JPH1050302A - Electrode manufacturing device and electrode manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sharply shorten the stack forming time of an active layer by forming the active material layer in the length direction on both sides of a belt-shaped metal foil except for the end part in the width direction, and cutting in a tape form in the width direction. SOLUTION: A belt-shaped metal foil 52 is fed by rotating a delivery roller 50 in the (a) direction and wound on a rotating take-up roller 51. An active material solution bath 55 is arranged on the running metal foil 52, an active material solution 56 is let to flow through a slit, and applied to the metal foil 52 in the length direction except for both end parts, and exposed parts 52B, 52C corresponding to a lead connecting part are formed in both end parts. The active material solution 56 is heated and dried with a heater 58 to form an active material layer 52D. Similarly, an active material layer, corresponding to the active material layer 52D, is formed on the opposite surface of the metal foil 52, then the metal foil 52 is pressed with a pressing roller to form active material films, and cut in the width direction with a disk-shaped cutter to form an electrode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Technical field to which the invention pertains Conventional technology (FIGS. 7 to 11) Problems to be solved by the invention (FIGS. 12 to 14) Means for solving the problem (FIGS. 1 to 6) 1 to 6) Effects of the Invention

[0002]

The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method, and is suitably applied to, for example, an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode of a lithium ion battery.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of electronic devices such as camcorders, portable telephones and portable computers, demand for secondary batteries used in the electronic devices has been rapidly increasing. There are various types of such secondary batteries such as a lead storage battery, a nickel cadmium storage battery, and a lithium ion battery. Among them, lithium ion batteries have been widely used in recent years because of their advantages such as a relatively high nominal voltage value and excellent storage stability compared to lead storage batteries and nickel cadmium storage batteries.

[0004] Here, a lithium ion battery is configured such that an inner tube around which a tape-shaped electrode is wound is inserted into a hermetically sealed outer tube, and a nonaqueous electrolyte is filled. .

In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the electrode 1 has a tape-shaped metal foil (for example, aluminum foil) coated on both sides with carbon powder or a lithium compound (hereinafter simply referred to as an active material). And a negative electrode 3 in which an active material is formed on both sides of a tape-shaped metal foil (for example, copper foil), and a predetermined insulating material is formed on the positive electrode 2. The first separator 4, the negative electrode 3, and the second separator 5 made of a predetermined insulating material are sequentially laminated and wound around the inner tube 6 such that the second separator 5 is on the inside. ing.

The positive electrode 2 has an exposed portion (not shown) in which a metal foil is exposed along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode 2 at a winding start portion thereof. One end of the electrode lead 7 is joined by resistance welding or the like. Further, the negative electrode 3 has an exposed portion 3A in which a metal foil is exposed along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the negative electrode 3 at the winding end portion, and one end of the negative electrode lead 8 is provided on the exposed portion 3A. Are joined by resistance welding or the like.

The other end of the positive electrode lead 7 is electrically connected to the inner tube 6, and the other end of the negative electrode lead 8 is electrically connected to the outer tube. Thus, in this lithium ion battery, the positive electrode 2 and the negative electrode 3
The current generated by the occurrence of a discharge reaction in the inner tube 6 is electrically connected to the positive electrode 2 via the positive electrode lead 7.
Is a positive electrode terminal, and an outer tube conductively connected to the negative electrode 3 through the negative electrode lead 8 can be output to the outside as a negative electrode terminal.

In practice, such an electrode 1 (positive electrode 2 and negative electrode 3) is manufactured using an electrode manufacturing apparatus, and the electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a first active material layer forming portion, a second active material layer forming section, and a second active material layer forming section. , An active material layer forming section, an active material layer pressing section, a cutting / separating section, and a winding section.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, a first active material layer forming section 10 forms a strip-shaped metal foil (aluminum foil or copper foil) 12 wound around a first delivery roller 11 on a first basis. It is configured to be wound around a winding roller 13.
At a predetermined position between the first delivery roller 11 and the first winding roller 13, an active material solution tank 14 is disposed with its lower end facing the one surface 12 </ b> A of the metal foil 12. The solution tank 14 contains an active material solution 15 in which the active material is dissolved in a predetermined solution.

In this case, at the lower end of the active material solution tank 14,
A slit for discharging the active material solution 15 is formed over the width of the metal foil 12, and a shutter 16 for opening and closing the slit is provided. The active material solution tank 14
The heater 17 is arranged at the subsequent stage. Thereby, the first active material layer forming section 10 opens and closes the slit of the active material solution tank 14 at a predetermined timing so that the metal foil 1
2, an active material solution 15 is intermittently applied along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil 12 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the longitudinal direction), and then the active material solution 15 on the one surface 12A is applied.
Is heated at a predetermined temperature by a heater 17 to evaporate the solution, thereby forming an active material layer 12B made of an active material on the one surface 12A and forming an exposed portion 12C of the metal foil 12.

As shown in FIG. 9 in which the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to FIG. 8, the second active material layer forming portion 20
In the active material layer forming section 10 of the first embodiment, a first winding roller 13 wound around a metal foil 12 is used, and the metal foil 12 sent out from the first winding roller 13 is used as a guide roller 2.
The second winding roller 22 winds the other surface 12 </ b> D with the other surface 12 </ b> D facing the lower end of the active material solution tank 14.

At a predetermined position between the guide roller 21 and the active material solution tank 14, a photoelectric switch 23 is disposed, and the photoelectric switch 23 irradiates a light beam to the one surface 12A of the metal foil 12 to irradiate the one surface 12A. Exposed part of 12C
The exposed portion 12C is detected based on the reflected light obtained from (1). Thereby, the second active material layer forming unit 20 opens and closes the shutter 16 based on the detection result obtained from the photoelectric switch 23, and thus the active material layer of the one surface 12 A of the metal foil 12 on the other surface 12 D of the metal foil 12. 12B, an active material layer 12E is laminated and formed on the surface 12A.
The exposed portion 12F is formed so as to face the exposed portion 12C.

[0013] As shown in FIG.
Uses a second take-up roller 22 that winds up the metal foil 12 in the second active material layer forming section 20;
The metal foil 12 sent out from the take-up roller 22 is wound around a third take-up roller 26. At a predetermined position between the second winding roller 22 and the third winding roller 26,
The first pressure roller 27 and the second pressure roller 28 are arranged so as to sandwich the metal foil 12 from its thickness direction.

In this case, the first and second pressure rollers 27 and 28 press the metal foil 12 at a predetermined pressure from its thickness direction and rotate in synchronization with the running speed of the metal foil 12. In this manner, the active material layer pressing section 25 is
Active material layers 12B and 12 on one surface 12A and the other surface 12D
By compressing E, the active material layers 12B and 12E
Is formed into a film. Thus, a film-shaped active material (hereinafter, referred to as an active material film) 29 is formed on one surface 12A and the other surface 12D of the metal foil 12.

[0015] As shown in FIG.
A third winding roller 26 that winds up the metal foil 12 in the active material layer pressing unit 25 is used. A plurality of disk-shaped cutters (for example, diamond cutters) 31 and a receiving roller 32 that receives the blade of each cutter 31 are fed out from the third winding roller 26 at a stage subsequent to the third winding roller 26. The metal foil 12 is arranged so as to sandwich it from the thickness direction.

In this case, the cutting / separating unit 30
Are arranged at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the metal foil 12 according to the width of the positive electrode and the negative electrode actually used in the lithium ion battery, and cut the metal foil 12 into a tape shape along the longitudinal direction. To produce a positive electrode (metal foil 12 is made of aluminum foil) or a negative electrode (metal foil 12 is made of copper foil). In the cutting / separating section 30, a plurality of fourth take-up rollers 33 are arranged at the subsequent stage of the cutter 31 according to the positive electrode or the negative electrode cut into a tape shape. 33 winds the tape-like positive electrode or negative electrode, respectively.

In the winding section, a fourth winding roller 33 which winds a positive electrode in the cutting / separating section 30 and a fourth winding roller 33 which winds a negative electrode are used. And a third delivery roller around which the second separator is wound, and a third delivery roller around which the second separator is wound.

A lead joint is disposed downstream of the fourth take-up roller 33 around which the positive electrode is wound, and the lead joint is connected to the other surface 12D of the positive electrode by a photoelectric switch.
The exposed portion 12F is detected, and one end of the positive electrode lead is joined to the exposed portion 12C of the one surface 12A so as to position the positive electrode based on the detection result. Similarly, a lead joint portion is also arranged at a stage subsequent to the fourth take-up roller 33 around which the negative electrode is wound, and the lead joint portion is exposed to the exposed portion 12 of the other surface 12D of the negative electrode by a photoelectric switch.
F is detected, and one end of the negative electrode lead is joined to the exposed portion 12C of the one surface 12A so as to position the negative electrode based on the detection result.

Further, the winding section sequentially connects the second separator sent from the third sending roller, the negative electrode, the first separator sent from the second sending roller, and the positive electrode. The second separator is wound around the inner tube so that the second separator is on the inside so as to form a laminate. Thus, the electrode manufacturing apparatus can manufacture a wound body in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound around the inner tube.

[0020]

However, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus having such a structure, there is a tendency that the efficiency of manufacturing electrodes is improved with a rapid increase in demand for lithium ion batteries. For this reason, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus, the first and second
In the active material layer forming portions 10 and 20, the traveling speed of the metal foil 12 is relatively increased, and the opening and closing speed of the shutter 16 of the active material solution tank 14 is relatively increased. It has been considered to reduce the application time of No. 15.

In such a case, however, as shown in FIG.
May scatter and adhere to the exposed portions 12C and 12F of the metal foil 12, and the exposed portion 12C to which the active material solution 15 has adhered has a problem that it is difficult to join the positive electrode lead or the negative electrode lead in the winding portion. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult for the photoelectric switch 23 to detect the exposed portion 12F of the other surface 12D of the metal foil 12 in the second active material layer forming portion 20 and the winding portion, respectively.

In addition, the second active material layer forming portion 2
0, when the traveling speed of the metal foil 12 is relatively high, as shown in FIG. 13, the exposed portion 12F of the other surface 12D of the metal foil 12 is detected by the photoelectric switch 23, and based on the detection result, The position of the exposed portion 12C of the one surface 12A of the metal foil 12 and the position of the exposed portion 12F of the other surface 12D may be shifted by the movement of the metal foil 12 until the shutter 16 is opened and closed (time). In this case, in the winding portion, one end of the positive electrode lead (or the negative electrode lead) is joined to a position shifted from a predetermined position of the exposed portion 12C of the positive electrode (or the negative electrode) (for example, the center position of the exposed portion 12C). However, there is a problem that the wound body manufactured thereafter has characteristics different from the standard.

Accordingly, the first and second active material layer forming portions 10
And 20, the shutter 16 of the active material solution tank 14
Must be opened and closed at a relatively low speed, and accordingly, the running speed of the metal foil 12 must be relatively low, which makes it difficult to reduce the time for applying the active material solution 15 to the metal foil 12. . For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the electrode manufacturing efficiency in the electrode manufacturing apparatus.

In this electrode manufacturing apparatus, the first and second pressing rollers 27 and 28 are used in the active material layer pressing section 25.
When the metal foil 12 is pressurized by the above method, as shown in FIG. 14, a step is formed at the boundary between the active material layers 12B and 12E of the metal foil 12 and the exposed portions 12C and 12F. In this case, the first and second pressure rollers 27 and 28 apply an impact to the metal foil 12. For this reason, the boundary portion of the metal foil 12 becomes weak in strength, and in the worst case, the boundary portion is broken.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method capable of improving the electrode manufacturing efficiency.

[0026]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil are avoided on one side and / or the other side of a band-shaped metal foil having a predetermined width. Active material layer forming means for laminating an active material layer made of an active material along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on one surface and / or the other surface And cutting and separating means for cutting and separating into a tape shape along the width direction of the metal foil.

Further, in the present invention, one side and / or the other side of the strip-shaped metal foil having a predetermined width is separated from the active material along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil while avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil. A first step of laminating and forming an active material layer, and forming one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on one surface and / or the other surface in a tape shape along the width direction of the metal foil. A second step for cutting and separating is provided.

As described above, according to the present invention, one side and / or the other side of the strip-shaped metal foil having a predetermined width is formed along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil while avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil. An active material layer forming means for laminating and forming an active material layer made of an active material, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on one surface and / or the other surface, along the width direction of the metal foil. By providing the cutting and separating means for cutting and separating into a tape shape, it is possible to greatly reduce the time required for forming the active material layer on one surface and / or the other surface of the metal foil as compared with a conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus. By doing so, the manufacturing time of the electrode can be significantly reduced.

In the present invention, an active material layer made of an active material is formed on one surface and / or the other surface of the metal foil along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil so as to avoid one end and the other end in the width direction. Then, one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil is cut and separated in a tape shape along the width direction, so that the active material layer forming means laminates the active material layer on one surface and / or the other surface of the metal foil. Since the formation time can be significantly reduced, the electrode manufacturing time can be significantly reduced.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 40 denotes an electrode manufacturing apparatus as a whole, and a first active material layer forming portion 41 has a belt-like shape having a width substantially equal to the length of the positive electrode (or the negative electrode) in the longitudinal direction. An active material layer is formed on one surface of the metal foil along the longitudinal direction, avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil. An active material layer is formed on the surface so as to face the one surface.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40, the active material layer pressing portion 43 presses the metal foil at a predetermined pressure from its thickness direction to sandwich the metal foil so as to coat the active material layer on one surface and the other surface of the metal foil. Then, the cutting / separating part 44 cuts and separates one end of the metal foil in the longitudinal direction into a tape along the width direction of the metal foil, thereby forming a positive electrode (metal foil is made of aluminum). A negative electrode (a metal foil is a copper foil). Further, in the post-electrode manufacturing apparatus 40, the winding portion 45 sequentially forms the second separator, the negative electrode, the first separator, and the positive electrode so that the second separator is on the inside. In this manner, a wound body can be manufactured by winding around the inner tube.

Here, in practice, as shown in FIG. 2, the first active material layer forming portion 41 includes a first delivery roller 50 and a first delivery roller 50.
And a strip-shaped metal foil 52 is wound around the first delivery roller 50. The output shaft of the first motor 53 is connected to the center axis of the first delivery roller 50. The first motor 53 is driven to drive the first delivery roller 50 in the direction indicated by arrow a about the center axis. Rotate. Also, the first winding roller 51
The output shaft of the second motor 54 is connected to its central axis, and the second motor 54 is driven to rotate around the central axis in the direction indicated by the arrow a. As a result, the first active material layer forming section 41 sends out the metal foil 52 from the first sending roller 50, and places the metal foil 52 in the first state.
The winding is performed by a winding roller 51.

At a predetermined position between the first delivery roller 50 and the first winding roller 51, an active material solution tank 55 is disposed with its lower end facing the one surface 52A of the metal foil 52, A slit having a predetermined length is formed at the lower end of the active material solution tank 55 along the width direction of the metal foil 52. In this case, the active material solution tank 55 contains an active material solution 56 in which the active material is dissolved in a predetermined solution, and the active material solution 56 is placed on one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 via a slit. 52 is applied along the longitudinal direction avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction. That is, the metal foil 52
At the one end and the other end in the width direction, exposed portions 52 corresponding to joint portions of the positive electrode lead or the negative electrode lead are respectively provided.
B and 52C are formed along the longitudinal direction.

The heater 5 is provided downstream of the active material solution tank 55.
8, the heater 58 is provided on one surface 52 of the metal foil 52.
The active material solution 56 applied to A is heated at a predetermined temperature to evaporate and dry the active material solution 56 from the active material solution 56. Thus, the first active material layer forming portion 41 is capable of forming an active material layer 52D made of an active material on the central portion of one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 along the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 3 in which the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts in FIG. 2, the second active material layer forming portion 42
In the active material layer forming section 41, a first winding roller 51 that winds a metal foil 52 is used. The output shaft of the third motor 60 is connected to the center axis of the first winding roller 51, and the first winding roller 51 rotates around the center axis in the direction indicated by the arrow b by driving the third motor 60. I do.
In addition to this, a second winding roller 61 is provided in the second active material layer forming section 42, and the second winding roller 61 has an output shaft of a fourth motor 62 at its central axis. Is connected, and when the fourth motor 62 is driven, the fourth motor 62 rotates around its central axis in a direction opposite to the direction shown by the arrow b.

At a predetermined position between the first winding roller 51 and the active material solution tank 55, a guide roller 63 is rotatable about its central axis in a direction opposite to the direction shown by the arrow b. Is pivoted to. Thereby, the second active material layer forming section 42 sends out the metal foil 52 from the first winding roller 51, and the other surface 52 </ b> E is connected to the lower end of the active material solution tank 55 via the guide roller 63. And is wound up by a second winding roller 61 so as to face. Thus, the second active material layer forming portion 42
In this configuration, an active material layer 52F can be formed on the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 so as to face the active material layer 52D on one surface 52A of the metal foil 52.

As shown in FIG. 4, the active material layer pressing portion 43 uses a second winding roller 61 that winds up the metal foil 52 in the second active material layer forming portion 42.
The take-up roller 61 has a fifth motor 65
And the fifth motor 65 is driven to rotate about its central axis in the direction shown by the arrow c. Further, a third take-up roller 66 is provided in the active material layer pressurizing section 43, and the third take-up roller 66 is connected to an output shaft of a sixth motor 67 at a central axis thereof. When the sixth motor 67 is driven, it rotates in the direction shown by arrow c about its central axis. Thus, the active material layer pressing unit 43 sends out the metal foil 52 from the second winding roller 61, and winds the metal foil 52 by the third winding roller 66.

At a predetermined position between the second take-up roller 61 and the third take-up roller 66, a first pressure roller 67 is provided.
And the second pressure roller 68 are arranged so as to sandwich the metal foil 52 from the thickness direction thereof. In this case, the output shaft of a seventh motor (not shown) is connected to the center axis of the first pressure roller 67, and the seventh motor is driven to drive the arrow c around the center axis. Rotate in the direction opposite to the direction shown in FIG. Also, the second pressure roller 68 is
An output shaft of an eighth motor (not shown) is connected to the central axis, and the eighth motor drives to rotate about the central axis in the direction shown by arrow c. Further, the first and second pressure rollers 67 and 68 are respectively attached to hydraulic cylinders (not shown).

Thus, the active material layer pressing unit 43 rotates the first and second pressing rollers 67 and 68 in synchronization with the running speed of the metal foil 52, and turns the first and second pressing rollers 67 and 68 on. By pressing the metal foil 52 at a predetermined pressure from its thickness direction by pressure rollers 67 and 68, one surface 5 of the metal foil 52 is pressed.
The active material layers 52D and 52F on the 2A and the other surface 52E are compressed to have a high density, so that the active material film 69 can be formed on the one surface 52A and the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting / separating section 44 is a third section where the metal foil 52 is wound up in the active material layer pressing section 43.
The third take-up roller 66 is connected to the output shaft of a ninth motor 75 at its center axis, and driven by the ninth motor 75 so that its center axis is Then, the metal foil 52 is sent out by rotating in the direction shown by the arrow d.

At the subsequent stage of the third winding roller 66, the second
And third delivery rollers 76 and 77 are arranged so as to sandwich the metal foil 52 while pressing the metal foil 52 from its thickness direction. The second delivery roller 76 has a first axis on its center axis.
0 is connected to the output shaft of a motor (not shown).
When the motor No. 0 is driven, the motor rotates in synchronization with the third winding roller 66 in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow d about the center axis thereof. The third delivery roller 77 is
An output shaft of an eleventh motor (not shown) is connected to the central axis, and the eleventh motor is driven to drive the third winding roller 66 in the direction shown by arrow d about the central axis. It rotates in synchronization with.

In this case, the third winding roller 66 and the second
And the third delivery rollers 76 and 77 are the metal foil 52
Is sent out by a predetermined amount, and thereafter, the feeding of the metal foil 52 is stopped for a predetermined time (hereinafter, this is referred to as a cutting time). Thereafter, such a series of operations are sequentially performed so as to send out the metal foil 52 by a predetermined amount. repeat.

Second and third delivery rollers 76 and 77
A predetermined holding mechanism (not shown) for holding the metal foil 52 is provided at the subsequent stage, and the holding mechanism is provided at one end of the metal foil 52 sent from the third winding roller 66 in the longitudinal direction. For the cutting time. At a predetermined position between the second delivery roller 76 and the holding mechanism, a disk-shaped cutter (for example, a diamond cutter) 79 is provided with a metal foil 52.
Are movably arranged in the width direction.

In this way, the cutting / separating unit 44 uses the cutter 79 to attach one end of the metal foil 52 held by the holding mechanism to a width substantially equal to the width of the electrode (positive electrode or negative electrode) of the lithium ion battery. Cut and separate into tapes to have. Thus, the cutting / separating unit 44 is provided with a positive electrode (or a negative electrode)
80 can be manufactured. In addition to this, the cutting / separating section 44 stores the positive electrode (or negative electrode) 80 cut and separated from one end of the metal foil 52 in a predetermined magazine (not shown) by a holding mechanism, and again stores the third electrode in the third magazine. The positive electrode (or negative electrode) 80 is sequentially manufactured from one end of the metal foil 52 by repeating the above-described series of operations so that the metal foil 52 is fed out by a predetermined amount from the winding roller 66. .

The winding section 45 includes a magazine (hereinafter, referred to as a first magazine) in which a large number of positive electrodes 80 are stored from the cutting / separating section 44, and a magazine (hereinafter, referred to as a first magazine) in which a large number of negative electrodes 80 are stored. Is referred to as a second magazine). The first magazine is attached to the first take-out mechanism, and a large number of the stored positive electrodes 80 are taken out one by one. Similarly, the second magazine is attached to the second take-out mechanism, and a large number of housed negative electrodes 80 are taken out one by one.

In this case, a lead joint is disposed downstream of the first take-out mechanism.
One end of the positive electrode lead is joined to one end and / or the other end of the exposed portion 52B and / or 52C of the positive electrode 80 taken out of the magazine through the first take-out mechanism by resistance welding or the like. . Similarly, a lead joining portion is also arranged at a stage subsequent to the second extracting mechanism, and the lead joining portion is connected to one end of the negative electrode 80 extracted from the second magazine via the second extracting mechanism and / or Exposed part 5 at the other end
One end of the negative electrode lead is joined to 2B and / or 52C by a technique such as resistance welding.

The winding portion 45 includes a third magazine in which a large number of first separators each having a shape and a size corresponding to the positive electrode 80 or the negative electrode 80 are accommodated. A fourth magazine in which a large number of second separators each having a shape and a size corresponding to the electrode 80 are accommodated and arranged in the third and fourth takeout mechanisms, respectively. Further, the winding section 45 is provided with an inner tube used for a lithium ion battery, and a twelfth motor having an output shaft connected to the center axis of the inner tube. When the motor is driven, the motor rotates in a predetermined direction about the central axis.

The take-up section 45 includes a second separator taken out from the fourth magazine via a fourth take-out mechanism, a negative electrode 80 supplied from a lead joint, and a third electrode.
The first separator taken out of the magazine through the third take-out mechanism and the positive electrode 80 supplied from the lead joint portion are sequentially laminated so that the second separator is on the inside. Wrap around the inner tube. Thus, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40 can manufacture a wound body in which the positive electrode 80 and the negative electrode 80 are wound around the inner tube of the lithium ion battery.

After the second separator, the negative electrode 80, the first separator, and the positive electrode 80 are wound around one inner tube, the winding portion 45 is replaced by replacing the inner tube. By winding the second separator, the negative electrode 80, the first separator, and the positive electrode 80 around the tube, and repeating such a series of operations, a wound body can be manufactured sequentially. ing.

In practice, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40 is controlled by a control unit as shown in FIG.
Is attached to the first motor 53 of the first active material layer forming section 41, thereby starting the electrode manufacturing processing procedure RT1 to start the step S1.
The process proceeds from step P1 to step SP2. In this step SP2, the control unit controls the first and second motors 53 based on the winding amount of the metal foil 52 by the first winding roller 51.
And 54 are controlled. Thereby, the first delivery roller 5
A predetermined tension is applied to the metal foil 52 sent out from 0, and the metal foil 52 is run at a predetermined constant speed to be wound by the first winding roller 51. Thus, the control unit applies the active material solution 56 to the central portion of the one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 so as to have a predetermined constant thickness along the longitudinal direction.

In addition to this, the control unit controls the heater temperature to a predetermined constant temperature based on the result of detection of the heater temperature by a temperature sensor or the like provided in the heater 58 of the first active material layer forming unit 41. To control. Thereby, the metal foil 5
The active material layer 52D is formed along the longitudinal direction at the center of the one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 so as to almost certainly evaporate the solution from the active material solution 56 on the one surface 52A.

After this, the control section proceeds to step SP3,
By attaching the first winding roller 51 to the third motor 60 in the second active material layer forming section 42,
The third and fourth motors 60 and 62 are controlled based on the winding amount of the metal foil 52 by the second winding roller 61. Thereby, a predetermined tension is given to the metal foil 52 sent out from the first winding roller 51, and the metal foil 52 is run at a predetermined constant speed to be wound by the second winding roller 61. Thus, the control section applies the active material solution 56 to the central portion of the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 so as to face the application portion 52D of the one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 so as to have a predetermined constant thickness.

In addition, the control unit controls the heater temperature to be a predetermined constant temperature based on the result of detection of the heater temperature by a temperature sensor or the like provided in the heater 58 of the second active material layer forming unit 42. To control. Thereby, the metal foil 5
An active material layer 52F is formed along the longitudinal direction at the center of the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 so as to almost certainly evaporate the solution from the active material solution 56 on the other surface 52E.

Next, the control section proceeds to step SP4,
The second take-up roller 61 is attached to the fifth motor 65 in the active material layer pressurizing section 43, so that the fifth and sixth motors are wound based on the amount of the metal foil 52 wound by the third take-up roller 61. Motors 65 and 67 are controlled. A predetermined tension is given to the metal foil 52 sent out from the second winding roller 61 in this way, and the metal foil 52 is run at a predetermined constant speed and wound on the third winding roller 66. .

In this state, the control unit operates the seventh and eighth control units.
Are controlled in synchronization with the running speed of the metal foil 52 to rotate the first and second adding rollers 67 and 68, respectively, and the first and second adding rollers are controlled by driving the hydraulic cylinder. The metal foil 52 is pressed at a predetermined pressure from the thickness direction by the pressure rollers 67 and 68. Thereby, one surface 52A and the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 are formed.
Then, an active material film 69 is formed.

Subsequently, the control section proceeds to step SP5,
The ninth motor 75 is controlled by attaching the third winding roller 66 to the ninth motor 75 in the cutting / separating unit 44, and the tenth and eleventh motors are controlled to perform the third winding. The take-up roller 66 and the second and third delivery rollers 76 and 77 are rotated in synchronization.
In this way, the control unit sends out the metal foil 52 from the third winding roller 66 by a predetermined amount, and then stops feeding the metal foil 52 for the cutting time.

In addition, the control section controls the driving of the holding mechanism and the cutter 79 to hold one end of the metal foil 52 by the holding mechanism. In this state, the cutter 79 holds the metal foil 52. The positive electrode (or negative electrode) 80 is manufactured by cutting and separating one end into a tape shape. Thereafter, the control unit causes the holding mechanism to store the positive electrode (or the negative electrode) 80 in the first magazine (or the second magazine). In this way, the control unit sequentially manufactures the positive electrode (or the negative electrode) 80 from the metal foil 52 by sequentially repeating this series of operations.

Next, the control section proceeds to step SP6,
In the winding unit 45, the first magazine is attached to the first ejection mechanism, and the second magazine is attached to the second ejection mechanism, so that the first and second ejection mechanisms are driven to drive the first magazine. Positive electrode 80 from the magazine
Is supplied to the lead joint, and the negative electrode 80 is supplied to the lead joint from the second magazine. Thereafter, the control unit controls the drive of each lead bonding unit to bond the positive electrode lead to the positive electrode 80 and the negative electrode 80 to the negative electrode lead.

Subsequently, the control section proceeds to step SP7,
While controlling the drive of the third and fourth take-out units, the twelfth
, The second separator, the negative electrode 80, the first separator, and the positive electrode 80 are sequentially laminated to form an inner tube such that the second separator is on the inside. To produce a wound body.

Next, the control section proceeds to step SP8,
It is determined whether at least one of the first to fourth or fourth magazines is empty, and if a negative result is obtained, step SP6 is performed.
Thereafter, the loop of steps SP6-SP7-SP8 is repeated until a positive result is obtained in step SP8. After that, if the control unit obtains a positive result in step SP8, the control unit proceeds to the next step SP9 and ends the electrode manufacturing processing procedure RT1.

In the above-described configuration, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40, the active material layer 52D is formed along the longitudinal direction at the central portion of one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 in the first active material layer forming portion 41.
Then, in the second active material layer forming portion 42, an active material layer 52F is formed on the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 so as to face the active material layer 52D on the one surface 52A (steps SP1 to SP1). SP3).

Next, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40, the one surface 52 A and the other surface 52 A of the metal foil 52 are pressed in the active material layer pressing portion 43 so that the metal foil 52 is pressed in the thickness direction.
An active material coating 69 is formed on E (step SP4), and then one end of the metal foil 52 is cut and separated at the cutting and separating section 44 to sequentially produce a positive electrode (or negative electrode) 80 (step SP5). Further, the positive electrode lead is joined to the positive electrode 80 and the negative electrode lead is joined to the negative electrode 80 in the winding section 45 (step SP6), so that the second separator, the negative electrode 80, and the first The separator and the positive electrode 80 are sequentially laminated and wound around the inner tube so that the second separator is on the inner side to produce a wound body (step SP7 to step SP9).

Therefore, in this electrode manufacturing apparatus 40,
One surface 5 of the metal foil 52 in the first active material layer forming portion 41
An active material solution 56 is applied to the central portion of 2A along the longitudinal direction, and the active material solution 56 is applied to the central portion of the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 in the second active material layer forming portion 42 along the longitudinal direction. When the active material solution 56 is applied in the first and second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42, the running speed of the metal foil 52 is reduced by the first and second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42 of the conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus. The traveling speed of the metal foil 12 (FIGS. 8 and 9) in the active material layer forming portions 10 and 20 (FIGS. 8 and 9) can be significantly increased. Active material solution 5 to 52E
6, the coating time can be greatly reduced.

In addition, in the first and second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42, an active material solution 56 is continuously formed along the longitudinal direction at the central portion of one surface 52 A and the other surface 52 E of the metal foil 52. By coating the exposed portion 52B
And 52C can be prevented from adhering to the active material solution 56. In the second active material layer forming section 42, the metal foil 5
2 with respect to the active material layer 52D on one surface 52A.
The position where the active material solution 56 is applied on the other surface 52E of the second surface 52E can be easily aligned.

Therefore, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40, the displacement between the exposed portions 52B and 52C of the one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 and the corresponding exposed portions 52B and 52C of the other surface 52E can be prevented. A positive electrode lead (or a negative electrode lead) can be joined to a predetermined position of the exposed portion 52B and / or 52C of the electrode (or the negative electrode) 80.

In this manner, in the first active material layer forming portion 41, the active material layer 52D is laminated along the longitudinal direction at the center of the one surface 52A of the metal foil 52, and the second active material layer forming portion is formed. The other surface 52 of the metal foil 52 in the portion 41
By forming the active material layer 52F in a layer on E so as to face the active material layer 52D on one surface 52A, the metal foil 52 is weakened in strength in the active material layer pressing portion 43, or The breakage of the foil 52 can be prevented.

According to the above configuration, one surface 5 of the metal foil 52
2A, a first active material layer forming portion 41 in which an active material layer 52D is laminated along the longitudinal direction avoiding one end portion and the other end portion in the width direction, and one surface 52E of the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52
A second active material layer forming portion 42 for laminating and forming the active material layer 52F so as to face the active material layer 52D of A, and a cut separation portion 44 for cutting and separating one end of the metal foil 52 into a tape shape are provided. As a result, the application time of the active material solution 56 to the first surface 52A and the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 in the first and second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42 can be greatly reduced, thereby To realize an electrode manufacturing apparatus capable of greatly reducing the time for forming the active material layers 52D and 52F in the first and second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42, and thus improving the electrode manufacturing efficiency. Can be.

After the active material layer 52D is formed on one surface 52A of the metal foil 52 along the longitudinal direction while avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction, the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 is formed on the other surface 52A. Of the active material layer 5 facing the active material layer 52D.
2F is formed by lamination, and then one end of the metal foil 52 is cut and separated into a tape shape.
The running speed of the metal foil 52 in the active material layer forming portions 41 and 42 can be greatly increased, and thus the lamination of the active material layers 52D and 52F in the first and second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42 can be achieved. The formation time can be significantly reduced, and thus an electrode manufacturing method capable of improving the electrode manufacturing efficiency can be realized.

In the above embodiment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus and the electrode manufacturing method of the present invention are applied to the electrode manufacturing apparatus 40 and the electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing the positive electrode 80 and the negative electrode 80 of the lithium ion battery. Although the case has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and an electrode manufacturing apparatus and an electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing electrodes of various other primary batteries and secondary batteries such as an alkaline battery, a lead storage battery, and a nickel cadmium storage battery. May be applied.

In the above embodiment, the metal foil 52 having a predetermined width is formed on one surface 52A and / or the other surface 52E of the metal foil 52 so as to avoid one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil 52.
Active material layer 52D made of active material 69 along the longitudinal direction of
And 52F as the active material layer forming means for laminating and forming
And the case where the second active material layer forming portions 41 and 42 are applied, but the present invention is not limited to this.
One surface 52A and / or other surface 5 of band-shaped metal foil 52 having a predetermined width
If the active material layers 52D and 52F made of the active material 69 can be laminated and formed along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil 52 avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil 52 on 2E,
In addition, active material layer forming means having various configurations may be applied.

Further, in the above embodiment, one surface 52
A and / or a cutting / separating means as a cutting / separating means for cutting / separating one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil 52 having the active material layers 52D and 52F laminated on the other surface 52E in a tape shape along the width direction of the metal foil 52. Although the case where the portion 44 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil 52 in which the active material layers 52D and 52F are formed on one surface 52A and / or the other surface 52E. If it can be cut and separated in the form of a tape along the width direction of the metal foil 52, cutting and separating means having various other configurations may be applied.

Further, in the above embodiment, the metal foil 5
2 of the metal foil 52 by pressing the metal foil 2 at a predetermined pressure from the thickness direction of the metal foil 52.
Although the case where the active material layer pressing unit 43 is applied as the active material layer pressing unit that forms the active material 69 on the A and / or the other surface 52E in a film shape has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto. The metal foil 52 is sandwiched by pressing the metal foil 52 at a predetermined pressure from the thickness direction of the metal foil 52 so that the metal foil 5
As long as the active material 69 on the one surface 52A and / or the other surface 52E can be formed in a film shape, an active material layer pressing means having various other configurations may be applied.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, one side and / or the other side of the strip-shaped metal foil having a predetermined width is disposed on one side and the other side in the width direction of the metal foil so as to avoid the longitudinal direction of the metal foil. An active material layer forming means for laminating an active material layer made of an active material along the direction, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on one surface and / or the other surface, By providing a cutting and separating means for cutting and separating into a tape along the width direction, the time for laminating the active material layer on one surface and / or the other surface of the metal foil can be greatly reduced as compared with a conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus. By being able to shorten, the manufacturing time of an electrode can be shortened significantly, and an electrode manufacturing apparatus which can improve the manufacturing efficiency of an electrode can be realized.

An active material layer made of an active material is formed on one side and / or the other side of the metal foil along the longitudinal direction of the metal foil, avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction. By cutting and separating one end in the longitudinal direction of the foil into a tape shape along the width direction, the lamination time of the active material layer on one surface and / or the other surface of the metal foil in the active material layer forming means is greatly reduced. By this, the electrode manufacturing time can be greatly reduced, and thus an electrode manufacturing method capable of improving the electrode manufacturing efficiency can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a first active material layer forming portion of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a second active material layer forming portion of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of an active material layer pressing unit of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a cutting / separating unit of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an electrode manufacturing processing procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an electrode of a lithium ion battery.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional first active material layer forming portion.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional second active material layer forming portion.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional active material layer pressing unit.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional cutting / separating unit.

FIG. 12 is a top view for explaining an active material solution attached to an exposed portion of a metal foil.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view for explaining displacement between one surface and another surface of an exposed portion of the metal foil.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view for explaining pressurization of a metal foil by a conventional active material layer pressurizing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

2. Positive electrode, 3 ... Negative electrode, 10, 41 ... First active material layer forming part, 12, 52 ... Metal foil, 12B, 12
E, 52D, 52F ... active material layer, 20, 42 ... second
Active material layer forming portion, 25, 43... Active material layer pressing portion, 2
9, 69 ... active material, 30, 44 ... cutting and separating part, 40
…… Electrode manufacturing equipment.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An active material comprising an active material along one longitudinal direction of the metal foil, avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil on one surface and / or the other surface of the band-shaped metal foil having a predetermined width. An active material layer forming means for laminating and forming a layer; and an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on the one surface and / or the other surface is arranged along the width direction of the metal foil. An electrode manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a cutting / separating means for cutting / separating into a tape shape. 2. The active material layer on one surface and / or the other surface of the metal foil is formed in a film shape by sandwiching the metal foil by applying a predetermined pressure from a thickness direction of the metal foil. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an active material layer pressurizing unit. 3. An active material made of an active material along one longitudinal direction of the metal foil, avoiding one end and the other end in the width direction of the metal foil on one surface and / or the other surface of the band-shaped metal foil having a predetermined width. A first step of laminating layers, and one end of the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on the one surface and / or the other surface in the longitudinal direction along the width direction of the metal foil. 2. A method for producing an electrode, comprising: a second step of cutting and separating into a tape shape. 4. In the first step, the metal foil having the active material layer laminated on the one surface and / or the other surface is sandwiched by applying a predetermined pressure from a thickness direction of the metal foil. The method for producing an electrode according to claim 3, wherein the active material layer is formed in a film-like shape.