JPH11339785A - Manufacturing device for electrode for polymer battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing device for an electrode stabilizing the position of a base material horizontally travelling between the end surfaces of a pair of die coating heads, and enabling formation of stable coating films on both sides of the traveling base material. SOLUTION: This device has a base material travelling mechanism 4 provided with position guide rollers 4a, 4b horizontally travelling a base material 5, a pair of die coating heads 7, 8 sandwiching both sides of the base material 5 traveled by the base material travelling mechanism 4 and applying an electrode agent 9 to the base material 5, die coating head regulating mechanisms (10a, 10b) relatively moving the die coating heads 7, 8 and regulating the positions/intervals of the opposed surfaces, and a drying oven 11 set in parallel with the base material travelling mechanism 4 and drying the electrode agent 9 applied to the travelling base material 5. Here, the end surface of the lower die coating head 8 among the pair of the die coating heads 7, 8 is also used as a position guide of the base material 5 travelling upstream.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a battery in which an electrode agent is formed on both sides of a base material of the electrode for a polymer battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Small, lightweight, thin, large-capacity, and high-voltage power sources are required for power supplies for portable telephones and television cameras. For example, a positive electrode layer, a polymer electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer are required. There is also known a polymer type non-aqueous solvent battery having a thickness of about 0.5 mm provided with electrode elements configured to be superposed and integrated into a sheet (thin) (for example, US Pat. No. 5,296,318).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a main part of the polymer electrolyte battery. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrolyte-holding polymer / electrolyte system (for example, a polymer such as hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer, which functions as a separator, and an ethylene carbonate solution such as a lithium salt, etc., a non-aqueous electrolyte solution). 2) a positive electrode formed by laminating a positive electrode layer containing a nonaqueous electrolytic solution and an electrolyte-retaining polymer on a current collector, an active material such as a metal oxide, and 3 an active material that occludes and releases lithium ions. This is a negative electrode obtained by laminating a negative electrode layer containing a non-aqueous electrolyte and an electrolyte-retaining polymer on a current collector.

The active material of the positive electrode 2 includes, for example, lithium manganese composite oxide, manganese dioxide, lithium-containing cobalt oxide, lithium-containing nickel cobalt oxide, lithium-containing amorphous vanadium pentoxide, chalcogen compound, etc. Is mentioned. Examples of the negative electrode active material include fired products of bisphenol resin, polyacrylonitrile, cellulose, and the like, and fired products of coke and pitch. These are natural or artificial graphite, carbon black, acetylene black, Ketjen black, nickel powder, and the like. And a form containing nickel powder or the like.

[0005] Further, the polymer / electrolyte system 1 is prepared by adding lithium perchlorate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium perchlorate, or the like to a non-aqueous solvent such as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and methyl ethyl carbonate. Examples thereof include those in which lithium boron tetrafluoride, lithium arsenide hexafluoride, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, and the like are dissolved at about 0.2 to 2 mol / l.

The above-mentioned electrode for a polymer battery is generally coated on one side with the above-mentioned electrode agent (paste) on a base material such as a polyethylene terephthalate resin film, dried, and then dried to form a current collector (for example, expanded metal). ) Is manufactured by heat welding. However, in this case, there is a problem that if the heat-sealing property or adhesion of the resin film to the current collector is poor, the battery characteristics are adversely affected.

On the other hand, there is also known a method in which an electrode agent is applied to the main surface of the expanded metal one by one and dried (coated), and an electrode agent layer is supported on both surfaces. However, current collectors (expanded metal) for polymer batteries generally have a high aperture ratio and it is difficult to form a substantially uniform electrode agent layer on both the front and back surfaces. Attempted. Here, in the case of simultaneous coating on both sides, if the drying treatment is performed in a vertical drying furnace, the current collector and the coating film are liable to cause an elongation phenomenon of the current collector in the drying furnace due to the weight of the current collector and the quality or characteristics. There is a problem that the height of the vertical drying oven is limited because of the variation and the like, and the productivity is inferior.

As a remedy, a method has been developed in which a horizontal drying oven is used, and the current collector coated with the electrode agent is caused to travel in a substantially horizontal direction in the horizontal drying oven while being floated by hot air blown from a so-called floating nozzle. ing. That is, a base member traveling mechanism having a guide roller for moving the substrate in the horizontal direction, and a pair of base members that are disposed so as to be sandwiched with respect to both main surfaces of the base member traveling by the base member traveling mechanism and apply an electrode agent. A symmetrical die coating head, a die coating head adjustment mechanism that relatively moves the die coating head and adjusts the position / interval of the opposing surface, and is provided along with the substrate traveling mechanism, and is applied to the traveling substrate. There is known an apparatus for producing an electrode for a polymer battery, which has a drying furnace for drying the electrode material and a means for winding the substrate provided with the dried electrode material layer.

[0009]

In the case of the means (apparatus) for producing an electrode for a polymer battery using the above-mentioned horizontal drying oven,
A pair of symmetrical die coating heads are moved in the vertical direction to adjust the position with respect to the surface of the substrate (for example, a current collector) that is stretched between the traveling guide rollers and travels, while the substrate after the electrode agent coating is applied. Traveling in the drying oven is performed by an air floating method. With the adoption of this air-floating method, the stability of the horizontal position of the substrate traveling in the drying furnace is impaired, and the positional relationship with the symmetrical die coating head tip surface becomes unstable, resulting in ,
There is an inconvenience that stable application of the electrode agent on the coating film on both surfaces of the base material cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the position of a substrate traveling in the horizontal direction is stabilized with respect to the tip end surfaces of a pair of die coating heads, so that both surfaces of the traveling substrate can be seen. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing an electrode for a polymer battery capable of forming a stable coating film.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate traveling mechanism having a position guide roller for traveling a substrate in a horizontal direction, and both main surfaces of the substrate traveling by the substrate traveling mechanism. A pair of die coating heads that are arranged to sandwich the electrode coating agent and apply an electrode agent, a die coating head adjustment mechanism that relatively moves the die coating head and adjusts the position and interval of the opposing surface, A drying furnace for drying an electrode agent applied to a traveling base material, the apparatus being provided in parallel with a material traveling mechanism, comprising: a lower die coating head of the pair of die coating heads. An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery, wherein the apparatus also serves as a position guide for a substrate traveling upstream of the substrate traveling on the front end surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for producing an electrode for a polymer battery according to the first aspect, the lower die coating head is substantially vertically divided and slidably formed. Features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the polymer battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the region also serving as a position guide is a part of the tip end surface of the die coating head projecting. It is characterized by.

In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the base material traveling mechanism for horizontally moving the base material (eg, a current collector such as an ex-band metal) is provided with a base material unwound from the base material rewinding roller. This is a means for traveling in a horizontal direction, and includes at least a pair of position guide rollers (also serving as a substrate traveling guide roller) that rotate in a predetermined direction. Here, the substrate traveling mechanism extends over a region where a pair of die coating heads and a drying furnace described below are provided, and in order to make the substrate traveling mechanism compact, the pair of position guide rollers are paired with a pair of die coatings. It is arranged close to the head and the outlet of the drying path, and is connected to the base material rewind roller and the take-up roller via a plurality of bent guide rollers.

[0015] In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the pair of die coating heads, which are disposed so as to be sandwiched with respect to both main surfaces of the substrate traveling in the horizontal direction and apply the electrode agent, include a lower die coating head. It is characterized in that a position guide for the traveling base material is also used on the upstream side of the base material traveling on the front end surface. Here, the pair of die coating heads is provided with a nozzle for discharging the electrode agent, and generally, 10 to
A rectangular opening of about 500 x 0.1 to 1 mm is used as the discharge port,
In addition, the tip surface of the lower die coating head has a structure in which the upstream side of the substrate is protruded by about 0.1 to 1 mm. In addition, among the die coating heads, at least the lower die coating head is divided in a substantially vertical direction, and is configured to be slidable. It may be formed.

In the inventions of claims 1 to 3, the die coating heads are respectively supported so as to be relatively moved in a vertical direction, and are controlled by a die coating head adjusting mechanism such as an air cylinder or an oil cylinder. The position and interval of the facing surface are adjusted. The drying furnace is adjacent to the die coating head and is provided in parallel with the substrate traveling mechanism, and serves to dry the electrode agent applied to the traveling substrate by the die coating head. Here, for the drying furnace, a mold having a floating nozzle is selected so that the substrate can be run in a floating state in order to dry the coating film of the electrode agent in a non-contact manner.

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, while the base material is caused to travel in the horizontal direction, a pair of die coating heads installed opposite to a predetermined position on both surfaces of the base material traveling in the horizontal direction. The lower die coating head guides the position of the base material that travels without hindering the application of the electrode agent. In other words, even if the electrode material coated base material running in a floating state is shaken due to floating during the drying process, the electrode material coated position is maintained in a predetermined position at the electrode material coating position. Is also reduced, and an electrode agent with a stable film thickness can be applied.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a substrate traveling mechanism provided with position guide rollers 4a and 4b for traveling the substrate 5 in the horizontal direction, and is stretched between the substrate unwinding roller 6a and the substrate winding roller 6b. And running guide rollers 4c, 4d,
The substrate 5 is caused to travel in a horizontal direction through 4e, 4f, 4c ', 4d', and 4e '.

Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote a pair of die coating heads which are disposed so as to be sandwiched with respect to both main surfaces of the substrate 5 traveling by the substrate traveling mechanism 4 and apply an electrode agent. Here, the die coating heads 7 and 8 are, as shown in a side view of a main part configuration in FIG. 2, respective facing surfaces of die coating head pieces 7 a and 7 b and 8 a and 8 b divided in an axial direction (vertical direction). Insert packings 7c and 8c into each, 250x
A space of about 0.5 mm is provided. The space is used as a flow path for the electrode agent, and the electrode agent 9 is applied to both surfaces of the substrate 5. And these die coating heads 7 and 8
The die coating head adjustment mechanisms 10a and 10b are relatively moved by, for example, an air cylinder, and the position and the interval of the opposing surfaces are adjusted. In addition, of the die coating head pieces 8a and 8b constituting the die coating head 8, the die coating head
The tip end face 8a projects from the tip end face of the die coating head piece 8b, and the projecting face 8a 'guides the position of the substrate 5 running.

Further, a drying furnace 11 is disposed alongside the substrate traveling mechanism 4 to dry the electrode material 9 applied to the substrate 5 traveling in the horizontal direction. 11a and 11b are arranged. Then, the vehicle travels (without contact) between the arrangement surfaces of the floating nozzles 11a and 11b while floating the base material 5 coated with the electrode agent by hot air (hot air) blown out from the floating nozzles 11a and 11b. On the other hand, the applied electrode agent is dried.

Next, the operation of the manufacturing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

First, the base material 5 unwound from the base material unwinding roller 6a passes through guide rollers 4c, 4d, 4e, and 4f.
The base material travel mechanism 4 including the guide rollers 4a and 4b travels in a horizontal direction. In this traveling process, the base material 5 is stretched horizontally between the guide rollers 4a and 4b, and is floated in the drying furnace 11 by hot air (hot air) blown out from the floating nozzles 11a and 11b (non-contact). To) run. Prior to traveling in the drying furnace 11, the electrode agent 9 is applied (coated) to both surfaces of the substrate 5 traveling in the horizontal direction by the pair of die coating heads 7 and 8.

In the application (coating) of the electrode agent 9,
The tip surface 8a 'of the die coating head 8 is
Functions as a position guide for horizontal travel of the vehicle. That is, the traveling of the base material 5 in the horizontal direction is guided not only by the guide rollers 4a and 4b, but also by the tip end surface 8a 'of the die coating head 8, and the traveling interval in a state in which the substrate 5 is actually floated is reduced. .

Therefore, even if the substrate 5 traveling in the drying furnace 11 by the floating nozzles 11a and 11b is disturbed in the horizontal direction (movement and deflection in the vertical direction), the disturbance is easily prevented and reduced. The positions and intervals of the tip end surfaces (electrode agent discharge surfaces) of the die coating heads 7 and 8 with respect to the surface of the traveling base material 5 are kept constant. In other words, even if the running base material 5 is disturbed in the horizontal direction in the drying furnace 11, the base material 5 is guided close to the coating portion of the electrode material, so that the die coating heads 7, 8 Since the positional relationship with respect to the tip surface is always kept constant, the base material 5
An electrode agent layer having a substantially constant thickness can be applied and formed on both surfaces in a stable state. In other words, it is possible to mass-produce high-quality polymer battery electrodes with high yield.

The substrate 5 coated with the electrode agent layer in a stable state as described above is provided with the running guide rollers 4c ', 4d',
It is taken up by the take-up roller 6b via 4e '.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a configuration using an oil cylinder or the like instead of the air cylinder may be used as the forward / backward drive mechanism of the die coating head.

[0028]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, a high-quality electrode for a polymer battery can be provided in a high yield and in mass production. In other words, in the manufacture of a polymer battery electrode in which an electrode agent is simultaneously coated and dried on both sides of a base material such as a current collector while traveling in a horizontal direction, a position guide is provided on a part of a tip surface of a die coating head. Is also used. In addition, with the provision of the position guide in the vicinity of the coating portion of the electrode material, the fluctuation of the position of the traveling base material with respect to the tip surface of the die coating head is also largely prevented, so that the uniformity is provided on both surfaces of the base material. Since high quality coating can be performed, mass production of high quality polymer battery electrodes can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a schematic configuration of a die coating head in the apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an electrode element of a polymer battery.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Base material traveling mechanism 4a, 4b Position guide roller 5 Base material (current collector) 6a, 6b Base material rewinding and winding roller 7 Upper die coating head 8 Lower side Die coating head 8a ': Position guide surface of die coating head 9: Electrode agent 10a, 10b: Die coating head adjustment mechanism 11: Drying furnace 11a, 11b: Floating nozzle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A substrate traveling mechanism provided with a position guide roller for traveling a substrate in a horizontal direction; and an electrode material disposed so as to be sandwiched on both main surfaces of the substrate traveling by the substrate traveling mechanism. A pair of coating heads for applying a coating, a coating head adjusting mechanism for relatively moving the coating head and adjusting the position and interval of the opposing surface, and a base material running in the horizontal direction, which is provided in parallel with the base material running mechanism. A drying furnace for drying the electrode agent applied to the polymer battery electrode, comprising: a base material that travels upstream of the base material running at the tip surface of the lower coating head among the pair of coating heads. An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery, wherein the electrode also serves as a position guide. 2. The apparatus for producing an electrode for a polymer battery according to claim 1, wherein the lower coating head is divided in a substantially vertical direction and is configured to be slidable. 3. The apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for a polymer battery according to claim 1, wherein the region also serving as the position guide is a part of the tip of the coating head.