Device for lifting sheet in bipolar battery cell manufacturing process

Abstract

To simplify a configuration of a device that lifts a sheet.SOLUTION: An upstream fixture includes a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions include a pair of upstream parallel surfaces facing each other across a transport path, a pair of upstream inclined surfaces connected to them, and multiple nozzles that discharge air along the pair of upstream inclined surfaces. A downstream fixture includes a third portion and a fourth portion facing each other. The third and fourth portions include a pair of downstream inclined surfaces whose interval widens as heading toward the downstream side, and a pair of downstream flat surfaces located within the range of the pair of upstream inclined surfaces when viewed along the transport direction. While air is discharged from the nozzles, a semi-finished product is conveyed so that the orientation of the outer peripheral edge of foil matches the transport direction in a state where a pair of seal portions are positioned within a space between the first portion and the second portion of the upstream fixture, and a pair of portions to be lifted are supported by the pair of downstream flat surfaces in a state where the pair of portions to be lifted are opened so as to get close to the pair of upstream inclined surfaces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device for turning over a sheet portion in the manufacturing process of a bipolar battery cell. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional technique for turning over sheet material in a manufacturing process. The turning mechanism in Patent Document 1 turns over a portion of a packaging bag on a conveying path. The turning mechanism includes a suction cup and an arm that swings the suction cup around an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. The arm allows the suction cup to take two positions: a suction-holding position located on a plane including the conveying direction of the conveying path, and a turning-up position located above the suction-holding position. At the suction-holding position, the suction cup sucks the opening side of the positioned packaging bag and turns over the packaging bag to the turning-up position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-30831 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 requires a three-axis actuator to realize the operation of lifting up a portion of the packaging bag using the suction cup. This increases the cost of the manufacturing equipment. In addition, the conveyance of the packaging bag must be stopped when the suction cup adheres to a portion of the packaging bag. This increases the cycle time of the manufacturing process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for peeling off a seal portion during a manufacturing process of a bipolar battery cell. The semi-finished bipolar battery cell includes a metal foil and a pair of resin seal portions arranged along the outer periphery of the foil on both sides of the foil, the pair of seal portions each having a portion fixed to the foil and a portion protruding from the outer periphery of the foil. At least in the portions protruding from the outer periphery, the pair of seal portions each have a pair of peelable portions that are separated from adjacent portions along the outer periphery and can be peeled off independently in a direction perpendicular to the foil. The turning device includes an upstream jig disposed on the conveying path of the semi-finished product and a downstream jig disposed downstream of the upstream jig on the conveying path of the semi-finished product. The upstream jig includes a first portion and a second portion disposed opposite each other across a space that is a part of the conveying path of the semi-finished product. The first portion and the second portion include a pair of upstream parallel surfaces that face each other at a fixed distance across the space that is a part of the conveying path, and a pair of upstream inclined surfaces that face each other across the space that is a part of the conveying path, the pair of upstream inclined surfaces being parallel to the pair of upstream parallel surfaces and connected to each other in a first direction that is perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the conveying path extends, the distance between the pair of upstream inclined surfaces increasing downstream of the conveying path and the distance between the pair of upstream parallel surfaces increasing as the distance from the pair of upstream parallel surfaces in the first direction increases. Each of the pair of upstream inclined surfaces includes a plurality of nozzles that can spray air along the pair of upstream inclined surfaces. The downstream jig includes a third portion and a fourth portion arranged opposite each other across a space that is a part of the conveying path for the semi-finished product. The third portion and the fourth portion each include a pair of downstream inclined portions that face the pair of upstream inclined portions at a part including an upstream end and whose distance from each other increases toward the downstream side of the conveying path, and a pair of downstream flat portions that are parallel to a plane defined by the conveying direction and a second direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and the first direction, and that are arranged at positions included in a range occupied by the pair of upstream inclined portions in the first direction when viewed along the conveying direction. When air is being sprayed from the multiple nozzles along the pair of upstream inclined surface portions, the turning device feeds the semi-finished product so that the orientation of the outer edge of the foil is aligned with the conveying direction, with the pair of sealing portions positioned within the space between the first and second portions of the upstream jig, and maintains the open state by supporting the pair of turned-over portions of the pair of sealing portions so that they are each close to the pair of upstream inclined surface portions, respectively, with the pair of opened turned-over portions being supported by the pair of downstream flat portions. This configuration allows the pair of turnable sections to be turned open by the Venturi effect of the air flowing along the pair of upstream slopes without using a complex configuration and without stopping the transport of the semi-finished product, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing equipment and shortening the cycle time in the manufacturing process. The present disclosure can be realized in various forms other than a turning-over device, such as a method for manufacturing bipolar battery cells and operating a turning-over device, a computer program for implementing these methods, or a non-transitory recording medium on which the computer program is recorded. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a page-turning device 1 of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a part of the upstream jig 100. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for turning over a sheet portion in the manufacturing process of a bipolar battery cell. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the process of S200 in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the process of S300 in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A. First embodiment: 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a turning device 1 of this embodiment. The turning device 1 turns over the seal portion C200 in order to attach the electrode VT during the manufacturing process of a bipolar battery cell.

[0009] The bipolar battery cell semi-finished product BC is a sheet-like semi-finished product with a roughly rectangular outer shape. By holding the central portion of the bipolar battery cell semi-finished product BC, the entire product, including its outer edges, can be transported while maintaining a roughly horizontal posture. In order to facilitate understanding of the technology, only a portion of the bipolar battery cell semi-finished product BC, including its edge, is shown in FIG. 1 .

[0010] Figure 1 shows the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, which are perpendicular to each other. The positive Z-axis direction coincides with the conveying direction Dc in which the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is conveyed. The positive Y-axis direction is vertically upward. The positive X-axis direction is perpendicular to the positive Y-axis direction and the positive Z-axis direction. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis form a left-handed system.

[0011] The semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC includes a foil C100 and a pair of seal portions C200 (see the lower left part of FIG. 1).

[0012] The foil C100 is a metal foil. More specifically, the foil C100 includes an aluminum foil and a copper foil that have the same shape when viewed in the thickness direction, and an adhesive layer disposed between the aluminum foil and the copper foil to bond them together. The foil C100 has a rectangular outer shape when viewed in the thickness direction.

[0013] The pair of sealing portions C200 are arranged on both sides of the foil C100 along the outer periphery C100e of the foil C100. The pair of sealing portions C200 have the same shape when viewed in the thickness direction. Specifically, each of the pair of sealing portions C200 has a substantially rectangular frame shape. The pair of sealing portions C200 are made of resin. In FIG. 1, only a linear portion of the substantially rectangular frame shape of the pair of sealing portions C200 that extends along the conveyance direction Dc is shown.

[0014] Each of the pair of seal portions C200 includes a fixed portion C200f fixed to the foil C100 and a protruding portion C200p protruding from the outer peripheral edge C100e of the foil C100. That is, the inner side of the substantially rectangular frame shape of the seal portion C200 is fixed to the foil C100. The outer side of the substantially rectangular frame shape protrudes from the outer peripheral edge C100e of the foil C100. Specifically, the fixed portion C200f is welded to the foil C100. However, the fixed portion C200f is welded to the foil C100 on the inner side of the outer peripheral edge C100e of the foil C100.

[0015] The pair of sealed portions C200 includes a pair of turnable portions C210. ​​The pair of turnable portions C210 are separated from adjacent portions C220, C230 in the direction De along the outer peripheral edge C100e at protruding portions C200p protruding from the outer peripheral edge C100e. A slit separating the turnable portion C210 from the adjacent portions C220, C230 extends from the outer edge of the sealed portion C200 to a position inside the outer peripheral edge C100e of the foil C100. As a result, the pair of sealed portions C200 can be turned over independently of the portions C220, C230 in the direction perpendicular to the foil C100.

[0016] The turning device 1 includes an upstream jig 100 and a downstream jig 200 (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). The upstream jig 100 is disposed on the conveying path CP for the semi-finished products BC (see the middle center part of FIG. 1). The downstream jig 200 is disposed on the conveying path CP for the semi-finished products BC, downstream of the upstream jig 100 (see the middle right part of FIG. 1).

[0017] The upstream jig 100 includes a first portion 110 and a second portion 120. The first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are arranged facing each other across a space that is part of the conveying path CP for the semi-finished products BC. The first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction.

[0018] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged portion of the upstream jig 100. The first portion 110 and the second portion 120 include a pair of upstream parallel surface portions 112, 122 and a pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124 (see the middle right portion of FIG. 2).

[0019] The upstream parallel surface portion 112 is provided in the first portion 110 (see the middle right portion of FIG. 2). The upstream parallel surface portion 122 is provided in the second portion 120. The pair of upstream parallel surface portions 112, 122 are arranged to face each other at a certain distance across a space that is part of the conveying path CP. The pair of upstream parallel surface portions 112, 122 are parallel to the ZX plane.

[0020] The upstream inclined surface portion 114 is provided in the first portion 110 (see the middle right portion of FIG. 2). The upstream inclined surface portion 124 is provided in the second portion 120. The pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124 are arranged to face each other across a space that is part of the conveying path CP.

[0021] The pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124 are connected to the pair of upstream parallel surface portions 112, 122 in a first direction D1. The first direction D1 is parallel to the pair of upstream parallel surface portions 112, 122 and perpendicular to the conveying direction Dc, which is the direction in which the conveying path CP extends. The first direction D1 coincides with the positive direction of the X-axis.

[0022] More specifically, the upstream inclined surface portion 114 is connected to the upstream parallel surface portion 112 in the first direction D1. The upstream inclined surface portion 124 is connected to the upstream parallel surface portion 122 in the first direction D1.

[0023] The pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124 are both flat surfaces. The pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124 are provided in an orientation such that the distance d4 between them increases toward the downstream of the conveying path CP, and also increases as they move away from the pair of upstream parallel surface portions 112, 122 in the first direction D1.

[0024] The first portion 110 and the second portion 120 each include a plurality of nozzles 116, 126 that can eject air Aa along a pair of upstream sloped portions 114, 124 (see the middle center portion of FIG. 2). The first portion 110 includes a plurality of nozzles 116 that can eject air Aa along the upstream sloped portion 114. The second portion 120 includes a plurality of nozzles 126 that can eject air Aa along the upstream sloped portion 124.

[0025] Specifically, air sent from the outside into the first section 110 of the upstream jig 100 is sent to a flow path extending in the direction in which the multiple nozzles 116 are aligned within the first section 110, i.e., along the direction Dc. The air is then sent from the flow path to the multiple nozzles 116 and sprayed from the multiple nozzles 116 along the upstream slope portion 114. The second section 120 also has a similar flow path inside.

[0026] The downstream jig 200 includes a third section 230 and a fourth section 240 (see the right-hand portion of FIG. 1). The third section 230 and the fourth section 240 are arranged facing each other across a space that is part of the conveying path CP for the semi-finished products BC. The third section 230 and the fourth section 240 are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction.

[0027] The third portion 230 includes a support portion having a rectangular plate-like shape and an insertion portion connected to the tip of the rectangular support portion in the negative Z-axis direction (see the middle right portion of FIG. 1). The insertion portion includes a square pillar-shaped portion with vertex 236t at the end of the third portion 230 in the negative Z-axis direction, and a rectangular parallelepiped portion connecting the square pillar-shaped portion and the support portion. In this embodiment, the square pillar-shaped portion and the rectangular parallelepiped portion are integrally configured. The surface of the square pillar-shaped portion facing the positive X-axis direction and the surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion facing the positive X-axis direction form a continuous plane. The fourth portion 240 has a shape symmetrical to the third portion 230 with respect to the ZX plane (see the middle right portion of FIG. 1).

[0028] The third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240 include a pair of downstream sloped portions 236, 246 and a pair of downstream flat portions 238, 248.

[0029] The pair of downstream inclined surface portions 236, 246 are each flat (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). The downstream inclined surface portion 236 is a slope of the rectangular column-shaped portion of the third portion 230 facing in the positive direction of the Y axis. The downstream inclined surface portion 246 is a slope of the rectangular column-shaped portion of the fourth portion 240 facing in the negative direction of the Y axis. The pair of downstream inclined surface portions 236, 246 are provided in an orientation such that the distance d6 between them increases toward the downstream of the conveying path CP. Parts of the pair of downstream inclined surface portions 236, 246, including upstream ends 236t, 246t, face the pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124 of the upstream jig 100, respectively (see the middle right part of FIG. 1).

[0030] The distance between the third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240, which face each other across the conveying path CP, increases in a portion including the upstream ends 236t, 246t as the distance increases upstream along the conveying path CP, i.e., in the negative Z-axis direction (see the center of the middle section in Figure 1). This configuration allows the downstream leading edge of the foil C100 of the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC to be easily conveyed into the space between the third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240.

[0031] The pair of downstream flat surfaces 238, 248 are each flat (see the middle right part of FIG. 1 ). The downstream flat surface 238 is a flat surface of the support portion of the third portion 230 facing in the negative direction of the X axis. The downstream flat surface 248 is a flat surface of the support portion of the fourth portion 240 facing in the negative direction of the X axis. The pair of downstream flat surfaces 238, 248 define the same plane. The pair of downstream flat surfaces 238, 248 are parallel to a plane defined by the conveying direction Dc and a second direction D2 perpendicular to the conveying direction Dc and the first direction D1. In other words, the pair of downstream flat surfaces 238, 248 are parallel to the YZ plane. The pair of downstream flat surfaces 238, 248 are located on the back surfaces of the third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240 in FIG. 1 . When viewed along the conveying direction Dc, the pair of downstream flat portions 238, 248 are arranged at a position included in the range R4 occupied by the pair of upstream inclined portions 114, 124 in the first direction D1 (see the middle right part of Figure 1 and the middle right part of Figure 2).

[0032] 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure for turning over a sheet portion in the manufacturing process of a bipolar battery cell. In step 100, air Aa is sprayed from multiple nozzles 116, 126 along a pair of upstream slopes 114, 124. While air Aa is being sprayed along the pair of upstream slopes 114, 124, the semi-finished product BC is fed so that the outer edge C100e of the foil C100 is oriented in the conveying direction Dc, with the pair of seal portions C200 positioned in the space between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 of the upstream jig 100 (see arrow Ac in FIG. 1). During this process, the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is held by its center and maintained in a position parallel to the horizontal plane during conveyance.

[0033] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the process of S200 in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4 as well, only a part of the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is shown to facilitate understanding of the technology.

[0034] 3, the pair of turnable portions C210 are opened. More specifically, the pair of turnable portions C210 of the pair of seal portions C200 are opened so as to approach the pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124, respectively. The pair of turnable portions C210 are opened in this manner due to the Venturi effect of the flow of air Aa flowing along the pair of upstream inclined surface portions 114, 124.

[0035] As the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is transported in this state along the transport path CP, the upstream end 236t of the third portion 230 and the upstream end 246t of the fourth portion 240 of the downstream jig 200 come to be positioned between the pair of to-be-turned portions C210, which have opened to approach the pair of upstream slope portions 114, 124. As a result, the pair of to-be-turned portions C210 are supported by the pair of downstream slope portions 236, 246 of the third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240, and as the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is transported along the transport path CP, it is spread in the Y-axis direction by the pair of downstream slope portions 236, 246.

[0036] Meanwhile, in the product BC, the outer peripheral edge C100e of the foil C100 located between the pair of to-be-turned portions C210 is transported through the space between the third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240 of the downstream jig 200. That is, a part of the foil C100, including the outer peripheral edge C100e, that was sandwiched between the pair of to-be-turned portions C210, is exposed.

[0037] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the process of S300 in Fig. 3. In Fig. 5, too, only a part of the semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is shown to facilitate understanding of the technology.

[0038] 3, in a state in which the pair of turnable portions C210 are opened, the pair of open turnable portions C210 are maintained in an open state by being supported by the pair of downstream flat portions 238, 248 of the downstream jig 200. In FIG. 5, the pair of turnable portions C210 are maintained in a position substantially parallel to the YZ plane by the pair of downstream flat portions 238, 248 (see the middle right part of FIG. 5).

[0039] In this manner, the sheet portion is turned over in the bipolar battery cell manufacturing process. In this state, a portion of the foil C100, including the outer peripheral edge C100e, is exposed. A voltage detection terminal VT is joined to the exposed portion, including the outer peripheral edge C100e (see the middle right part of Figure 5). The semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC is then ejected from the turning device 1, and the pair of turned portions C210 are closed with the voltage detection terminal VT between them and welded to each other.

[0040] By performing this process, the pair of turnable portions C210 can be turned open by the Venturi effect of the air Aa flowing along the pair of upstream slopes 114, 124 of the upstream jig 100, without using a complex configuration requiring multiple actuators and without stopping the transport of the semi-finished product BC. This reduces the cost of the manufacturing equipment and shortens the cycle time in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, because no mechanically operating device is required, equipment maintenance is easy and the generation of foreign matter and its inclusion in the bipolar battery cells can be suppressed.

[0041] As in this embodiment, by attaching voltage detection terminals VT after constructing a semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC, it is possible to manufacture a common semi-finished bipolar battery cell BC for multiple types of bipolar battery cells that have different attachment locations for the voltage detection terminals VT (see FIG. 5).

[0042] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...device, 100...upstream jig, 110...first part, 112...upstream parallel surface part, 114...upstream slope part, 116...nozzle, 120...second part, 122...upstream parallel surface part, 124...upstream slope part, 126...nozzle , 200...downstream jig, 230...third part, 236...downstream slope part, 236t...upstream end, 238...downstream plane part, 240...fourth part, 246...downstream slope part, 246t...upstream end, 248...downstream plane part, Aa... Air, Ac...arrow indicating conveyance, BC...semi-finished product, C100...foil, C100e...outer periphery, C200...sealed portion, C200f...fixed portion, C200p...protruding portion, C210...portion to be turned over, C220, C230...adjacent portion, CP...conveyance path, D1...first direction, D2...second direction, Dc...conveyance direction, De...direction along the outer periphery, R4...area occupied by the upstream slope portion, VT...voltage detection terminal, d4...spacing, d6...spacing

Claims

[Claim 1] A device for turning over a seal portion in a manufacturing process of a bipolar battery cell, The semi-finished bipolar battery cell is Metal foil and a pair of resin seal portions arranged along the outer periphery of the foil on both sides thereof, each of the pair of seal portions having a portion fixed to the foil and a portion protruding from the outer periphery of the foil; The pair of seal portions are At least in a portion protruding from the outer circumferential edge, a pair of turnable portions are provided, each of which is separated from an adjacent portion in a direction along the outer circumferential edge and can be turned over independently in a direction perpendicular to the foil; The turning device is an upstream jig disposed on a conveying path of the semi-finished product; a downstream jig disposed downstream of the upstream jig in the conveying path of the semi-finished product, the upstream jig includes a first portion and a second portion disposed opposite each other across a space that is a part of the conveyance path for the semi-finished product; The first portion and the second portion are a pair of upstream parallel surfaces facing each other at a predetermined distance across the space that is a part of the conveying path; a pair of upstream inclined surface portions that face each other across the space that is a part of the transport path, the pair of upstream inclined surface portions being parallel to the pair of upstream parallel surface portions and connected to the pair of upstream parallel surface portions in a first direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction that is the direction in which the transport path extends, the distance between the pair of upstream inclined surface portions increasing toward the downstream of the transport path and the distance between the pair of upstream inclined surface portions increasing toward the farther away from the pair of upstream parallel surface portions in the first direction, a plurality of nozzles each capable of ejecting air along the pair of upstream slope portions; the downstream jig includes a third portion and a fourth portion disposed opposite each other across a space that is a part of the conveyance path of the semi-finished product; The third portion and the fourth portion are a pair of downstream inclined portions that face the pair of upstream inclined portions at portions including upstream ends, and whose distance from each other increases toward the downstream side of the conveying path; a pair of downstream flat surfaces parallel to a plane defined by the conveying direction and a second direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and the first direction, the pair of downstream flat surfaces being disposed at positions included in a range occupied by the pair of upstream inclined surfaces in the first direction when viewed along the conveying direction, The turning device is When air is being ejected from the plurality of nozzles along the pair of upstream inclined surface portions, the semi-finished product is fed so that the orientation of the outer circumferential edge of the foil coincides with the conveying direction, with the pair of sealing portions being positioned within the space between the first portion and the second portion of the upstream jig; A turning device that maintains the pair of turnable portions of the pair of sealing portions in an open state so that they approach the pair of upstream inclined portions, respectively, by supporting the pair of open turnable portions with the pair of downstream flat portions, respectively.

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