Sealing material supply device

Abstract

A sealing material supply device for continuously supplying a sealing material to an uncoated portion of an edge portion of a current collector to which an electrode is coated, the sealing material supply device being provided with: a pair of main body portions disposed so as to sandwich an old sealing material and a new sealing material; thermal welding parts which are respectively arranged on the pair of main body parts and thermally weld the old sealing material and the new sealing material; and half-cut parts which are respectively provided on the pair of main body parts and cut off the remaining parts of the old sealing material and the new sealing material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a sealing material supply device. Background Technology

[0002] International Publication No. 2011 / 077499 discloses an automatic supply device that connects new and old tape rolls together and supplies them when insulating tape for electrochemical components is supplied by the automatic supply device. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The automatic feeding device disclosed in International Publication No. 2011 / 077499 is a large device consisting of five processes: cutting the end of the insulating tape, fixing the end, switching to a new tape roll, pulling out the new tape roll, and connecting the old and new tape rolls. Therefore, the feeding process takes a relatively long time. Furthermore, this requires space, incurs costs, and even the storage silo (Japanese: アキュームレータ) for continuous feeding needs to be long.

[0004] In view of the above, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a sealing material supply device that can shorten the process time when connecting and supplying new and old sealing materials together.

[0005] The sealing material supply device disclosed herein is a device for continuously supplying sealing material to the uncoated portion of the edge of a current collector coated with an electrode, the sealing material supply device comprising:

[0006] A pair of main bodies, sandwiching old and new sealing materials;

[0007] A heat-melting section, respectively disposed on the pair of main body sections, for heat-melting the old sealing material and the new sealing material; and

[0008] The half-cut portions are respectively provided on the pair of main body portions, cutting off the remaining portions of the old sealing material and the new sealing material.

[0009] While conveying the old sealing material and the new sealing material, the old sealing material and the new sealing material are heat-fused together through the heat-melting section. At the same time, the remaining parts of the old sealing material and the new sealing material are cut off through the half-cut section.

[0010] According to this disclosure, the process time for connecting and supplying new and old sealing materials together can be shortened. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, wherein:

[0012] Figure 1This is a diagram showing the schematic structure of the sealing material supply device according to the embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the operation of connecting old and new sealing materials together in the sealing material supply device of the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The sealing material supply device according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include components that can be easily substituted by those skilled in the art, or substantially the same components.

[0015] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The structure of the sealing material supply device according to the embodiment is explained. The sealing material supply device of the embodiment is a device for supplying sealing material. For example, in the manufacture of battery cells such as lithium-ion batteries, such as… Figure 1 As shown, the sealing material supply device 1 continuously supplies sealing material to the uncoated portion of the edge of the current collector (current collector foil) W, which has been coated with electrodes.

[0016] When the remaining sealing material supplied to the current collector W is low, the sealing material supply device 1 performs a process of connecting the old and new sealing materials together. In this embodiment, the sealing material before replacement (currently being supplied) is designated as the old sealing material S1, the roll wound with the old sealing material S1 is designated as the old roll R1, the replaced sealing material is designated as the new sealing material S2, and the roll wound with the new sealing material S2 is designated as the new roll R2. Furthermore, Figure 1 The following state is illustrated: When the remaining supply of old sealing material S1 is low, in order to connect new sealing material S2 to old sealing material S1, the front end of the new sealing material S2 is pulled out by a predetermined length. Furthermore, the length by which the new sealing material S2 is pulled out is at least below the half-cut portion 12B.

[0017] like Figure 1 As shown, the sealing material supply device 1 includes a pair of main body parts 11A and 11B, a pair of half-cut parts 12A and 12B, a pair of receiving parts 13A and 13B, and a pair of heat-sealing parts 14A and 14B.

[0018] The main bodies 11A and 11B are mounted on a stamping device (not shown) and are arranged, for example, to sandwich old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2. Furthermore, the main bodies 11A and 11B are configured to move towards each other via the stamping device. The main body 11A is provided with a half-cut portion 12A, a receiving portion 13A, and a heat-sealing portion 14A. Similarly, the main body 11B is provided with a half-cut portion 12B, a receiving portion 13B, and a heat-sealing portion 14B.

[0019] The half-cut portion 12A is used to cut off the remaining portion of the old sealing material S1. This half-cut portion 12A cuts off the remaining portion of the old sealing material S1 by being relatively close to the receiving portion 13B. Furthermore, the half-cut portion 12A cuts off the upstream end of the old sealing material S1. Additionally, the front end of the half-cut portion 12A and the center of the receiving portion 13B are arranged coaxially.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, there is old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2 between the cut section 12A and the receiving section 13B. However, by managing the stroke amount (movement amount) of the cut section 12A relative to the receiving section 13B, only the old sealing material S1 is cut off by the cut section 12A.

[0021] The cut portion 12B is used to cut off the remaining portion of the new sealing material S2. This cut portion 12B cuts off the remaining portion of the new sealing material S2 by being relatively close to the receiving portion 13A. Furthermore, the cut portion 12B cuts off the starting end of the downstream side of the new sealing material S2. Additionally, the front end of the cut portion 12B and the center of the receiving portion 13A are arranged coaxially.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, there is a new sealing material S2 and an old sealing material S1 between the cut section 12B and the receiving section 13A. However, by managing the stroke amount (movement amount) of the cut section 12B relative to the receiving section 13A, only the new sealing material S2 is cut off by the cut section 12B.

[0023] The receiving section 13A functions as a receiving element when the new sealing material S2 is cut off by the half-cutting section 12B. Additionally, the receiving section 13B functions as a receiving element when the old sealing material S1 is cut off by the half-cutting section 12A.

[0024] The heat-sealing parts 14A and 14B are constructed from a soldering iron or the like. The heat-sealing parts 14A and 14B are arranged coaxially with each other. Furthermore, for example, ... Figure 2 As shown in section A, the heat-melting sections 14A and 14B are close to each other, and the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2 are heat-melted by stamping from both sides.

[0025] Alternatively, instead of the heat-melting parts 14A and 14B, a hot air gun for heat-melting the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2 by hot air, a device for bonding the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2 by adhesive, and a device for bonding the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2 by tape can also be used.

[0026] In addition, multiple free rollers 15 are arranged on the sealing conveyor line L1 for conveying old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2. Furthermore, free rollers 16 are also arranged on the main conveyor line L2 for conveying current collector W.

[0027] In the sealing material supply device 1, such as Figure 2 As shown, while conveying old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2, the old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2 are heat-fused together through heat-melting sections 14A and 14B. Simultaneously, the remaining portions of the old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2 are cut off through half-cut sections 12A and 12B.

[0028] In addition, Figure 2 The example shown illustrates a scenario where the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2 are simultaneously heat-fused and the remaining portion is cut off by bringing the main body portions 11A and 11B close to each other. Conversely, for example, the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2 can also be simultaneously heat-fused and the remaining portion is cut off by bringing one of the main body portions 11A and 11B close to the other.

[0029] In the sealing material supply device of the embodiments described above, the heat-melting of the old and new sealing materials to be heat-melted onto the current collector W and the cutting off of the remaining portion can be performed in a single process. That is, according to the sealing material supply device of the embodiments, the heat-melting of the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2, the cutting off of the remaining portion of the old sealing material S1, and the cutting off of the remaining portion of the new sealing material S2 can be performed simultaneously. Therefore, the process time for connecting the old and new sealing materials together and supplying them can be shortened. Furthermore, according to the sealing material supply device of the embodiments, the old and new sealing materials can be cut at the desired position, thus minimizing the remaining portion and heat-melting the old and new sealing materials.

[0030] Furthermore, in the sealing material supply device of the embodiment, for example, the interval between the half-cut portion 12A and the receiving portion 13A, and the interval between the half-cut portion 12B and the receiving portion 13B are narrowed. This shortens the length of the remaining portions of the old sealing material S1 and the new sealing material S2. Consequently, the generation of remaining portions during the heat-melting of the old and new sealing materials can be minimized.

[0031] Additionally, minimizing the remaining portion of the new sealing material S2 requires inspecting the position of its leading edge, but this inspection method is not particularly limited. For example... Figure 1 The distance from the uppermost free roller 15 to the half-cut portion 12A, as well as the circumference of the free roller 15, are predetermined. Therefore, by detecting the rotational speed of the free roller 15 using a sensor (not shown), the position of the leading edge of the new sealing material S2 can be detected. Alternatively, the position of the leading edge of the new sealing material S2 can also be detected by mounting a sensor on the main body 11B.

[0032] Those skilled in the art can readily derive further effects and variations. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Thus, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0033] For example, in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The description assumes that a small amount of old sealing material S1 remains, and that old sealing material S1 and new sealing material S2 are connected together. However, if a sufficient amount of old sealing material S1 remains, it is possible to supply only old sealing material S1. In this case, only old sealing material S1 is conveyed on the sealing conveyor line L1, while the new roll R2 is set in its state before being pulled out. Figure 1 The location.

Claims

1. A sealing material supply device for continuously supplying sealing material to the uncoated portion of the edge of a current collector coated with an electrode, wherein, The sealing material supply device includes: A pair of main bodies, sandwiching old and new sealing materials; A heat-melting section is respectively disposed on the pair of main body sections, for heat-melting the old sealing material and the new sealing material; as well as The half-cut portions are respectively provided on the pair of main body portions, cutting off the remaining portions of the old sealing material and the new sealing material. While conveying the old sealing material and the new sealing material, the old sealing material and the new sealing material are heat-fused together through the heat-melting section, and at the same time, the remaining parts of the old sealing material and the new sealing material are cut off through the half-cut section.

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