WO2022114230A1

WO2022114230A1 - Manufacturing device for battery electrode

Info

Publication number: WO2022114230A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/043937
Authority: WO
Inventors: 堀江英明; 榎健一郎; 中嶋勇輔
Original assignee: Ａｐｂ株式会社
Priority date: 2020-11-30
Filing date: 2021-11-30
Publication date: 2022-06-02

Abstract

Provided are a manufacturing device for a battery electrode, and a manufacturing method therefor, that are capable of suppressing the inclusion of air in an active material layer and of improving the uniformity of the active material layer that is formed on a current collector.　A manufacturing device 1000 comprises: a chamber 100 the interior of which is depressurized below atmospheric pressure; a conveyance device 200 that conveys, inside the chamber 100, a strip-shaped current collector 31B in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped current collector 31B; an active material feeder 300 that supplies a powder-like active material 32c onto the strip-shaped current collector 31B that moves inside the chamber 100; and a roll press 400 that fixes the active material 32c on the strip-shaped current collector 31B to the strip-shaped current collector 31B. The active material feeder 300 and the roll press 400 are arranged inside the chamber 100. The active material feeder 300 is provided with a shutter unit 350 that opens and closes so as to adjust the supply of the active material 32c onto the strip-shaped current collector 31B.

Description

Battery electrode manufacturing equipment

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode.

In a lithium ion battery, generally, a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer formed on the surface of a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer formed on the surface of a negative electrode current collector are laminated via a separator. It is composed of. As a method for manufacturing an electrode for a lithium ion battery, there is known a molding method in which a powdery active material is placed on a current collector and compressed to form an integral body (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 6633866 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-207750

When the active material is supplied onto the current collector in atmospheric pressure, an active material layer containing air may be formed on the current collector. Then, when the active material layer formed on the current collector is compressed in the atmosphere, the compressed air is compressed with the air remaining in the active material, so that the compressed air expands. Problems such as the active material popping off and the surface of the active material becoming uneven may occur. The electrodes used in a lithium-ion battery exhibit stable battery performance by uniformly forming an active material layer containing the active material supplied on the current collector, but in the conventional configuration, the above-mentioned problems are exhibited. It is difficult to suppress the above, and there is a possibility that the desired battery performance cannot be obtained.

The present invention provides a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same, which can suppress the inclusion of air in the active material layer and improve the uniformity of the active material layer formed on the current collector. The purpose is.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to the present invention includes a chamber in which the inside is depressurized from atmospheric pressure, and a transport device for transporting a band-shaped current collector in the chamber in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped current collector. An active material supply device arranged in the chamber and supplying a powdery active material on the band-shaped current collector moving in the chamber, and an active material supply device arranged in the chamber and the band-shaped current collector. The active material supply device is provided with a roll press for fixing the active material on the body to the band-shaped current collector, and the active material supply device is opened and closed to supply the active material onto the band-shaped current collector. A shutter unit for adjustment is provided.

According to the above aspect, each device (conveyor device, active material supply device, roll press) used in the above-mentioned battery manufacturing method is provided in a chamber in which the pressure is reduced from the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the active material can be placed and pressed on the band-shaped current collector under a reduced pressure environment. Therefore, the active material can be placed on the band-shaped current collector without leaving air in the active material before pressing, and the active material can be fixed on the band-shaped current collector. Further, the active material supply device is provided with a shutter unit that adjusts the supply of the active material onto the band-shaped current collector by opening and closing. This makes it possible to precisely control the amount of active material placed on the band-shaped current collector.

Further, in the chamber, a frame body is arranged around the active material, which is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport device with respect to the active material supply device and is placed on the band-shaped current collector. It may be further provided with a frame supply device for supplying the above.

According to the above aspect, the frame body supply device is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the band-shaped current collector by the transport device with respect to the active material supply device. As a result, the frame is placed around the active material after an appropriate amount of the active material is placed on the band-shaped current collector by the active material supply device. Therefore, the frame can be placed around the active material in which an appropriate amount is placed by the above-mentioned active material supply device. Therefore, by storing an appropriate amount of the active material in the frame, the active material can be arranged without a gap on the inner surface of the frame.

Further, the frame supply device may be installed on the band-shaped current collector while moving the frame according to the moving direction and moving speed of the band-shaped current collector by the transport device.

According to the above aspect, it is installed on the band-shaped current collector while moving the frame according to the moving direction and moving speed of the band-shaped current collector. As a result, the frame body can be installed without stopping the transportation of the band-shaped current collector one by one. Therefore, the time required for manufacturing can be further shortened.

Further, the band-shaped current collector may be continuously supplied to the transport device by joining the band-shaped ends to each other.

According to the above aspect, by joining the ends of the band-shaped current collector to each other, the current collector is continuously supplied to the transport device. This makes it possible to supply the band-shaped current collector without interruption in the battery manufacturing process.

Further, the band-shaped current collector may be supplied to the transport device by a supply device provided outside the chamber.

According to the above aspect, a band-shaped current collector supply device is provided outside the chamber. This allows the size of the chamber to be minimized.

According to the present invention, there is a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof that can suppress the inclusion of air in the active material layer and improve the uniformity of the active material layer formed on the current collector. Can be provided.

It is sectional drawing of the battery which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the single cell which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the manufacturing apparatus of the electrode for a battery which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the frame body supply device shown in FIG. It is a modification of the support tool in the frame body supply device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the suction part of the frame body supply device shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the suction part shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the state which the support is adsorbed to the frame body in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state which the frame body is carried by the support in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state which the frame body is installed by the support in one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, for the purpose of emphasizing the characteristic parts, the characteristic parts may be enlarged for convenience, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not be the same as the actual ones. do not have. In addition, for the same purpose, there are cases where non-characteristic parts are omitted.

<Battery (secondary battery)>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery 10 of the embodiment.
The battery (secondary battery) 10 of the present embodiment is a lithium ion secondary battery which is a kind of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The lithium ion battery (cell unit) in the present specification refers to a secondary battery that uses lithium ions as a charge carrier and is charged and discharged by the movement of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes. The lithium ion battery (secondary battery) includes a battery using a liquid material as an electrolyte, and includes a battery using a solid material as an electrolyte (so-called all-solid-state battery). Further, the lithium ion battery in the present embodiment includes a battery having a metal foil (metal collector foil) as a current collector, and is composed of a resin to which a conductive material is added instead of the metal foil, that is, a so-called resin current collector. Includes batteries with body. When the resin current collector is used as a resin current collector for a bipolar electrode described later, a positive electrode is formed on one surface of the resin current collector and a negative electrode is formed on the other surface to form a bipolar electrode. May be configured. The lithium ion battery in the present embodiment includes a bipolar battery in which an electrode is formed by applying a positive electrode or a negative electrode active material or the like to a positive electrode or negative electrode current collector, respectively, using a binder. Is a bipolar electrode having a positive electrode layer by applying a positive electrode active material or the like using a binder on one surface of a current collector, and a negative electrode active material or the like by applying a negative electrode active material or the like using a binder on the opposite surface. Including those that make up. Hereinafter, when the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b are referred to without distinction, they are referred to as electrodes (battery electrodes) 30.

The battery 10 can also be applied to any conventionally known secondary battery such as a so-called parallel laminated battery in which electrodes are connected in parallel in a power generation element. In the following description, the lithium ion secondary battery is simply referred to as a "battery".

The battery 10 of the present embodiment has a power generation element 11, a positive electrode tab 34a, a negative electrode tab 34b, and an exterior body 12.

The positive electrode tab 34a comes into contact with the end face of the power generation element 11 on the positive electrode side. Similarly, the negative electrode tab 34b contacts the end face of the power generation element 11 on the negative electrode side. The positive electrode tab 34a and the negative electrode tab 34b are each pulled out to the outside of the exterior body 12. Highly conductive materials such as aluminum alloys and copper alloys are used for the positive electrode tabs 34a and the negative electrode tabs 34b.

The exterior body 12 seals the power generation element 11 inside in order to prevent external impact and environmental deterioration. The exterior body 12 is formed in a bag shape by, for example, a laminated film. As the exterior body 12, a metal can case or the like may be used.

The power generation element 11 of the battery 10 of the present embodiment has a plurality of single cells (battery cells) 20. In the power generation element 11, the plurality of single cells 20 are stacked in the thickness direction. The number of stacked single cells 20 is adjusted according to a desired voltage. The method of stacking the single cells 20 in the power generation element 11 is arbitrary. As an example, the power generation element 11 has a single cell 20 having a positive electrode resin current collector on the first surface and a negative electrode resin current collector on the second surface, and the first surface and the first surface of a pair of adjacent single cells 20. A laminated battery may be used in which a plurality of batteries are stacked in series so that the two surfaces are adjacent to each other. As another example, the power generation element 11 has a plurality of single cells 20 having a positive electrode layer provided on one side of one resin current collector and a negative electrode layer provided on the other side of the resin current collector via an electrolyte layer. It may be a laminated battery.

<Single cell (battery cell)>
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the single cell 20.
The single cell 20 has a positive electrode 30a and a negative electrode 30b as two electrodes (battery electrodes), and a separator 40.

The separator 40 is arranged between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b. In the power generation element 11, the plurality of single cells 20 are laminated with the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b oriented in the same direction. In the power generation element 11, the positive electrode tab 34a comes into contact with the positive electrode 30a of the single cell 20 arranged at the end on the positive electrode side in the stacking direction, and the negative electrode of the single cell 20 arranged at the end on the negative electrode side in the stacking direction. The negative electrode tab 34b comes into contact with 30b.

Electrolyte is retained in the separator 40. As a result, the separator 40 functions as an electrolyte layer. The separator 40 is arranged between the electrode active material layer 32 of the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b, and prevents them from coming into contact with each other. As a result, the separator 40 functions as a partition wall between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b.

Examples of the electrolyte held in the separator 40 include an electrolytic solution or a gel polymer electrolyte. By using these electrolytes, high lithium ion conductivity is ensured. Examples of the form of the separator include a separator of a porous sheet made of a polymer or fiber that absorbs and retains the electrolyte, a non-woven fabric separator, and the like. As the separator, a sulfide-based or oxide-based inorganic solid electrolyte, a polymer-based organic solid electrolyte, or the like can also be applied. By applying a solid electrolyte, an all-solid-state battery can be constructed.

The positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b each have a current collector 31, an electrode active material layer 32, and a frame body 45, respectively. The electrode active material layer 32 and the current collector 31 are arranged in this order from the separator 40 side. The frame body 45 has a frame shape (annular shape). The frame 45 surrounds the periphery of the electrode active material layer 32. The frame body 45 of the positive electrode 30a and the frame body 45 of the negative electrode 30b are welded to each other and integrated.

In the following description, when the electrode active material layers 32 of the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b are distinguished from each other, they are referred to as a positive electrode active material layer 32a and a negative electrode active material layer 32b, respectively.

The frame body 45 prevents contact between the current collectors 31 and a short circuit at the end of the single cell 20. As the material constituting the frame body 45, any material having insulating property, sealing property (liquidtightness), heat resistance under the battery operating temperature and the like may be used, and a resin material is preferably adopted.

The current collector 31 is a conductive sheet-like member. The material constituting the current collector 31 is not particularly limited, and for example, a conductive resin or a metal can be used. From the viewpoint of weight reduction, the current collector 31 is preferably a resin current collector formed of a conductive resin. From the viewpoint of blocking the movement of lithium ions between the single cells 20, a metal layer may be provided on a part of the resin current collector 31.

Examples of the conductive resin constituting the resin collector 31 include a conductive polymer material or a non-conductive polymer material to which a conductive filler is added as needed.

The electrode active material layer 32 has electrode granulated particles (hereinafter, simply granulated particles) containing an electrode active material (positive electrode active material or negative electrode active material) and a conductive auxiliary agent. Further, the electrode active material layer 32 may further contain either one or both of the electrolytic solution and the pressure-sensitive adhesive, if necessary. Further, the electrode active material layer 32 may contain an ion conductive polymer or the like, if necessary.
In the following description, when the electrode active materials of the positive electrode active material layer 32a and the negative electrode active material layer 32b are distinguished from each other, they are referred to as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively.

Examples of the ion conductive polymer include known polyoxyalkylene oxide polymers such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) -based and polypropylene oxide (PPO) -based.

<Battery electrode manufacturing equipment and battery electrode manufacturing method>
Next, the apparatus for manufacturing the battery electrodes (positive electrode 30a and negative electrode 30b) of the present embodiment will be described.
The current collector 31 is provided by appropriately cutting the band-shaped current collector 31B in the manufacturing process of the electrode 30. The band-shaped current collector 31B is stored in a roll shape before being charged into the manufacturing apparatus. The band-shaped current collector 31B stored in a roll shape in this way is referred to as a current collector roll 31R.
In this embodiment, the method of changing from the band-shaped current collector 31B to the current collector 31 will be described as being preferably used, but other methods may be used.
When the positive electrode active material layer 32a and the negative electrode active material layer 32b are referred to without distinction, they are referred to as an active material 32c. The active material 32c means a plurality of electrode granulated particles containing an electrode active material and a conductive auxiliary agent. The active material 32c is in the form of powder.

The method for manufacturing the positive electrode 30a and the method for manufacturing the negative electrode 30b differ mainly in the electrode active material contained in the electrode active material layer 32. Therefore, there is no difference between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b in the manufacturing apparatus. Here, a manufacturing device (manufacturing device for battery electrodes) 1000 will be described as a manufacturing device for the electrode 30.
As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a chamber 100, a transfer device 200, an active material supply device 300, a roll press 400, a frame supply device 500, a current collector deployment device 600, and an inlet portion. It is equipped with 700.

The chamber 100 is a room in which the inside can be kept in a state where the pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure. The inside of the chamber 100 is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure by a decompression pump (not shown). The pressure inside the chamber 100 may be any value as long as it is depressurized from the atmospheric pressure, but for example, the low vacuum environment from the atmospheric pressure to 1 × 10 ^-1 to 1 × 10 ^-2 Pa may be obtained. It may be adjusted, it may be adjusted to have a high vacuum environment of 1 × 10 ^-6 to 1 × 10 ^-7 Pa, an ultra-high vacuum higher than that, or ^10-8 to ^10-9 . It may be a Pa level ultra-high vacuum. The standard atmospheric pressure is about 1013 hPa ⁽ about 105 Pa).
The chamber 100 is hollow. A band-shaped current collector 31B is conveyed in the chamber 100.
In the chamber 100, the main steps related to the manufacture of the battery according to the present embodiment are carried out. That is, a step of placing the powdery active material 32c on the band-shaped current collector 31B, pressing the placed active material 32c, and installing the frame body 45 is carried out. Inside the chamber 100, at least a transfer device 200, an active material supply device 300, a roll press 400, and a frame supply device 500 are provided. In the present embodiment, the band-shaped current collector 31B is inserted from the outside to the inside of the chamber 100. Therefore, the chamber 100 is provided with a slit 110 as an inlet of the band-shaped current collector 31B.
At the time of manufacturing the battery according to the present embodiment, the inside of the chamber 100 is depressurized more than the atmospheric pressure. This prevents air from remaining inside the active material.

The transport device 200 transports the band-shaped current collector 31B in the chamber 100 in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped current collector 31B. Further, as the transfer device 200, the first transfer device 210 is provided on the upstream side of the roll press 400 and the second transfer device 220 is provided on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the band-shaped current collector 31B. The first transfer device 210 and the second transfer device 220 are, for example, known belt conveyors. An active material supply device 300 is provided on the first transfer device 210. Further, a frame supply device 500 is provided on the second transfer device 220. In the following, the first transfer device 210 and the second transfer device 220 may be collectively referred to as a transfer device 200.

The active material supply device 300 places the active material 32c on the band-shaped current collector 31B which is conveyed into the chamber 100 by the transfer device 200. The active material supply device 300 includes a screw conveyor 310, a charging chute 320, a crusher 330, an ultrasonic vibrator 340, and a shutter unit 350.
The screw conveyor 310 transports the active material 32c to the active material supply device 300. One end of the screw conveyor 310 is connected to a storage portion or the like (not shown) of the active material 32c. The other end of the screw conveyor 310 is connected to the charging chute 320.

The charging chute 320 transports the active material 32c transported from the screw conveyor 310 to the crusher 330. The other end of the screw conveyor 310 is connected to one side surface of the charging chute 320. The upper surface of the crusher 330 is connected to the lower surface of the charging chute 320. As a result, the active material 32c horizontally charged into the charging chute 320 by the screw conveyor 310 is charged by free-falling into the crusher 330.

The crusher 330 is provided on the band-shaped current collector 31B carried in the chamber 100. An input chute 320 is provided on the crusher 330. A shutter unit 350 is provided below the crusher 330.
Here, the active material 32c charged into the crusher 330 from the charging chute 320 may be in the form of a lump due to the nature of the material. If the active material 32c is placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B in this state, the performance of the electrode 30 after completion is affected. The crusher 330 has a role of crushing the active material 32c before loading in order to solve this problem.

The crusher 330 includes a discharge chute 331, a rotor 332, and a screen 333. The discharge chute 331 is a container that receives the active material 32c charged from the charging chute 320. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the lower end portion of the discharge chute 331 is open and is arranged in the chamber 100. As a result, the active material 32c is placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B in the depressurized chamber 100.

The rotor 332 is a rotating member arranged in the discharge chute 331. The active material 32c charged into the discharge chute 331 is agitated by coming into contact with the rotating rotor 332. As a result, the massive active material 32c is crushed.
The screen 333 is located at the bottom of the rotor 332 in the discharge chute 331. The screen 333 is a net-like member. The screen 333 has the role of a sieve for making the active material 32c crushed by the rotor 332 finer. The screen 333 has a role of grinding the massive active material 32c so as to be crushed by being sandwiched between the rotating rotor 332 and the screen 333 in which the massive active material 32c is rotated.

The ultrasonic vibrator 340 is provided on the outer wall below the discharge chute 331. That is, it is provided outside the portion where the active material 32c crushed by the rotor 332 and the screen 333 is deposited. The ultrasonic vibration machine 340 has a role of vibrating the active material 32c deposited on the lower part of the discharge chute 331 by generating ultrasonic waves and evening out the deposited active material 32c.

The shutter unit 350 is provided at the lower end of the discharge chute 331 opened as described above. That is, the active material 32c crushed by the crusher 330 is deposited directly above the shutter unit 350. By opening and closing the shutter unit 350 in this state, the active material 32c falls onto the band-shaped current collector 31B conveyed in the chamber 100. As a result, the active material 32c is placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B.

The shutter unit 350 includes a first shutter door 351 and a second shutter door 352. In the present embodiment, the first shutter door 351 is provided in the chamber 100 on the upstream side of the band-shaped current collector 31B in the transport direction. The second shutter door 352 is provided on the downstream side of the band-shaped current collector 31B in the transport direction.
By appropriately opening and closing the shutter unit 350 in accordance with the movement of the band-shaped current collector 31B transported by the transport device 200, the amount of the active material 32c placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B is adjusted. As a result, the amount of the active material 32c placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B is precisely controlled.

The roll press 400 is provided between the first transfer device 210 and the second transfer device 220 in the chamber 100. The roll press 400 press-molds the active material 32c placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B in the chamber 100 together with the band-shaped current collector 31B in the above step. As a result, it has a role of fixing the active material 32c to the band-shaped current collector 31B.

At this time, if the above-mentioned placement is performed in atmospheric pressure, air may remain inside the active material 32c. If press molding is performed by the roll press 400 in this state, the compressed air expands after the press is completed, causing inconveniences such as the active material 32c popping off and the surface of the active material 32c becoming uneven. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the steps of placing the active material 32c and press molding are performed inside the chamber 100 under reduced pressure as described above. This makes it possible to perform the above-mentioned work without leaving air in the active material 32c.
The active material 32c that has been transferred from the first transfer device 210 to the roll press 400 and press-molded is transferred to the second transfer device 220.

The frame supply device 500 is provided on the second transfer device 220. The frame body supply device 500 installs the frame body 45 around the active material 32c press-molded by the above-mentioned process. The frame supply device 500 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the active material supply device 300. The frame body supply device 500 supplies the frame body 45 onto the band-shaped current collector 31B so as to accommodate the active material 32c on the band-shaped current collector 31B inside the frame body 45. The frame supply device 500 includes a support 510, a moving rail 520, and a follow-up rail 530.
The support 510 grips the frame 45 prepared in advance in the chamber 100 and moves around the active material 32c to be conveyed on the second transfer device 220.

The support 510 includes a base 511 and a gripping arm 512. The base 511 is installed on a sliding portion 532 (described later) of the follow-up rail 530.
The gripping arm 512 is connected to the base 511. The gripping arm 512 is a portion for gripping the frame body 45. The gripping arm 512 can be moved up and down by the base 511. As a method of gripping the frame body 45 by the gripping arm 512, for example, a method of sucking the frame body 45 to the tip end portion of the gripping arm 512 by the suction portion 513 is preferably used.

The moving rail 520 moves the support 510 in the chamber 100 in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport device 200 (in the present embodiment, a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (Y direction described later)). In the present embodiment, the moving rail 520 is provided with a pair of columnar members in a pair and parallel with the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport device 200 as the longitudinal direction. Mounting portions 531 provided at both ends of the follow-up rail 530, which will be described later, are mounted on the pair of moving rails 520, respectively.

The follow-up rail 530 is a portion where the support 510 is installed. In the present embodiment, the follow rail 530 is a columnar member, and is provided with the transport direction of the transport device 200 as the longitudinal direction. The follow-up rail 530 includes a mounting portion 531 and a sliding portion 532.
The mounting portions 531 are provided at both ends of the follow-up rail 530. The mounting portions 531 are mounted on a pair of moving rails 520, respectively. The mounting portion 531 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520. As a result, the following rail 530 moves in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520.

The sliding portion 532 is a columnar portion of the follow-up rail 530. As described above, the support 510 is attached to the sliding portion 532. As a result, the support 510 moves in the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520 along with the following rail 530.
As a result, the frame body supply device 500 lifts the frame body 45 prepared on the side portion of the second transfer device 220 by the support member 510, moves it to the upper part of the second transfer device 220 by the moving rail 520, and has a band shape. Install on the current collector 31B.

When the frame body 45 is installed on the band-shaped current collector 31B, the frame body 45 is moved only in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport device 200 by the moving rail 520, and is aligned with the position of the active material 32c. It is installed by lowering the frame body 45.
Alternatively, at the same time as lowering the frame body 45, the support 510 may be moved in the longitudinal direction of the follow-up rail 530, that is, in the transport direction of the transport device 200. That is, the frame body 45 may be installed while the support tool 510 is moved according to the moving direction and the moving speed of the band-shaped current collector 31B by the transport device 200.

The current collector deploying device 600 supplies a band-shaped current collector 31B into the chamber 100. In the present embodiment, the current collector deploying device 600 is provided outside the chamber 100.
The current collector deploying device 600 includes a roll holding unit 610, a splicer 620, and a feed roller 630.

The current collector roll 31R is held in the roll holding portion 610. The roll holding portion 610 includes a support column portion 611, a roll changer 612, a rotating portion 613, and a mounting portion 614.
The strut portion 611 is a base portion of the roll holding portion 610. The strut portion 611 is configured, for example, with a rod-shaped member provided vertically on the ground.
The roll changer 612 is a rod-shaped member.
The rotating portion 613 is provided at the upper end of the strut portion 611. The rotating portion 613 rotatably holds the central portion of the roll changer 612 in the longitudinal direction.
The mounting portion 614 is a rod-shaped member. The mounting portions 614 are provided at both ends of the roll changer 612 so as to be perpendicular to the plane on which the roll changer 612 rotates.
The mounting portion 614 holds the current collector roll 31R by inserting the central portion of the current collector roll 31R.

The splicer 620 joins the ends of the band-shaped current collector 31B to each other. When all the current collector rolls 31R are deployed and all the band-shaped current collectors 31B are supplied, the end of the band-shaped current collector 31B finally moves toward the chamber 100. This end and the start end of the band-shaped current collector 31B in which a plurality of prepared current collector rolls 31R are developed as described above are joined by a splicer 620. As a result, the plurality of band-shaped current collectors 31B are continuously supplied to the chamber 100 without interruption.

The feed roller 630 is provided between the roll holding portion 610 and the chamber 100. The feed roller 630 is composed of a plurality of rotating members. The band-shaped current collector 31B conveyed by the feed roller 630 moves along the plurality of rotating members. As a result, the band-shaped current collector 31B is stably supplied into the chamber 100 without being loosened in the middle of the feed roller 630.

By the above-mentioned current collector deploying device 600, the supply of the band-shaped current collector 31B to the chamber 100 is as follows. Here, at least two current collector rolls 31R are held by the roll holding portion 610. It is assumed that a plurality of current collector rolls 31R are prepared in the vicinity of the upper current collector roll 31R shown in FIG. 3, that is, in the vicinity of the upper mounting portion 614.
First, the current collector roll 31R attached to the mounting portion 614 is appropriately deployed, and the band-shaped current collector 31B is supplied from the current collector roll 31R.

The supply of the band-shaped current collector 31B to the chamber 100 in the normal state is from the current collector roll 31R held downward by the roll holding portion 610. As described above, when all the current collector rolls 31R are deployed, the end of the lower current collector roll 31R and the start end of the upper current collector roll 31R are joined by the splicer 620. As a result, the supply of the current collector roll 31R to the chamber 100 is switched so as to be supplied from the upper collector roll 31R.

After that, the upper collector roll 31R is moved downward by the roll changer 612. Then, the mounting portion 614 on the side where the current collector roll 31R is not mounted moves upward. After this state is reached, as described above, the current collector roll 31R prepared in the vicinity of the upper mounting portion 614 is mounted on the mounting portion 614 moved to the upper side.
By repeating this, the current collector roll 31R is switched and the band-shaped current collector 31B is continuously supplied without stopping the supply of the band-shaped current collector 31B to the chamber 100.

The entrance portion 700 is provided on the side wall of the chamber 100 in accordance with the position of the slit 110. The inlet portion 700 is a portion where the band-shaped current collector 31B enters the chamber 100. Further, the inlet portion 700 is provided with a slit guide (not shown) that prevents the atmosphere outside the chamber 100 from entering the chamber 100 at the same time when the band-shaped current collector 31B enters the chamber 100. There is. As a result, the band-shaped current collector 31B is supplied into the chamber 100 while maintaining the air pressure in the decompressed chamber 100.

As described above, the band-shaped current collector 31B supplied into the chamber 100 from the inlet portion 700 has the band-shaped current collector 31B placed on the current collector deploying device 600 and press-molded by the roll press 400. After that, the frame body is installed by the frame body supply device 500. After that, the band-shaped current collector 31B is appropriately cut according to the distance between the frames to form the electrode 30.

The single cell 20 is formed by appropriately laminating the electrodes 30 (that is, the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b) formed by the above steps.

As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment, each apparatus (conveying apparatus 200, active material supply apparatus 300, roll press 400) used in the above-mentioned manufacturing method of the battery 10 has a lower pressure than the atmospheric pressure. It is provided in the chamber 100 to be manufactured. As a result, the active material 32c can be placed and pressed on the band-shaped current collector 31B in a reduced pressure environment. Therefore, the active material 32c can be placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B without leaving air in the active material 32c before pressing, and the active material 32c can be fixed to the band-shaped current collector 31B. Further, the active material supply device 300 is provided with a shutter unit 350 that adjusts the supply of the active material 32c onto the band-shaped current collector 31B by opening and closing. Thereby, the amount of the active material 32c placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B can be precisely controlled.

Further, with respect to the active material supply device 300, the frame body supply device 500 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the band-shaped current collector 31B by the transport device 200. As a result, after an appropriate amount of the active material 32c is placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B by the active material supply device 300, the frame 45 is installed around the active material 32c. Therefore, the frame 45 can be placed around the active material 32c on which an appropriate amount is placed by the above-mentioned active material supply device 300. Therefore, by storing an appropriate amount of the active material 32c in the frame body 45, the active material 32c can be arranged without a gap on the inner surface of the frame body 45.

Further, it is installed on the band-shaped current collector 31B while moving the frame 45 according to the moving direction and moving speed of the band-shaped current collector 31B. As a result, the frame body 45 can be installed without stopping the transportation of the band-shaped current collector 31B one by one. Therefore, the time required for manufacturing can be further shortened.

Further, by joining the ends of the band-shaped current collectors 31B to each other, the current collectors 200 are continuously supplied to the transport device 200. As a result, the band-shaped current collector 31B can be supplied without interruption in the battery manufacturing process.

Further, a supply device for the band-shaped current collector 31B is provided outside the chamber 100. This makes it possible to minimize the size of the chamber 100.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the current collector deploying device 600 may be installed in the chamber 100.
Further, the active material supply device 300 may be entirely provided in the chamber 100.
Further, the frame body supply device 500 may be provided on the upstream side of the current collector deploying device 600 in the transport direction of the transport device 200. That is, after installing the frame body 45 on the band-shaped current collector 31B, the active material 32c may be placed inside the frame body 45.

In addition, it is appropriately possible to replace the constituent elements in the above-described embodiment with well-known constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-mentioned modified examples may be appropriately combined.

<Frame supply device>
In a lithium ion battery, generally, a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer formed on the surface of a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer formed on the surface of a negative electrode current collector are laminated via a separator. It is composed of. As a method for manufacturing an electrode for a lithium ion battery, a molding method is known in which a powdery active material is placed on a current collector and pressed into an integral body. At that time, a method of placing a frame around the active material on the current collector is known. For example, there is a method of filling the inside of a frame provided on a current collector with an active material (Patent Document 1). Further, there is a method of arranging an active material inside a frame provided on a current collector (Patent Document 2).

In order to improve the productivity of the electrode for the lithium ion battery, it is necessary to continuously transport the current collector and supply the active material onto the transported current collector. At this time, it is necessary to install the above-mentioned frame body on the current collector being transported, but in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the frame body is supplied on the current collector continuously transported. No specific configuration has been considered regarding the mechanism to be used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a frame body supply device and a battery electrode manufacturing device capable of smoothly supplying a frame body onto a collected current collector and improving productivity. ..

In order to solve the above problems, this aspect proposes the following means.
The frame supply device according to this embodiment is a frame supply device that supplies a frame onto a current collector that is conveyed in the first horizontal direction in a chamber whose inside is depressurized from atmospheric pressure. A support that is arranged in the chamber, holds the frame detachably in the chamber, and moves the frame in the vertical direction, and the support is the first in the horizontal direction. It is equipped with a moving rail that intersects in one direction and moves in a second direction.

According to this aspect, the frame supply device is provided in the chamber, and the support for moving the frame in the vertical direction is moved in the second direction intersecting the first direction by the moving rail. Since the frame body can be moved in this way and the frame body can be installed on the current collector conveyed in the first direction, the frame body can be smoothly supplied.
In addition, the support is moved by the moving rail. As a result, the structure can be further simplified as compared with, for example, a robot arm or the like.

Further, a follow-up rail for moving the support in the first direction may be further provided.

According to this aspect, a follow-up rail for moving the support in the first direction is further provided. Thereby, the frame body can be installed on the current collector while moving the frame body in the first direction according to the moving speed of the current collector.
Here, when the frame is installed around the active material placed on the current collector, it is necessary to align the frame with the active material. That is, if the frame does not move in the first direction, it is necessary to stop the transport of the current collector one by one and install the frame.
Since the frame can be moved in the first direction by the follow-up rail, the frame can be installed by aligning the position around the active material without stopping the transport of the current collector in the first direction. ..

Further, the support may be attached to the frame.

According to this aspect, the support is attached to the frame. As a result, it is possible to prevent the frame from being deformed as compared with the case where the frame is gripped so as to be gripped.

Further, the frame body held by the support is moved along the moving rail, and the frame body is accommodated inside the frame body so that the active material layer formed on the current collector is accommodated inside the frame body. It may be supplied on the current collector.

According to this aspect, the frame body is supplied onto the current collector so that the active material layer formed on the current collector is housed inside the frame body. That is, the frame is supplied around the active material in which an appropriate amount is placed in advance. Therefore, by storing an appropriate amount of the active material in the frame, the active material can be arranged without a gap on the inner surface of the frame.

Further, the device for manufacturing the battery electrode according to this embodiment is arranged in the chamber, the chamber in which the pressure is reduced below the atmospheric pressure, the transport device for transporting the current collector in the chamber, and the inside of the chamber. A support that holds the frame body detachably and moves the frame body in the vertical direction, and a moving rail that moves the support tool in the second direction that intersects the first direction in the horizontal direction. A frame body supply device including the above, and an active material supply device for supplying a powdery active material on the current collector conveyed by the transfer device.

According to this aspect, a frame supply device is provided in the chamber. Here, it may be ideal that the battery manufacturing process, that is, the installation of the frame body on the current collector is performed in a chamber whose inside is depressurized. In this case, if the frame body supply device is provided in the chamber, the frame body can be installed in the current collector in the chamber. Therefore, the ideal battery manufacturing process can be realized.

Further, the frame body supply device is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction from the active material supply device, and the frame body is such that the active material layer formed on the current collector is housed inside the frame body. May be supplied onto the current collector.

According to this aspect, the frame supply device is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the active material supply device. As a result, the frame is placed around the active material after an appropriate amount of the active material is placed on the current collector by the active material supply device. Therefore, the frame can be placed around the active material in which an appropriate amount is placed by the above-mentioned active material supply device. Therefore, by storing an appropriate amount of the active material in the frame, the active material can be arranged without a gap on the inner surface of the frame.

Further, the active material supply device is arranged in the chamber and downstream of the frame supply device in the transport direction, and the active material supply device is placed on the current collector frame. A powdery active material may be supplied to the inside of the body.

According to this aspect, the active material supply device is arranged in the chamber and is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction from the frame supply device. As a result, the active material can be supplied to the inside of the frame body placed on the current collector.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a frame body supply device and a battery electrode manufacturing device capable of smoothly supplying a frame body onto a collected current collector and improving productivity. ..

In the present embodiment, the moving directions of the support 510 are the X direction (first direction), the Y direction (second direction), and the Z direction (vertical direction) shown in FIG. Further, the X direction is the longitudinal direction of the follow rail 530. The X direction is parallel to the direction in which the band-shaped current collector 31B is transported by the transport device 200. Further, the Y direction is the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520, which is the horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction.

In order to adsorb the frame body 45 to the adsorption unit 513, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the adsorption unit 513 is provided with a degassing tube 514. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the suction portion 513 includes, for example, a main body portion 513a, an elastic portion 513b, and a suction cup portion 513c.

The main body portion 513a is a portion that is the basis of the suction portion 513. The main body portion 513a is a member having a U-shaped cross section having an opening on the lower surface side. Further, the opening of the main body portion 513a has a frame shape (annular shape) that matches the shape of the frame body 45.
The elastic portion 513b is provided so as to close the opening of the main body portion 513a. The elastic portion 513b is a portion provided on the main body portion 513a and in contact with the frame body 45. Here, in order to attract the frame body 45 to the suction portion 513, the elastic portion 513b needs to be in close contact with the frame body 45 without a gap. The suction cup portion 513c is a portion of the elastic portion 513b provided with a plurality of intervals on the surface in contact with the frame body 45, and the thickness of the elastic portion 513b is thin. Further, in the present embodiment, the suction cup portion 513c is provided so as to be flush with the surface of the elastic portion 513b on the side in contact with the frame body 45 and to have a recess on the surface on the side of the main body portion 513a.
The frame body 45 is gripped by the suction unit 513 as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the elastic portion 513b is in close contact with the frame body 45, the air inside the suction portion 513 is sucked by the degassing tube 514. Then, the air pressure in the suction portion 513 decreases. As a result, a force is generated that attracts the elastic portion 513b to the inside of the main body portion 513a. When this force is generated, the suction cup portion 513c first moves to the inside of the main body portion 513a.
Then, a force that creates a gap between the frame body 45 and the suction cup portion 513c acts. On the other hand, the elastic portion 513b remains in contact with the frame body 45. As a result, the gap created between the frame body 45 and the suction cup portion 513c becomes a negative pressure. As a result, the frame body 45 is sucked by the suction cup portion 513c of the suction portion 513, and the frame body 45 is gripped by maintaining this. Further, when the frame body 45 is released, the suction by the degassing tube 514 is stopped, so that the frame body 45 can be gripped freely.

In the transfer step of the band-shaped current collector 31B in the present embodiment, when the frame body 45 is installed on the band-shaped current collector 31B, first, as shown in FIG. 8, in the vicinity of the second transfer device 220. The prepared frame body 45 is gripped by the above-mentioned method. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the frame body 45 is moved in the Y direction. After that, it is installed by lowering the frame body 45 according to the position of the active material 32c. That is, the frame body supply device 500 moves the frame body 45 held by the support 510 along the moving rail 520, and accommodates the active material 32c on the band-shaped current collector 31B inside the frame body 45. The frame body 45 is supplied onto the band-shaped current collector 31B.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, at the same time as lowering the frame body 45, the support 510 may be moved in the longitudinal direction of the follow-up rail 530, that is, in the transport direction of the transport device 200. That is, the frame body 45 may be installed while the support tool 510 is moved according to the moving direction and the moving speed of the band-shaped current collector 31B by the transport device 200.

As described above, according to the frame supply device 500 according to the present embodiment, the support 510 provided in the chamber 100 for moving the frame 45 in the vertical direction is moved in the first direction by the moving rail 520. Move in the second direction to intersect. Since the frame body 45 can be moved in this way and the frame body 45 can be installed on the band-shaped current collector 31B conveyed in the first direction, the frame body 45 can be smoothly supplied.
Further, according to the frame body supply device 500 according to the present embodiment, since the supply of the frame body 45 is performed in the chamber 100 (decompression chamber) in which the pressure of the frame body 45 is lower than the atmospheric pressure, the supply of the frame body 45 is performed in a normal pressure environment. The following problems that occur when it is done below can be solved. Specifically, for example, in the case of a configuration in which the frame transport mechanism is provided before coating the active material 32c on the outside of the chamber 100 (decompression chamber) (that is, under normal pressure environment) (that is, on the upstream side in the transport direction), the frame Since 45 enters the chamber 100 (decompression chamber) through the slit 110 of the chamber 100 (decompression chamber), the width (thickness) of the slit 110 becomes large, and as a result, the inflow amount of outside air increases. Occurs. As a configuration different from this configuration, for example, in the case of a configuration in which the frame transfer mechanism is provided on the outside of the chamber 100 (decompression chamber) (that is, under normal pressure environment) and after pressing (that is, on the downstream side in the transfer direction). The active material 32c applied without the frame 45 is pressed, and then the frame 45 is pressed from above the pressed electrode active material layer 32 after being discharged to the outside of the chamber 100 (under normal pressure environment). Will be placed. In that case, there arises a problem that the electrode active material layer 32 pressed without the frame body 45 does not fit to the end of the frame body 45. The above problems can be solved by performing the supply of the frame body 45 in the chamber 100 (decompression chamber) in which the pressure is reduced from the atmospheric pressure as in the present embodiment, and as a result, the lithium ion battery. The productivity of the electrodes can be improved.
Further, the support 510 is moved by the moving rail 520. As a result, the structure can be further simplified as compared with, for example, a robot arm or the like.

Further, a follow-up rail 530 for moving the support 510 in the first direction is further provided, whereby the band-shaped current collector 31B is moved in the first direction according to the moving speed of the band-shaped current collector 31B. The frame body 45 can be installed on the current collector 31B.
Here, when the frame body 45 is installed around the active material 32c placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B, it is necessary to align the frame body 45 with the active material 32c. That is, when the frame body 45 does not move in the first direction, it is necessary to stop the transport of the band-shaped current collector 31B one by one and install the frame body 45.
Since the frame body 45 can be moved in the first direction by the follow-up rail 530, the frame body is aligned with the periphery of the active material 32c without stopping the transport of the band-shaped current collector 31B in the first direction. 45 can be installed.

Further, the support 510 is adsorbed on the frame body 45. As a result, it is possible to prevent the frame body 45 from being deformed as compared with the case where the frame body 45 is gripped so as to be gripped.

Further, the frame body 45 is supplied onto the band-shaped current collector 31B so that the active material 32c on the band-shaped current collector 31B is housed inside the frame body 45. That is, the frame 45 is supplied around the active material 32c on which an appropriate amount is placed in advance. Therefore, by storing an appropriate amount of the active material 32c in the frame body 45, the active material 32c can be arranged without a gap on the inner surface of the frame body 45.

Further, a frame supply device 500 is provided in the chamber 100. Here, it may be ideal that the battery manufacturing process, that is, the installation of the frame body 45 on the band-shaped current collector 31B is performed in the chamber 100 whose inside is depressurized. In this case, if the frame body supply device 500 is provided in the chamber 100, the frame body 45 can be installed in the band-shaped current collector 31B in the chamber 100. Therefore, the ideal battery manufacturing process can be realized.

Further, the frame body supply device 500 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the active material supply device 300. As a result, after an appropriate amount of the active material 32c is placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B by the active material supply device 300, the frame 45 is installed around the active material 32c. Therefore, the frame 45 can be placed around the active material 32c on which an appropriate amount is placed by the above-mentioned active material supply device 300. Therefore, by storing an appropriate amount of the active material 32c in the frame body 45, the active material 32c can be arranged without a gap on the inner surface of the frame body 45.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the movement of the frame body 45 may be in the form of the base arm 511a as shown in FIG.
Further, the frame body supply device 500 may be provided on the upstream side of the current collector deploying device 600 in the transport direction of the transport device 200. That is, after installing the frame body 45 on the band-shaped current collector 31B, the active material 32c may be placed inside the frame body 45. In this case, the active material supply device 300 is arranged in the chamber 100 and on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the frame body supply device 500. Then, the active material supply device 300 supplies the powder-like active material 32c to the inside of the frame body 45 placed on the band-shaped current collector 31B.

In addition, it is possible to replace the constituent elements in the embodiment with well-known constituent elements as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-mentioned modified examples may be appropriately combined.

The present invention can be used for manufacturing battery electrodes.

10 Battery 30 Electrode 31 Current collector 31B Band-shaped current collector 32c Active material 45 Frame body 100 Chamber 200 Conveyor device 300 Active material supply device 350 Shutter unit 400 Roll press 500 Frame body supply device 510 Support 520 Moving rail 530 Follow-up rail 1000 manufacturing equipment

Claims

A chamber whose interior is decompressed more than atmospheric pressure,
A transport device that transports a band-shaped current collector in the chamber in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped current collector, and a transport device.
An active material supply device that supplies a powdery active material onto the band-shaped current collector that moves in the chamber,
A roll press for fixing the active substance on the band-shaped current collector to the band-shaped current collector, and
Equipped with
The active material supply device and the roll press are arranged in the chamber.
The active material supply device is provided with a shutter unit that adjusts the supply of the active material onto the band-shaped current collector by opening and closing.
Battery electrode manufacturing equipment.
In the chamber, the frame is supplied around the active material placed on the band-shaped current collector, which is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport device with respect to the active material supply device. Further equipped with a frame supply device
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 1.
The frame body supply device is installed on the band-shaped current collector while moving the frame body according to the moving direction and moving speed of the band-shaped current collector by the transport device.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 2.
The band-shaped current collector is continuously supplied to the transport device by joining the band-shaped ends to each other.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The band-shaped current collector is supplied to the transport device by a supply device provided outside the chamber.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The frame supply device is
A frame supply device that supplies a frame onto a current collector that is transported in the first horizontal direction in a chamber where the inside is depressurized from atmospheric pressure.
A support that is arranged in the chamber, holds the frame body detachably in the chamber, and moves the frame body in the vertical direction.
A moving rail that moves the support in a second direction that intersects the first direction in the horizontal direction.
Is equipped with
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 2 or 3.
Further comprising a follow-up rail for moving the support in the first direction.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 6.
The support is attached to the frame.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 6 or 7.
The frame body held by the support is moved along the moving rail, and the frame body is housed in the frame body so as to accommodate the active material layer formed on the current collector. Supply on the body,
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to any one of claims 6 to 8.
In the chamber, a frame body supply device for supplying the frame body on the band-shaped current collector is further provided.
The active material supply device is arranged in the chamber and downstream of the frame supply device in the transport direction.
The active material supply device supplies a powdery active material to the inside of a frame placed on the current collector.
The device for manufacturing a battery electrode according to claim 1.