Positive electrode body recovery device

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of efficiently collecting a positive electrode body from an electrode winding body.SOLUTION: A positive electrode body recovery device comprises separation means of separating an electrode body in a leading state led from an electrode winding body rotatably arranged into a negative electrode layer body containing a positive electrode body, a negative electrode body, and a separator, and transporting the positive electrode body and a negative electrode lamination body. The separation means includes: a holding part that is for holding an extension region in which, in the electrode body in the leading state, a first separation object that is one of the positive electrode body and the negative electrode lamination body is extended to a leading direction from a second separation object that is the other of the positive electrode body and the negative electrode lamination body, and holds the extension region so as to contain a tip end part of the second separation object in the electrode body in the leading state; a pressing force part that presses the electrode body in the leading state from the first separation object side in a thickness direction at a position on an upstream side from the holding part in a leading direction to peel the tip end part of the second separation object from the first separation object; and an acceptance part that accepts the second separation object that is peeled from the first separation object.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a positive electrode body recovery device for separating and recovering a positive electrode body from an electrode wound body in which a positive electrode body and a negative electrode body are wound with a separator interposed therebetween. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, secondary batteries including an electrode winding body in which a positive electrode body and a negative electrode body are wound in a state in which they are insulated from each other via a separator have been widely used. Known examples of such secondary batteries include lead batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and lithium-ion secondary batteries. In particular, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries have a high energy density and are therefore expected to be used as on-board power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles (HEVs), for example.

[0003] In the positive electrode body of the secondary battery described above, valuable materials such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) are often used. Therefore, from the viewpoint of effective use of resources, it is important to efficiently recover the positive electrode body from the used secondary battery and reuse (recycle) the valuable materials contained therein. In this regard, an electrode group dismantling device is known that includes a separating means for unwinding and separating the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator from the wound electrode group supported by the supporting means, and a winding-up means for winding up the separated positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4754960 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional technology described above, before operating the electrode group disassembly device, an operator had to manually peel off the positive electrode from the laminate of the positive electrode, negative electrode, and separator that constitutes the wound electrode group, leaving room for improvement in terms of efficient recovery of the positive electrode body.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and has an object to provide a technique that enables efficient recovery of a positive electrode body from an electrode winding body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the cathode body recovery device according to the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, the gist of the present invention is as follows. [1] A positive electrode body recovery device that recovers a positive electrode body from an electrode wound body in which a strip-shaped electrode body in which a positive electrode body and a negative electrode body are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween is wound, a separation means for separating the electrode body in a drawn-out state drawn out from the rotatably arranged electrode wound body into the positive electrode body and a negative electrode laminate including the negative electrode body and the separator, and for transporting the positive electrode body and the negative electrode laminate, The separation means is a holding portion that holds an extension region of the electrode body in the pulled-out state, the extension region being a region in which a first separation target, which is one of the positive electrode body and the negative electrode laminate, of the electrode body in the pulled-out state extends further in a pull-out direction of the electrode body than a second separation target, which is the other of the first separation target, the holding portion that holds the extension region such that a tip end of the second separation target is included in the electrode body in the pulled-out state; a pressing unit that presses the electrode body in the pulled-out state from the first separation target side in a thickness direction at a position upstream of the holding unit in the pull-out direction, thereby peeling off a tip end of the second separation target from the first separation target; and and a receiving portion that receives the second separation target peeled off from the first separation target. Cathode body recovery device. [2] The separation means is a first contact support portion that, when the electrode body in the pulled-out state is pressed by the pressing portion, contacts and supports a stacked region, which is a region in which the positive electrode body and the negative electrode stack are stacked in the electrode body in the pulled-out state, from the second separation target in the thickness direction at a position upstream of the pressing portion and a tip end of the second separation target in the pulling direction; a second contact support portion that, when the electrode body in the pulled-out state is pressed by the pressing portion, contacts and supports the extension region of the electrode body in the pulled-out state from the second separation target side in the thickness direction at a position downstream of the pressing portion and the tip end of the second separation target in the pull-out direction. The positive electrode body recovery device according to [1]. [3] The pressing portion extends in a width direction of the electrode body and presses the electrode body while being in contact with the electrode body so as to cross the electrode body. The positive electrode body recovery device according to [1] or [2]. [4] The separation means has an air injection unit that injects compressed air between the tip end of the second separation target and the first separation target. The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [3]. [5] The holding unit includes a pair of rotors that sandwich the first separation target from a thickness direction and rotate to send out the first separation target. The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [4]. [6] The receiving unit includes a pair of rotating bodies that sandwich the second separation target from a thickness direction and rotate to send out the second separation target. The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] The separation means is The electrode body has an electrode body guide portion that is disposed so as to sandwich the electrode body in the pulled-out state from both sides in the width direction at a position upstream of the pressing portion in the pull-out direction of the electrode body, thereby suppressing movement of the electrode body in the width direction. The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [6]. [8] The separation means is a first guide portion disposed at a position downstream of the pressing portion and upstream of the holding portion in a conveying direction of the first separation target so as to sandwich the first separation target from both sides in a width direction, thereby suppressing movement of the first separation target in the width direction; The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [7]. [9] The separation means is a second guide portion that is disposed on the pressing portion so as to sandwich the first separation target from both sides in the width direction, thereby suppressing movement of the first separation target in the width direction; The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [8].

[10] and a peeling means for injecting compressed air between a winding end of the electrode body fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the electrode winding body and the outer circumferential surface of the electrode winding body to peel off the winding end from the outer circumferential surface, in order to pull out the electrode body from the electrode winding body. The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to [9].

[11] The holding portion is configured to receive the extension region peeled off from the outer circumferential surface by the peeling means. The positive electrode body recovery device according to

[10] .

[12] The electrode assembly may further include a pull-out means for pulling out the electrode assembly from the electrode winding body, the pull-out means pulls out the electrode body from the electrode winding body by lowering the electrode winding body in a state in which the extended region of the electrode body is held and the electrode winding body is rotatable. The positive electrode body recovery device according to any one of [1] to

[11] . Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently recover the positive electrode body from the electrode wound body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an electrode winding body. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the electrode winding body with a part of the electrode body pulled out. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the electrode body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a positive electrode body recovery device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the wound body holding step. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the winding end peeling step. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the extension region holding step. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram (1) for explaining the electrode assembly extraction step. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram (2) for explaining the electrode assembly extraction step. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the positive electrode body peeling step. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram (1) for explaining the positive electrode body receiving step. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram (2) for explaining the positive electrode body receiving step. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the transport process. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the peeling claw presses the electrode body in the pulled-out state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in the following embodiments are not intended to limit the technical scope of the invention, unless otherwise specified. Each configuration and combination thereof in the embodiments can be appropriately added, omitted, replaced, or otherwise modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0011] In the following embodiment, as an example, a cathode body recovery device that recovers a cathode body from an electrode wound body used in a lithium ion secondary battery will be described. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to the electrode wound body of a lithium ion secondary battery. The present invention can be applied to any electrode wound body in which a strip-shaped electrode body in which a cathode body and an anode body are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween is wound.

[0012] <Electrode winding body> FIG. 1 shows an electrode wound body 2 which is an example of an application target of the positive electrode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment. 1 is an overall perspective view of the electrode winding body 200 in a state in which a part of the electrode body 210 is pulled out. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode winding body 200 is formed as a rectangular winding body by winding the strip-shaped electrode body 210 around the winding axis AX and compressing it into a flat shape. The arrows in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 indicate the "width direction", "thickness direction", and "length direction" of the electrode winding body 200 and the electrode body 210. For the electrode winding body 200 and the electrode body 210, the direction parallel to the winding axis AX is the "width direction", the direction perpendicular to the surface of the electrode body 210 is the "thickness direction", and the direction perpendicular to the width direction and the thickness direction is the "length direction (extension direction)".

[0013] The electrode winding 200 according to the present embodiment constitutes, as an example, a power generating element of a lithium ion secondary battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle (HEV). This lithium ion secondary battery is, for example, a so-called prismatic battery configured to include a prismatic electrode winding 200, an electrolyte, and a prismatic case as an exterior body for accommodating the electrode winding 200 and the electrolyte. In addition, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery including one electrode winding 200 may be used as a battery cell, a battery module may be configured to accommodate a plurality of (e.g., 12) battery cells connected in series or parallel in a module case, and a battery pack may be configured to accommodate a plurality of (e.g., 4) battery modules connected in series or parallel in a pack case, and this battery pack may be mounted on a vehicle. Note that, in the present embodiment, a so-called prismatic battery in which the electrode winding is compressed in a flat shape is exemplified, but the present invention may also be applied to a so-called cylindrical (cylindrical) battery in which the electrode winding is cylindrical.

[0014] Here, the reference numeral 210a in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 indicates the winding end of the electrode body 210. The winding end 210a of the electrode body 210 is an end located on the outer periphery side of the electrode winding body 200 among both ends in the length direction of the electrode body 210. As shown in FIG. 1, the winding end 210a is fixed to the outer periphery surface of the electrode body 210 by the winding stop tape 300, thereby winding the electrode winding body 200. The winding stop tape 300 is configured as an insulating sheet-like adhesive tape, and is attached to the outer periphery surface of the electrode winding body 200 so as to straddle the winding end 210a. In this embodiment, a pair of winding stop tapes 300, 300 extending along the circumferential direction of the electrode winding body 200 are arranged with a gap in the width direction. The material of the winding stop tape 300 is not particularly limited, but for example, a polyimide tape can be used as the winding stop tape 300. By peeling off the winding end 210a together with the winding stop tape 300 from the outer peripheral surface of the electrode wound body 200, the winding stop of the electrode body 210 is released, and it becomes possible to pull out the electrode body 210 and unwind the electrode wound body 200 as shown in Fig. 2. Here, the state in which the electrode body 210 is pulled out from the electrode wound body 200 as shown in Fig. 2 is referred to as the "pulled out state", and the extension direction of the electrode body 210 in the pulled out state is referred to as the "pulled out direction". The pulled out direction coincides with the length direction of the electrode body 210 in the pulled out state.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the electrode body 210. Fig. 3 illustrates a portion of the electrode body 210, including the winding end portion 210a, pulled out from the electrode wound body 200. As shown in Fig. 3, the electrode body 210 includes a positive electrode body 211, a negative electrode body 212, and a separator 213. The positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode body 212 are stacked in the thickness direction with the separator 213 interposed therebetween to form a strip-shaped electrode body 210.

[0016] The cathode body 211 is a band-shaped member in which a cathode active material is supported on a metal foil. The cathode body 211 contains a valuable resource. The cathode body 211 is formed by supporting a composite oxide containing lithium and a transition metal, such as lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium nickel-cobalt-lithium aluminate (NCA), lithium titanate (LTO), or lithium manganate (LMO), as a cathode active material on a metal foil such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or stainless steel.

[0017] The negative electrode body 212 is a strip-shaped member in which a negative electrode active material is supported on a metal foil. is formed by supporting silicon, silicon oxide, graphite, hard carbon, lithium titanate, LiAl, or the like as a negative electrode active material on a metal foil such as copper, copper alloy, nickel, or stainless steel.

[0018] The separator 213 is a strip-shaped member that is interposed between the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode body 212 and separates them to provide insulation between the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode body 212. The separator 213 is formed of a resin material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, in the electrode body 210, the negative electrode body 212 is sandwiched between a pair (two sheets) of separators 213 in the thickness direction. Hereinafter, a laminate of the negative electrode body 212 and the pair of separators 213 is referred to as a negative electrode laminate and indicated by a reference symbol 214. In this embodiment, the negative electrode laminate 214 is configured by the negative electrode body 212 and the pair of separators 213, but the negative electrode laminate according to the present invention is not limited thereto. The negative electrode laminate may be any laminate including a negative electrode body and a separator, excluding the positive electrode of the electrode body. The electrode body 210 is formed by stacking the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 in the thickness direction.

[0020] Here, as shown in Fig. 3, the negative electrode laminate 214 extends further in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210 than the positive electrode body 211. Therefore, the winding end 210a of the electrode body 210 is formed in the negative electrode laminate 214. Hereinafter, as shown in Fig. 3, in the electrode body 210, a region where the negative electrode laminate 214 extends further in the pull-out direction than the positive electrode body 211 is referred to as an extension region A1, and a region where the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 are laminated is referred to as a laminate region A2. The extension region A1 is a region from the end of the positive electrode body 211 in the pull-out direction to the end of the negative electrode laminate 214 in the pull-out direction (i.e., the winding end 210a), and is a region where only the negative electrode laminate 214 exists among the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214. In this embodiment, the negative electrode laminate 214 corresponds to an example of the "first separation target" according to the present invention, and the positive electrode body 211 corresponds to an example of the "second separation target" according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the positive electrode body may extend further in the pull-out direction than the negative electrode laminate, in which case the positive electrode body corresponds to the "first separation target", the negative electrode laminate corresponds to the "second separation target", and the region of the electrode body where the positive electrode body extends further than the negative electrode laminate corresponds to the "extending region". In other words, in the present invention, one of the positive electrode body and the negative electrode laminate that extends further in the pull-out direction of the electrode body than the other corresponds to the "first separation target".

[0021] <Cathode body recovery device> FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the cathode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment. The arrows in FIG. 4 represent the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions of the cathode body recovery device 100. The X-axis direction is a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis direction, and the Y-axis direction is a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis and X-axis directions. The Z-axis direction of the cathode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment is parallel to the vertical direction (gravity direction). Therefore, the X-axis and Y-axis directions are parallel to the horizontal direction. Hereinafter, in the Z-axis direction, the + side of the Z-axis is referred to as the "lower side", and the - side of the Z-axis is referred to as the "upper side". In addition, in the X-axis direction, the + side of the X-axis is referred to as the "front side", and the - side of the X-axis is referred to as the "rear side". However, each direction such as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions in this specification merely indicates the relative positional relationship of each member constituting the cathode body recovery device 100, and does not limit the present invention.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the positive electrode body recovery device 100 includes a control device 1, a wound body clamp 2, a basket 3, air injection nozzles 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, recovery containers 5A, 5B, guide rollers 6A, 6B, peeling claw 7, clamp belts 8A, 8B, guides 9A, 9B, 9C, and sensors S1, S2, S3. Hereinafter, when the air injection nozzles 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D are not to be differentiated from one another in the following description, they will be collectively referred to as air injection nozzle 4. Similarly, the gas When the guide rollers 6A and 6B are described without distinction, they are collectively referred to simply as the guide roller 6, when the clamp belts 8A and 8B are described without distinction, they are collectively referred to simply as the clamp belt 8, and when the guides 9A, 9B, and 9C are described without distinction, they are collectively referred to simply as the guide 9. As shown in FIG. 4, in the positive electrode body recovery device 100, the wound body clamp 2 and the basket 3 constitute an extraction device 10 (one example of the "extraction means" according to the present invention). In addition, in the positive electrode body recovery device 100, the air injection nozzles 4B, 4C, and 4D, the guide roller 6, the peeling claw 7, the clamp belt 8, and the guide 9 constitute a separation device 20 (one example of the "separation means" according to the present invention). The extraction device 10 is a device that extracts the electrode body 210 from the electrode wound body 200. The separation device 20 is a device that separates the electrode body 210 in an extracted state, which has been extracted from the rotatably arranged electrode wound body 200, into a positive electrode body 211 and a negative electrode laminate 214, and transports the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 separately.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the separation device 20 forms an electrode body transport path R10, a positive electrode body transport path R1, and a negative electrode body transport path R2. The electrode body transport path R10 is a path along which the electrode body 210 before being separated into the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 is transported, and is formed from the basket 3 to the guide roller 6A. The electrode body transport path R10 branches into a positive electrode body transport path R1 and a negative electrode body transport path R2 at the guide roller 6A as a branching point. The positive electrode body transport path R1 is a path along which the positive electrode body 211 separated from the electrode body 210 is transported, and is formed from the guide roller 6A to the collection container 5A. The negative electrode body transport path R2 is a path along which the negative electrode laminate 214 separated from the electrode body 210 is transported, and is formed from the guide roller 6A to the collection container 5B. Each component of the positive electrode body recovery device 100 will be described below.

[0024] [Control device] The control device 1 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an input / output interface, The control device 1 includes a control unit 11 and a detection unit 12 as a processing unit. The control unit 11 controls the wound body clamp 2, the basket 3, the air injection nozzle 4, the peeling claw 7, and the clamp belt 8. More specifically, the control unit 11 supplies compressed air from a compressor as a compressed air supply source to the air injection nozzle 4, thereby injecting compressed air from the air injection nozzle 4. The control unit 11 also drives the wound body clamp 2, the basket 3, the peeling claw 7, and the clamp belt 8 by controlling an appropriate actuator such as an air cylinder or a servo motor as a driving means. The detection unit 12 acquires information detected by the sensors S1 to S3 from each sensor.

[0025] [Winding body clamp] The wound body clamp 2 has a movable clamp 2a and a fixed clamp 2b arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. In the X-axis direction, the movable clamp 2a is arranged behind the fixed clamp 2b (on the negative side of the X-axis). In the wound body clamp 2, the movable clamp 2a can be moved along the X-axis direction under the control of the control unit 11, and the electrode wound body 200 is switched between being clamped and released by changing the distance between the movable clamp 2a and the fixed clamp 2b.

[0026] [basket] The basket 3 is formed as a box with an open top, and is a container capable of accommodating the electrode wound body 200. The basket 3 is disposed below the wound body clamp 2, and is movable in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) according to the control of the control unit 11. The electrode wound body 200 is disposed in the basket 3 in a rotatable state.

[0027] [Clamp belt] The clamp belt 8 has a pair of belt rotating bodies 81, 82 (one example of the "pair of rotating bodies" according to the present invention) arranged side by side in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). Each of the rotary rollers 81, 82 has a rotary roller group 8a and an endless conveyor belt 8b wound around the outer periphery of the rotary roller group 8a. The rotary roller group 8a is configured to include a plurality of rotary rollers. The plurality of rotary rollers are provided so that each rotation axis is parallel to the Y-axis direction. The clamp belt 8 can move the belt rotor 81 arranged on the upper side of the pair of belt rotors 81, 82 along the Z-axis direction according to the control by the control unit 11. The clamp belt 8 changes the distance between the pair of belt rotors 81, 82 to switch between a separated state and a clamped state in which the pair of belt rotors 81, 82 are closer to each other than in the separated state. The clamp belt 8 can rotate the pair of belt rotors 81, 82 according to the control by the control unit 11. More specifically, the clamp belt 8 rotates each rotary roller of the rotary roller group 8a to rotate the conveyor belt 8b.

[0028] The clamp belt 8A is disposed midway along the positive electrode body transport path R1. The clamp belt 8A in the separated state can receive the positive electrode body 211 peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214, and by switching to the clamping state while receiving the positive electrode body 211, clamps the positive electrode body 211 from the thickness direction. Furthermore, the clamp belt 8A rotates the pair of belt rotators 81, 82 under the control of the control unit 11 while clamping the positive electrode body 211, thereby sending the positive electrode body 211 downstream along the positive electrode body transport path R1. The clamp belt 8A is an example of a "receiving section" according to the present invention. The clamp belt 8B is disposed midway along the negative electrode body transport path R2. The clamp belt 8B in the separated state can receive the extension region A1 of the electrode assembly 210 peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the electrode wound body 200, and by switching to the clamping state in a state in which it receives the extension region A1, it clamps the negative electrode laminate 214 constituting the extension region A1 in the thickness direction. Furthermore, the clamp belt 8B rotates the pair of belt rotating bodies 81, 82 under the control of the control unit 11 in a state in which it clamps the negative electrode laminate 214, thereby sending out the negative electrode laminate 214 to the downstream side of the conveyance path R2. The clamp belt 8B is an example of a "holding unit" according to the present invention.

[0029] The rotating body according to the present disclosure is not limited to one having a conveyor belt, and may be composed of only one or more rotating rollers. Also, the holding part or receiving part according to the present invention may be a clamp roller composed of a pair of rotating rollers.

[0030] [Peeling Claw] The peeling claw 7 is disposed at a position upstream of the clamp belt 8B in the negative electrode body transport path R2, and presses the electrode body 210 in the drawn-out state to peel off the tip of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214. The peeling claw 7 is formed as a wedge-shaped member extending in the Y-axis direction. A cross section of the peeling claw 7 perpendicular to the Y-axis direction has a substantially triangular shape that narrows toward the front side (positive side in the X-axis direction). The peeling claw 7 moves obliquely so as to be displaced downward (positive side in the Z-axis direction) as it moves toward the front side (positive side in the X-axis direction) in response to control by the control unit 11, thereby pressing the electrode body 210 from the rear side (negative side in the X-axis direction) with the corner of its tip. The material of the peeling claw 7 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of preventing corrosion due to contact with the electrode, a material with excellent corrosion resistance is preferable, and for example, Teflon (registered trademark) can be suitably used. The peeling claw 7 is an example of a "pressing unit" according to the present invention.

[0031] [Guide roller] The guide roller 6 is configured to be rotatable, and is provided so that its rotation axis is parallel to the Y-axis direction. The guide roller 6A is disposed on the electrode body transport path R10, and its outer peripheral surface abuts and supports the electrode body 210 from the front side (the positive side in the X-axis direction). The rotation of the guide roller 6A guides the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 to the downstream side of the transport path. The guide roller 6A also forms a branch point between the positive electrode body transport path R1 and the negative electrode body transport path R2. The guide roller 6A is an example of a "first abutment support portion" according to the present invention. The guide roller 6B is disposed at a position on the negative electrode body transport path R2 downstream of the peeling claw 7 and upstream of the clamp belt 8B, and its outer peripheral surface abuts and supports the electrode body 210 from the front side (the positive side in the X-axis direction). The guide roller 6B abuts against and supports the extending region A1 (negative electrode laminate 214) from the downstream side (positive side). The guide roller 6B rotates to guide the negative electrode laminate 214 to the downstream side of the conveying path. The guide roller 6B is an example of a "second contact support portion" according to the present invention.

[0032] [guide] The guide 9 includes a pair of guide plates 91, 91 (see FIG. 14) that are perpendicular to the Y-axis direction and spaced apart from each other in the Y-axis direction. The guide 9A is disposed on the peeling claw 7 so as to sandwich the negative electrode laminate 214 separated from the electrode assembly 210 from both sides in the Y-axis direction. The guide 9A is an example of a "second guide section" according to the present invention. The guide 9B is disposed at a position downstream of the guide roller 6B and upstream of the clamp belt B in the negative electrode assembly transport path R2 so as to sandwich the negative electrode laminate 214 from both sides in the Y-axis direction. The guide 9B is an example of a "first guide section" according to the present invention. The guide 9C is disposed at a position upstream of the guide roller 6A in the electrode assembly transport path R10 so as to sandwich the electrode assembly 210 from both sides in the Y-axis direction. The guide 9C is an example of an "electrode assembly guide section" according to the present invention.

[0033] [Air injection nozzle] The air injection nozzle 4 injects compressed air according to the control by the control unit 11. The air injection nozzle 4A injects compressed air to the electrode wound body 200 held by the wound body clamp 2 in order to peel off the winding end 210a of the electrode body 210 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the electrode wound body 200 from the outer peripheral surface. The air injection nozzle 4A is an example of a "peeling means" according to the present invention. The air injection nozzle 4B injects compressed air to the electrode body 210 pressed against the peeling claw 7 in order to make it easier to peel off the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214. The air injection nozzle 4B is an example of an "air injection unit" according to the present invention. The air injection nozzle 4C injects compressed air to the positive electrode body 211 sent out from the clamp belt 8A so that the positive electrode body 211 is not caught in the clamp belt 8A. The air injection nozzle 4D injects compressed air toward the negative electrode stack 214 so that the negative electrode stack 214 sent out from the clamp belt 8B is not entangled in the clamp belt 8B.

[0034] [Collection container] Recovery container 5 is a container with an open top. Recovery container 5A contains positive electrode bodies 211 that have been separated by separation device 20 and transported along positive electrode body transport path R1. Recovery container 5B contains negative electrode laminates 214 that have been separated by separation device 20 and transported along negative electrode body transport path R2.

[0035] [Sensor] The sensor S1 detects the presence or absence of the electrode wound body 200 housed in the basket 3. The sensor S2 detects the presence or absence of the positive electrode body 211 received by the clamp belt 8A. The sensor S3 detects the presence or absence of the negative electrode laminate 214 received by the clamp belt 8B. Information detected by the sensors S1 to S3 is acquired by the detection unit 12 of the control device 1. For example, an infrared sensor can be used as the sensors S1 to S3, but the sensors are not limited to this and various sensors can be adopted.

[0036] <Operation> A method for recovering the positive electrode body 211 from a used lithium ion secondary battery includes, for example, a step of opening the rectangular case and removing the electrode wound body 200 (wound body removal step), a step of cutting both ends in the width direction of the electrode wound body 200 after the wound body removal step (cutting step), and a step of recovering the positive electrode body 211 from the electrode wound body 200 by a positive electrode body recovery device 100 after the cutting step (cathode body recovery step). Publicly known techniques can be used in the wound body removal step and the cutting step. Figs. 5 to 13 show the positive electrode body recovery step by the positive electrode body recovery device 100. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation. The positive electrode body recovery process further includes a wound body holding process, a winding end peeling process, an extension region holding process, an electrode body drawing process, a positive electrode body separation process, and a transporting process. Hereinafter, the operation of the positive electrode body recovery device 100 in the positive electrode body recovery process will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0037] (Wound body holding process) 5 is a diagram for explaining the wound body holding step. After the cutting step, which is the preceding step, is completed, the electrode wound body 200 is transported to the positive electrode body recovery device 100 by a transport device (not shown), and is clamped (held) by the wound body clamp 2 as shown in FIG. 5 (wound body holding step). The recovery operation of the positive electrode body 211 by the positive electrode body recovery device 100 is started in a state in which the electrode wound body 200 is clamped by the wound body clamp 2 of the positive electrode body recovery device 100 as shown in FIG. 5 (hereinafter, also referred to as the initial state before operation). In the initial state before operation, the electrode wound body 200 is clamped from the X-axis direction by the movable clamp 2a and fixed clamp 2b of the wound body clamp 2 in a position in which the winding axis AX is parallel to the Y-axis direction. After the above-mentioned conveying device places the electrode winding 200 between the movable clamp 2a and the fixed clamp 2b, the wound body clamp 2 clamps the electrode winding 200 by advancing the movable clamp 2a under the control of the control unit 11, and receives the electrode winding 200 from the conveying device. The electrode winding 200 may be clamped by the wound body clamp 2 after being manually placed between the movable clamp 2a and the fixed clamp 2b by an operator. The wound body clamp 2 maintains clamping of the electrode winding 200 by, for example, pressing the electrode winding 200 against the fixed clamp 2b by the pressure of an air cylinder, thereby preventing the electrode winding 200 from falling off. At this time, the wound body clamp 2 clamps a portion excluding the winding end 210a and the winding stop tape 300 so that the winding end 210a of the electrode body 210 can be peeled off. Furthermore, the electrode wound body 200 is positioned so that compressed air from the air injection nozzle 4A can be injected between the winding end portion 210a and the outer circumferential surface of the electrode wound body 200. Here, the electrode wound body 200 from which the positive electrode body 211 is to be recovered in this embodiment has a flat (rectangular) shape, which has the advantage that the above-mentioned positioning can be performed more easily than when it is cylindrical.

[0038] (End of winding peeling process) FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the winding end peeling step. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, compressed air is ejected from the air ejection nozzle 4A under the control of the control unit 11 to peel off the winding end 210a from the outer peripheral surface (winding end peeling step). The compressed air from the air ejection nozzle 4A is ejected between the winding end 210a and the outer peripheral surface of the electrode wound body 200. Then, the winding stop tape 300 is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface by the pressure of the compressed air. The winding stop tape 300 that has been fixed to the winding end 210a on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode wound body 200 is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface, and the winding end 210a is also peeled off from the outer peripheral surface. As a result, the extension region A1 of the electrode body 210 is turned back toward the clamp belt 8B by the pressure of the compressed air. At this time, the clamp belt 8B is in a separated state in which it can receive the extension region A1. 6, the extension region A1 turned back from the electrode winding body 200 is placed on the belt rotating body 82 that is disposed on the lower side of the pair of belt rotating bodies 81, 82. As a result, the extension region A1 is received by the clamp belt 8B.

[0039] (Extended area holding process) FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the extension region holding step. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 controls the clamp belt 8B to be in a clamping state, thereby clamping the extension region A1 of the electrode body 210 (extension region holding step). When the sensor S3 detects that the extension region A1 (negative electrode laminate 214) has been received by the clamp belt 8B in the separated state, the detection unit 12 acquires information indicating the detection result from the sensor S3. The belt rotator 81 is lowered under the control of the control unit 11 based on the detection result, and the clamp belt 8B is switched to the clamping state. Instead, the extension region A1 is clamped from the thickness direction. As a result, the extension region A1 is received by the clamp belt 8B. The clamp belt 8B maintains the clamping of the extension region A1 by, for example, causing the belt rotating body 81 to press the extension region A1 toward the belt rotating body 82 by the pressure of an air cylinder, thereby preventing the extension region A1 from slipping off the clamp belt 8B when the electrode winding body 200 described later descends.

[0040] (Electrode body extraction process) 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the electrode assembly drawing step. Next, as shown in Fig. 8 and 9, the electrode wound body 200 is lowered in a state in which the extension region A1 of the electrode assembly 210 is held by the clamp belt 8B, thereby drawing out the electrode assembly 210 from the electrode wound body 200 and forming a drawn-out state (electrode assembly drawing step).

[0041] In the electrode body extraction process, first, as shown in FIG. 8, the movable clamp 2a of the winding body clamp 2 is retracted under the control of the control unit 11 to release the electrode winding body 200 from the winding body clamp 2, and the electrode winding body 200 is dropped. As a result, the electrode winding body 200 is received in the basket 3 arranged below the winding body clamp 2. When the sensor S1 detects that the electrode winding body 200 has been received in the basket 3, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 11 controls the basket 3 to lower to a predetermined position. As a result, the electrode winding body 200 further lowers. The basket 3 is lowered by a predetermined distance, for example, by driving a servo motor. Here, when the electrode winding body 200 is dropped from the winding body clamp 2 and when the basket 3 is lowered, it lowers in a state in which the winding axis AX is horizontal and in a state in which it can rotate around the winding axis AX. At this time, since the extension region A1 of the electrode body 210 is held by the clamp belt 8B, the electrode wound body 200 descends while rotating around the winding axis AX so that the electrode body 210 is pulled out. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined length of the electrode body 210 is pulled out from the electrode wound body 200. The clamp belt 8B holds the extension region A1 at a position vertically above the electrode wound body 200, so that the electrode body 210 is pulled out upward from the electrode wound body 200. Therefore, the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state extends along the Z-axis direction (vertical direction), and its thickness direction coincides with the X-axis direction. In the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state, the positive electrode body 211 is located on the front side (the positive side in the X-axis direction), and the negative electrode laminate 214 is located on the rear side (the negative side in the X-axis direction). The electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is in a tensioned state without slack.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, the electrode body 210 is pulled out until at least a part of the laminated region A2 is pulled out from the electrode winding body 200. That is, the electrode body 210 in the pulled out state includes the tip portion 211a of the positive electrode body 211. The lowering distance of the electrode winding body 200 from the initial state before operation is set based on the length of the electrode body 210 to be in the pulled out state (that is, the length to which the electrode body 210 is pulled out). In this embodiment, the electrode body 210 is put into the pulled out state by dropping the electrode winding body 200 and lowering the basket 3, but the electrode body 210 may be put into the pulled out state only by dropping the electrode winding body 200. For example, the electrode winding body 200 may be dropped from the winding body clamp 2 into the basket 3 with the basket 3 previously arranged at a predetermined position shown in FIG. 9. In this case, the process may start from the point where the sensor S1 detects that the electrode wound body 200 has been received in the basket 3, and then proceed to the next process (the positive electrode body separation process).

[0043] (Positive electrode separation process) 10 to 12, the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is pressed by a peeling claw 7 to peel the tip of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214, and the peeled positive electrode body 211 is received by a clamp belt 8A (positive electrode body separation step). The positive electrode body separation step includes a positive electrode body peeling step and a positive electrode body receiving step. Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the positive electrode body peeling step, and Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrams for explaining the positive electrode body receiving step.

[0044] In the positive electrode separation step, first, as shown in Fig. 10, the peeling claw 7 is moved under the control of the control unit 11. The peeling claw 7 moves obliquely so as to be displaced downward as it moves forward, and presses the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from the rear side (the negative side in the X-axis direction) (positive electrode body peeling step). The electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is pressed from the negative electrode laminate 214 side in the thickness direction at a position upstream of the clamp belt 8B in the pulling-out direction. In this embodiment, the laminated region A2 is pressed by the peeling claw 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the extension region A1 may be pressed by the peeling claw 7.

[0045] At this time, the negative electrode laminate 214 constituting the extension region A1 is held by the clamp belt 8B and is pressed by the peeling claw 7, so that it is bent so as to be convex toward the front side (the positive electrode body 211 side in the thickness direction). In contrast, the positive electrode body 211 stacked on the negative electrode laminate 214 is not held by the clamp belt 8B and does not follow the deformation of the negative electrode laminate 214, forming a gap between it and the negative electrode laminate 214. As a result, the tip portion 211a of the positive electrode body 211 is peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214, as shown in FIG.

[0046] Here, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the peeling claw 7 presses the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state. FIG. 14(A) shows a cross section perpendicular to the Z-axis direction (the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210). FIG. 14(B) shows a state in which the electrode body 210 is viewed from the rear side (the negative side in the X-axis direction). The reference character P1 in FIG. 14(B) indicates a portion (pressed portion) pressed by the peeling claw 7. That is, the pressed portion P1 is a portion that is in contact with the tip edge of the peeling claw 7. As shown in FIG. 14(A), the peeling claw 7 extends in the width direction of the electrode body 210 and presses the electrode body 210 from the negative electrode laminate 214 side in the thickness direction in a state in which the peeling claw 7 is in contact with the electrode body 210 across the electrode body 210. In this way, since the peeling claw 7 is in contact with the electrode body 210 across the width direction, the negative electrode laminate 214 is easily bent in a convex shape toward the positive electrode body 211 side. 14(B), the pressed portion P1 of the electrode body 210 pressed by the peeling claw 7 preferably extends parallel to the width direction. That is, the peeling claw 7 preferably makes line contact with the electrode body 210 so that its tip edge is parallel to the width direction of the electrode body 210 (i.e., perpendicular to the length direction of the electrode body 210). This allows the pressing force of the peeling claw 7 to be applied evenly in the width direction, making it possible to more reliably peel the tip portion of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214. However, the line contact between the peeling claw 7 and the electrode body 210 may be inclined with respect to the width direction.

[0047] Furthermore, in a state where the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is pressed by the peeling claw 7 from the negative electrode laminate 214 side, the guide roller 6A abuts and supports the stacked region A2 of the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from the positive electrode body 211 side at a position upstream of the peeling claw 7 and the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 in the pulling-out direction. In this embodiment, the guide roller 6A abuts and supports the stacked region A2 at a position lower than the peeling claw 7 and the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 in the vertical direction. In addition, in a state where the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is pressed by the peeling claw 7 from the negative electrode laminate 214 side, the guide roller 6B abuts and supports the extended region A1 of the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from the positive electrode body 211 side at a position downstream of the peeling claw 7 and the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 in the pulling-out direction. In this embodiment, the guide roller 6B abuts and supports the extended region A1 at a position above the peeling claw 7 and the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 in the vertical direction. As a result, the negative electrode laminate 214 is abutted and supported from the opposite side in the thickness direction against the pressure from the peeling claw 7 at both positions upstream and downstream of the peeling claw 7 in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210. Therefore, the negative electrode laminate 214 is easily bent in a convex shape toward the positive electrode body 211 between the guide roller 6A and the guide roller 6B in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210. On the other hand, at a position downstream of the peeling claw 7 in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210, the positive electrode body 211 is not abutted and supported from the opposite side in the thickness direction against the pressure from the peeling claw 7, so the tip 211a is easily peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214. do.

[0048] Furthermore, in the positive electrode body peeling step, under the control of the control unit 11, the air injection nozzle 4B injects compressed air between the tip portion 211a of the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode stack 214. This makes it easier for the tip portion 211a to peel off from the negative electrode stack 214 due to the pressure of the compressed air.

[0049] 10, in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210, a portion of the positive electrode body 211 downstream of the guide roller 6A hangs down due to the action of gravity and peels off from the negative electrode laminate 214. As the positive electrode body 211 peels off from the negative electrode laminate 214, the electrode body 210 can be separated into the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214.

[0050] In the positive electrode separation step, next, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the positive electrode body 211 peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214 is received by the clamp belt 8A (positive electrode body receiving step). After the electrode body 210 is pressed by the peeling claw 7, the pair of belt rotators 81, 82 of the clamp belt 8B are temporarily rotated under the control of the control unit 11 to send out a predetermined length of the negative electrode laminate 214 downstream of the conveyance path. As a result, a predetermined length of the positive electrode body 211 is pulled out from the electrode wound body 200, so that the portion of the positive electrode body 211 peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214 is extended. At this time, the clamp belt 8A is in a separated state capable of receiving the positive electrode body 211 peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the positive electrode body 211 peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214 enters between the pair of belt rotators 81, 82. As a result, the positive electrode body 211 is received by the clamp belt 8A. When the sensor S2 detects that the positive electrode body 211 has been received by the clamp belt 8A in the separated state, the detection unit 12 acquires information indicating the detection result from the sensor S2. The belt rotator 81 is lowered by the control of the control unit 11 based on the detection result, and as shown in FIG. 12, the clamp belt 8A switches to a clamped state and the positive electrode body 211 is clamped from the thickness direction. As a result, the positive electrode body 211 is received by the clamp belt 8A. The clamp belt 8A maintains the clamping of the positive electrode body 211 by, for example, causing the belt rotator 81 to press the positive electrode body 211 against the belt rotator 82 by the pressure of an air cylinder.

[0051] (Transportation process) FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the conveying step. Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode body 212 separated from the electrode body 210 are conveyed to the collection container 5 (conveying step). The clamp belt 8A rotates the pair of belt rotators 81, 82 under the control of the control unit 11 while holding the positive electrode body 211, thereby sending the positive electrode body 211 downstream of the positive electrode body conveying path R1. The positive electrode body 211 conveyed by the clamp belt 8A is collected in the collection container 5A arranged at the end of the positive electrode body conveying path R1. The clamp belt 8B rotates the pair of belt rotators 81, 82 under the control of the control unit 11 while holding the negative electrode stack 214, thereby sending the negative electrode stack 214 downstream of the negative electrode body conveying path R2. The negative electrode stack 214 conveyed by the clamp belt 8A is collected in the collection container 5B arranged at the end of the negative electrode body conveying path R2. Here, during the period when the clamp belt 8A is sending out the positive electrode bodies 211, compressed air is continuously injected from the air injection nozzle 4C under the control of the control unit 11. The air injection nozzle 4C injects compressed air from below the positive electrode bodies 211 so that the positive electrode bodies 211 sent out from the clamp belt 8A do not hang down due to the action of gravity and get caught up in the clamp belt 8A. Similarly, during the period when the clamp belt 8B is sending out the negative electrode stack 214, compressed air is continuously injected from the air injection nozzle 4D under the control of the control unit 11. The air injection nozzle 4D injects compressed air from below the negative electrode stack 214 so that the negative electrode stack 214 sent out from the clamp belt 8B does not hang down due to the action of gravity and get caught up in the clamp belt 8B. Also, the electrode wound body 200 is arranged in the basket 3 in a state in which it can rotate around the winding axis AX. Therefore, as the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 are transported, the electrode wound body 200 is unwound while rotating around the winding axis AX within the basket 3.

[0052] Here, the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is sandwiched by the guides 9C from both sides in the width direction at a position upstream of the peeling claws 7 in the pull-out direction, thereby suppressing movement in the width direction. As a result, the electrode body 210 before separation is suppressed from meandering when the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 are transported. In addition, the negative electrode laminate 214 separated from the electrode body 210 is sandwiched by the guides 9B from both sides in the width direction at a position downstream of the peeling claws 7 and upstream of the clamp belt 8B in the direction in which the negative electrode laminate 214 is transported (hereinafter also referred to as the transport direction), thereby suppressing movement in the width direction. As a result, the negative electrode laminate 214 is suppressed from meandering when the negative electrode laminate 214 is transported. Furthermore, the negative electrode laminate 214 separated from the electrode body 210 is sandwiched by the guides 9A provided on the peeling claws 7 from both sides in the width direction, thereby suppressing movement in the width direction. This more effectively prevents the negative electrode stack 214 from meandering when it is transported.

[0053] As the conveyance of the positive electrode body 211 progresses and the end of the positive electrode body 211 passes the clamp belt 8A, the sensor S2 detects that the positive electrode body 211 is not present on the clamp belt 8A. The detection unit 12 acquires information indicating the detection result from the sensor S2. The control unit 11 controls the control unit 11 based on the detection result to stop the rotation of the pair of belt rotators 81 and 82 on the clamp belt 8A and the injection of compressed air by the air injection nozzle 4C. Similarly, when the end of the negative electrode laminate 214 passes the clamp belt 8B, the sensor S3 detects that the negative electrode laminate 214 is not present on the clamp belt 8B. The detection unit 12 acquires information indicating the detection result from the sensor S3. The control unit 11 controls the control unit 11 based on the detection result to stop the rotation of the pair of belt rotators 81 and 82 on the clamp belt 8B and the injection of compressed air by the air injection nozzle 4D.

[0054] The electrode body 210 is completely separated into the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214, and the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 are each collected in the collection container 5, thereby completing the positive electrode body recovery step by the positive electrode body recovery device 100. As described above, by using the positive electrode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment, the positive electrode body 211 can be recovered from the electrode wound body 200 of a used lithium-ion secondary battery. By subjecting the recovered positive electrode body 211 to a known treatment, valuable materials such as cobalt and nickel contained in the positive electrode body 211 can be recovered and reused.

[0055] [Actions and Effects] As described above, the positive electrode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment includes a separation device 20 that separates the electrode body 210 in a pulled-out state pulled out from the rotatably arranged electrode wound body 200 into the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214 including the negative electrode body 212 and the separator 213, and transports the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode laminate 214, respectively. The separation device 20 has a clamp belt 8B that holds an extension region A1, which is a region of the negative electrode laminate 214 (an example of a first separation target) of the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state that extends further in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210 than the positive electrode body 211 (an example of a second separation target). The clamp belt 8B holds the extension region A1 so that the tip of the positive electrode body 211 is included in the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state. The separation device 20 has a peeling claw 7 that presses the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from the negative electrode laminate 214 in the thickness direction at a position upstream of the clamp belt 8B in the pulling-out direction, thereby peeling off the tip portion of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214, and a clamp belt 8A that receives the positive electrode body 211 peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214.

[0056] According to the positive electrode body recovery device 100 configured as described above, the negative electrode Because the positive electrode body 211 can be automatically peeled off from the laminate 214, it is easier to separate the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214 compared to a case in which the positive electrode body 211 is manually peeled off from the negative electrode laminate 214. This makes it possible to efficiently recover the positive electrode body 211 from the electrode wound body 200.

[0057] In the present invention, the positive electrode body may be the first separation target, the negative electrode laminate may be the second separation target, and the positive electrode body may extend further in the electrode body pull-out direction than the negative electrode laminate to form an extended region. In this case, the pressing portion presses the electrode body in the pulled-out state from the positive electrode body side in the thickness direction to peel off the tip of the negative electrode laminate from the positive electrode body. Even in such a case, it is possible to efficiently recover the positive electrode body.

[0058] The separation device 20 according to the present embodiment also has guide rollers 6A and 6B. The guide roller 6A abuts and supports the stacked region A2 of the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from the positive electrode body 211 side in the thickness direction at a position upstream of the peeling claw 7 and the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 in the pull-out direction when the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is pressed by the peeling claw 7. The guide roller 6B abuts and supports the extended region A1 of the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from the positive electrode body 211 side in the thickness direction at a position downstream of the peeling claw 7 and the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 in the pull-out direction when the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state is pressed by the peeling claw 7. This makes it easier to peel the tip 211a of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214.

[0059] Moreover, the peeling claw 7 according to this embodiment extends in the width direction of the electrode body 210 and presses the electrode body 210 in a state of being in contact with the electrode body 210 so as to cross the electrode body 210. This also makes it easier to peel the tip portion 211a of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode laminate 214.

[0060] Furthermore, the separation device 20 according to this embodiment has an air injection nozzle 4B that injects compressed air between the tip end portion of the positive electrode body 211 and the negative electrode stack 214. This also makes it easier to peel the tip end portion 211a of the positive electrode body 211 from the negative electrode stack 214.

[0061] Furthermore, the clamp belt 8A according to this embodiment includes a pair of belt rotators 81, 82 that sandwich the negative electrode laminate 214 in the thickness direction and rotate to deliver the negative electrode laminate 214. This makes it possible to transport the negative electrode laminate 214 separated from the electrode body 210. Note that in this embodiment, the holding of the extension region A1 when peeling off the positive electrode body 211 and the delivery of the negative electrode laminate 214 are performed by a common member (the clamp belt 8A), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the holding of the extension region and the delivery of the first separation target may be performed by different members.

[0062] Furthermore, the clamp belt 8B according to this embodiment includes a pair of rotors that sandwich the positive electrode body 211 in the thickness direction and rotate to deliver the positive electrode body 211. This makes it possible to transport the positive electrode body 211 separated from the electrode body 210. Note that in this embodiment, the peeled positive electrode body 211 is received and delivered by a common member (the clamp belt 8B), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the second separation target may be received and delivered by separate members.

[0063] Furthermore, the separation device 20 according to this embodiment has guides 9C that are disposed to sandwich the electrode body 210 in the pulled-out state from both sides in the width direction at a position upstream of the peeling claws 7 in the pull-out direction of the electrode body 210, thereby suppressing movement of the electrode body 210 in the width direction. This makes it possible to suppress meandering of the electrode body 210 before separation.

[0064] In addition, the separation device 20 according to this embodiment has a peeling claw in the conveying direction of the negative electrode laminate 214. 7 and upstream of the clamp belt 8B so as to sandwich the negative electrode stack 214 from both sides in the width direction, thereby suppressing movement of the negative electrode stack 214 in the width direction. This makes it possible to suppress meandering of the negative electrode stack 214.

[0065] Furthermore, the separation device 20 according to this embodiment has guides 9A that are disposed on the peeling claws 7 so as to sandwich the negative electrode laminate 214 from both sides in the width direction, thereby suppressing movement of the negative electrode laminate 214 in the width direction. This also makes it possible to suppress meandering of the negative electrode laminate 214.

[0066] In addition, the positive electrode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment further includes an air injection nozzle 4A that injects compressed air between the winding end 210a of the electrode body 210 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the electrode winding body 200 and the outer peripheral surface of the electrode winding body 200 to pull out the electrode body 210 from the electrode winding body 200, thereby peeling off the winding end 210a from the outer peripheral surface. According to this, the winding end 210a of the electrode body 210 can be automatically peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the electrode winding body 200 by the operation of the air injection nozzle 4A, so that the winding end 210a can be easily peeled off compared to the case where the winding end 210a is peeled off manually. This makes it possible to efficiently recover the positive electrode body 211 from the electrode winding body 200. Note that, in this embodiment, the electrode winding body 200 to which the winding end 210a is fixed by the winding stop tape 300 is targeted, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as it is possible to inject compressed air between the end of the winding and the outer peripheral surface of the electrode winding, the peeling means according to the present invention can also be applied to an electrode winding whose end of the winding is fixed by means other than tape.

[0067] Moreover, the clamp belt 8B according to this embodiment is configured to receive the extension region A1 of the electrode body 210 peeled off from the outer circumferential surface by the air injection nozzle 4A. This allows the extension region A1 to be held by the clamp belt 8B.

[0068] The positive electrode body recovery device 100 according to this embodiment further includes an extraction device 10 that extracts the electrode body 210 from the electrode wound body 200. The extraction device 10 is configured to extract the electrode body 210 from the electrode wound body 200 by lowering the electrode wound body 200 while the extension region A1 of the electrode body 210 is held and the electrode wound body 200 is rotatable. This allows the electrode body 210 to be automatically extracted from the electrode wound body 200 by the extraction device 10, making it easier to extract the electrode body 210 compared to the case where the electrode body 210 is extracted from the electrode wound body 200 manually. This allows the positive electrode body 211 to be efficiently recovered from the electrode wound body 200.

[0069] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, each aspect disclosed in this specification can be combined with any other feature disclosed in this specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1: Control device 2: Winding body clamp 3: Basket 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D: Air injection nozzle 5A, 5B: Collection container 6A, 4B: Guide roller 7: Peeling claw 8A, 8B: Clamp belt 9A, 9B, 9C: Guide 10 :Drawer device 20: Separation device 100: Cathode body recovery device 200: Electrode winding body 210: Electrode body 211: Cathode 212: Negative electrode body 213: Separator 214: Negative electrode laminate A1:Extension area A2:Lamination area

Claims

1. A positive electrode body recovery device that recovers a positive electrode body from an electrode wound body in which a strip-shaped electrode body in which a positive electrode body and a negative electrode body are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween is wound, a separation means for separating the electrode body in a drawn-out state drawn out from the rotatably arranged electrode wound body into the positive electrode body and a negative electrode laminate including the negative electrode body and the separator, and for transporting the positive electrode body and the negative electrode laminate, The separation means is a holding portion that holds an extension region of the electrode body in the pulled-out state, the extension region being a region in which a first separation target, which is one of the positive electrode body and the negative electrode laminate, of the electrode body in the pulled-out state extends further than a second separation target, which is the other, in a pull-out direction of the electrode body, and holds the extension region such that a tip end of the second separation target is included in the electrode body in the pulled-out state; a pressing unit that presses the electrode body in the pulled-out state from the first separation target side in a thickness direction at a position upstream of the holding unit in the pull-out direction, thereby peeling off a tip end of the second separation target from the first separation target; and A receiving portion that receives the second separation target peeled off from the first separation target. Cathode body recovery device.

2. The separation means is a first contact support portion that, when the electrode body in the pulled-out state is pressed by the pressing portion, contacts and supports a stacked region of the electrode body in the pulled-out state, where the positive electrode body and the negative electrode stacked body are stacked, from the second separation target in the thickness direction at a position upstream of the pressing portion and a tip end of the second separation target in the pulling direction; a second contact support portion that, when the electrode body in the pulled-out state is pressed by the pressing portion, contacts and supports the extension region of the electrode body in the pulled-out state from the second separation target side in the thickness direction at a position downstream of the pressing portion and the tip end of the second separation target in the pull-out direction. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 .

3. The pressing portion extends in a width direction of the electrode body and presses the electrode body while being in contact with the electrode body so as to cross the electrode body. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The separation means has an air injection unit that injects compressed air between the tip end of the second separation target and the first separation target. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The holding unit includes a pair of rotating bodies that sandwich the first separation target from a thickness direction and rotate to send out the first separation target. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The receiving unit includes a pair of rotating bodies that sandwich the second separation target from a thickness direction and rotate to send out the second separation target. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The separation means is The electrode body has an electrode body guide portion that is disposed so as to sandwich the electrode body in the pulled-out state from both sides in the width direction at a position upstream of the pressing portion in the pull-out direction of the electrode body, thereby suppressing movement of the electrode body in the width direction. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The separation means is a first guide portion disposed at a position downstream of the pressing portion and upstream of the holding portion in a conveying direction of the first separation target so as to sandwich the first separation target from both sides in a width direction, thereby suppressing movement of the first separation target in the width direction; The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The separation means is a second guide portion that is disposed on the pressing portion so as to sandwich the first separation target from both sides in a width direction, thereby suppressing movement of the first separation target in the width direction; The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. and a peeling means for injecting compressed air between a winding end of the electrode body fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the electrode winding and the outer circumferential surface of the electrode winding, thereby peeling off the winding end from the outer circumferential surface, in order to pull out the electrode body from the electrode winding. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The holding portion is configured to receive the extension region peeled off from the outer circumferential surface by the peeling means. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 10.

12. The electrode assembly may further include a pull-out means for pulling out the electrode assembly from the electrode winding body, the pull-out means pulls out the electrode body from the electrode winding body by lowering the electrode winding body in a state in which the extended region of the electrode body is held and the electrode winding body is rotatable. The positive electrode body recovery device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images