JP6969997B2 - Battery manufacturing method and battery conductivity inspection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery manufacturing method and a battery conductivity inspection device.

The laminated battery has a power generation element composed by laminating a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, an exterior film accommodating the power generation element, and positive and negative tabs electrically connected to the power generation element and led out to the outside of the exterior film. And have. The exterior film has a laminated structure in which resin films are formed on both sides of a metal layer. The flexible exterior film forms a bag-shaped container in which the power generation element is housed. The power generation element is housed inside the exterior film together with the electrolytic solution. The sealing portion in which the exterior films are overlapped is filled with the electrolytic solution, and then the resin films are joined to each other by heat fusion to be sealed.

As one of the quality inspections of a battery, there is a conductivity inspection which inspects the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode located in the outermost layer of the power generation element and the metal layer of the exterior film. By this conductivity inspection, it is confirmed that there is no foreign matter in the conductor between the outermost layer electrode of the power generation element and the exterior film (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-164380

In recent years, it has been required to be able to confirm that there is no foreign matter in a finer conductor in a conductivity inspection.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of manufacturing a battery in which a foreign substance of a conductor does not exist between an outermost layer electrode of a power generation element and an exterior film. Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery conductivity inspection device capable of improving the accuracy of the conductivity inspection and confirming that there is no foreign matter in a minute conductor between the outermost layer electrode of the power generation element and the exterior film. To do.

In the method for manufacturing a battery of the present invention for achieving the above object, a bag-shaped container is formed by a flexible outer film in which resin films are formed on both sides of a metal layer, and a power generation element is housed in the container. At the same time, the sealing portion on which the exterior film is overlapped is sealed. Next, the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode located in the outermost layer of the power generation element and the metal layer of the exterior film is inspected. Here, the surface of the outermost layer electrode is divided into a plurality of regions, and the conduction state is inspected in order for each region while applying a pressing force for bringing the outermost layer electrode into close contact with the exterior film.

In the battery conductivity inspection device of the present invention for achieving the above object, a bag-shaped container is formed by a flexible outer film in which resin films are formed on both sides of a metal layer, and a power generation element is formed in the container. And the outermost layer electrode located in the outermost layer of the power generation element and the metal layer of the outer film with respect to the battery in which the sealing portion on which the outer film is overlapped is sealed. It has a measuring unit that measures the continuity between them. The battery conductivity inspection device includes a pressurizing unit that applies a pressing force that brings the outermost layer electrode and the exterior film into close contact with each other, and a control unit that controls the operation of the measuring unit and the pressurizing unit. Then, the control unit divides the surface of the outermost layer electrode into a plurality of regions, and applies a pressing force for each of the regions in order to bring the outermost layer electrode and the exterior film into close contact with each other by the pressurizing unit. , The continuity state is measured by the measuring unit,

According to the method for manufacturing a battery of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a battery in which no foreign matter is present in the conductor between the outermost layer electrode of the power generation element and the exterior film.

According to the battery conductivity inspection device of the present invention, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the conductivity inspection and confirm that there is no foreign matter in the fine conductor between the outermost layer electrode of the power generation element and the exterior film. ..

It is a top view which shows the inspection stage which is incorporated in the production line of a battery and has a conductivity inspection apparatus of a battery. It is sectional drawing which follows the 2-2 line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the battery. It is sectional drawing which follows the 4-4 line of FIG. It is a circuit diagram which shows the electric circuit of the measuring part of a conductivity inspection apparatus. It is a top view which shows the region of the pressurization applied by the pressurizing part of a conductivity inspection apparatus, and the position where the upper needle and the lower needle are punctured. It is a perspective view which shows typically the state that the conductivity inspection of a battery is performed with respect to one area of the surface of the outermost layer electrode of a power generation element. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which a battery conductivity inspection is performed on another region of the surface of the outermost layer electrode of the power generation element, which is performed following the state shown in FIG. 7. It is a top view which shows the modification of the measuring part.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted. The size and ratio of each member in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual size and ratio.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an inspection stage incorporated in a battery manufacturing line and having a conductivity inspection device 100 for a battery 60, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the battery 60, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

First, the batteries 60 to be manufactured and to be inspected will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The battery 60 is a laminated battery, and is a power generation element 40, an exterior film 50 accommodating the power generation element 40, and a positive electrode tab 13 and a negative electrode electrically connected to the power generation element 40 and led out to the outside of the exterior film 50. It has a tab 23 and. The exterior film 50 has a laminated structure in which resin films 53 and 55 are formed on both sides of the metal layer 54. A bag-shaped container is formed by the flexible outer film 50, and the power generation element 40 is housed in the container. The sealing portion 52 on which the exterior films 50 are overlapped is sealed by joining the resin films 53 and 55 to each other by heat fusion. In the exterior film 50, resin films 53 and 55 are formed on the entire surfaces of both sides of the metal layer 54. The exterior film 50 is electrically insulated by coating the entire surfaces of the metal layer 54 with the resin films 53 and 55.

The power generation element 40 includes a positive electrode 10 having a positive electrode active material layer 12 arranged on the surface of the positive electrode current collector 11 and a negative electrode 20 having a negative electrode active material layer 22 arranged on the surface of the negative electrode current collector 21. It has a separator 30 for holding an electrolyte. The single battery layer 41 is formed by facing the positive electrode active material layer 12 and the negative electrode active material layer 22 with the separator 30 interposed therebetween. The power generation element 40 is housed together with the electrolytic solution inside the exterior film 50 in a state where a plurality of cell cell layers 41 are laminated. The positive electrode tab 13 is electrically connected to the positive electrode 10, and the negative electrode tab 23 is electrically connected to the negative electrode 20.

The exterior film 50 accommodates the power generation element 40 together with the electrolytic solution. The exterior film 50 is composed of a laminated sheet having a three-layer structure. The first layer resin film 53 of the innermost layer is formed by using a heat-sealing resin such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), ionomer, or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The second metal layer 54 is formed by using a foil-like metal such as Al foil or Ni foil. The resin film 55 of the third layer is formed by using, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or nylon having rigidity. The exterior film 50 has a sealing portion 52 in which peripheral portions 51 are overlapped and joined to each other. The sealing portion 52 is formed by welding the heat-weldable resin of the first layer resin film 53 by superimposing and heating the peripheral portions 51 of the exterior film 50.

In the power generation element 40 shown in FIG. 4, the outermost layer electrode 42 located in the outermost layer is the negative electrode 20. In the negative electrode 20 of the outermost layer, the negative electrode active material layer 22 is arranged only on one surface of the negative electrode current collector 21. The negative electrode current collector 21 of the negative electrode 20 of the outermost layer is in contact with the inner surface of the exterior film 50. The outermost layer electrode 42 is not limited to this case. The negative electrode 20 of the outermost layer may have the negative electrode active material layer 22 arranged on both surfaces of the negative electrode current collector 21, and in this case, the negative electrode active material layer 22 comes into contact with the inner surface of the exterior film 50. The outermost layer electrode 42 may be the positive electrode 10, and in this case, the positive electrode current collector 11 or the positive electrode active material layer 12 comes into contact with the inner surface of the exterior film 50. Further, the separator 30 can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the exterior film 50.

Reference numeral “45” in FIG. 4 indicates a foreign substance in the conductor existing between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50. In the following description, the foreign matter 45 of the conductor is also simply referred to as "foreign matter 45".

Next, the production line of the battery 60 and the conductivity inspection device 100 of the battery 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The production line of the battery 60 incorporates various inspection stages. The inspection stage has a conductivity inspection device 100 for the battery 60. In the battery 60 to be inspected, the power generation element 40 is housed inside the exterior film 50 in which both sides of the metal layer 54 are sandwiched between the resin films 53 and 55. The battery 60 is sealed with a sealing portion 52 on which the exterior films 50 are overlapped. The conductivity inspection device 100 inspects the battery 60 for the continuity state between the outermost layer electrode 42 located in the outermost layer of the power generation element 40 and the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50. Used to carry out. When manufacturing the battery 60, the conductivity test is performed in a state where the outermost layer electrode 42 is horizontal.

The inspection stage includes a rotary table 110 in which three pallets 111 on which the battery 60 is placed are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, a pedestal 120 arranged at a stop position of the pallet 111, and a conductivity inspection device 100. have.

The rotary table 110 rotates in one direction. Each of the three pallets 111 sequentially stops at three places. For convenience of explanation, the three stop positions of the pallet 111 are referred to as an initial position P0, a first position P1, and a second position P2. The initial position P0 is a position where the battery 60 from the equipment in the previous process is carried in and the battery 60 after the inspection is carried out to the equipment in the next process. The first position P1 is a position where the first conductivity inspection is performed on the battery 60. The second position P2 is a position where the second conductivity inspection is performed on the battery 60. The pallet 111 is connected to the rotary table 110 via the floating mechanism 112. The floating mechanism 112 is composed of a guide shaft, a spring member, and the like. The floating mechanism 112 holds the pallet 111 at a position higher than the upper surface of the pedestal 120 when not inspected. The pallet 111 is made of an electrically insulating material.

The cradle 120 is arranged below the pallet 111 at a position corresponding to the stop positions P0, P1 and P2 of the pallet 111. The floating mechanism 112 moves downward with the operation of the conductivity inspection device 100. When performing the conductivity inspection, the pallet 111 is pressed against the upper surface 121 of the cradle 120.

The conductivity inspection device 100 generally includes a measuring unit 130 for measuring a conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 of the power generation element 40 and the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50, and the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50. It has a pressurizing unit 170 that applies a pressing force to bring it into close contact. The measuring unit 130 and the pressurizing unit 170 are connected to the control unit 200, and the control unit 200 controls the operation of the measuring unit 130 and the pressurizing unit 170. The control unit 200 controls the rotation and rotation stop of the rotary table 110. The control unit 200 divides the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 into a plurality of regions 43a and 43b, and pressurizes the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 in order by the pressurizing unit 170 for each region 43a and 43b. The continuity state is measured by the measuring unit 130 while adding the above. The details will be described below.

In the present embodiment, the conductivity test is performed on the battery 60 at each of the first position P1 and the second position P2 of the pallet 111. Therefore, the conductivity inspection device 100 has two sets of measuring units 130 and two sets of pressurizing units 170.

The measuring unit 130 has a conductive first detector 131 capable of contacting the outermost layer electrode 42, a conductive second detector 132 capable of contacting the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50, and a current for measuring the conduction state. It has a measuring instrument such as 133 in total. The first detector 131 is brought into contact with the outermost layer electrode 42, and the second detector 132 is brought into contact with the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50. By measuring the current value or the like in this state, the electrical conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 is measured.

In the battery 60 of the illustrated example, the outermost layer electrode 42 is the negative electrode 20. The first detector 131 has a probe 141 that can be in contact with the negative electrode tab 23, and a drive unit 142 that drives the probe 141 up and down with respect to the negative electrode tab 23. The tip of the probe 141 has a spherical shape. The drive unit 142 is composed of a fluid pressure cylinder such as an air cylinder.

The second detector 132 includes an upper second detector 150 arranged on the upper side of the battery 60 and a lower second detector 160 arranged on the lower side of the battery 60. The upper second detector 150 has an upper needle 151 that can be punctured into the peripheral edge portion 51 of the exterior film 50, and an upper drive portion 152 that drives the upper needle 151 up and down with respect to the peripheral edge portion 51. The lower second detector 160 has a lower needle 161 that can be punctured into the peripheral edge portion 51 of the exterior film 50, and a lower drive portion 162 that drives the lower needle 161 up and down with respect to the peripheral edge portion 51. There is. The tips of the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 have an acute-angled shape. The upper drive unit 152 and the lower drive unit 162 are composed of, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder. The upper needle 151 is pierced into the exterior film 50 so as to reach at least the metal layer 54 in the upper exterior film 50. The lower needle 161 is pierced into the exterior film 50 so as to reach at least the metal layer 54 in the lower exterior film 50. The upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 can be pierced so as to penetrate the upper and lower exterior films 50 in order to facilitate contact with the metal layer 54. The pallet 111 is formed with a through hole 113 at a position corresponding to the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161.

The pressurizing unit 170 is arranged above the battery 60. The pressure unit 170 has a pressure plate 171 that contacts the upper surface of the exterior film 50, and a drive unit 172 that drives the pressure plate 171 up and down with respect to the battery 60. The pressure plate 171 is made of a resin material having a hardness higher than that of the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50. The drive unit 172 is composed of a fluid pressure cylinder such as an air cylinder. As the drive unit 172, a known actuator such as a mechanism combining a motor and a gear can be used. By pressing the battery 60 against the pallet 111 by the pressure plate 171, a pressing force is applied to the battery 60 to bring the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 into close contact with each other. At this time, the pallet 111 is pressed against the upper surface 121 of the cradle 120 as the pressure plate 171 is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an electric circuit of the measuring unit 130 of the conductivity inspection device 100.

As shown in the figure, the upper needle 151 is composed of two needles, and the lower needle 161 is also composed of two needles. A total of four needles are connected in parallel to one end of the ammeter 133. The other end of the ammeter 133 is connected to one end of the power supply 134. The other end of the power supply 134 is connected to a probe 141 that can be contacted with the negative electrode tab 23. If necessary, a switch may be provided in the circuit. Further, the power supply 134 may be a DC power supply or an AC power supply. However, the ammeter 133 uses a DC ammeter in the case of a DC power supply and an AC ammeter in the case of an AC power supply in accordance with the power supply 134. The voltage of the power supply 134 may be a low voltage because only the continuity test is performed, and for example, 1V to 5V is sufficient. Further, in this circuit diagram, the power supply 134 and the ammeter 133 are shown, which is the configuration of the resistance measurement circuit. Therefore, it is the same even if a resistance measuring instrument is used between the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 connected in parallel and the probe 141.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the pressure regions 43a and 43b applied by the pressurizing unit 170 of the conductivity inspection device 100, and the positions where the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 are punctured. FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the conductivity of the battery 60 is inspected with respect to one region 43a on the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 of the power generation element 40, and FIG. 8 is a state shown in FIG. It is a perspective view schematically showing how the conductivity inspection of the battery 60 is performed with respect to the other region 43b of the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 of the power generation element 40.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 are punctured in a portion of the peripheral edge portion 51 of the exterior film 50 opposite to the side on which the positive electrode tab 13 and the negative electrode tab 23 are arranged. The two needles of the upper needle 151 pierce the peripheral edge portion 51 from above, and the two needles of the lower needle 161 also pierce the peripheral edge portion 51 from below. As a result, at least one of the four needles comes into contact with the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50. After the inspection, the peripheral portion 51 including the punctured site is trimmed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 8, in the illustrated embodiment, the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 is divided into two regions 43a and 43b. For convenience of explanation, one region 43a located proximal to the positive electrode tab 13 and the negative electrode tab 23 is referred to as a "first region 43a" and is located distal to the positive electrode tab 13 and the negative electrode tab 23. The other region 43b is referred to as a "second region 43b". In FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 8, the first region 43a is shown surrounded by a broken line, and the second region 43b is shown surrounded by a alternate long and short dash line. The control unit 200 performs the first conductivity inspection on the first region 43a, and then performs the second conductivity inspection on the second region 43b. Since the pressurization of the power generation element 40 is performed in a plurality of times, the pressure in the exterior film 50 is not excessively increased. The load applied between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 can be set large as long as the sealing portion 52 of the exterior film 50 is not stressed. As a result, the finer foreign matter 45 (see FIG. 4) can be brought into contact with the metal layer 54.

As shown in FIG. 6, a part of the first region 43a to which the pressing force is applied by the pressurizing unit 170 and the second region 43b to continuously apply the pressing force to the first region 43a by the adjacent pressurizing unit 170 It overlaps. The overlapping range is the range of the arrows indicated by reference numeral 44. Due to the pressure applied to the first region 43a, the foreign matter 45 existing near the outer edge of the first region 43a may move toward the second region 43b adjacent to the first region 43a. Even if the foreign matter 45 moves due to the overlap between the first region 43a and the second region 43b, the second region 43b is pressurized following the pressure applied to the first region 43a to move. The foreign matter 45 can be pressurized.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Although different processes are executed at the same time at the stop positions P0, P1 and P2 of the pallet 111, the processes executed for one battery 60 will be described in order in the following description.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 60 from the equipment in the previous process is carried into the pallet 111 at the initial position P0. The control unit 200 rotates the rotary table 110 by a predetermined angle, and when the pallet 111 reaches the first position P1, the rotation of the rotary table 110 is stopped.

The control unit 200 pushes the first region 43a by the pressure plate 171 of the pressure unit 170 at the first position P1 of the pallet 111. With the pressing of the pressure plate 171, the pallet 111 is pressed against the upper surface 121 of the cradle 120. As a result, a pressing force is applied to the first region 43a to bring the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 into close contact with each other (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

While maintaining this state, the control unit 200 punctures the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 into the peripheral edge portion 51 of the exterior film 50, and brings the probe 141 into contact with the negative electrode tab 23. The control unit 200 measures the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54.

When the control unit 200 detects that electricity is not flowing from the measured value of the ammeter 133, it determines that the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 are in an insulated state in the first region 43a. This makes it possible to confirm that no foreign matter 45 is present between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50. The quality of the battery 60 to be inspected is "good".

On the other hand, when the control unit 200 detects that electricity is flowing from the measured value of the ammeter 133, it determines that the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 are conducting in the first region 43a. As a result, it can be seen that the foreign matter 45 existing between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 in the first region 43a reaches the metal layer 54. The quality of the battery 60 to be inspected is "defective".

When the measurement for the first region 43a is completed, the control unit 200 raises the pressure plate 171 to release the pressing force applied to the first region 43a. The control unit 200 rotates the rotary table 110 by a predetermined angle, and when the pallet 111 reaches the second position P2, the rotation of the rotary table 110 is stopped.

The control unit 200 pushes the second region 43b by the pressure plate 171 of the pressure unit 170 at the second position P2 of the pallet 111. With the pressing of the pressure plate 171, the pallet 111 is pressed against the upper surface 121 of the cradle 120. As a result, a pressing force is applied to the second region 43b to bring the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 into close contact with each other (see FIGS. 6 and 8).

While maintaining this state, the control unit 200 punctures the upper needle 151 and the lower needle 161 into the peripheral edge portion 51 of the exterior film 50, and brings the probe 141 into contact with the negative electrode tab 23. The control unit 200 measures the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54.

When the control unit 200 detects that electricity is not flowing from the measured value of the ammeter 133, it determines that the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 are in an insulated state in the second region 43b. This makes it possible to confirm that no foreign matter 45 is present between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50. The quality of the battery 60 to be inspected is "good".

On the other hand, when the control unit 200 detects that electricity is flowing from the measured value of the ammeter 133, it determines that the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 are conducting in the second region 43b. As a result, it can be seen that the foreign matter 45 existing between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 in the second region 43b reaches the metal layer 54. The quality of the battery 60 to be inspected is "defective".

When the measurement for the second region 43b is completed, the control unit 200 raises the pressure plate 171 to release the pressing force applied to the second region 43b. The control unit 200 rotates the rotary table 110 by a predetermined angle, returns the pallet 111 to the initial position P0, and stops the rotation of the rotary table 110.

When the quality of the battery 60 to be inspected is "good" in both the first region 43a and the second region 43b, the control unit 200 carries out the inspected battery 60 to the equipment in the next process. If the quality of at least one of the first region 43a and the second region 43b is "poor", the control unit 200 carries out the inspected battery 60 to a facility different from the product group. If the quality of the battery 60 to be inspected is "defective" in the first region 43a, the control unit 200 may omit the inspection in the second region 43b.

As described above, the control unit 200 divides the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 into a plurality of regions 43a and 43b, and the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 are sequentially divided by the pressurizing unit 170 for each region 43a and 43b. The conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 is measured by the measuring unit 130 while applying a pressing force to bring the two into close contact with each other.

With this configuration, the pressure in the exterior film 50 is not excessively increased because the pressurization of the power generation element 40 is performed in a plurality of times. A necessary load can be applied between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 without stressing the sealing portion 52 of the exterior film 50. As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the conductivity inspection while preventing damage to the sealing portion 52 of the exterior film 50, and a finer foreign substance in the conductor that may exist between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50. The presence or absence of 45 can be confirmed.

Further, the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 is divided into a plurality of regions 43a and 43b, and the conduction state is inspected in order for each region 43a and 43b while applying a pressing force to bring the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 into close contact with each other. , Manufacture the battery 60.

With this configuration, the pressure in the exterior film 50 is not excessively increased because the pressurization of the power generation element 40 is performed in a plurality of times. A necessary load can be applied between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 without stressing the sealing portion 52 of the exterior film 50. As a result of being able to confirm the presence or absence of a smaller conductor foreign matter 45 that may exist between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50, the conductor foreign matter 45 is present between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50. It is possible to manufacture a battery 60 that does not.

Further, the control unit 200 covers a part of the first region 43a to which the pressurizing unit 170 applies the pressing force and the second region 43b to continuously apply the pressing force to the first region 43a by the adjacent pressurizing unit 170. I'm wrapping it.

With this configuration, even if the foreign matter 45 existing in the first region 43a moves to the second region 43b by the pressure applied to the first region 43a, the foreign matter 45 following the pressure applied to the first region 43a is the second. By pressurizing the two regions 43b, the foreign matter 45 can be pressurized. As a result, even if the foreign matter 45 moves due to the division and the application of the pressing force, the presence of the moved foreign matter 45 can be confirmed.

Further, a part of the first region 43a to which the pressing force is applied and the second region 43b to continuously apply the pressing force adjacent to the first region 43a are overlapped to manufacture the battery 60.

With this configuration, even if the foreign matter 45 moves due to the division and application of the pressing force, the presence of the moved foreign matter 45 can be confirmed. As a result, it is possible to manufacture the battery 60 in which the foreign matter 45 does not exist between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50.

Further, the battery 60 is manufactured by inspecting the continuity state in a state where the outermost layer electrode 42 is horizontal.

With this configuration, the movement of the foreign matter 45 is not affected by gravity. Even if the foreign matter 45 moves due to the division and the application of pressure, the presence of the moved foreign matter 45 can be confirmed without being affected by gravity. For example, in the case of inspecting the continuity state in a state where the outermost layer electrode 42 is vertical, in the form of moving the pressurizing position from the bottom to the top, the foreign matter 45 located near the boundary between the adjacent regions 43a and 43b Moves upward in the first pressurization, and descends to its original lower position under the influence of gravity at the next pressurization (the first pressurization is released). When the movement of the foreign matter 45 is affected by gravity, it becomes difficult to detect the foreign matter 45. Therefore, by inspecting the conduction state with the outermost layer electrode 42 horizontal, the presence of the moved foreign matter 45 can be confirmed without being affected by gravity. As a result, it is possible to manufacture the battery 60 in which the foreign matter 45 does not exist between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50.

Further, a pressure is applied to the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 by a pressure plate 171 formed of a resin material having a hardness higher than that of the metal layer 54 of the exterior film 50 to manufacture the battery 60.

When the pressure plate 171 is formed of a material softer than the metal layer 54, the foreign matter 45 is buried in the pressure surface, and it becomes difficult for the foreign matter 45 to electrically conduct with the metal layer 54. With the above configuration, the foreign matter 45 is not buried in the pressurized surface, and the foreign matter 45 is easily electrically conducted with the metal layer 54. As a result of being able to confirm the presence or absence of a finer foreign matter 45 that may exist between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50, the battery 60 in which the foreign matter 45 does not exist between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the exterior film 50 is provided. Can be manufactured.

(Modification example of the second detector 132)
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modified example of the measuring unit 130.

The configuration of the measuring unit 130 is not particularly limited as long as the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 can be measured. The measurement unit 130 of the modified example has a configuration in which the conductive second detector 132 that can come into contact with the metal layer 54 is not punctured by the exterior film 50, and the upper needle 151 and the lower portion of the second detector 132 are provided. The side needle 161 is different from the above-described embodiment in which the exterior film 50 is punctured.

The outer peripheral edge of the exterior film 50 faces the end of the metal layer 54 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the second detector 132 of the modified example is composed of the pin member 135 that comes into contact with the outer peripheral edge of the exterior film 50. The pin member 135 is pressed against the outer peripheral edge of the exterior film 50 and brought into contact with the end portion of the metal layer 54. In this state, the electric conduction state between the outermost layer electrode 42 and the metal layer 54 is measured by measuring the current value or the like with an ammeter 133.

(Other variants)
The measuring unit 130 and the pressurizing unit 170 have a total of two sets, one set for inspecting the continuity state with respect to the first region 43a and the other set for checking only the continuity state with respect to the second region 43b. The conductivity inspection device 100 is not limited to this case. One measuring unit 130 and one pressurizing unit 170 can sequentially inspect the continuity state of the first region 43a and the continuity state of the second region 43b.

An embodiment in which the conduction state is inspected in a state where the outermost layer electrode 42 is horizontal has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this case. The continuity state can be inspected when the outermost layer electrode 42 is tilted from the horizontal. However, in this case, it must be taken into consideration that the movement of the foreign matter 45 is affected by gravity. The pressurizing position may be moved in order from the upper side to the lower side. By doing so, even if the foreign matter 45 located near the boundary of the adjacent regions moves downward by the first pressurization, the presence or absence of the foreign matter 45 can be detected at the time of the next pressurization.

An embodiment in which the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 is divided into two regions 43a and 43b has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this case. The surface of the outermost layer electrode 42 can be divided into three or more regions according to the size of the surface of the outermost layer electrode 42.

10 Positive electrode,
13 Positive electrode tab,
20 Negative electrode,
23 Negative tab,
30 separator,
40 power generation element,
41 Single battery layer,
42 outermost layer electrode,
43a First area (one area),
43b 2nd region (other region),
44 The range where adjacent areas overlap,
45 Foreign matter on the conductor,
50 exterior film,
51 Peripheral part,
52 Sealing part,
53 resin film,
54 metal layer,
55 resin film,
60 batteries,
100 Conductivity inspection device,
110 rotary table,
111 pallets,
112 Floating mechanism,
113 through hole,
120 cradle,
130 measuring unit,
131 First detector,
132 Second detector,
133 Ammeter,
134 power supply,
141 probe,
142 drive unit,
150 Upper second detector,
151 upper needle,
152 Upper drive unit,
160 Lower second detector,
161 Lower needle,
162 Lower drive unit,
170 Pressurizing part,
171 pressure plate,
172 drive unit,
200 Control unit.

Claims (6)

A bag-shaped container is formed by a flexible outer film in which resin films are formed on both sides of the metal layer, a power generation element is housed in the container, and a sealing portion on which the outer films are overlapped is sealed. For the stopped battery, the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode located in the outermost layer of the power generation element and the metal layer of the outer film is inspected.
A method for manufacturing a battery, wherein the surface of the outermost layer electrode is divided into a plurality of regions, and the continuity state is inspected while applying a pressing force for bringing the outermost layer electrode and the exterior film into close contact with each other in order for each region. The method for manufacturing a battery according to claim 1, wherein the one said region to which the pressing force is applied and a part of the other said region adjacent to the one said region to continuously apply the pressing force are overlapped with each other. The method for manufacturing a battery according to claim 2, wherein the continuity state is inspected in a state where the outermost layer electrode is horizontal. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressure is applied to the surface of the outermost layer electrode by a pressure plate formed of a resin material having a hardness higher than that of the metal layer of the exterior film. Method. A bag-shaped container is formed by a flexible outer film in which resin films are formed on both sides of the metal layer, a power generation element is housed in the container, and a sealing portion on which the outer films are overlapped is sealed. A measuring unit for measuring the conduction state between the outermost layer electrode located in the outermost layer of the power generation element and the metal layer of the outer film with respect to the stopped battery.
A pressurizing part that applies a pressing force that brings the outermost layer electrode into close contact with the exterior film,
It has a measuring unit and a control unit that controls the operation of the pressurizing unit.
The control unit divides the surface of the outermost layer electrode into a plurality of regions, and applies the pressure to bring the outermost layer electrode and the exterior film into close contact with each other by the pressurizing unit in order for each region. A battery conductivity inspection device that measures the continuity state by the measuring unit. The control unit overlaps a part of one said region to which the pressurizing portion applies by the pressurizing portion and another said region adjacent to the one said region to continuously apply the pressing force by the pressurizing portion. The battery conductivity inspection device according to claim 5, which is wrapped.

Images