and closed. It was formed, and the space was decompressed or filled with an inert gas by the control means in the space. For this reason, these materials and slurries are exposed to the atmosphere between the time when the materials are charged into the first supply means and the time when the object to be produced is produced using the slurry stored in the storage portion. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the quality of the slurry can be stabilized, and a stable production process can be performed by the production means regardless of the production state of the slurry.

Further, the material mixed by the first mixing means is circulated by the circulation means during the period from the transportation by the second transportation means to the supply to the storage portion of the manufacturing means. Therefore, since the slurry continues to flow during the above-mentioned period, it is possible to prevent the slurry from being separated or settled, and it is possible to prevent the quality of the slurry from deteriorating.

Further, the urging means urges at least one of a material transported by the first transportation means, a material transported by the second transportation means, and a material circulated by the circulation means. did. Therefore, the material and the discharge in each means are transferred in the manufacturing apparatus by the urging force by the urging means. Therefore, the entire slurry production process can be automated.

(11) The present invention proposes a manufacturing apparatus according to (10), wherein a plurality of the first mixing means are provided and the plurality of first mixing means are provided in parallel. There is.

According to the present invention, in the manufacturing apparatus (10), a plurality of first mixing means are provided, and these plurality of first mixing means are provided in parallel. Therefore, each of the first mixing means can be independently driven as appropriate according to the target amount of the slurry to be produced, the maintenance situation such as cleaning, and the like. Specifically, for example, even if one of the plurality of first mixing means is stopped for cleaning, mixing by the other first mixing means can be continued to continue supplying the material to the manufacturing means. ..

(12) The present invention is a production method in a production apparatus (for example, corresponding to the production apparatus 1A in FIG. 8) for producing a production object using a plurality of mixed materials, and supplies the plurality of materials. A first step, a second step of transporting the plurality of materials supplied in the first step, and a third step of mixing and continuously discharging the plurality of materials transported in the second step. A step, a fourth step of transporting the material discharged in the third step, a fifth step of circulating the material transported in the fourth step, and a circulation in the fifth step. A part of the material is stored, and the material to be produced is produced using the stored material in the sixth step, the material transported in the second step, and the material transported in the fourth step. A space in which the first step is performed, a space in which the first step is performed, and a seventh step for urging at least one of the material to be used and the material circulating in the fifth step. The space where the step is performed, the space where the third step is performed, the space where the fourth step is performed, the space where the fifth step is performed, and the material is stored in the sixth step. Proposing a fabrication method comprising the eighth step of communicating with the space to be formed to form a closed space, and further providing the space with a reduced pressure or a state of being filled with an inert gas. There is.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above-mentioned effect.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize stable slurry quality and automation of the entire slurry production process.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the pre-kneading part provided in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the screw and the propeller provided in the pre-kneading part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the stator and the rotor provided in the pre-kneading part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of this kneading part provided with the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the stator and the rotor provided in this kneading part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the connection relationship between the circulation pipe, the pipe, and a coater provided in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the manufacturing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of the tank provided in the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the manufacturing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which comprises one kneading part instead of two kneading part of the pre-kneading part and the main kneading part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the manufacturing apparatus which comprises one mixing part instead of two mixing part of the premixing part and this mixing part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus which comprises one kneading part instead of two kneading part of the pre-kneading part and the main kneading part which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the manufacturing apparatus which comprises one mixing part instead of two mixing part of the premixing part and this mixing part which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example which provided a plurality of pre-kneading portions in parallel which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The components in the following embodiments can be appropriately replaced with existing components and the like, and various variations including combinations with other existing components are possible. Therefore, the description of the following embodiments does not limit the content of the invention described in the claims.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a battery electrode slurry processing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The battery electrode slurry processing device 1 kneaded a binder, a positive electrode active material, and a conductive auxiliary agent (conductive auxiliary material) as a plurality of materials to prepare a positive electrode slurry used for the positive electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery. This is a device that applies a positive electrode slurry to a current collector.

The binder is housed in the binder supply unit 11. A pipe 21 communicates with the binder supply unit 11, and the binder supply unit 11 continuously supplies the binder to the pipe 21. The pre-kneading portion 14 communicates with the pipe 21, and a mono pump 51 is provided. The MONO pump 51 urges the binder supplied to the pipe 21 toward the pre-kneading section 14.

Note that the continuous described above, in this embodiment, it is meant that no (endlessly) temporally interrupted it. Thus, a continuously supplying binder to the pipe 21 is that supplying without (endlessly) binder pipe 21 temporally interrupted it.

Further, as the binder, an organic solvent-based (non-aqueous) binder such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is used by dissolving it in an organic solvent, can be used. Further, as an aqueous binder, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) that can be dispersed in water, methyl (meth) acrylate, ethyl (meth) acrylate, butyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylonitrile, and hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate Ethylene unsaturated carboxylic acid esters such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid and other ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, and not only used in combination with SBR, but also attracting attention as a binder in recent years. It is also possible to use an aqueous polymer such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), an alginate compound, or the like. Further, a mixture of a plurality of types thereof can also be used.

Further, the binder can be used by being dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. As the solvent, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, isopropanol, toluene, water and the like can be used, and a mixture of a plurality of these can also be used. These can be appropriately selected and used according to the type and characteristics of the conductive additive or active material to be used.

The positive electrode active material is housed in the positive electrode material supply unit 12. A pipe 22 communicates with the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the positive electrode material supply unit 12 continuously supplies the positive electrode active material to the pipe 22. The pre-kneading portion 14 communicates with the pipe 22, and a weight scale 53 is provided. The weighing scale 53 measures the weight of the positive electrode active material flowing inside the pipe 22 from the positive electrode material supply unit 12 toward the pre-kneading unit 14, and measures the instantaneous flow rate of the positive electrode active material flowing inside the pipe 22. Then, the measurement result is transmitted to the positive electrode material supply unit 12, the presence or absence of fluctuation in the instantaneous flow rate is confirmed, and the integrated flow rate is managed. The positive electrode material supply unit 12 is provided with a feeder (not shown) that supplies the charged positive electrode active material to the pipe 22, and the positive electrode material supply unit 12 is based on the measurement result transmitted from the weighing scale 53. The supply amount is determined, and the positive electrode active material is continuously supplied to the pipe 22 via the feeder at the determined supply amount. The pipe 22 extends in the vertical direction, and the pre-kneading portion 14 communicates with the lower end of the pipe 22. Therefore, the positive electrode active material supplied to the pipe 22 freely falls due to gravity and is continuously supplied to the pre-kneading unit 14.

The positive electrode active material is Li _x MO ₂ (M is one or more elements selected from Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Si, and Al, and x is 0 <x <1. A substance having a layered structure / spinel structure such as (Satisfying 5) or one or more metal elements selected from the general formula Li _x APO ₄ (A is Ti, Zn, Mg, Co, Mn). Yes, x can satisfy a substance having an olivine type structure such as 0 <x ≦ 1.2). In particular, the general formula Li _x F _y A _(1-y) PO ₄ , which is a substance having olivine-type lithium iron phosphate (where x satisfies 0 <x ≦ 1 and y satisfies 0 <y ≦ 1). , A is a kind of metal element selected from Ti, Zn, Mg, Co, and Mn)), it is desirable to use a lithium metal phosphate compound. Further, particles in which the surface of the lithium metal phosphate compound is coated with carbon, or aggregates of these particles can also be used.

The conductive auxiliary agent is housed in the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13. A pipe 23 communicates with the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 continuously supplies the conductive auxiliary agent to the pipe 23. The pre-kneading portion 14 communicates with the pipe 23, and a weight scale 54 is provided. The weighing scale 54 measures the weight of the conductive auxiliary agent flowing through the inside of the pipe 23 from the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 toward the pre-kneading unit 14, and measures the instantaneous flow rate of the conductive auxiliary agent flowing through the inside of the pipe 23. The measurement is performed, the measurement result is transmitted to the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13, the presence or absence of fluctuation in the instantaneous flow rate is confirmed, and the integrated flow rate is managed. The conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 is provided with a feeder (not shown) that supplies the charged conductive auxiliary agent to the pipe 23, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 is based on the measurement result transmitted from the weighing scale 54. The supply amount is determined based on the above, and the conductive auxiliary agent is continuously supplied to the pipe 23 via the feeder at the determined supply amount. The pipe 23 extends in the vertical direction, and the pre-kneading portion 14 communicates with the lower end of the pipe 23. Therefore, the conductive auxiliary agent supplied to the pipe 23 freely falls due to gravity and is continuously supplied to the pre-kneading portion 14.

As the conductive auxiliary agent, carbon powder such as acetylene black, furnace black, or carbon black can be used. Further, a mixture of a plurality of types thereof can also be used.

From the above, the binder urged by the MONO pump 51 is continuously supplied to the pre-kneading section 14 in an appropriate amount, and the positive electrode active material and the conductive auxiliary agent are freely dropped by gravity in appropriate amounts. It will be supplied continuously.

The pre-kneading unit 14 sequentially roughly kneads the continuously supplied binder, positive electrode active material, and conductive auxiliary agent, and continuously discharges the pre-kneaded slurry as a pre-kneaded slurry. The main kneading section 15 communicates with the pre-kneading section 14 via a pipe 24, and the pre-kneading slurry continuously discharged from the pre-kneading section 14 has a urging force from the mono pump 51 to the binder and pre-kneading. Due to the discharge force from the portion 14, the kneading portion 15 is continuously supplied via the pipe 24.

According to the above, the pre-kneading section 14 continuously accepts these materials and continuously kneads the pre-kneading slurry into the main kneading section 15 while roughly kneading the binder, the positive electrode active material, and the conductive auxiliary agent. Supply and do. That is, the pre-kneading section 14 continuously supplies the pre-kneading slurry to the main kneading section 15 and continuously coarsely kneads the newly supplied material.

In the pre-kneading section 14, for example, Miracle KCK manufactured by Asada Iron Works Co., Ltd., flash blend or flash mix which is an in-line mixer manufactured by Silverson Co., Ltd., a powder melting system manufactured by Timex Co., Ltd., MHD manufactured by IKA Co., Ltd., etc. Can be used. An example of the configuration of the pre-kneading portion 14 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the preliminary kneading portion 14. The pre-kneading section 14 includes a rotating shaft 141, a screw 142, a propeller 143, a stator 144, a rotor 145, and a case 146. The case 146 houses the screw 142, the propeller 143, the stator 144, and the rotor 145 inside, and a first opening 146a, a second opening 146b, and a third opening 146c are formed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the screw 142 and the propeller 143. The screw 142 is spirally provided around the rotation shaft 141. The propeller 143 includes a plurality of wings 1431, and these wings 1431 are arranged spirally with respect to the rotation shaft 141. The rotating shaft 141 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) with the center line in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 141 as the rotating shaft, and when the rotating shaft 141 rotates, the screw 142 and the propeller 143 also rotate.

Returning to FIG. 2, pipes 22 and 23 communicate with the first opening 146a, and the positive electrode active material and the conductive auxiliary agent are supplied to the inside of the case 146 from the first opening 146a. The positive electrode active material and the conductive auxiliary agent supplied to the inside of the case 146 are transferred vertically downward by the rotating screw 142.

The pipe 21 communicates with the second opening 146b, and the binder is supplied to the inside of the case 146 from the second opening 146b. The binder supplied to the inside of the case 146 is initially mixed with the positive electrode active material and the conductive auxiliary agent transferred by the screw 142 by the propeller 143, and is transferred as the initial mixture to the position where the stator 144 and the rotor 145 are provided. ..

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stator 144 and the rotor 145. The stator 144 includes a substrate 1441 and a plurality of comb blades 1442. The base 1441 is formed in a disk shape, and a through hole 1441a is formed in the center of the base 1441. Further, on one surface of the substrate 1441, a plurality of upper comb blades 1442 are arranged upright in an annular shape around the through hole 1441a with a predetermined gap. The other surface of the substrate 1441 is fixed to the case 146 as shown in FIG. 2, and the upper comb blade 1442 projects vertically downward from the substrate 1441.

The rotor 145 includes a substrate 1451 and a plurality of comb blades 1452. The base body 1451 is formed in a disk shape, and a through hole 1451a is formed in the center of the base body 1451. Further, on one surface of the substrate 1451, a plurality of comb blades 1452 are erected along the peripheral edge of the substrate 1451 with a predetermined gap. The base body 1451 is fixed to the rotating shaft 141 with the rotating shaft 141 inserted through the through hole 1451a and one surface of the base body 1451 facing the stator 144. Therefore, the lower comb blade 1452 protrudes vertically upward from the base body 1451, and when the rotation shaft 141 rotates, the rotor 145 also rotates.

Here, the rotor 145 is arranged so as to fit in a region surrounded by a plurality of upper comb blades 1442 provided on the stator 144. Therefore, a space surrounded by the base 1441 of the stator 144, the base 1451 of the rotor 145, and the lower comb blade 1452 is formed. The initial mixture initially mixed by the propeller 143 is transferred from the through hole 1441a to this space.

When the rotor 145 rotates, the initial mixture transferred to the above-mentioned space by centrifugal force passes through the gaps of the plurality of lower comb blades 1452 and then through the gaps of the plurality of upper comb blades 1442 to the pipe 24. It is discharged as a pre-kneading slurry from the third opening 146c that communicates with the third opening. It should be noted that the initial mixture is strongly sheared by being sandwiched between the plurality of stationary upper comb blades 1442 and the plurality of rotating lower comb blades 1452 at the stage of passing through the gaps of the plurality of lower comb blades 1452. Stress is applied. Therefore, the mixing of the binder, the positive electrode active material, and the conductive auxiliary agent contained in the initial mixture is promoted, and a pre-kneaded slurry is obtained.

When a liquid such as a binder and a powder such as a positive electrode active material and a conductive additive are kneaded, if the main kneading is performed from the beginning, a liquid-rich region and a powder-rich region are kneaded. There is a risk that an area will be created. Further, at the stage where the rough kneading by the pre-kneading unit 14 is completed, the dispersion of the powder in the liquid is not sufficiently equalized, so that a positive electrode slurry having a desired quality cannot be obtained. Therefore, the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 performs the rough kneading by the pre-kneading unit 14 and then the main kneading by the main kneading unit 15.

Returning to FIG. 1, the main kneading unit 15 sequentially main-kneads the continuously supplied pre-kneaded slurry and continuously discharges it as a positive electrode slurry. The main kneading by the main kneading unit 15 aims to knead the pre-kneaded slurry roughly kneaded by the pre-kneading unit 14 until it becomes a positive electrode slurry having a desired quality. A circulation pipe 28 communicates with the main kneading section 15 via a pipe 25, and the positive electrode slurry continuously discharged from the main kneading section 15 is discharged from the main kneading section 15 to the pipe 25. It is continuously supplied to the circulation pipe 28 via the circulation pipe 28.

According to the above, the main kneading unit 15 continuously accepts the pre-kneaded slurry and continuously supplies the positive electrode slurry to the circulation pipe 28 while performing the main kneading of the pre-kneaded slurry. That is, the main kneading unit 15 continuously supplies the positive electrode slurry to the circulation pipe 28 and continuously kneads the newly supplied pre-kneading slurry in parallel.

The portion of the pipe 24 that is connected to the pre-kneading portion 14, in other words, the end portion of the pipe 24 on the pre-kneading portion 14 side is referred to as an inlet portion 241. Further, the portion of the pipe 25 that is connected to the circulation pipe 28, in other words, the end portion of the pipe 25 on the circulation pipe 28 side is referred to as an outlet portion 251. Then, the main kneading portion 15 is arranged between the inlet portion 241 and the outlet portion 251.

The kneading section 15 includes, for example, a stirrer DR / DRO, UTL, MKO manufactured by IKA, a mixing device thin film swirl mixer Philmix (registered trademark) manufactured by Primix Corporation, and a mixing device Zero Mill manufactured by Asada Iron Works Co., Ltd. (Registered trademark) and the like can be used. An example of the configuration of the kneading portion 15 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the kneading portion 15. The kneading portion 15 includes a rotating shaft 151, a stator 152, a rotor 153, and a case 154. The case 154 houses the stator 152 and the rotor 153 inside, and a first opening 154a and a second opening 154b are formed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stator 152 and the rotor 153. The stator 152 is formed in a columnar shape, and a through hole 152a is formed inside the stator 152 from the upper surface to the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 5, the through hole 152a has a circular cross section in a plane horizontal to the upper surface and the bottom surface of the stator 152, and is formed in a tapered shape so that the diameter increases from the upper surface to the bottom surface of the stator 152. ing. The stator 152 is fixed to the case 154, and the upper surface of the stator 152 is arranged on the side of the first opening 154a.

The rotor 153 has a truncated cone shape, and is formed in a tapered shape with an inclination substantially equal to that of the through hole 152a of the stator 152 so that the diameter increases from the upper surface to the bottom surface of the rotor 153. The rotor 153 is inserted into the through hole 152a of the stator 152 from the upper surface, and is fixed to the rotating shaft 151 with the rotating shaft 151 inserted into the rotating bearing hole 153a formed on the bottom surface. The rotating shaft 151 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) with the center line in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 151 as the rotating axis, and when the rotating shaft 151 rotates, the rotor 153 also rotates.

Here, the pipe 24 communicates with the first opening 154a, and the pre-kneading slurry is supplied to the inside of the through hole 152a from the first opening 154a. The pre-kneaded slurry supplied to the inside of the through hole 152a passes through the gap between the stationary stator 152 and the rotating rotor 153, and is used as a positive electrode slurry through the second opening 154b communicating with the pipe 25. It is discharged. The pre-kneaded slurry is crushed at their contact interfaces by the frictional force between the stationary stator 152 and the rotating rotor 153 at the stage of passing through the gap between the stator 152 and the rotor 153. Is crushed. Therefore, the mixing of the binder, the positive electrode active material, and the conductive auxiliary agent contained in the pre-kneaded slurry is further promoted, and the positive electrode slurry can be obtained.

Returning to FIG. 1, the circulation pipe 28 is formed by forming a tubular pipe similar to the pipes 21 to 25 in an annular shape, and is provided with a mono pump 73 and a filter 18. The MONO pump 73 urges the positive electrode slurry supplied to the circulation pipe 28 toward the filter 18. The filter 18 removes impurities contained in the positive electrode slurry that circulates inside the circulation pipe 28. Impurities removed by the filter 18 include bubbles and undispersed agglomerates.

The coater 191 communicates with the circulation pipe 28 via the pipe 291 and the coater 192 communicates with the circulation pipe 28 via the pipe 292. At least a part of the positive electrode slurry circulating inside the circulation pipe 28 is provided by the MONO pump 73. It is continuously supplied to the coaters 191 and 192 by the urging force.

The coaters 191 and 192 apply the positive electrode slurry from which impurities have been removed by the filter 18 to the current collector. As the current collector, any one having electrical conductivity such as a metal foil can be used, and the material, shape and size are not particularly limited. Preferably, it is desirable to use aluminum foil or copper foil.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the coater 191 and the circulation pipe 28 and the pipe 291. In FIG. 7, the arrow indicates the flow direction of the positive electrode slurry. A bent portion 281 which is a bent portion of the circulation pipe 28 among the circulation pipes 28 formed in an annular shape communicates with one end of the pipe 291. The storage tank 1911 communicates with the other end of the pipe 291 via a through hole 1911a formed in the bottom surface of the storage tank 1911 of the coater 191.

The positive electrode slurry circulating inside the circulation pipe 28 collides with the inner wall of the circulation pipe 28 at the bent portion 281. According to this, since the momentum of the positive electrode slurry flowing is weakened, the positive electrode slurry that has been circulating inside the circulation pipe 28 can easily flow into the pipe 291. The positive electrode slurry that has flowed into the pipe 291 flows into the inside of the storage tank 1911 from the bottom surface of the storage tank 1911. The coater 191 applies the positive electrode slurry stored in the storage tank 1911 to the current collector as described above.

The coater 192, the circulation pipe 28, and the pipe 292 are also communicated with each other in the same manner as in the case of the coater 191, the circulation pipe 28, and the pipe 291 described above, and as in the case of the coater 191, the circulation pipe 28, and the pipe 291 described above. The positive electrode slurry is transferred.

Each of the binder supply unit 11, the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 is the initial end, and the storage tank 1911 of the coater 191 and the storage tank of the coater 192 are the terminal ends, and these are formed in communication with each other. The space is sealed, and the space control unit 31 communicates with this space. The space control unit 31 puts the above-mentioned space in a state of being decompressed or filled with an inert gas. As the inert gas, for example, nitrogen can be used.

Since the organic solvent-based binder has water absorption, it easily absorbs moisture in the air atmosphere, and the absorption of moisture may affect the quality. Therefore, when an organic solvent-based binder is used as the binder, the space control by the space control unit 31 is particularly effective.

On the other hand, the water-based binder originally has water. Therefore, the water-based binder has a smaller effect on the quality due to the moisture in the atmosphere than the organic solvent-based binder. Therefore, when an aqueous binder is used as the binder, it is not necessary to perform space control by the space control unit 31, but space control is performed mainly for the purpose of stabilizing the temperature in order to introduce a gas for temperature control. Spatial control by unit 31 may be performed.

The battery electrode slurry processing device 1 having the above configuration can exert the following effects.

The battery electrode slurry processing device 1 supplies the binder to the pre-kneading section 14 by the binder supply section 11 and the pipe 21, supplies the positive electrode active material through the positive electrode material supply section 12 and the pipe 22, and supplies the conductive auxiliary agent supply section 13 and the positive electrode active material. The conductive auxiliary agent is supplied by the pipe 23, the plurality of supplied materials are roughly kneaded by the pre-kneading unit 14, and the coarsely kneaded pre-kneading slurry is supplied to the main kneading unit 15 by the pipe 24. The pre-kneading slurry is main-kneaded according to 15. Therefore, the pre-kneading unit 14 can accept the plurality of materials and supply the coarsely kneaded materials to the main kneading unit 15 while performing coarse kneading of the plurality of materials. That is, the pre-kneading section 14 can supply the coarsely kneaded material to the main kneading section 15 and coarsely knead a plurality of newly supplied materials in parallel. Therefore, the pre-kneading slurry can be continuously supplied to the main kneading section 15. Therefore, the main kneading by the main kneading unit 15 can be continuously performed, and it is not necessary to stop the process in the subsequent stage of the preliminary kneading unit 14, so that the positive electrode slurry can be obtained continuously and in a short time.

Further, since the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 can continuously supply the pre-kneaded slurry to the main kneading unit 15 as described above, it is not necessary to replace the cauldron as in the conventional case. Therefore, the man-hours in the process of producing the positive electrode slurry can be reduced.

Further, since the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 can continuously supply the pre-kneaded slurry to the main kneading section 15 as described above, it is not necessary to knead a large amount of materials at once. Therefore, since the pre-kneading portion 14 can be miniaturized, the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 can be miniaturized.

Further, the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 urges the binder transported by the pipe 21 by the mono pump 51, discharges the pre-kneaded slurry from the pre-kneading section 14, and discharges the main kneading slurry from the main kneading section 15. , The mono pump 73 urges the positive electrode slurry transported by the circulation pipe 28. Therefore, due to the urging force of the MONO pumps 51 and 73 and the discharge force of the pre-kneading section 14 and the main kneading section 15, the materials and emissions in each configuration provided in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 are generated by the battery electrode slurry processing device. It will be transferred within 1. Therefore, the entire manufacturing process of the positive electrode slurry can be automated.

Further, the positive electrode slurry discharged from the kneading section 15 is supplied to the circulation pipe 28 via the pipe 25, and the supplied positive electrode slurry is circulated in the circulation pipe 28. Further, the coaters 191 and 192 are connected to the circulation pipe 28 via the pipes 291 and 292, respectively. Therefore, the positive electrode slurry that has been main-kneaded in the main kneading unit 15 is supplied to the coaters 191 and 192 via the pipe 25, the circulation pipe 28, and the pipes 291, 292, respectively. Therefore, by driving both the coaters 191 and 192, it is possible to manufacture the battery electrode using the positive electrode slurry obtained in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 in a plurality of lines, thereby improving the production capacity of the battery electrode. Can be made to. Further, one of the coaters 191 and 192 can be driven to continue the production of the battery electrode, while the other can be stopped for cleaning and maintenance. According to the above, the productivity of the battery electrode can be improved.

Further, the positive electrode slurry that has been main-kneaded in the main kneading unit 15 is circulated by the circulation pipe 28 during the period from the circulation inside the pipe 25 to the supply to the coaters 191 and 192. Therefore, since the positive electrode slurry continues to flow during the above-mentioned period, it is possible to prevent the positive electrode slurry from being separated or settled, and it is possible to prevent the quality of the positive electrode slurry from deteriorating.

Further, the pipes 291 and 292, respectively, of which the coaters 191 and 192 communicate with each other communicate with the bent portion 281 of the circulation pipe 28 formed in a tubular shape. Therefore, the positive electrode slurry circulated by the circulation pipe 28 collides with the inner wall of the circulation pipe 28 at the bent portion 281. According to this, since the momentum of the positive electrode slurry flowing is weakened, the positive electrode slurry circulated by the circulation pipe 28 is likely to flow into the pipes 291 and 292. Therefore, for example, in the region 282 of the circulation pipe 28 shown in FIG. 7, a valve for suppressing the flow rate of the positive electrode slurry flowing inside the circulation pipe 28 is not provided, and pumps are not provided in the pipes 291, 292. With a simple configuration, the positive electrode slurry can be supplied to the coaters 191 and 192.

Further, the storage tank 1911 communicates with the other end of the pipe 291 via a through hole 1911a formed in the bottom surface of the storage tank 1911 of the coater 191. The pipe 292 also communicates with the bottom surface of the accommodating tank of the coater 192 in the same manner as the pipe 291. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the positive electrode slurry from falling toward the bottom surface of the storage tank 1911 and the bottom surface of the storage tank of the coater 192. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being generated in the positive electrode slurry due to the vigorous collision of the positive electrode slurry with the bottom surface of the storage tank 1911 and the bottom surface of the storage tank of the coater 192.

Further, the circulation pipe 28 is provided with a filter 18. Therefore, impurities contained in the positive electrode slurry that circulates inside the circulation pipe 28 can be removed.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1, the pre-kneading unit 14 sequentially roughly kneads the continuously supplied binder, positive electrode active material, and conductive auxiliary agent, and continuously discharges them as a pre-kneaded slurry. Further, the processing amount per unit time of the pre-kneading unit 14 is equal to the total amount of the plurality of materials supplied to the pre-kneading unit 14 per unit time. Therefore, the total amount of the plurality of materials supplied to the pre-kneading unit 14 per unit time and the total amount of the pre-kneading slurry discharged by the pre-kneading unit 14 per unit time are equal. Therefore, the plurality of materials supplied to the pre-kneading section 14 can be continuously transferred to the main kneading section 15 without staying in the pipes 21 to 23 or the pre-kneading section 14.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1, the main kneading unit 15 sequentially and main kneads the continuously supplied pre-kneaded slurry and continuously discharges it as a positive electrode slurry. Further, the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15 per unit time is equal to the processing amount of the pre-kneading unit 14 per unit time. Therefore, the pre-kneading slurry discharged from the pre-kneading section 14 can be main-kneaded and discharged without staying in the pipe 24 or the main kneading section 15.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1, each of the binder supply unit 11, the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 is the initial end, and the storage tank 1911 of the coater 191 and the storage tank of the coater 192 are the terminal ends. The space formed by communicating these with each other is hermetically sealed, and the space control unit 31 puts this space in a state of being decompressed or filled with an inert gas. Therefore, after each material is charged into the binder supply unit 11, the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13, the positive electrode slurry stored in the storage tank 1911 and the storage tank of the coater 192 is stored. It is possible to prevent these materials and the positive electrode slurry from being exposed to the atmosphere until they are applied to the current collector. Therefore, the quality of the positive electrode slurry can be stabilized, and stable coating treatment can be performed by the coaters 191 and 192 regardless of the production state of the positive electrode slurry.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of the manufacturing apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus 1A is an apparatus for producing a slurry by mixing a first material, a second material, and a third material as a plurality of materials, and producing an object to be produced using the prepared slurry. The manufacturing device 1A is different from the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in that it includes a first material supply unit 11A instead of the binder supply unit 11 and a positive electrode material. A second material supply unit 12A is provided instead of the supply unit 12, a third material supply unit 13A is provided instead of the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13, and a premixing unit 14A is provided instead of the pre-kneading unit 14. The point that the main mixing portion 15A is provided instead of the main kneading portion 15 is different. In the manufacturing apparatus 1A, the same components as those of the battery electrode slurry processing apparatus 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The first material is housed in the first material supply unit 11A. A pipe 21 communicates with the first material supply unit 11A, and the first material supply unit 11A continuously supplies the first material to the pipe 21.

The second material is housed in the second material supply unit 12A. A pipe 22 communicates with the second material supply unit 12A, and the second material supply unit 12A continuously supplies the second material to the pipe 22.

The third material is housed in the third material supply unit 13A. A pipe 23 communicates with the third material supply unit 13A, and the third material supply unit 13A continuously supplies the third material to the pipe 23.

The premixing section 14A communicates with the pipes 21 to 23. The premixed portion 14A has the same configuration as the premixed portion 14 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, and the first material, the second material, which are continuously supplied, And the third material is sequentially coarsely mixed and continuously discharged as a premixed slurry. The main mixing section 15A communicates with the premixing section 14A via the pipe 24, and the premixing slurry continuously discharged from the premixing section 14A serves as an urging force from the MONO pump 51 to the first material. By the discharge force from the premixing unit 14A, the mixture is continuously supplied to the main mixing unit 15A via the pipe 24.

According to the above, the premixing unit 14A continuously accepts these materials and premixes them into the main mixing unit 15A while performing crude mixing of the first material, the second material, and the third material. Continuous supply of slurry. That is, the premixing unit 14A continuously supplies the premixing slurry to the main mixing unit 15A and continuously coarsely mixes the newly supplied material in parallel.

The mixing section 15A has the same configuration as the kneading section 15 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, and the continuously supplied premixed slurry is sequentially and mainly mixed. Is continuously discharged as a slurry. The coaters 191 and 192 communicate with the mixing portion 15A via the pipe 25, the circulation pipe 28, and the pipes 291 and 292. The slurry continuously discharged from the main mixing section 15A is continuously supplied to the circulation pipe 28 by the discharge force from the main mixing section 15A, and is urged by the MONO pump 73 to the slurry supplied to the circulation pipe 28. , Is continuously supplied to the coaters 191 and 192 via the pipes 291 and 292, respectively.

According to the above, the main mixing unit 15A performs the main mixing of the premixed slurry, continuously accepts the premixed slurry, and continuously supplies the slurry to the coaters 191 and 192. That is, the main mixing unit 15A continuously supplies the slurry to the coaters 191 and 192 and continuously mixes the newly supplied premixed slurry in parallel.

According to the manufacturing device 1A having the above configuration, the same effect as that of the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 can be obtained even when a slurry used other than the battery electrode is manufactured. Since the slurry is used in addition to the battery electrode, the slurry discharged from the mixing unit 15A is not necessarily supplied to the coaters 191 and 192, and may be used in other devices according to the application. It may be supplied. Further, the filter 18 is not always necessary, and it may be determined whether or not the filter 18 is provided as appropriate according to the intended use.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The battery electrode slurry processing device 1B is different from the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in that it includes tanks 41, 42, pipes 61, and a mono pump 71. In the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B, the same components as those of the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The tank 41 communicates with the pipe 24 that communicates with the preliminary kneading portion 14. The tank 41 stores the pre-kneading slurry continuously supplied from the pre-kneading unit 14 via the pipe 24.

A pipe 61 communicates with the tank 41, and the tank 41 continuously supplies the stored pre-kneading slurry to the pipe 61. The main kneading portion 15 communicates with the pipe 61, and a mono pump 71 is provided. The tank 41 continuously supplies the stored pre-kneading slurry to the pipe 61. The MONO pump 71 urges the pre-kneading slurry supplied to the pipe 61 toward the main kneading section 15. An example of the configuration of the tank 41 will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the tank 41. The tank 41 includes a motor 411, a stirring unit 412, and a case 413. The stirring unit 412 is a so-called anchor type stirring blade, and includes a rotating shaft 4121 and a stirring blade 4122. The rotating shaft 4121 is rotationally driven by the motor 411 with the center line in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 4121 as the rotating shaft, and when the rotating shaft 4121 rotates, the stirring blade 4122 also rotates. The tank 41 stirs the stored pre-kneading slurry by driving the motor 411 to rotate the stirring blade 4122. The pre-kneaded slurry enters the tank 41 from a carry-in inlet (not shown) provided on the side surface of the tank 41 through the inner wall of the tank 41. This is to prevent the pre-kneading slurry from containing air bubbles by entering from above the tank 41. Further, the pre-kneaded slurry stored in the tank 41 is discharged from a discharge port (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the tank 41.

The tank 42 is connected to the pipe 25 and the circulation pipe 28. The tank 42 has the same configuration as the tank 41, and stores a positive electrode slurry continuously supplied from the main kneading portion 15 via the pipe 25 and a positive electrode slurry circulating inside the circulation pipe 28. Then, the stored positive electrode slurry is stirred, and the stored positive electrode slurry is continuously supplied to the circulation pipe 28.

The tank 42 continuously supplies the stored positive electrode slurry to the circulation pipe 28. The MONO pump 73 urges the positive electrode slurry supplied to the circulation pipe 28 toward the filter 18.

According to the above-mentioned battery electrode slurry processing device 1B, in addition to the above-mentioned effects that the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 can exert, the following effects can be obtained.

The binder, the positive electrode active material, and the conductive auxiliary agent are supplied to the pre-kneading unit 14 from each of the binder supply unit 11, the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13 in a predetermined compounding ratio. come. However, due to the timing of the feeder, the measurement error, the influence based on the transfer (transfer speed, transfer timing, transfer amount, etc.), the pre-kneaded slurry is coarsely kneaded in the pre-kneading section 14 and continuously discharged. The quality of the product may vary. However, the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B includes a tank 41 between the pre-kneading section 14 and the main kneading section 15. Therefore, the pre-kneading slurry that is roughly kneaded in the pre-kneading section 14 and continuously discharged is supplied to the main kneading section 15 after being stored in the tank 41. Therefore, since the pre-kneaded slurry roughly kneaded in the pre-kneading section 14 is mixed while being stored in the tank 41, the variation in the quality of the pre-kneading slurry at the time of being supplied to the main kneading section 15 is preliminary. It becomes smaller than the variation in the quality of the pre-kneaded slurry at the time of being discharged from the kneading section 14. Therefore, the quality of the positive electrode slurry can be made uniform.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B, the tank 41 is provided with a stirring unit 412 for stirring the stored pre-kneaded slurry. Therefore, the pre-kneaded slurry roughly kneaded in the pre-kneading section 14 is further mixed while being stored in the tank 41, so that the materials constituting the pre-kneaded slurry dispersed by the rough kneading are separated. Without this, the pre-kneaded slurry can be maintained in a state in which a plurality of materials are kneaded, and the quality of the positive electrode slurry can be further made uniform.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B, since the tank 41 is provided between the pre-kneading section 14 and the main kneading section 15, the processing amount of the pre-kneading section 14 and the processing amount of the main kneading section 15 are The tank 41 can be used as a so-called buffer, and a pre-kneading slurry in an amount equal to the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15 can be supplied to the main kneading unit 15. Specifically, when the processing amount of the pre-kneading unit 14 is smaller than the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15, the difference is supplemented with the pre-kneading slurry stored in the tank 41, and the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15 is compensated. A pre-kneading slurry in an amount equal to the above can be supplied to the main kneading unit 15. When the processing amount of the pre-kneading unit 14 is larger than the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15, the difference is stored in the tank 41, and the pre-kneading slurry in an amount equal to the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15 is main-kneaded. It can be supplied to the unit 15. Therefore, while continuously supplying the pre-kneaded slurry roughly kneaded by the pre-kneading section 14 to the main kneading section 15, the pre-kneading is appropriately performed according to the target amount of the positive electrode slurry to be produced and the maintenance situation such as cleaning. The portion 14 and the main kneading portion 15 can be driven independently.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B, a tank 42 is provided. Therefore, the positive electrode slurry that circulates inside the circulation pipe 28 and the positive electrode slurry that is continuously supplied from the kneading portion 15 via the pipe 25 are stored in the tank 42 and then stored in the coater 191 and the coater 192. Be supplied. Therefore, the positive electrode slurry that circulates inside the circulation pipe 28 and the positive electrode slurry that is continuously supplied from the main kneading portion 15 via the pipe 25 are mixed while being stored in the tank 42, so that the circulation pipe The variation in quality of the combination of the positive electrode slurry circulating inside the 28 and the positive electrode slurry continuously supplied from the main kneading portion 15 via the pipe 25 is reduced. Therefore, the quality of the positive electrode slurry can be made more uniform.

Further, in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B, the tank 42 is provided with a stirring unit for stirring the stored positive electrode slurry. Therefore, the positive electrode slurry that circulates inside the circulation pipe 28 and the positive electrode slurry that is continuously supplied from the main kneading portion 15 via the pipe 25 are further mixed while being stored in the tank 42. The positive electrode slurry can be maintained in a state in which a plurality of materials are kneaded without separating the materials constituting the positive electrode slurry dispersed by coarse kneading and main kneading, and the quality of the positive electrode slurry can be made more uniform. can do.

Further, since the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B is provided with the tank 42, even if the processing amount of the main kneading unit 15 and the total processing amount of the coaters 191 and 192 are different, the tank 42 can be used. It can be used as a so-called buffer, and an amount of positive electrode slurry equal to the sum of the processing amounts of the coaters 191 and 192 can be supplied to the coaters 191 and 192. Therefore, while continuously supplying the positive electrode slurry to the coaters 191 and 192, the pre-kneading section 14, the main kneading section 15, and the coater are appropriately used according to the target amount of the positive electrode slurry to be produced and the maintenance situation such as cleaning. The 191 and 192 can be driven independently.

<Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the manufacturing apparatus 1C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The manufacturing device 1C is different from the manufacturing device 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 in that it includes tanks 41 and 42, a pipe 61, and a mono pump 71. In the manufacturing apparatus 1C, the same components as those of the manufacturing apparatus 1A are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The tank 41, the pipe 61, and the MONO pump 71 are located between the pipe 24 communicating with the premixing portion 14A and the main mixing portion 15A, similarly to the tank 41, the pipe 61, and the MONO pump 71 in the third embodiment described above. The tank 41, the pipe 61, and the mono pump 71 in the third embodiment described above are provided in the above-mentioned. Further, the tank 42 and the mono pump 73 are provided in the circulation pipe 28 in the same manner as the tank 42 and the mono pump 73 in the above-mentioned third embodiment, and play the same role as the tank 42 and the mono pump 73 in the above-mentioned third embodiment. ..

According to the above-mentioned manufacturing apparatus 1C, in addition to the above-mentioned effects that can be exerted by the manufacturing apparatus 1A, the above-mentioned battery electrode slurry processing apparatus 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 can be exerted. The same effect as the effect of can be produced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the design within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention is also included.

For example, in the above-mentioned first embodiment and the third embodiment, the case where two kneading portions of the pre-kneading portion 14 and the main kneading portion 15 are provided has been described. However, the number of kneading portions may be three or more, or may be one as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, for example.
The battery electrode slurry processing device 1D shown in FIG. 12 is different from the battery electrode slurry processing device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in place of the pre-kneading section 14 and the main kneading section 15. The difference is that The battery electrode slurry processing device 1F shown in FIG. 14 is different from the battery electrode slurry processing device 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 in place of the pre-kneading section 14 and the main kneading section 15. The difference is that The battery electrode slurry processing devices 1D and 1F can exhibit the same effects as the battery electrode slurry processing devices 1 and 1B, respectively.

Further, in the second embodiment and the fourth embodiment described above, the case where two mixing portions of the premixing portion 14A and the main mixing portion 15A are provided has been described. However, the number of mixing portions may be three or more, or may be one as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, for example.
The manufacturing device 1E shown in FIG. 13 is different from the manufacturing device 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 in that it includes a mixing section 114A instead of the premixing section 14A and the present mixing section 15A. The manufacturing device 1G shown in FIG. 15 is different from the manufacturing device 1C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 11 in that it includes a mixing unit 114A instead of the premixing unit 14A and the main mixing unit 15A. The manufacturing devices 1E and 1G can exert the same effects as the manufacturing devices 1A and 1C, respectively.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the two coaters 191 and 192 communicate with the circulation pipe 28, but the present invention is not limited to this, and three coaters or four coaters may communicate with the circulation pipe 28. ..

Further, in the above-mentioned first embodiment and the third embodiment, the positive electrode slurry has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, the negative electrode slurry.

Further, in the first embodiment and the third embodiment described above, all of the plurality of materials to be kneaded are supplied to the first kneading section such as the pre-kneading section 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of materials to be kneaded may be dispersedly supplied to a plurality of kneading portions.
Further, in the second embodiment and the fourth embodiment described above, all of the plurality of materials to be mixed are supplied to the first mixing section such as the premixing section 14A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of materials to be mixed may be dispersedly supplied to a plurality of mixing portions.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the binder is supplied from the binder supply unit 11 to the pre-kneading unit 14 by the mono pump 51. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a diaphragm pump, a piston pump, a plunger pump, a delasco pump, a gear pump, a vane pump and the like can also be used. Further, the binder supply unit 11 is provided at a position higher than the pre-kneading unit 14, and the binder is supplied from the binder supply unit 11 to the pre-kneading unit 14 by urging the binder with pressure using gravity. May be. Even when the weight is used, it is preferable to provide the mono pump 51 in the pipe 21 in order to control the supply amount of the material to be supplied.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the initial mixture transferred to the space surrounded by the base 1441 of the stator 144, the base 1451 of the rotor 145, and the lower comb blade 1452 by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotor 145. Was discharged from the third opening 146c. However, the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotor 145 alone may not be sufficient for discharging the initial mixture transferred to the above-mentioned space from the third opening 146c. In particular, as the length of the pipes 21 to 25 becomes longer, the possibility that the above-mentioned transporting force becomes insufficient increases. Therefore, at least one of the pipe 24 and the pipe 25 may be provided with a configuration such as a mono pump for urging the material circulating inside.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, one pre-kneading portion 14 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of (two in FIG. 16) are provided in parallel. It may be possible. According to this, each of the plurality of pre-kneading portions 14 can be independently driven according to the target amount of the positive electrode slurry to be produced and the maintenance situation such as cleaning.

Further, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, one main kneading portion 15 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of the main kneading portions 15 may be provided in parallel as in the above-mentioned pre-kneading portion 14. .. According to this, each of the plurality of main kneading portions 15 can be independently driven according to the target amount of the positive electrode slurry to be produced and the maintenance situation such as cleaning.

Further, a plurality of the pre-mixing section 14A and the main mixing section 15A in the second embodiment and the fourth embodiment described above are provided in parallel as in the pre-kneading section 14 and the main kneading section 15 in the first embodiment. May be.

Further, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, a plurality of pre-kneading portions 14 may be provided in parallel as described above, and a plurality of main kneading portions 15 may be provided in parallel as described above. In this case, each of the pre-kneading section 14 and each of the main kneading section 15 are independently controlled, and the total processing amount of each of the pre-kneading section 14 and the processing amount of each of the main kneading section 15 are controlled. Make the sum equal to. According to this, while continuously supplying the pre-kneaded slurry kneaded by the pre-kneading section 14 to the main kneading section 15, the pre-kneading slurry is appropriately prepared according to the target amount of the positive electrode slurry to be produced and the maintenance situation such as cleaning. Each of the kneading section 14 and each of the main kneading section 15 can be driven.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the binder, the positive electrode active material, and the conductive auxiliary agent are separated from each of the binder supply unit 11, the positive electrode material supply unit 12, and the conductive auxiliary agent supply unit 13, that is, from different configurations. It was supposed to be supplied. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the binder, the positive electrode active material, and the conductive auxiliary agent may be supplied from the same composition.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the mono pump 51 is provided in the pipe 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pipe 24, the pipe 25, the circulation pipe 28, the pipe 291 and the pipe 292 may be provided. When the pipes 24, 25, 291, 292 and the circulation pipe 28 are provided, it is preferable to provide the urging means so as to suck the slurry by pressure or the like. Further, when the pipe 24 is provided, the first pre-kneading slurry is discharged from the pre-kneading portion 14, and when the pipe 25 is provided, the first positive electrode slurry is discharged from the main kneading portion 15. It is preferable that the binder is urged by the mono pump 51 provided in 21, or the pre-kneading portion 14 and the main kneading portion 15 are provided with a structure having a certain degree of urging force to urge the material. By urging in this way, the material and slurry can be transferred more smoothly in the battery electrode slurry processing device 1.

Further, in the second embodiment described above, the first material may be a liquid or a powder. The second material and the third material may also be liquid or powder, respectively.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, three types of materials are supplied to the pre-kneading portion 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, two types of materials and four types of materials are supplied. May be.

1, 1B, 1D, 1F; Battery electrode slurry processing device 1A, 1C, 1E, 1G; Fabrication device 11; Binder supply section 11A; First material supply section 12; Positive electrode material supply section 12A; Second material supply section 13; Conductive aid supply unit 13A; Third material supply unit 14; Pre-kneading unit 14A; Pre-mixing unit 15; Main kneading unit 15A; Main mixing unit 18; Filters 191, 192; Coaters 1911; Storage tanks 21 to 25 , 61, 291, 292; Piping 28; Circulation Piping 31; Spatial Control Units 41, 42; Tanks 51, 71, 73; Mono Pump 114; Kneading Section 114A; Mixing Section 241; Inlet Section 251; Outlet Section

Claims (12)

A battery electrode slurry processing device that prepares and applies a battery electrode slurry.
A first supply means for supplying a plurality of materials for producing the battery electrode slurry, and
A first transportation means for transporting a plurality of materials supplied from the first supply means, and
A first kneading means for kneading and continuously discharging a plurality of materials transported by the first transportation means,
A second transportation means for transporting the material discharged from the first kneading means, and
A circulation means for circulating the material transported by the second transportation means,
A coating means having a storage portion connected to the circulation means for storing a part of the material circulated by the circulation means and applying the material stored in the storage portion to the electrode plate.
A urging means that urges at least one of a material transported by the first transportation means, a material transported by the second transportation means, and a material circulated by the circulation means.
With
The first supply means, the first transportation means, the first kneading means, the second transportation means, the circulation means, and the storage portion communicate with each other to form a closed space.
A battery electrode slurry processing apparatus further comprising an in-space control means for depressurizing the space or filling the space with an inert gas. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the plurality of materials supplied by the first supply means per unit time and the amount of the materials discharged by the first kneading means per unit time are equal to each other. Electrode slurry processing equipment. The first supply means includes a plurality of sub-first supply means for supplying each of the plurality of materials.
The battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first transportation means includes a plurality of sub-first transportation means for transporting each of a plurality of materials supplied from the plurality of sub-first supply means. Electrode slurry processing equipment. The urging means includes a material transported by at least one of the plurality of sub-first transport means, a material transported by the second transport means, and a material circulated by the circulation means. The battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of them is urged. The second transportation means includes an inlet portion for receiving and transporting the material discharged from the first kneading means, and an outlet portion for discharging the material transported via the inlet portion.
A claim further comprising a second kneading means which is arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and kneads the material transported from the inlet portion and continuously discharges the material toward the outlet portion. Item 4. The battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4. A plurality of the first kneading means are provided.
The battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of first kneading means are provided in parallel. A plurality of at least one of the first kneading means and the second kneading means is provided.
When a plurality of the first kneading means are provided, the plurality of first kneading means are provided in parallel.
When a plurality of the second kneading means are provided, the plurality of second kneading means are provided in parallel.
Each of the first kneading means and each of the second kneading means are independently controlled, and the total processing amount of each of the first kneading means and the processing amount of each of the second kneading means are controlled. The battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sum of the above is equal to each other. The first supply means supplies at least an active material and a binder as the plurality of materials.
In the first kneading means, the plurality of materials are roughly kneaded and kneaded.
The battery electrode slurry processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 7, wherein the second kneading means is the main kneading of the material transported by the second transport means. A battery electrode slurry processing method in a battery electrode slurry processing apparatus for producing and applying a battery electrode slurry.
A first step of supplying a plurality of materials for producing the battery electrode slurry, and
In the second step of transporting the plurality of materials supplied in the first step,
A third step of kneading and continuously discharging the plurality of materials transported in the second step,
In the fourth step of transporting the material discharged in the third step,
In the fifth step of circulating the material transported in the fourth step,
In the sixth step, a part of the circulating material is stored and the stored material is applied to the electrode plate in the fifth step.
A seventh step of encouraging at least one of the material transported in the second step, the material transported in the fourth step, and the material circulating in the fifth step. When,
With
The space where the first step is performed, the space where the second step is performed, the space where the third step is performed, the space where the fourth step is performed, and the fifth step The space to be performed and the space in which the material is stored in the sixth step are communicated to form a closed space.
A battery electrode slurry processing method further comprising an eighth step of depressurizing the space or filling the space with an inert gas. A manufacturing device for manufacturing an object to be manufactured using a plurality of mixed materials.
The first supply means for supplying the plurality of materials and
A first transportation means for transporting a plurality of materials supplied from the first supply means, and
A first mixing means that mixes and continuously discharges a plurality of materials transported by the first transportation means, and
A second transportation means for transporting the material discharged from the first mixing means, and
A circulation means for circulating the material transported by the second transportation means,
A manufacturing means that has a storage unit connected to the circulation means that stores a part of the material circulated by the circulation means, and manufactures the production object using the material stored in the storage unit. When,
A urging means that urges at least one of a material transported by the first transportation means, a material transported by the second transportation means, and a material circulated by the circulation means.
With
The first supply means, the first transportation means, the first mixing means, the second transportation means, the circulation means, and the storage portion communicate with each other to form a closed space.
A manufacturing apparatus further comprising an in-space control means for depressurizing the space or filling the space with an inert gas. A plurality of the first mixing means are provided.
The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of first mixing means are provided in parallel. It is a manufacturing method in a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an object to be manufactured using a plurality of mixed materials.
The first step of supplying the plurality of materials and
In the second step of transporting the plurality of materials supplied in the first step,
In the third step, the plurality of materials transported in the second step are mixed and continuously discharged.
In the fourth step of transporting the material discharged in the third step,
In the fifth step of circulating the material transported in the fourth step,
In the sixth step, a part of the circulating material is stored in the fifth step, and the object to be manufactured is prepared using the stored material.
A seventh step of encouraging at least one of the material transported in the second step, the material transported in the fourth step, and the material circulating in the fifth step. When,
With
The space where the first step is performed, the space where the second step is performed, the space where the third step is performed, the space where the fourth step is performed, and the fifth step The space to be performed and the space in which the material is stored in the sixth step communicate with each other to form a closed space.
A production method further comprising an eighth step of depressurizing the space or filling it with an inert gas.

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