Device and method for manufacturing electrode for battery

Abstract

To stabilize a supply amount of an electrode composition in a width direction of a base material film.SOLUTION: A device for manufacturing an electrode for a battery comprises: a conveyance part for conveying a belt-like base material film; and a supply part for holding the electrode composition in an interior space of a hopper so that distribution of an amount of an electrode composition containing an active material per position in a width direction of the base material film is larger at a position closer to wall members at both ends in the width direction among wall members forming the internal space of the hopper, and for supplying the electrode composition to the base material film from an opening at a bottom end of the hopper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a battery electrode. [Background technology]

[0002] Lithium ion batteries are high-capacity secondary batteries that have been used in various applications in recent years. An electrode of a lithium ion battery is composed of an active material layer, a current collector layer, a separator, and a frame that encapsulates the active material layer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The active material layer in a lithium ion battery can be formed, for example, by supplying an electrode composition to a strip-shaped substrate film and compressing it with a roll press or the like.

[0003] The electrode composition is supplied to the base film by, for example, an electrode composition supplying device equipped with a hopper. For example, in Patent Document 2, the electrode composition is held in a hopper, and an opening formed at the bottom end of the hopper is opened and closed by a shutter to supply the electrode composition to a conveyed current collector sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6633866 [Patent Document 2] JP 2022-086814 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For example, as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, when the electrode composition is supplied to the base film by a hopper, the amount of the electrode composition supplied may be biased in the width direction of the base film. Specifically, the electrode composition held in the hopper flows in the hopper toward the opening at the lower end, and the flow of the electrode composition increases as the distance from the hopper inner wall increases. That is, the electrode composition flows more easily at a position far from the hopper inner wall (the center of the hopper) than at a position close to the hopper inner wall, so that the amount of the electrode composition supplied to the center in the width direction of the base film may be relatively large.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and a battery electrode manufacturing method that can maintain a constant supply amount of electrode composition in the width direction of a base film. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying unit that conveys a strip-shaped base film, and a supply unit that holds the electrode composition in the internal space of a hopper so that the distribution of the amount of electrode composition containing an active material at each position in the width direction of the base film is greater at positions closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction of the wall members that form the internal space of the hopper, and supplies the electrode composition to the base film from an opening at the lower end of the hopper. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and battery electrode manufacturing method of the present invention, the amount of electrode composition supplied in the width direction of the substrate film can be made constant. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a single cell of a battery manufactured using the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrode composition supplying device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining the behavior of the electrode composition in the hopper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is a diagram for explaining the supply amount of the electrode composition according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrode composition supplying device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the internal shape of the hopper according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrode composition supplying device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrode composition supplying device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrode composition supplying device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is a diagram showing an example of the movement of the protrusion according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8C] FIG. 8C is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of protrusions according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of the shape of a protrusion according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the protrusion according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electrode composition supplying device according to the third embodiment.

[0010] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings used in the following description may show characteristic parts in an enlarged scale for the purpose of emphasizing the characteristic parts, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not be the same as the actual ones. Also, for the same purpose, some parts may be omitted in the drawings.

[0011] <Battery pack (secondary battery)> The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and battery electrode manufacturing method according to the first embodiment are applied to, for example, the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries are used in the form of a modularized battery assembly formed by combining a plurality of lithium ion single batteries (also referred to as single cells or battery cells), or in the form of a battery pack in which a plurality of such battery assemblies are combined to adjust the voltage and capacity. An example of a lithium ion secondary battery is shown below, but the type of secondary battery according to the present invention is not limited to a lithium ion secondary battery and includes other secondary batteries.

[0012] <Single cell (battery cell)> 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a unit cell 10. The above-mentioned battery pack can be produced by combining a plurality of unit cells 10. For example, the unit cell 10 has a positive electrode 20a and a negative electrode 20b as two electrodes 20 (battery electrodes), and a separator 30.

[0013] The separator 30 is disposed between the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b. In the assembled battery, the multiple single cells 10 are stacked with the positive electrodes 20a and the negative electrodes 20b facing in the same direction.

[0014] The separator 30 holds an electrolyte. Thus, the separator 30 functions as an electrolyte layer. The separator 30 is disposed between the electrode active material layers 22 of the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b, and prevents them from contacting each other. Thus, the separator 30 functions as a partition wall between the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b.

[0015] Examples of the electrolyte held in the separator 30 include an electrolytic solution or a gel polymer electrolyte. By using these electrolytes, high lithium ion conductivity is ensured. Examples of the form of the separator include a porous sheet separator made of a polymer or fiber that absorbs and holds the electrolyte, a nonwoven fabric separator, and the like.

[0016] The positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b each have a current collector 21, an electrode active material layer 22, and a frame 35. The electrode active material layer 22 and the current collector 21 are arranged in this order from the separator 30 side. The frame 35 is frame-shaped (annular). The frame 35 surrounds the periphery of the electrode active material layer 22. The frame 35 of the positive electrode 20a and the frame 35 of the negative electrode 20b are welded to each other and integrated. Alternatively, the frame 35 of the positive electrode 20a and the frame 35 of the negative electrode 20b may be integrally manufactured from the beginning. That is, the frame 35 of the positive electrode 20a and the frame 35 of the negative electrode 20b may be manufactured separately and then integrated, or may be manufactured as a single member. In the following description, when the electrode active material layers 22 of the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b are to be distinguished from each other, they will be referred to as a positive electrode active material layer 22a and a negative electrode active material layer 22b, respectively.

[0017] <Specific examples of positive electrode current collectors> As the positive electrode current collector constituting the positive electrode current collector layer 21a, a current collector used in a known lithium ion cell can be used, for example, a known metal current collector and a resin current collector composed of a conductive material and a resin (such as the resin current collectors described in JP 2012-150905 A and WO 2015 / 005116 A, etc.) can be used. From the viewpoint of battery characteristics, etc., the positive electrode current collector constituting the positive electrode current collector layer 21a is preferably a resin current collector.

[0018] Examples of the metal current collector include one or more metal materials selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, titanium, nickel, tantalum, niobium, hafnium, zirconium, zinc, tungsten, bismuth, antimony, alloys containing one or more of these metals, and stainless steel alloys. These metal materials may be used in the form of a thin plate or metal foil. In addition, the above metal materials may be formed on the surface of a substrate made of a material other than the above metal materials by a method such as sputtering, electrodeposition, or coating, and used as the metal current collector.

[0019] The resin collector preferably contains a conductive filler and a matrix resin. Examples of the matrix resin include, but are not limited to, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polymethylpentene (PMP), etc. The conductive filler is not particularly limited as long as it is selected from materials having electrical conductivity. The conductive filler may be a conductive fiber having a fibrous shape.

[0020] The resin current collector may contain other components (such as a dispersant, a crosslinking accelerator, a crosslinking agent, a colorant, an ultraviolet absorber, and a plasticizer) in addition to the matrix resin and the conductive filler. A plurality of resin current collectors may be laminated, or a resin current collector and a metal foil may be laminated.

[0021] The thickness of the positive electrode collector layer 21a is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 150 μm. When a plurality of resin collectors are laminated to be used as the positive electrode collector layer 21a, the total thickness after lamination is preferably 5 to 150 μm. The positive electrode collector layer 21a can be obtained, for example, by melt-kneading a matrix resin, a conductive filler, and an optional filler dispersant to obtain a conductive resin composition, and molding the conductive resin composition into a film by a known method.

[0022] <Specific examples of positive electrode active materials> The positive electrode active material layer 22a is preferably a non-binding body of a mixture containing a positive electrode active material. Here, the non-binding body means that the position of the positive electrode active material in the positive electrode active material layer is not fixed, and the positive electrode active materials are not irreversibly fixed to each other and to the positive electrode active material and the current collector. When the positive electrode active material layer 22a is a non-binding body, the positive electrode active materials are not irreversibly fixed to each other, so that the interface between the positive electrode active materials can be separated without mechanically destroying it, and even if stress is applied to the positive electrode active material layer 22a, the positive electrode active material moves, so that destruction of the positive electrode active material layer 22a can be prevented, which is preferable. The positive electrode active material layer 22a that is a non-binding body can be obtained by, for example, making the positive electrode active material layer 22a into a positive electrode active material layer 22a that contains a positive electrode active material and an electrolyte but does not contain a binder. In this specification, the binder means a chemical that cannot reversibly fix the positive electrode active materials to each other and the positive electrode active material and the current collector. Such binders are used by dissolving or dispersing them in a solvent, and when the solvent is evaporated or distilled off, the surface solidifies without exhibiting any adhesiveness, and therefore cannot reversibly fix the positive electrode active materials together or between the positive electrode active material and the current collector.

[0023] Examples of the positive electrode active material include, but are not limited to, composite oxides of lithium and transition metals, composite oxides containing two types of transition metal elements, and composite oxides containing three or more types of metal elements.

[0024] The positive electrode active material may be a coated positive electrode active material having at least a part of its surface coated with a coating material containing a polymer compound. When the positive electrode active material is coated with the coating material, the volume change of the positive electrode is mitigated, and the expansion of the positive electrode can be suppressed.

[0025] As the polymer compound constituting the coating material, those described as active material coating resins in JP 2017-054703 A and WO 2015 / 005117 A, for example, can be suitably used.

[0026] The coating material may contain a conductive agent, which may be the same as the conductive filler contained in the positive electrode current collector layer 21a.

[0027] The positive electrode active material layer 22a may contain an adhesive resin. For example, the adhesive resin may be a resin for coating a non-aqueous secondary battery active material described in JP 2017-054703 A in which a small amount of organic solvent is mixed to adjust the glass transition temperature to room temperature or lower, and a resin described as an adhesive in JP 10-255805 A. The adhesive resin means a resin that does not solidify even when the solvent component is evaporated and dried, and has adhesiveness (the property of adhering by applying a slight pressure without using water, solvent, heat, etc.). On the other hand, the solution-drying type electrode binder used as a binder means a material that dries and solidifies by evaporating the solvent component, thereby firmly adhering and fixing the active materials to each other. Therefore, the above-mentioned binder (solution-drying type electrode binder) and the adhesive resin are different materials.

[0028] The positive electrode active material layer 22a may contain an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte and a non-aqueous solvent. As the electrolyte, a substance used in a known electrolytic solution can be used. As the non-aqueous solvent, a substance used in a known electrolytic solution (e.g., phosphoric acid ester, nitrile compound, and mixtures thereof) can be used. For example, a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), or a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) can be used.

[0029] The positive electrode active material layer 22a may contain a conductive assistant, which may be a conductive material similar to the conductive filler contained in the positive electrode current collector layer 21a.

[0030] The thickness of the positive electrode active material layer 22a is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of battery performance, it is preferably 300 to 750 μm, and more preferably 350 to 600 μm.

[0031] In an embodiment, the positive electrode composition supplied to form the positive electrode active material layer 22a is a wet powder containing a positive electrode active material and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The wet powder is more preferably in a pendular or funicular state.

[0032] The proportion of the nonaqueous electrolyte in the wet powder is not particularly limited, but in order to achieve a pendular or funicular state, in the case of a positive electrode, it is desirable that the proportion of the nonaqueous electrolyte be 0.5 to 30% by weight of the entire wet powder.

[0033] <Specific examples of negative electrode current collectors> The negative electrode current collector constituting the negative electrode current collector layer 21b may be appropriately selected from the same configuration as that described for the positive electrode current collector, and may be obtained by the same method. From the viewpoint of battery characteristics, the negative electrode current collector layer 21b is preferably a resin current collector. The thickness of the negative electrode current collector layer 21b is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 150 μm.

[0034] <Specific examples of negative electrode active materials> The negative electrode active material layer 22b is preferably a non-binding material of a mixture containing a negative electrode active material. The reason why the negative electrode active material layer is preferably a non-binding material and the method for obtaining the non-binding negative electrode active material layer 22b are the same as the reason why the positive electrode active material layer 22a is preferably a non-binding material and the method for obtaining the non-binding positive electrode active material layer 22a.

[0035] As the negative electrode active material, for example, a carbon-based material, a silicon-based material, or a mixture thereof can be used, but is not particularly limited.

[0036] The negative electrode active material may be a coated negative electrode active material having at least a part of its surface coated with a coating material containing a polymer compound. When the negative electrode active material is coated with the coating material, the volume change of the negative electrode is mitigated, and the expansion of the negative electrode can be suppressed.

[0037] As the coating material, the same coating material as that constituting the coated positive electrode active material can be suitably used.

[0038] The negative electrode active material layer 22b contains an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte and a non-aqueous solvent. The composition of the electrolytic solution may be the same as that of the electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode active material layer 22a.

[0039] The negative electrode active material layer 22b may contain a conductive assistant, which may be a conductive material similar to that contained in the positive electrode active material layer 22a.

[0040] The negative electrode active material layer 22b may contain an adhesive resin, which may be the same as the adhesive resin that is an optional component of the positive electrode active material layer 22a.

[0041] The thickness of the negative electrode active material layer 22b is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of battery performance, it is preferably 450 to 900 μm, and more preferably 500 to 750 μm.

[0042] In an embodiment, the negative electrode composition supplied to form the negative electrode active material layer 22b is a wet powder containing a negative electrode active material and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The wet powder is more preferably in a pendular or funicular state.

[0043] The proportion of the nonaqueous electrolyte in the wet powder is not particularly limited, but in order to achieve a pendular or funicular state, in the case of a negative electrode, it is desirable that the proportion of the nonaqueous electrolyte be 0.20 to 40% by weight of the entire wet powder.

[0044] <Specific examples of separators> Examples of the electrolyte held in the separator 30 include an electrolytic solution and a gel polymer electrolyte. By using these electrolytes, high lithium ion conductivity is ensured in the separator 30. Examples of the form of the separator 30 include, but are not limited to, a porous film made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0045] <Examples of frame bodies> The frame 35 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that is durable against the electrolyte, but for example, a polymer material is preferable, and a thermoplastic polymer material is more preferable. The material constituting the frame 35 may be any material that has insulation properties, sealing properties (liquid-tightness), heat resistance at the battery operating temperature, electrolyte resistance, etc., and a resin material is preferably used. More specifically, the frame 35 may be, for example, a polyolefin resin, a polyurethane resin, or a polyvinylidene fluoride resin, and the like, and polyolefin resin is preferable because it is highly durable and easy to handle.

[0046] <Battery electrode manufacturing device and battery electrode manufacturing method> Next, a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and a battery electrode manufacturing method (hereinafter, abbreviated as manufacturing method) according to the present embodiment will be described. For example, in the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus and the battery electrode manufacturing method, the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b are first manufactured. The manufacturing method of the positive electrode 20a and the manufacturing method of the negative electrode 20b differ mainly in the electrode active material contained in the electrode active material layer 22. Here, the manufacturing methods of the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b will be collectively described as the manufacturing method of the electrode 20.

[0047] 2 is a schematic diagram of a battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000. For example, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a chamber 100, a conveying device 200, an electrode composition supplying device 300, a pressing device 400, and a frame supplying device 500. The conveying device 200 is an example of a conveying section. The electrode composition supplying device 300 is an example of a supplying section. In the following, a case where the strip-shaped base film is a strip-shaped current collector 21B will be described as an example.

[0048] The chamber 100 is a room whose interior can be maintained at a pressure reduced below atmospheric pressure. The interior of the chamber 100 is reduced to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by a vacuum pump (not shown). The standard atmospheric pressure is about 1013 hPa (about 101 kPa).

[0049] For example, a current collector roll 21R is disposed outside the chamber 100, and a strip-shaped current collector 21B pulled out from the current collector roll 21R is transported into the chamber 100 through a slit. Hereinafter, the strip-shaped current collector 21B may be referred to as a current collector 21B. The current collector 21B is the current collector 21 before it is cut into a predetermined shape. The current collector 21B is transported at a predetermined speed by a transport device 200. The space outside the chamber 100 in which the current collector roll 21R is disposed may be at normal pressure, or may be reduced in pressure by a chamber different from the chamber 100.

[0050] In the following description, the transport direction in which the current collector 21B is transported is defined as the X direction, and the vertical direction is defined as the Y direction. More specifically, the downstream side of the transport direction of the current collector 21B corresponds to the +X direction, and the upstream side corresponds to the -X direction. The upper side in the vertical direction corresponds to the +Y direction, and the lower side corresponds to the -Y direction. When the current collector 21B is transported horizontally, the X direction and the Y direction are perpendicular to each other. The Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction corresponds to the width direction of the current collector 21B.

[0051] The conveying device 200 conveys the current collector 21B in the +X direction. For example, the conveying device 200 is a belt conveyor that supports the current collector 21B from below. After the electrode composition supplying device 300 described below supplies the electrode composition 22c, the conveying device 200 conveys the current collector 21B carrying the electrode composition 22c. After the frame supplying device 500 described below supplies the frame 35, the conveying device 200 conveys the frame 35 and the current collector 21B carrying the electrode composition 22c.

[0052] The electrode composition supplying device 300 includes a hopper and holds the electrode composition 22c in the internal space of the hopper. The electrode composition supplying device 300 supplies the electrode composition 22c to the conveyed current collector 21B from an opening at the bottom end of the hopper. A specific configuration of the electrode composition supplying device 300 will be described later.

[0053] The press device 400 compresses the electrode composition 22c supplied to the current collector 21B. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the press device 400 has an upper roller 401 and a lower roller 402. The press device 400 sandwiches and compresses the electrode composition 22c supplied to the current collector 21B between the upper roller 401 and the lower roller 402. That is, the press device 400 performs roll pressing on the electrode composition 22c.

[0054] When performing the roll press, a release film may be used to suppress adhesion of the electrode composition 22c to the roller. For example, a release film wound in a roll is pulled out in synchronization with the conveying speed of the electrode composition 22c and is laid on the upper surface of the electrode composition 22c before the roll press. As a result, the roll press is performed with the release film sandwiched between the upper roller 401 and the electrode composition 22c, suppressing adhesion of the electrode composition 22c to the upper roller 401. The release film after the roll press is peeled off from the electrode composition 22c and can be collected, for example, by winding it up in a roll.

[0055] The frame body supplying device 500 supplies the frame body 35 to the current collector 21B being transported. For example, the frame body supplying device 500 has a robot arm and places a previously manufactured frame body 35 at a predetermined position on the current collector 21B being transported. Alternatively, the frame body supplying device 500 may manufacture the frame body 35 on the current collector 21B. As an example, the current collector 21B is used as a base material, and a predetermined material is discharged or applied in a predetermined shape onto the current collector 21B by a dispenser, a coater, or the like, to form the frame body 35 on the current collector 21B.

[0056] As described above, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 in Fig. 2 can manufacture electrodes such as the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b. Furthermore, the unit cell 10 can be manufactured by stacking the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b with the separator 30 interposed therebetween. The step of stacking the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b with the separator 30 interposed therebetween may be performed by the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 or may be performed by an apparatus different from the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000.

[0057] For example, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 manufactures the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b by carrying out the various steps described in FIG. 2. Next, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 supplies the separator 30 to the surface of the positive electrode 20a on the side of the positive electrode active material layer 22a, and further supplies the negative electrode 20b so that the separator 30 and the negative electrode active material layer 22b are in contact with each other, thereby manufacturing the single cell 10. Alternatively, the separator 30 is supplied to the surface of the negative electrode 20b on the side of the negative electrode active material layer 22b, and further supplies the positive electrode 20a so that the separator 30 and the positive electrode active material layer 22a are in contact with each other, thereby manufacturing the single cell 10. The separator 30 may be supplied continuously to the current collector 21B and the electrode composition 22c transported along the transport direction (X direction), or may be supplied as a sheet after dividing the current collector 21B and the electrode composition 22c into predetermined units.

[0058] Next, an example of the configuration of the electrode composition supplying device 300 will be described. As an example of the electrode composition supplying device 300, an electrode composition supplying device 310 is shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B. As shown in Fig. 3A, the electrode composition supplying device 310 includes a moving belt 311, a fixing member 312, and a shutter 313. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3B, the electrode composition supplying device 310 includes a fixing member 314a and a fixing member 314b. Note that Fig. 3B is a view of a cross section on the YZ plane of the electrode composition supplying device 310 as viewed from the transport direction (X direction) of the current collector 21B.

[0059] In the electrode composition supplying device 310, a hopper is formed by a moving belt 311, a fixed member 312, a fixed member 314a, and a fixed member 314b, and the electrode composition 22c is held in the internal space of the hopper. The moving belt 311, the fixed member 312, the fixed member 314a, and the fixed member 314b are examples of wall members forming the internal space of the hopper. As shown in FIG. 3A, the moving belt 311 and the fixed member 312 are wall members at both ends in the conveying direction (X direction) of the current collector 21B among the wall members forming the internal space of the hopper. Also, as shown in FIG. 3B, the fixed member 314a and the fixed member 314b are wall members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction) of the current collector 21B among the wall members forming the internal space of the hopper.

[0060] More specifically, the moving belt 311 is composed of a loop-shaped belt 311a, a roller 311b, a roller 311c, a roller 311d, a roller 311e, and a roller 311f. At least one of the rollers 311b, 311c, 311d, 311e, and 311f is a driving roller rotated by, for example, a motor or the like, and drives the moving belt 311. That is, the driving force supplied from the driving roller rotates the loop-shaped belt 311a so that the surface in contact with the electrode composition 22c moves downward in the vertical direction (-Y direction). As a result, a force in the -Y direction is applied to the electrode composition 22c in the hopper, and the movement of the electrode composition 22c to the opening at the lower end of the hopper can be assisted. The fixing member 312, the fixing member 314a, and the fixing member 314b are, for example, metal plate-shaped members.

[0061] The shutter 313 opens and closes the opening at the bottom of the hopper. That is, in the electrode composition supplying device 310, the opening at the bottom of the hopper is opened to supply the electrode composition 22c to the current collector 21B, and the opening at the bottom of the hopper is closed by the shutter 313 to stop the supply of the electrode composition 22c to the current collector 21B. This makes it possible to intermittently supply the electrode composition 22c to the current collector 21B, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A. Note that, when stopping the supply of the electrode composition 22c to the current collector 21B, the operation of the moving belt 311 may be stopped or reversed.

[0062] Here, it is preferable that the electrode composition 22c is supplied to the current collector 21B so that the amount at each position is constant, but there are cases where variations occur due to various factors. For example, the amount of electrode composition 22c supplied may be relatively greater at the center in the width direction (Z direction) than at the end. This is because, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3B, the electrode composition 22c is more likely to flow at a position farther from the hopper inner wall (the center of the hopper) than at a position closer to the hopper inner wall. That is, at a position closer to the hopper inner wall, the electrode composition 22c is less likely to flow due to friction with wall members such as the fixing member 312, the fixing member 314a, and the fixing member 314b, whereas at the center of the hopper, the electrode composition 22c is less susceptible to friction with the wall members and flows relatively smoothly. As a result, the electrode composition 22c discharged from the opening at the lower end of the hopper is also more in the center.

[0063] Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the electrode composition 22c supplied to the current collector 21B is arranged so as to be in contact with the lower end of the moving belt 311, and the electrode composition 22c is supplied to the current collector 21B and its surface is compressed at the same time, so that the thickness can be adjusted to a constant value. However, even if the thickness is adjusted to a constant value, if there is variation in the supply amount of the electrode composition 22c, the density of the electrode composition 22c will vary so that the density of the electrode composition 22c is high in the center in the width direction. That is, the electrode composition supply device 310 can apply the electrode composition 22c to a constant thickness, for example, as shown in FIG. 3C for electrode composition 22c-1, but the center in the width direction may become relatively dense.

[0064] In the case where electrode composition 22c is not compressed by the lower end of moving belt 311 and the supply amount varies, the central portion in the width direction of electrode composition 22c supplied onto current collector 21B becomes relatively thick. Even in such a case, the thickness can be adjusted to a constant value by roll pressing using press device 400, but after roll pressing, the central portion in the width direction becomes relatively dense.

[0065] In addition, the friction between the wall member and the electrode composition 22c can be reduced by employing a wall member capable of moving on the surface in contact with the electrode composition 22c, such as the moving belt 311. However, constructing all the wall members forming the internal space of the hopper with moving belts complicates the device and its control, which is not preferable from the standpoint of cost.

[0066] Therefore, the electrode composition supplying device 300 according to the first embodiment makes it possible to keep the supply amount of the electrode composition 22c constant in the width direction (Z direction) by using the electrode composition supplying device 320 shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0067] 4, the electrode composition supplying device 320 includes a moving belt 321, a plate-like member 322, a shutter 323, a support member 324a, a support member 324b, a pressurizer 325, and a sensor 326. The moving belt 321 and the shutter 323 can be configured in the same manner as the above-mentioned moving belt 311 and shutter 313, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] The plate-shaped member 322 is a plate-shaped member that can be deformed by the force received from the pressurizer 325. For example, the plate-shaped member 322 is an elastic metal plate. The support members 324a and 324b support the plate-shaped member 322 so that it can be deformed. More specifically, the support members 324a and 324b support a position of the plate-shaped member 322 close to the end on the -Z direction side. Although not shown in FIG. 4, a position of the plate-shaped member 322 close to the end on the +Z direction side is also supported by a member similar to the support members 324a and 324b.

[0069] 5, the electrode composition supplying device 320 includes a fixing member 327a and a fixing member 327b. In the electrode composition supplying device 320, a hopper is formed by the moving belt 321, the plate-like member 322, the fixing member 327a, and the fixing member 327b, and the electrode composition 22c is held in the internal space. The moving belt 321 and the plate-like member 322 are wall surface members at both ends in the conveying direction (X direction) of the current collector 21B among the wall surface members that form the internal space of the hopper. The fixing member 327a and the fixing member 327b are wall surface members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction) of the current collector 21B among the wall surface members that form the internal space of the hopper.

[0070] As shown in Fig. 5, the deformation of plate-like member 322 by pressurizer 325 also changes the shape of the internal space of the hopper. Specifically, in Fig. 5, the deformation of plate-like member 322 causes the dimension of the internal space of the hopper in the X direction to increase in positions close to fixed members 327a and 327b and to decrease in the center. In other words, in Fig. 5, the dimension of the internal space of the hopper in the conveying direction (X direction) of current collector 21B increases the closer it is to the wall members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction) of current collector 21B.

[0071] As the dimensions of the internal space change, the amount of electrode composition 22c held also changes. Specifically, the dimensions in the X direction are large at positions close to fixing members 327a and 327b, and a relatively large amount of electrode composition 22c is held. On the other hand, the dimensions in the X direction are small at the center, and the amount of electrode composition 22c held is small. That is, in Fig. 5, the distribution of the amount of electrode composition 22c by position in the width direction (Z direction) increases toward the wall members at both ends of current collector 21B in the width direction (Z direction).

[0072] At positions close to the fixing members 327a and 327b, the dimension in the X direction is large and a relatively large amount of the electrode composition 22c is held, so that the amount of the electrode composition 22c discharged from the opening at the lower end of the hopper is large. On the other hand, as in the case shown in FIG. 3B, at positions close to the fixing members 327a and 327b, the electrode composition 22c is less likely to flow due to the influence of friction with the wall member, so that the amount of the electrode composition 22c discharged from the opening at the lower end of the hopper is reduced. In the electrode composition supplying device 320, the plate-like member 322 is deformed so that the increase in the discharge amount of the electrode composition 22c due to the large dimension in the X direction and the decrease in the discharge amount of the electrode composition 22c due to the influence of friction with the wall member are offset, so that the supply amount of the electrode composition 22c for each position in the width direction can be made constant.

[0073] For example, the electrode composition supplying device 320 measures the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied on the current collector 21B at each position in the width direction (Z direction) by the sensor 326. Then, for example, when the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center on the current collector 21B is relatively large, the electrode composition supplying device 320 increases the force applied from the pressurizer 325 to the plate-like member 322 and reduces the dimension of the center of the internal space of the hopper, thereby reducing the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center. On the other hand, when the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center on the current collector 21B is relatively small, the electrode composition supplying device 320 decreases the force applied from the pressurizer 325 to the plate-like member 322 and increases the dimension of the center of the internal space of the hopper, thereby increasing the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center.

[0074] For example, when the electrode composition 22c is not compressed by the moving belt 321 or the press device 400, the electrode composition supply device 320 can use a thickness sensor using infrared rays or the like as the sensor 326. In this case, the sensor 326 detects the thickness for each position in the Z direction as the amount of the electrode composition 22c at each position.

[0075] Furthermore, for example, the electrode composition supplying device 320 can use a radiation device that uses radiation such as X-rays or β-rays as the sensor 326. In this case, the sensor 326 can detect the amount of the electrode composition 22c present on the radiation path based on the amount of attenuation of the radiation, regardless of whether the electrode composition 22c has been compressed by the moving belt 321 or the pressing device 400.

[0076] The location of the sensor 326 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, in the vicinity of the electrode composition supplying device 320 as shown in Fig. 4, or in the vicinity of the press device 400 or the frame supplying device 500. However, it is preferable to provide the sensor 326 in the vicinity of the electrode composition supplying device 320 to shorten the time until feedback is applied.

[0077] As described above, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the first embodiment includes a conveying device 200 for conveying the strip-shaped current collector 21B, and an electrode composition supplying device 320. The electrode composition supplying device 320 holds the electrode composition 22c in the internal space of the hopper such that the distribution of the amount of the electrode composition 22c at each position in the width direction (Z direction) is greater at positions closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction among the wall members forming the internal space of the hopper. Specifically, the electrode composition supplying device 320 holds the electrode composition 22c such that the distribution of the amount of the electrode composition 22c at each position in the width direction (Z direction) is greater at positions closer to the wall members, since the dimension of the internal space of the hopper in the conveying direction (X direction) is greater at positions closer to the wall members. With this configuration, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the first embodiment can keep the supply amount of the electrode composition constant in the width direction (Z direction).

[0078] As described above, in the first embodiment, each step, such as supplying the electrode composition 22c by the electrode composition supplying device 320 and compressing the electrode composition 22c by the pressing device 400, is performed in the chamber 100, the inside of which is reduced in pressure below atmospheric pressure. This makes it possible to prevent air from remaining inside the electrode composition 22c, and improves the uniformity of the electrode active material layer 22.

[0079] It should be noted that the device configuration shown in FIG. 4 is merely one example, and various modifications are possible.

[0080] For example, the sensor 326 may be omitted, and no feedback may be provided to the pressurizer 325 and the plate-like member 322. In this case, the pressurizer 325 can deform the plate-like member 322 according to, for example, preset conditions or conditions changed manually.

[0081] Also, the pressurizer 325 may be omitted and no force may be applied to the plate-shaped member 322. That is, the plate-shaped member 322 may be produced so as to have the shape shown in Fig. 5 without the application of force. However, since the supply amount of the electrode composition 22c may vary depending on the production lot, etc., even if the conditions are all set, it is useful to provide the pressurizer 325 so that the supply amount of the electrode composition 22c can be appropriately adjusted by changing the shape of the plate-shaped member 322.

[0082] 4 illustrates a moving belt 321 as an example of a wall member on the +X direction side among the wall members that form the internal space of the hopper. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and instead of the moving belt 321, for example, a fixed member similar to the fixed member 312 illustrated in FIG. 3A may be provided.

[0083] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the dimension of the internal space of the hopper in the conveying direction (X direction) of the current collector 21B is increased toward the wall members at both ends of the width direction (Z direction) of the current collector 21B. In contrast, in the second embodiment, an example is described in which the electrode composition 22c is held such that the bulk in the vertical direction (Y direction) of the electrode composition 22c held in the internal space of the hopper is increased toward the wall members at both ends of the width direction (Z direction) of the current collector 21B. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are used for the points described in the first embodiment, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0084] As an example of the electrode composition supplying device 300, an electrode composition supplying device 330 is illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the electrode composition supplying device 330 includes a moving belt 331, a fixed member 332, a shutter 333, a sensor 334, and a supplying device 335. The moving belt 331, the fixed member 332, and the shutter 333 can be configured in the same manner as the moving belt 311, the fixed member 312, and the shutter 313 described above, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. Although not illustrated in FIG. 6, the electrode composition supplying device 330 includes wall members similar to the fixed members 314a and 314b shown in FIG. 3B, for example, and a hopper is configured by a combination of the moving belt 331 and the fixed member 332.

[0085] 6, the supply device 335 includes a plurality of nozzles (nozzle 335a, nozzle 335b, nozzle 335c, nozzle 335d, and nozzle 335e), and supplies the electrode composition 22c discharged from the plurality of nozzles into the internal space of the hopper. Here, the supply device 335 can change the discharge amount of the electrode composition 22c for each nozzle.

[0086] Specifically, the supply device 335 discharges a relatively large amount of electrode composition 22c from nozzles located near the wall members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction), such as nozzle 335a and nozzle 335e. On the other hand, the supply device 335 discharges a relatively small amount of electrode composition 22c from nozzles located near the center in the width direction (Z direction), such as nozzle 335c. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the bulk in the vertical direction (Y direction) of the electrode composition 22c held in the internal space of the hopper becomes higher as the position becomes closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction). In other words, the electrode composition 22c can be held in the internal space of the hopper so that the distribution of the amount of electrode composition 22c at each position in the width direction (Z direction) of the current collector 21B becomes larger as the position becomes closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction).

[0087] The amount of electrode composition 22c discharged from the opening at the lower end of the hopper also changes depending on the bulk of the electrode composition 22c in the Y direction. Specifically, the larger the bulk, the greater the force pushing the electrode composition 22c downward (in the -Y direction) due to its weight, and more electrode composition 22c is discharged from the opening at the lower end of the hopper. On the other hand, similar to the case shown in FIG. 3B, at positions close to the wall members at both ends in the width direction (Z direction), the electrode composition 22c becomes less likely to flow due to the influence of friction with the wall members, and the amount of electrode composition 22c discharged from the opening at the lower end of the hopper decreases accordingly. In the electrode composition supply device 330, the bulk at each position is adjusted so that the increase in the discharge amount of electrode composition 22c due to the large bulk in the Y direction and the decrease in the discharge amount of electrode composition 22c due to the influence of friction with the wall members are offset, thereby making it possible to keep the supply amount of electrode composition 22c constant for each position in the width direction.

[0088] For example, the electrode composition supplying device 330 measures the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied on the current collector 21B at each position in the width direction (Z direction) by the sensor 334. Then, for example, when the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center portion on the current collector 21B is relatively large, the electrode composition supplying device 330 reduces the amount of the electrode composition 22c discharged from a nozzle located near the center, such as the nozzle 335c, and reduces the volume of the electrode composition 22c at the position near the center, thereby reducing the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center portion. On the other hand, when the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center portion on the current collector 21B is relatively small, the electrode composition supplying device 330 increases the amount of the electrode composition 22c discharged from a nozzle located near the center, and increases the volume of the electrode composition 22c at the position near the center, thereby increasing the amount of the electrode composition 22c supplied to the width direction center portion. Similarly to the sensor 326, the sensor 334 can be realized by, for example, an infrared sensor or a radiation device.

[0089] As described above, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the second embodiment includes a conveying device 200 for conveying the strip-shaped current collector 21B, and an electrode composition supplying device 330. The electrode composition supplying device 330 holds the electrode composition 22c in the internal space of the hopper such that the distribution of the amount of the electrode composition 22c at each position in the width direction (Z direction) is greater at positions closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction among the wall members forming the internal space of the hopper. Specifically, the electrode composition supplying device 330 holds the electrode composition 22c such that the bulk of the electrode composition 22c held in the internal space of the hopper in the vertical direction (Y direction) is greater at positions closer to the wall members, thereby holding the electrode composition 22c such that the distribution of the amount of the electrode composition 22c at each position in the width direction (Z direction) is greater at positions closer to the wall members. With this configuration, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the second embodiment can keep the supply amount of the electrode composition constant in the width direction (Z direction).

[0090] The device configuration shown in Fig. 4 is merely an example, and various modifications are possible. For example, the electrode composition supply device 330 may include a radiation irradiation device 336 and a radiation detection device 337 shown in Fig. 7, detect the volume of the electrode composition 22c held in the internal space of the hopper in the vertical direction (Y direction), and control the supply of the electrode composition 22c to the internal space of the hopper based on the detection result.

[0091] The radiation irradiation device 336 is, for example, an X-ray tube, and irradiates the hopper with radiation from the upstream side in the conveying direction (-X direction). The radiation detection device 337 is, for example, an X-ray flat panel detector (FPD), and detects radiation irradiated from the radiation irradiation device 336 and transmitted through the hopper. The amount of attenuation of radiation changes depending on whether the electrode composition 22c is included in the radiation path, and according to the detection result by the radiation irradiation device 336, the position of the upper end of the electrode composition 22c inside the hopper can be identified and the volume at each position in the width direction (Z direction) can be obtained.

[0092] The supply device 335 can control the supply of the electrode composition 22c to the internal space of the hopper based on the detection results by the radiation irradiation device 336 and the radiation detection device 337. For example, a target value is set for the bulk of the electrode composition 22c in the vertical direction (Y direction) for each position in the width direction (Z direction). The supply device 335 compares the bulk detected by the radiation irradiation device 336 and the radiation detection device 337 with the target value to control the supply of the electrode composition 22c. For example, when the detected bulk does not reach the target value at the center in the width direction (Z direction), the supply device 335 increases the discharge amount of the electrode composition 22c from a nozzle (such as the nozzle 335c in FIG. 6) located near the center.

[0093] 7, it is preferable that the thickness and material of fixing member 332 are selected so as not to block radiation irradiated from radiation irradiator 336. For example, in the case shown in Fig. 7, fixing member 332 is made of a resin material. Feedback control based on the detection results by radiation irradiator 336 and radiation detection device 337 may be performed instead of feedback control based on the detection result by sensor 334, or may be performed simultaneously.

[0094] (Third embodiment) In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the electrode composition 22c is held in the internal space of the hopper formed by a plurality of wall members, as shown in, for example, Figures 4 and 6. In such a hopper, a stirring device for stirring the electrode composition 22c may be provided in some or all of the wall members.

[0095] As an example of the electrode composition supplying device 300, an electrode composition supplying device 340 is illustrated in Fig. 8A. As illustrated in Fig. 8A, the electrode composition supplying device 340 includes a moving belt 341, a wall member 342, and a shutter 343. The moving belt 341 and the shutter 343 can be configured in the same manner as the moving belt 311 and the shutter 313 described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Although not illustrated in Fig. 8A, the electrode composition supplying device 340 includes wall members similar to the fixed members 314a and 314b illustrated in Fig. 3B, for example, and a hopper is configured by a combination of the moving belt 341 and the wall member 342.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 8A, the wall member 342 includes a plate-shaped member 342a, a driving device 342b, a protrusion 342c, a protrusion 342d, a protrusion 342e, and a protrusion 342f. The protrusions 342c to 342f move to change their inclination, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, using a driving force supplied from the driving device 342b, to agitate the electrode composition 22c held inside the hopper. The plate-shaped member 342a is, for example, a plate made of metal. The plate-shaped member 342a may be provided with holes for connecting the protrusions 342c to 342f and the driving device 342b. The driving device 342b and the protrusions 342c to 342f are an example of an agitator.

[0097] 8A shows only four protrusions (protrusions 342c to 342f) arranged in the Y direction, but the number and arrangement of the protrusions can be modified in various ways. For example, as shown in FIG 8C, a configuration in which multiple protrusions are arranged on a plane may be used.

[0098] In addition, in Fig. 8B, the shape of the protrusion 342c is shown as being similar to an elliptical cylinder that tapers toward the tip, but the shape of the protrusion can be modified in various ways. For example, as shown in Fig. 9A, the shape of the protrusion may be a cylinder. Also, as shown in Fig. 9B, the shape of the protrusion may be an elliptical cylinder.

[0099] 8A illustrates an example in which the agitator is provided only in one wall member located on the upstream side (−X direction) in the conveying direction among a plurality of wall members forming the internal space of the hopper. However, the agitator may be provided in a wall member different from that in FIG. 8A.

[0100] For example, as shown in Fig. 10, an agitator may be provided on a wall member located on the downstream side in the conveying direction (+X direction). Specifically, in Fig. 10, a wall member 344 is provided in place of the moving belt 341 shown in Fig. 8A, and an agitator similar to that of the wall member 342 is provided on the wall member 344.

[0101] In addition, various modifications are possible regarding the method of installing the agitator. For example, if the internal space of the hopper is formed by four wall members, the agitator may be provided on any one wall member, any two wall members, any three wall members, or all four wall members.

[0102] As described above, in the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the third embodiment, at least one of the wall members forming the internal space of the hopper is provided with an agitator for agitating the electrode composition 22c. With this configuration, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the third embodiment can make the supply amount of the electrode composition 22c constant in the width direction. Specifically, while there are known cases in which the electrode composition 22c partially solidifies (becomes lumpy) inside the hopper, the battery electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to the third embodiment can crush the lumps of the electrode composition 22c to make the density uniform, thereby stabilizing the supply of the electrode composition 22c.

[0103] As long as it is possible to stir the electrode composition 22c, the stirrer is not limited to the protrusions shown in Figures 8A to 10. For example, a device that crushes lumps of the electrode composition 22c with a wire may be used as the stirrer.

[0104] (Other embodiments) In addition to the first to third embodiments described above, various modifications may be made.

[0105] In FIG. 2, an example was described in which the frame body 35 was supplied by the frame body supplying device 500 to a position surrounding the electrode composition 22c compressed by the pressing device 400. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the frame body 35 may be supplied first, and the electrode composition 22c in the frame body 35 may be compressed by the pressing device 400. Also, in FIG. 2, an example was described in which the frame body supplying device 500 supplies the frame body 35 after the electrode composition 22c is supplied by the electrode composition supplying device 300. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, after the frame body supplying device 500 supplies the frame body 35, the electrode composition 22c may be supplied by the electrode composition supplying device 300 to a position inside the frame body 35. Also, in FIG. 2, a case in which the frame body supplying device 500 is arranged inside the chamber 100 is shown, but the frame body supplying device 500 may be arranged outside the chamber 100.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the strip-shaped base film on which the electrode composition 22c is placed is described as the strip-shaped current collector 21B, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the strip-shaped current collector 21B shown in Fig. 2, a strip-shaped separator sheet or a strip-shaped release film may be used as the base film. The strip-shaped separator sheet can be trimmed later to form the separator 30 shown in Fig. 1.

[0107] For example, when a separator sheet is used as the base film, the electrode composition 22c is supplied onto the separator sheet, a frame 35 is supplied to a position on the separator sheet that surrounds the electrode composition 22c, a current collector 21B is supplied to the surface of the electrode composition 22c opposite the separator sheet, and the separator sheet and the current collector 21B are trimmed into a predetermined shape, thereby producing the positive electrode 20a or the negative electrode 20b.

[0108] When a release film is used as the base film, the electrode composition 22c is supplied onto the release film, a frame 35 is supplied to a position on the release film surrounding the electrode composition 22c, a current collector 21B is supplied onto the surface of the electrode composition 22c opposite the release film, the release film is collected, and then a separator sheet is supplied onto the surface opposite the current collector 21B, and the current collector 21B and the separator sheet are trimmed into a predetermined shape, thereby producing the positive electrode 20a or the negative electrode 20b. Note that instead of supplying the separator sheet and then trimming it, a separator 30 may be supplied to the electrode composition 22c.

[0109] Alternatively, the electrode composition 22c is supplied onto a release film, a frame 35 is supplied to a position on the release film surrounding the electrode composition 22c, a separator sheet is supplied onto the surface of the electrode composition 22c opposite the release film, the release film is collected, and then the current collector 21B is supplied onto the surface opposite the separator sheet, and the separator sheet and the current collector 21B are trimmed into a predetermined shape, thereby producing the positive electrode 20a or the negative electrode 20b. Note that instead of supplying the current collector 21B and then trimming it, the current collector 21 trimmed into a predetermined shape may be supplied to the electrode composition 22c.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the electrode composition 22c is supplied at a predetermined length by repeatedly starting and stopping the supply of the electrode composition 22c to the base film, but the embodiment is not limited to this. That is, the electrode composition 22c may be continuously supplied to the base film.

[0111] For example, a sheet of the electrode composition 22c alone can be produced by continuously supplying the electrode composition 22c onto a release film as a base film and compressing it, and then peeling the electrode composition 22c from the release film. The sheet of the electrode composition 22c alone can be trimmed to a predetermined size and combined with a frame 35, a current collector 21B, and a separator 30 to produce the positive electrode 20a or the negative electrode 20b. The order in which the frame 35, the current collector 21B, and the separator 30 are supplied to the trimmed electrode composition 22c is arbitrary.

[0112] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the changes, combinations, deletions, etc. of the configurations within the scope of the present invention are also included. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the configurations shown in each embodiment can be used in appropriate combination. When the lithium ion secondary battery exemplified in the above description is used among the secondary batteries, it includes a battery using a liquid material for the electrolyte and a battery using a solid material for the electrolyte (so-called all-solid-state battery). Furthermore, the battery in this embodiment includes a battery having a metal foil (metal current collector foil) as a current collector, and includes a battery having a so-called resin current collector made of a resin to which a conductive material has been added instead of the metal foil. When the resin current collector is used as a resin current collector for a bipolar electrode, a positive electrode may be formed on one side of the resin current collector and a negative electrode may be formed on the other side to form a bipolar electrode. The battery in this embodiment includes a battery in which an electrode is formed by applying a positive or negative electrode active material, etc. to a positive or negative electrode current collector, respectively, using a binder, and in the case of a bipolar battery, includes a battery in which a bipolar electrode is formed by applying a positive electrode active material, etc. to one side of a current collector using a binder to form a positive electrode layer, and applying a negative electrode active material, etc. to the opposite side using a binder to form a negative electrode layer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 10: Single cell 20: Electrode 20a: Positive electrode 20b: Negative electrode 21, 21B: current collector 21a: Positive electrode current collector layer 21b: Negative electrode current collector layer 21R: Current collector roll 21R': Recovery roll 22: Electrode active material layer 22a: Positive electrode active material layer 22b: Negative electrode active material layer 22c: Electrode composition 30: Separator 35:Frame body 100: Chamber 200: Transport device 300: Electrode composition supply device 310, 320, 330, 340: Electrode composition supply device 311, 321, 331, 341: Moving belt 312, 327a, 327b, 332: fixing members 313, 323, 333, 343: Shutter 314a: Fixing member 314b: Fixing member 322, 342a: plate-shaped member 324a, 324b: Support members 325: Pressurizer 326, 334: Sensor 335: Feeding device 342: Wall material 342b: Drive unit 342c, 342d, 342e, 342f: Protrusion 400: Press equipment 401: Upper roller 402: Lower roller 500:Frame supply device 1000:Battery electrode manufacturing equipment

Claims

1. A conveying unit that conveys a strip-shaped base film; a supply section that holds the electrode composition in the internal space of the hopper so that a distribution of an amount of the electrode composition containing an active material at each position in the width direction of the base film is greater at positions closer to both end wall members in the width direction of the wall members that form the internal space of the hopper, and supplies the electrode composition to the base film from an opening at a lower end of the hopper; An apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode comprising:

2. 2. The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supply section holds the electrode composition such that the distribution is greater at a position closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction, such that the dimension of the internal space in the transport direction of the base film is larger at a position closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction.

3. The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the supply section deforms at least one of the wall members at both ends in the conveying direction to increase the dimension at a position closer to the wall members at both ends in the width direction.

4. 4. The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the supply section measures the amount of the electrode composition supplied onto the base film at each position in the width direction of the base film, and deforms at least one of the wall members at both ends in the transport direction according to the measurement results.

5. 2. The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply section holds the electrode composition such that the vertical volume of the electrode composition held in the internal space becomes larger the closer the electrode composition is to the wall members at both ends in the width direction, thereby holding the electrode composition such that the distribution becomes greater the closer the electrode composition is to the wall members at both ends in the width direction.

6. 6. The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the supply unit includes a detection device that detects the volume, and controls the supply of the electrode composition to the internal space based on a detection result of the volume by the detection device.

7. 2 . The battery electrode manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wall members is provided with an agitator for agitating the electrode composition held in the internal space.

8. Transporting a strip of base film, The electrode composition is held in the internal space of the hopper so that the distribution of the amount of the electrode composition containing the active material for each position in the width direction of the base film is greater at positions closer to both end wall members in the width direction of the wall members that form the internal space of the hopper, and the electrode composition is supplied to the base film from an opening at the lower end of the hopper. A method for manufacturing an electrode for a battery, comprising:

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