KR20120109373A - Electrode production apparatus and electrode production method and computer storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and method for manufacturing an electrode and a computer storage medium are provided to manufacture the electrode by forming an active material layer on both sides of a striped base material. CONSTITUTION: An unwinding roll(10) unwinds a striped metal film(M). A coating unit(11) coats an active material compound on both sides of the metal film. A dryer(12) forms an active material layer by drying the active material compound. A winding roll(13) winds the metal film. The dryer includes an atmospheric drying part(12a) serially arranged in the sending direction of the metal film, and a vacuum drying unit(12b). Non-contact sealants(32,35) are disposed on an inlet and an outlet of the vacuum drying unit. The winding roll is installed in a dry air room(4).

Description

ELECTROL PRODUCTION APPARATUS AND ELECTRODE PRODUCTION METHOD AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM

The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode by forming an active material layer on both sides of a strip-shaped substrate, an electrode manufacturing method using the electrode manufacturing apparatus, a program, and a computer storage medium.

Recently, the lithium ion capacitor (LIC: Lithium Ion Capacitor), the electric double layer capacitor (EDLC), and the lithium ion battery (lithium ion capacitor (LIC) are used to take advantage of the characteristics of small size, light weight, high energy density, and repeatable charging and discharging). The demand for electrochemical devices such as LIB: Lithium Ion Battery is rapidly expanding.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in fields such as mobile phones and notebook personal computers because of their relatively high energy density. In addition, since the electric double layer capacitor can be rapidly charged and discharged, it is used as a memory backup small power supply for personal computers and the like. In addition, the electric double layer capacitor is expected to be applied as a large power source for electric vehicles. In addition, lithium ion capacitors that combine the advantages of lithium ion batteries and the advantages of electric double layer capacitors are attracting attention because of their high energy density and output density.

The electrode of such an electrochemical device is produced by coating an active material mixture containing an active material and a solvent on the surface of a metal foil as a current collector as a base material, and then drying the active material mixture and forming an active material layer. The electrode manufacturing apparatus which arrange | positions a coating apparatus and a dryer between the unwinding roll and the winding roll is used for manufacture of such an electrode, for example. The coating apparatus has a coating head in which the coating tool for coating an active material mixture is formed. In addition, the dryer has a plurality of heaters arranged at predetermined intervals. And coating and drying of an active material mixture are performed on the surface of metal foil with a coating apparatus and a dryer, respectively, conveying a strip | belt-shaped metal foil substantially vertically upward between a unwinding roll and a winding roll (patent document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-186782

The drying time at the time of drying the active material mixture coated on the surface of metal foil is determined according to the application | coating speed of a base material, and the length of a drying furnace. When the application speed is increased to increase productivity, a large drying device is required. For example, if the application speed is 20 m / min, a drying device of 20 m length is required when the drying time is 60 sec. On the other hand, when the drying apparatus is downsized, the drying time is shortened and sufficient drying cannot be performed. In particular, in the case of an active material mixture containing water as a solvent, drying takes time. In addition, if even a small amount of water is left without sufficient drying, for example, when used as an electrode of a secondary battery, water is electrolyzed at a voltage of 3 V or less, gas is generated and expands, resulting in a defective product.

Therefore, the present inventors considered using the conventional electrode manufacturing apparatus, after drying by a warm air drying etc., once winding up to a winding roll, and performing vacuum drying as needed after that. By the way, at this time, in order to dry in the state wound by roll shape, it takes several tens of hours in the drying furnace depressurized about several torr.

This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and when manufacturing an electrode, it aims at drying efficiently and reliably the active material mixture coated on the surface of metal foil.

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM In order to solve the said problem, this invention is an electrode manufacturing apparatus which forms an active material layer on both surfaces of a strip | belt-shaped base material, and manufactures an electrode, The unwinding part which unwinds a base material, and the winding part which winds up the base material unwound from the said unwinding part And a coating portion provided between the unwinding portion and the winding portion, coated with an active material mixture on both surfaces of the substrate, and provided between the coating portion and the winding portion, and coated with the coating portion. The drying part which has a drying part which dries an active material mixture and forms an active material layer, The said drying part is provided with the normal pressure drying part arrange | positioned in series in the conveyance direction of the said base material, and the vacuum drying part in front of the said base material, A sealing material for maintaining the vacuum degree of the vacuum drying part is provided at the inlet and the outlet of the vacuum drying part, and the dry air is interposed between the sealing material on the outlet side of the vacuum drying part. An environment space is arranged, and the winding portion is provided in the space of the dry air environment.

According to the present invention, by placing the atmospheric pressure drying section and the vacuum drying section continuously, the active material mixture coated on the surface of the substrate can be sufficiently dried before winding the substrate released from the unwinding roll. As a result, the integration of the device can be achieved, the total processing time can be shortened, and the productivity and energy saving can be improved.

The conveyance speed of the said base material in the said atmospheric pressure drying part and the said vacuum drying part may be the same.

The sealing material may be a non-contact sealing material.

A tension detector may be provided between the atmospheric pressure dryer and the vacuum dryer to detect the tension of the substrate.

Between the atmospheric pressure drying section and the vacuum drying section, a buffer for temporarily storing the base material may be provided.

The guide roller may be arrange | positioned so that the said base material may meander in the said vacuum drying part.

The said base material may be sealed sealed in the space of the said dry air environment, after winding up to the said winding roll.

Drying by radiation or warm air may be performed in the said atmospheric pressure drying part, and drying by radiation or heat transfer may be performed in the said vacuum drying part.

The solvent of the active material mixture may be water.

The electrode may be an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery.

The electrode manufacturing apparatus may be provided adjacent to a space of the dry air environment, and may have a case accommodating the winding portion in which the winding of the substrate is sorted, and a housing means for conveying and accommodating the winding portion in the case. .

Moreover, this invention is an electrode manufacturing method which forms an active material layer on both surfaces of the said base material, and manufactures an electrode, conveying a strip | belt-shaped base material between a unwinding part and a winding part, Comprising: An active material and a solvent in a coating part And a coating step of coating the active material mixture containing the mixture on both sides of the substrate, and thereafter, in a drying part, a drying step of drying the active material mixture coated in the coating step to form an active material layer. A normal pressure drying unit arranged in series in the conveying direction of the substrate and a vacuum drying unit in front of the substrate are provided, and a sealing material for maintaining the vacuum degree of the vacuum drying unit is provided at the inlet and the outlet of the vacuum drying unit through which the substrate passes. The space of a dry air environment is arrange | positioned with the said sealing material of the exit side of a vacuum drying part between, and the said winding part is in the space of the said dry air environment. It is characterized by being installed in.

The conveyance speed of the said base material in the said atmospheric pressure drying part and the said vacuum drying part may be the same.

The sealing material may be a non-contact sealing material.

A tension detector may be provided between the atmospheric pressure dryer and the vacuum dryer to detect the tension of the substrate.

Between the atmospheric pressure drying section and the vacuum drying section, a buffer for temporarily storing the base material may be provided.

The guide roller may be arrange | positioned so that the said base material may meander in the said vacuum drying part.

The said base material may be sealed sealed in the space of the said dry air environment, after winding up to the said winding roll.

Drying by radiation or warm air may be performed in the said atmospheric pressure drying part, and drying by radiation or heat transfer may be performed in the said vacuum drying part.

The solvent of the active material mixture may be water.

The electrode may be an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery.

After the winding of the base material is finished in the space of the dry air environment, the winding part may be taken out to the outside after being accommodated in a case provided adjacent to the space of the dry air environment by a receiving means.

Further, according to the present invention according to another aspect, in order to execute the electrode manufacturing method by the electrode manufacturing apparatus, a program operating on a computer of the control unit controlling the electrode manufacturing apparatus is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a readable computer storage medium storing the program.

According to this invention, in manufacturing an electrode, the active material mixture coated on the surface of metal foil can be efficiently and reliably dried.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a side view which shows the outline of the structure of the electrode manufacturing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the configuration of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a side view of the electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus.
4 is a plan view of an electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus.
It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the structure of a coating head.
6 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the non-contact sealing material.
It is a top view which shows the outline of the structure of the electrode manufacturing apparatus concerning other embodiment of this invention.
8 is a plan view showing an outline of a configuration of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a plan view showing an outline of a configuration of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a top view which shows the outline of the structure of other embodiment of a coating part.
11 is a side view of another electrode manufactured by the electrode manufacturing apparatus.
It is sectional drawing which shows the outline of a contact type sealing material.
It is a side view which shows the outline of other embodiment of a dry air chamber.
It is a side view which shows the outline of another embodiment of a dry air chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1: is a side view which shows the outline of the structure of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this embodiment. FIG. 2: is a top view which shows the outline of the structure of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the electrode of a lithium ion capacitor is manufactured. In addition, in this specification and drawing, in the element which has a substantially same functional structure, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, as shown to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the electrode E in which the active material layer F was formed in both surfaces of the metal foil M as a strip-shaped base material is manufactured. The active material layers F on both sides of the metal foil M are formed to face each other. Moreover, the active material layer F is formed in the center part of the direction (Z direction in FIG. 3) of the short length of the metal foil M, for example, and the length of the metal foil M is long (FIGS. 3 and 4). In the Y direction).

Metal foil M is a porous electrical power collector, for example in the case of a lithium ion capacitor. In addition, in the case of an electric double layer capacitor, a lithium ion battery, etc., it is an electrical power collector without a hole, for example. When manufacturing a positive electrode as electrode E, aluminum foil is used as metal foil M, for example. On the other hand, when manufacturing a negative electrode, copper foil is used as metal foil M, for example.

In order to form the active material layer F, a slurry-like active material mixture is coated on the surface of the metal foil M as described later. The positive electrode active material mixture at the time of manufacturing a positive electrode mixes, for example, activated carbon as an active material, an acryl-type binder as a binder, carboxymethyl cellulose as a dispersing agent, and conductive carbon powder, such as acetylene black as a conductive support material, and mixes this as a solvent. It is produced by adding water and kneading. On the other hand, the negative electrode active material mixture at the time of manufacturing a negative electrode mixes amorphous carbon as an active material which can occlude and release lithium ion, polyvinylidene fluoride as a binder, and conductive carbon materials, such as acetylene black as a conductive support material, for example. Then, water is added as a solvent and kneaded to produce it.

The materials of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are different as described above, but the width, thickness, and the like of the metal foil M and the active material layer F are not significantly different. After drying, the positive electrode is about twice the thickness of the negative electrode. For this reason, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 can manufacture the positive electrode and negative electrode of a lithium ion capacitor. Hereinafter, these anodes and cathodes are referred to as electrodes E.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 has three types of spaces: an atmospheric pressure chamber 2, a vacuum chamber 3, and a dry air chamber 4. The atmospheric pressure chamber 2 has the unwinding roll 10 as a unwinding part which unwinds the metal foil M, the coating part 11 which coats an active material mixture on both surfaces of the metal foil M, and the active material mixture of metal foil M phase. It has a normal pressure drying part 12a which dries and forms active material layer F. FIG. The vacuum chamber 3 has a vacuum drying part 12b which further dries the active material mixture until there is no residual water. The dry air chamber 4 has the winding roll 13 as a winding part which winds up the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 of this invention, the drying part 12 is comprised from the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a and the vacuum drying part 12b. The unwinding roll 10, the coating part 11, the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a, the vacuum drying part 12b, and the winding roll 13 are the conveyance direction of the metal foil M (Y direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). This is arranged in this order from the upstream side. On the other hand, between a unwinding roll 10 and the unwinding roll 13, a drive mechanism (not shown) and a tension adjustment part (not shown) between a suitable place, for example, between the unwinding roll 10 and the coating part 11 are shown. Not provided) is provided, and the metal foil M unwound from the unwinding roll 10 is conveyed by these, and is wound up by the winding-up roll 13, maintaining moderate tension.

The unwinding roll 10 is arrange | positioned in the direction which the axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 1). The untreated metal foil M is wound around the unwinding roll 10, and the unwinding roll 10 is comprised so that rotation is possible about a vertical axis. And as the length of the metal foil M is pulled in the longitudinal direction, the thing wound up from the unwinding roll 10 is made to come out.

The winding roll 13 is also arrange | positioned in the direction which the axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction. The winding roll 13 is comprised so that rotation is possible about a perpendicular axis. And the metal foil M in which the active material layer F was formed is wound up to the winding roll 13.

These unwinding roll 10 and the winding roll 13 are arrange | positioned at the same height. On the other hand, as a coating process progresses, since the diameter of the unwinding roll 10 becomes small and the diameter of the unwinding roll 13 becomes large, in order to keep metal foil M at the same height, just behind the unwinding roll 10 And just before the winding roll 13, the guide rolls 15 and 16 are provided, respectively. The unwinding roll 10 and the unwinding roll 13 have a lengthwise direction of the metal foil M in a horizontal direction (Y direction in FIGS. 1 and 2), and a direction in which the length of the metal foil M is short. It is arrange | positioned so that metal foil M may be conveyed in the direction used as a perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 1).

The coating part 11 has the coating head 20 which coats an active material mixture on the surface of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. The coating head 20 is arrange | positioned facing the both sides of the metal foil M in conveyance between the unwinding roll 10 and the take-up roll 13.

The coating head 20 has the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extended in a perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. The coating head 20 is formed with the metal foil M longer than the short direction, for example. On the surface of the coating head 20 that faces the metal foil M, a slit-shaped coating tool 21 for discharging the active material mixture is formed. The coating tool 21 is formed extending in the vertical direction (Z direction in FIG. 5). Moreover, the coating tool 21 is formed in the position which can supply an active material mixture to the center part of the short direction of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. Moreover, the supply pipe 23 which connects to the coating head 20 in series with the active material mixture supply source 22 is connected. The active material mixture is stored in the active material mixture supply source 22, and the active material mixture can be supplied to the coating head 20 from the active material mixture supply source 22.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a has a heating mechanism 30 for drying the active material mixture on the metal foil M by, for example, radiation heating by infrared rays. The heating mechanism 30 is arrange | positioned facing the both sides of the metal foil M in conveyance between the unwinding roll 10 and the take-up roll 13. In the heating mechanism 30, the rod heater 31 which irradiates an infrared ray is arranged in multiple numbers by the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M (Y direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The rod heater 31 is extended in the vertical direction (Z direction in FIG. 1) longer than the length of the metal foil M in the short direction. That is, the rod heater 31 can irradiate infrared rays in the entire direction of the short length of the metal foil M. On the other hand, in the heating mechanism 30, the reflecting plate which reflects the infrared rays from the load heater 31 to the metal foil M side in the position which opposes the metal foil M with the rod heater 31 interposed (not shown) May be installed).

The structure of the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a is not limited to the above embodiment, and various configurations can be taken as long as the composition can dry the active material mixture on the metal foil (M). For example, the heating means is not limited to the rod heater 31 described above, and may be arranged a plurality of LEDs that emit infrared rays, or may be warm air dried. The atmospheric pressure chamber 2 provided with the unwinding roll 10, the coating part 11, and the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a should just be a space controlled by the simple clean room level.

The atmospheric pressure chamber 2 and the vacuum chamber 3 are continuously arranged with the non-contact sealing material 32 employing the differential exhaust system in between. In order to continuously convey the metal foil M from the unwinding roll 10 to the take-up roll 13, a gap through which the metal foil M can pass is required between the atmospheric pressure chamber 2 and the vacuum chamber 3. By providing the non-contact type sealing material 32 between the atmospheric pressure chamber 2 and the vacuum chamber 3, as shown in FIG. 6, the vacuum chamber 3 is formed from the atmospheric pressure chamber 2 through the gap 41. The air flowing toward) is exhausted from the exhaust system 42 to suppress the inflow of air into the vacuum chamber 3 and maintain the vacuum degree of the vacuum chamber 3. On the other hand, although the inflow of air into the vacuum chamber 3 cannot be made zero by the non-contact type sealing material 32, the vacuum chamber 3 of this invention may have an air pressure about several torr. By having such a structure, since the inflow of air to the vacuum chamber 3 can be suppressed, having the space 41 between the atmospheric pressure chamber 2 and the vacuum chamber 3, the metal foil M is spaced. Through 41, it can convey continuously from the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a to the vacuum drying part 12b.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the vacuum drying unit 12b of the vacuum chamber 3 heats the heating mechanism 33 for drying the active material mixture on the metal foil M by, for example, radiation heating by infrared rays. Have. The heating mechanism 33 is configured by arranging a plurality of the rod heaters 34 that irradiate infrared rays on both sides of the length direction of the metal foil M in the same direction as the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a. In addition, the structure of the vacuum drying part 12b is not limited to the radiation heating by infrared rays, If it is a structure which can dry the active material mixture on metal foil M, without passing through air, various structures can be taken. For example, the electrothermal heating which makes the metal foil M contact a heater may be sufficient.

The vacuum chamber 3 and the dry air chamber 4 are continuously arranged with the non-contact sealing material 35 between the atmospheric pressure chamber 2 and the vacuum chamber 3 interposed therebetween. The dry air chamber 4 is controlled by the dry air environment whose dew point temperature is -50 degrees C or less, for example. In this dry air chamber 4, the metal foil M after vacuum drying is wound by the winding roll 13, without absorbing moisture again.

The control part 50 is provided in the above electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The control part 50 is a computer, for example, and has a program storage part (not shown). In the program storage unit, a program for controlling a process for manufacturing the electrode E in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 is stored. On the other hand, the program can be, for example, a computer-readable storage medium H such as a hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD), a magnetic optical desk (MO), a memory card, or the like. Recorded in the control unit 50 may be installed in the control unit 50 from the storage medium H.

The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is comprised as mentioned above. Next, the process for manufacturing the electrode E performed by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

In the atmospheric pressure chamber 2, the metal foil M is unwound from the unwinding roll 10 and conveyed to the coating part 11. In the coating part 11, the slurry-type active material mixture S is coated from the coating head 20 with respect to the surface of the metal foil M in conveyance. At this time, by supplying the active material mixture S from the coating heads 20 and 20 disposed on both sides of the metal foil M, the active material mixture S is simultaneously coated on both surfaces of the metal foil M with a uniform film thickness. . In addition, the active material mixture S supplied from the coating head 20 is coated in the center part of the direction in which the length of the metal foil M is short. In addition, by supplying the active material mixture S intermittently from the coating head 20, the active material mixture S is coated in a plurality of regions in the length direction of the metal foil M.

Thereafter, the metal foil M coated with the active material mixture S is conveyed to the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a. In the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a, the active material mixture S on both sides of the metal foil M is dried by radiation heating by infrared rays from the heating mechanism 30 disposed on both sides of the metal foil M. At this time, the temperature of the load heater 31 of the heating mechanism 30 is set to about 100 to 200 degreeC. In addition, an air supply mechanism may be provided to form an air flow to promote drying.

The metal foil M which passed the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a is conveyed from the atmospheric pressure chamber 2 to the vacuum drying part 12b in the vacuum chamber 3 through the gap 41 of the non-contact type sealing material 32. do. In the vacuum drying part 12b, the metal foil M is conveyed by the same conveyance speed as the inside of the atmospheric pressure chamber 2, and by the radiant heating by the infrared rays from the heating mechanism 33 arrange | positioned at both sides of the metal foil M, It is further dried until water does not remain in the active material mixture S on both sides of the metal foil M. In this way, the active material mixture S of both surfaces of the metal foil M is dried, and the active material layer F having a predetermined film thickness is formed on both surfaces of the metal foil M.

The metal foil M in which the active material layer F was formed is conveyed to the dry air chamber 4 via the space | interval of the non-contact type sealing material 35 of the exit side of the vacuum chamber 3, and wound up on the winding roll 13. In this way, a series of processes in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 are complete | finished, and the electrode E is manufactured.

In this embodiment, since the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a and the vacuum drying part 12b are continuously arranged in series, first, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M was dried to an appropriate level in the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a. Then, it can introduce | transduce into the vacuum drying part 12b at the speed as it is, and can dry to a higher level. By passing the drying part 12 of the structure by such two steps, the active material mixture S can be suitably dried, without water remaining in the active material mixture S like conventionally. Moreover, in the vacuum drying part 12b, since it dries in the web state which does not wind up around the winding roll 13, drying time can be shortened significantly compared with the conventional method of vacuum-drying in roll state. And by arrange | positioning the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a and the vacuum drying part 12b continuously, a series of processes can be performed continuously and efficiently, and the metal foil of the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a and the vacuum drying part 12b is carried out. By making the conveyance speed of (M) the same, processing efficiency can be improved further. As mentioned above, according to this embodiment, active material layer F can be formed suitably and efficiently on the surface of metal foil M. As shown in FIG.

Moreover, since the metal foil M carried out from the vacuum drying part 12b is wound by the winding roll 13 in the dry air chamber 4, the metal foil M vacuum-dried is wound up without absorbing moisture again. In addition, in the dry air chamber 4, the metal foil M wound on the winding roll 13 is automatically removed from the system with the winding roll 13, and the winding roll 13 is automatically, for example, vinyl. It is preferable to set it as the structure which can seal the sealing which vacuum-packs by.

7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, wherein the tension detection unit 61 performs tension detection of the metal foil M between the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a and the vacuum drying unit 12b. Is installed. The other structure is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. By monitoring the tension of the metal foil M in the tension detection unit 61, the metal foil M can be conveyed more appropriately. On the other hand, by providing the tension detection unit 61 or the driving roll 62 immediately after the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a, the vibration of the metal foil M in the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a and the vacuum drying unit 12b Imbalance can be suppressed.

8 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, in which a buffer 62 is provided between the atmospheric pressure drying unit 12a and the vacuum drying unit 12b. The other structure is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the metal foil M is moved through the dancer roll 63 which can move to the X direction shown in FIG. 8, and the dancer roll 63 is moved to + X direction or -X direction, and the buffer ( 62) A proper amount of metal foil (M) can be temporarily collected in the part. In addition, the structure of the buffer 62 is not limited to what was shown in figure. By providing the buffer 62, the case where the conveyance speed is different on the atmospheric pressure drying section 12a side and the vacuum drying section 12b side, etc. is adjusted as in the case where the vacuum drying section 12b is temporarily suspended. Can be.

Fig. 9 shows still another embodiment of the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. In the vacuum drying unit 12b, the guide rollers 64 are alternately left and right with respect to the traveling direction so that the metal foil M meanders in a wavy shape. It is placed. The other structure is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. By meandering the metal foil M, even if the length of the conveyance direction of the vacuum chamber 3 is suppressed, the time which the metal foil M passes through the inside of the vacuum drying part 12b can be kept long, and sufficient drying can be performed. In this case, you may arrange | position a some infrared heater in the position along the metal foil M to meander. In addition, the guide roller 64 may also serve as the heater for electric heating.

In addition, the guide roller 64 which meanders the tension detection part 61, the buffer 62, and the metal foil M in a wave shape in the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated based on FIGS. 7-9 is arbitrary combination, Or it is good also as an electrode manufacturing apparatus of the structure provided with all.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this example. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that various changes or modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and they are naturally understood to belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 of said embodiment, although the unwinding roll 10 was provided as a unwinding part, the structure of a unwinding part is not limited to this embodiment, The structure which unwinds metal foil M This can take various configurations. Similarly, although the winding roll 13 was provided as a winding part, the structure of a winding part is not limited to this embodiment, If it is the structure which winds up the metal foil M, various structures can be taken.

In addition, although the coating head 20 was provided in the coating part 11 of said embodiment, the structure of the coating part 11 is not limited to this embodiment, The active material mixture S on the surface of the metal foil M is S ) Can be applied in various configurations. For example, in the above embodiment, the coating heads 20 and 20 are provided opposite to both sides of the metal foil M, but one of the coating heads 20 is smaller than the other of the coating heads 20. It may be arrange | positioned downstream. In addition, the number of the coating heads 20 is not limited to this embodiment, The some coating head 20 may be arrange | positioned at both sides of the metal foil M, respectively.

In addition, in the coating part 11, you may coat active material mixture S on the surface of metal foil M by the inkjet method, for example. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the coating part 11 contacts the surface of the metal foil M, and the roller 100 which coats the said active material mixture S of slurry shape to the said metal foil M, and a roller, You may have the nozzle 101 which supplies the active material mixture S to the surface of (100).

In the said embodiment, although the active material layer F is formed in multiple numbers in the length direction of the metal foil M, For example, the electrode E provided with one continuous active material layer F, and FIG. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 of this invention is useful also when forming the electrode E provided with the continuous several row active material layer F as shown to the following.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the active material layer F was formed in both surfaces of the metal foil M in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, in order to form the electrode E, another process, for example, metal foil M Press and cutting are also performed. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 may perform these other processes continuously between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding rolls 13.

In addition, in the said embodiment, although the non-contact type sealing materials 32 and 35 were used, instead of the non-contact type sealing materials 32 and 35, as shown in FIG. 12, metal foil M and an active material layer F The contact type 44 which has the elasticity which contacts elasticity, and seals in this contact part 44 may be used.

In addition, in the said embodiment, although the tension detection part 61 was provided between the atmospheric pressure drying part 12a and the vacuum drying part 12b, between the unwinding roll 10 and the coating part 11, and it is non-contact. The tension detection unit 61 may be further disposed between the mold sealing material 35 and the winding roll 13. Or you may arrange | position a tension detection part only in any one of these, or in multiple places.

Next, how to take out the vacuum pack packaged winding roll 13 from the dry air chamber 4 without putting outside air into the dry air chamber 4 is demonstrated.

Here, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided in contact with the dry air chamber 4, and conveys and accommodates the case for accommodating the winding roll 13 in which winding was complete | finished, and the winding roll 13 in this case. Has a receiving means.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the glove 200 is provided on the side wall of the dry air chamber 4. The glove 200 is formed of a flexible material, and an operator can put his hand into the glove 200 from the outside of the dry air chamber 4 to work in the dry air chamber 4. Since the glove 200 is not breathable and is sealed between the glove 200 and the side wall of the dry air chamber 4, outside air does not enter the dry air chamber 4 from this part. . And the glove 200 is corresponded to the accommodating means in this invention.

In addition, a case 201 is provided below the glove 200 in contact with the side wall of the dry air chamber 4. In the case 201, the part which contacts the space of the dry air chamber 4 is provided with the 1st door 202 which freely seals the inside of the case 201 when it is closed so that it may open and close freely. The case 201 freely seals the inside of the case 201 when closed to freely open and close the side wall portion of the dry air chamber 4 (a portion of the dry air chamber 4 which is in contact with the outside of the space of the dry air chamber 4). The second door 203 is provided. The case 201 is connected to an exhaust means 204 for exhausting the atmosphere in the case 201 and a gas supply means 205 for supplying dry air into the case 201.

And when taking out the winding roll 13 from the dry air chamber 4, a worker puts his hand in the glove 200 and performs the following operations. First, from the state which sealed the 1st and 2nd door, an operator opens the 1st door 202, and accommodates the winding roll 13 packaged in a vacuum pack in the case 201. After that, the first door 202 is sealed and the hand is removed from the glove 200. And the 2nd door 203 is opened from the outside of the dry air chamber 4, and the winding roll 13 is taken out from the inside of the case 201. Thereafter, the second door 203 is sealed and exhausted by the exhaust means 204, and dry air is supplied into the case 201 by the gas supply means 205. The case 201 is then replaced with a dry air atmosphere.

In this way, it becomes possible to take out the vacuum-pack wrapped winding roll 13 from the dry air chamber 4, without outside air entering into the dry air chamber 4. As shown in FIG.

As another embodiment, instead of the glove 200, as shown in FIG. 14, a conveying means 206 capable of conveying the winding roll 13 may be provided. In this example, the conveying means 206 is corresponded to the accommodating means mentioned above. The conveying means 206 employs a robot such as a manipulator, for example. And the conveying means 206 is comprised so that opening and closing of the 1st door 202 is possible.

When taking out the winding roll 13 from the dry air chamber 4, the conveyance means 206 is first scanned in the state which sealed the 1st and 2nd door 202,203. First, the 1st door 202 is opened, the winding roll 13 is conveyed by the conveying means 206, and is accommodated in the case 201. After that, the first door 202 may be sealed using the conveying means 206. Next, it is the same procedure as taking out the winding roll 13 in embodiment mentioned above.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the case 201 may be provided so that the outer side of the dry air chamber 4 may be in contact.

Further, instead of opening and closing the first door 202 by the conveying means 206, other means for opening and closing the first door 202 may be provided.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the glove 200 or the conveying means 206 was used as the accommodating means of this invention, it is not limited to this, If the winding roll 13 can be conveyed in the case 201 and can be accommodated, Other configurations may be used.

As another embodiment, you may install the auto changer which is not shown in order to replace the unwinding roll 12 and the unwinding roll 13 around the unwinding roll 12 and the unwinding roll 13, respectively. This auto changer replaces the empty unwinding roll 12 with the new unwinding roll 12, and replaces the unwinding roll 13 with the winding complete with the new empty unwinding roll 13. As shown in FIG. On the other hand, the plurality of new unwinding rolls 12 and the new plurality of empty unwinding rolls 13 are previously loaded in an auto changer (not shown).

With such a configuration, the metal foil M can be processed continuously, and the productivity of the device is further improved. In addition, every time the winding roll 13 is replaced, an operator does not need to enter the dry air chamber 4 and perform a replacement operation. Therefore, there is no need to open the door of the dry air chamber 4 which is not shown in order to enter and leave the dry air chamber 4, and there is no possibility that outside air may enter the dry air chamber 4.

In said embodiment, although the case where the electrode E of a lithium ion capacitor was manufactured was demonstrated, also when manufacturing the electrode used for an electric double layer capacitor, or the electrode used for a lithium ion battery, the electrode manufacturing apparatus of this invention. (1) can be used. In such a case, what is necessary is just to change the material of metal foil M, the material of active material mixture S, etc. according to the kind of electrode manufactured.

1: electrode manufacturing apparatus
2: normal pressure chamber
3: vacuum chamber
4: dry air room
10: unwinding roll
11: coating
12: drying part
12a: atmospheric pressure drying section
12b: vacuum drying unit
13: winding roll
20: coating head
30, 33: heating apparatus
31, 34: load heater
32, 35: non-contact sealing material
50:
E: electrode
F: active material layer
M: Metallic Foil
S: active material mixture

Claims (25)

An electrode manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode by forming an active material layer on both sides of a strip-shaped base material,
Unwinding part which unpacks mention,
A winding unit for winding the base material released from the unwinding unit,
A coating portion provided between the unwinding portion and the winding portion to coat an active material mixture on both sides of the base material;
It is provided between the said coating part and the said winding part, It has a drying part which dries the said active material mixture coated by the said coating part, and forms an active material layer,
The said drying part is equipped with the atmospheric pressure drying part and the vacuum drying part of the front part arranged in series in the conveyance direction of the said base material,
At the inlet and the outlet of the vacuum drying section through which the substrate passes, a sealing material for maintaining the vacuum degree of the vacuum drying section is provided,
An electrode manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that a space in a dry air environment is arranged on the outlet side of the vacuum drying unit with the sealing material interposed therebetween, and the winding portion is provided in a space in the dry air environment. The electrode manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 whose conveyance speed of the said base material in the said atmospheric pressure drying part and the said vacuum drying part is the same. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is a non-contact sealing material. The electrode manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 provided with the tension detection part which detects the tension of the said base material between the said atmospheric pressure drying part and the said vacuum drying part. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a buffer capable of temporarily accumulating the substrate is provided between the atmospheric pressure drying section and the vacuum drying section. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a guide roller is disposed so that the substrate meanders in the vacuum drying part. The electrode production apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base material is sealed in a space of the dry air environment after being wound on the winding roll. The electrode production according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein drying is performed by radiation or warm air in the atmospheric pressure drying unit, and drying by radiation or heat transfer in the vacuum drying unit. Device. The electrode manufacturing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-6 whose solvent of the said active material mixture is water. The electrode manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electrode is an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery. As an electrode manufacturing method of manufacturing an electrode by forming an active material layer on both surfaces of the said base material, conveying a strip | belt-shaped base material between a unwinding part and a winding part,
In a coating part, the coating process of coating the active material mixture which mixed the active material and the solvent on both surfaces of a base material,
Thereafter, the drying unit has a drying step of drying the active material mixture coated in the coating step to form an active material layer,
The said drying part is equipped with the atmospheric pressure drying part and the vacuum drying part of the front part arranged in series in the conveyance direction of the said base material,
At the inlet and the outlet of the vacuum drying section through which the substrate passes, a sealing material for maintaining the vacuum degree of the vacuum drying section is provided,
A space in a dry air environment is disposed on the outlet side of the vacuum drying unit with the sealing material interposed therebetween, and the winding unit is provided in a space in the dry air environment. The electrode manufacturing method of Claim 11 whose conveyance speed of the said base material in the said atmospheric pressure drying part and the said vacuum drying part is the same. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the sealing material is a non-contact sealing material. 12. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein a tension detection unit for detecting the tension of the substrate is provided between the atmospheric pressure drying unit and the vacuum drying unit. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein a buffer capable of temporarily accumulating the substrate is provided between the atmospheric pressure drying section and the vacuum drying section. The electrode manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein a guide roller is disposed in the vacuum drying unit so that the substrate meanders. The electrode production method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the base material is sealed in a space of the dry air environment after being wound on the winding roll. The electrode production according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein drying is performed by radiation or warm air in the atmospheric pressure drying unit, and drying by radiation or heat transfer in the vacuum drying unit. Way. The electrode production method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the solvent of the active material mixture is water. The said electrode is an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery, The electrode manufacturing method in any one of Claims 11-16 characterized by the above-mentioned. A readable computer storage medium storing a program operating on a computer of a control unit for controlling the electrode manufacturing apparatus, in order to execute the electrode manufacturing method according to any one of claims 11 to 16. The case according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the case is provided so as to be in contact with the space of the dry air environment, and accommodates the winding portion in which winding is completed.
A first door which is installed in a part of the case which is in contact with the space of the dry air environment, and which is free to be opened and closed freely;
A second door which is freely sealed to be freely opened and closed at a portion of the case that is outside the space of the dry air environment;
In the case, there is an accommodating means for accommodating the winding portion in which the winding is completed,
The said winding part which winding is complete | finished is taken out of the space of the dry air environment from the space of the dry air environment across the said case, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving means,
It is provided on the outer wall of the space of the dry air environment, the electrode manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that the worker can work in the space of the dry air environment by putting a hand from outside the space of the dry air environment. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving means,
It is a robot arrange | positioned in the space of the said dry air environment, and conveys the said winding part in the said case, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The said unwinding part or the winding-up part is replaced by the new unwinding roll or the winding roll for unwinding or winding a base material, when the unwinding work or the winding work is complete | finished in either of the said unwinding part or the said winding-up part. Electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized in that the auto changer is installed.

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