Winding apparatus

Abstract

To provide a winding apparatus capable of effectively suppressing the application of significant damage to tabs when the tabs pass through a transfer roller.SOLUTION: A winding apparatus comprises a flutter suppression guide 717 which is disposed along a conveying path of electrode sheets 4, 5 at a position immediately upstream of a transfer roller 711 arranged along the conveying path of the electrode sheets 4, 5, and can suppress the flutter of tabs 4b, 5b by coming into contact with the tabs 4b, 5b that flutter when the electrode sheets 4, 5 are conveyed from an upstream side toward a downstream side. A contact portion with the flutter suppression guide 717 at the fluttering tabs 4b, 5b is configured to gradually change as the tabs 4b, 5b move from the upstream side to the downstream side, from a root side of the tabs 4b, 5b toward a tip side of the tabs 4b, 5b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a winding device for obtaining a wound element to be built into, for example, a secondary battery. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a wound element used in a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery is manufactured by winding a positive electrode sheet coated with a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode sheet coated with a negative electrode active material, which are stacked together with a separator sheet made of an insulating material interposed therebetween.

[0003] Known electrode sheets include an electrode body having an active material on its surface and tabs protruding from the widthwise edges of the electrode body, with multiple tabs spaced apart along the length of the electrode body.

[0004] Furthermore, a known winding device for manufacturing wound elements includes a rotatable core and a supply mechanism for supplying an electrode sheet and a separator sheet to the core. Such a winding device is provided with freely rotatable transfer rollers on which the electrode sheet or the like is hung, and the transfer rollers serve to determine a transport path for the electrode sheet or the like.

[0005] However, when an electrode sheet having a tab passes through a transfer roller, the tab may bend. To address this problem, a technology has been proposed in which a deformation prevention member is provided at a position on the transfer roller that corresponds to the entrance of the electrode sheet (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The deformation prevention member is provided apart from the outer peripheral surface of one end of the transfer roller in the width direction. The tab is guided between the deformation prevention member and the transfer roller, thereby preventing the tab from being broken. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-35892 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, through careful investigation, the inventors of the present invention have found that when the tab passes through the transfer roller, the tab may be severely damaged for the following reason.

[0008] That is, when the electrode sheet is wound, it is not always transported at a constant speed, but is transported while accelerating and decelerating. Such acceleration and deceleration of the electrode sheet causes vibration and resonance in the electrode sheet, which in turn causes the tabs to vibrate along the thickness direction of the electrode sheet. Then, the vibrating tabs collide with the outer circumferential surface of the transport roller, causing significant damage to the tabs.

[0009] In this regard, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not solve the problem of the tab colliding with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller.In fact, the swinging tab may collide not only with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller but also with the deformation prevention member, which may cause greater damage to the tab.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a winding device that can effectively prevent significant damage to the tab when the tab passes through a transfer roller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The following describes each of the means suitable for achieving the above object, with specific effects of the corresponding means added as necessary.

[0012] Means 1. Equipped with a rotatable core, A winding device that supplies a strip-shaped electrode sheet, which includes an electrode main body having an active material on its surface and a plurality of tabs protruding from widthwise edge portions of the electrode main body and provided at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the electrode main body, and a strip-shaped separator sheet made of an insulating material to a winding core while rotating the winding core, and overlaps and winds the electrode sheet and the separator sheet, The electrode sheet is configured to be supplied to the winding core while being accelerated or decelerated, a rotatable transfer roller having an outer circumferential surface on which the electrode sheet is hung and defining a transfer path for the electrode sheet; a vibration suppression guide that is disposed along the electrode sheet transport path at a position immediately upstream of the transfer roller along the electrode sheet transport path, and that comes into contact with the tab that vibrates when the electrode sheet is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby suppressing the vibration of the tab, a contact portion of the tab that vibrates relative to the vibration suppression guide that gradually changes from the base side of the tab to the tip side of the tab as the tab moves from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet.

[0013] According to the above-mentioned means 1, the vibration suppressing guide can suppress the vibration of the tab on the upstream side of the transfer roller, thereby more reliably preventing the vibration-swaying tab from colliding with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller.

[0014] Furthermore, in suppressing the swinging motion of the tab, the swing suppressing guide first comes into contact with the base side of the tab, where the kinetic energy associated with the swinging motion is relatively small, and then this contact suppresses the swinging motion of the tab to a certain extent, and the swing suppressing guide then comes into contact with the tip side of the tab in a state where the kinetic energy at the tip side of the tab has become relatively small. Therefore, the load applied to the tab when it comes into contact with the swing suppressing guide is relatively small, and the swinging motion of the tab can be suppressed little by little.

[0015] As described above, according to the above-mentioned method 1, the vibration of the tab can be suppressed, preventing the tab from colliding with the transfer roller. Furthermore, the vibration can be suppressed without applying a large load to the tab. Therefore, the tab can be effectively prevented from being damaged when passing through the transfer roller. As a result, the tab can be kept in good condition with less damage, and the quality of the wound element obtained can be improved.

[0016] Means 2: The vibration suppression guide is configured by a plate-shaped tapered guide arranged so that its widthwise edge portion overlaps the transport path of the tab, a widthwise edge portion of the tapered guide, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode body, has an inclined shape that gradually changes from a position corresponding to a base side of the tab to a position corresponding to a tip side of the tab from an upstream side to a downstream side along the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet, The winding device described in means 1 is configured so that the tab, which swings, comes into contact with the widthwise edge of the tapered guide, thereby being able to suppress the swinging movement of the tab.

[0017] According to the above-mentioned means 2, the shape of the vibration suppressing guide can be made relatively simple, and costs relating to the manufacture and maintenance of the vibration suppressing guide can be reduced.

[0018] Means 3. The vibration suppression guide is composed of a plurality of divided guide portions provided along the transport path of the electrode sheet, the plurality of dividing guide portions are configured such that, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode main body, a widthwise edge portion of one of the dividing guide portions located downstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet is positioned closer to the tip end of the tab than a widthwise edge portion of another of the dividing guide portions located upstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet than the widthwise edge portion, The winding device described in means 1 is configured so that the tab, which swings relative to the widthwise edge of the divided guide portion, comes into contact with the tab, thereby suppressing the swinging movement of the tab.

[0019] According to the above-mentioned means 3, the shape of the vibration suppressing guide can be made relatively simple, and costs relating to the manufacture and maintenance of the vibration suppressing guide can be reduced.

[0020] Means 4: The winding device according to Means 3, wherein the divided guide sections are each configured so that the position of the divided guide sections along the width direction can be adjusted.

[0021] According to the above-mentioned means 4, it is possible to accommodate various electrode sheets with different shapes, sizes, etc. by adjusting the arrangement position of the dividing guide part without replacing the vibration suppression guide, etc. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of producing the wound element and reduce the costs of manufacturing the device, etc.

[0022] Means 5: The winding device according to Means 3, wherein the divided guide section is constituted by a roller that is freely rotatable on a rotation axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the transfer roller.

[0023] According to the above-mentioned means 5, the load applied to the tab when it comes into contact with the vibration suppression guide (split guide portion) can be more effectively reduced, thereby more effectively improving the quality of the obtained wound element.

[0024] Means 6. The vibration suppression guide has a basic shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and has an upstream side located upstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet, a sheet side adjacent to the upstream side and facing the electrode sheet, and a tab tip side adjacent to the upstream side and the sheet side and located on the tip side of the tab, and has an inclined surface cut out so as to pass through the upstream side. The winding device according to means 1 is configured so that the tab, which swings relative to the inclined surface, comes into contact with the inclined surface, thereby suppressing the swinging movement of the tab.

[0025] According to the above-mentioned means 6, the vibration suppression guide has a basic shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and has inclined surfaces formed by cutting out three adjacent faces. Therefore, the shape of the vibration suppression guide can be made relatively simple, and costs related to the manufacture and maintenance of the vibration suppression guide can be reduced.

[0026] Furthermore, since the inclined surface is shaped to gradually approach the ideal (non-vibrating) tab transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side along the electrode sheet transport direction, the tab is gradually displaced toward the ideal transport path as it moves while in contact with the inclined surface, thereby more effectively suppressing tab vibration.

[0027] Furthermore, the thickness of the vibration suppressing guide can be made relatively large, which can suppress vibration of the vibration suppressing guide, thereby more reliably suppressing the vibration of the tab.

[0028] Means 7. A winding device according to Means 1, characterized in that the portion of the vibration suppression guide corresponding to the entrance of the tab forms an inclined or curved surface that gradually approaches the transport path of the electrode sheet from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the electrode sheet.

[0029] According to the above-mentioned means 7, even if the tab comes into contact with the portion of the vibration suppression guide corresponding to the tab's entrance, the load applied to the tab can be made relatively small, thereby more reliably improving the quality of the wound element.

[0030] Means 8: The winding device according to Means 1, wherein the portion of the runout suppression guide that can come into contact with the tab has a curved surface without any corners.

[0031] According to the above-mentioned means 8, it is possible to more effectively reduce the load applied to the tab due to contact with the vibration suppression guide, thereby making it possible to more reliably improve the quality of the wound element.

[0032] Means 9. The vibration suppression guide is provided in two pieces, one of the vibration suppression guides is provided corresponding to a back side of a surface of the electrode sheet that is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller, The other vibration suppression guide corresponds to the surface side of the electrode sheet that is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller, and is positioned so that the tab is sandwiched between the other vibration suppression guide.

[0033] According to the above-mentioned means 9, two vibration suppression guides are provided so as to sandwich the tab, so that the effect of suppressing the vibration movement of the tab can be further improved.

[0034] Means 10: The vibration suppression guide is provided in correspondence with the back side of the surface of the electrode sheet that is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller, The winding device described in Means 1 is characterized in that it is provided with a roller outer periphery guide that is installed adjacent to the vibration suppression guide along the transport path of the electrode sheet, is positioned to sandwich the tab between itself and the outer periphery of the transfer roller, and has an inner surface that is arc-shaped and extends along the circumferential direction of the transfer roller when viewed along the rotational axis direction of the transfer roller.

[0035] The portion of the electrode sheet that is hooked onto the transport roller is deformed into an arc, and this deformation can cause the tabs to stand up. Such tab standing up can lead to damage to the tabs due to contact with peripheral devices or poor welding when welding multiple tabs together, which can result in a decrease in product quality (quality of the wound element) and productivity.

[0036] In this regard, according to the above-mentioned means 10, the roller outer periphery guide can more reliably prevent the tab from rising up as described above, thereby further improving product quality and productivity.

[0037] Furthermore, by using the vibration suppression guide, the vibration of the tab can be suppressed at a position upstream of the roller outer periphery guide, which more reliably prevents the vibration of the tab from colliding with the roller outer periphery guide. Therefore, it can be said that the vibration suppression guide functions more effectively when the roller outer periphery guide is provided.

[0038] Means 11: The radius of the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide centered on the rotation axis of the transfer roller is R1 (mm), Assuming that the tab is positioned between the roller outer periphery guide and the transfer roller and the tip of the tab is flat without being curved, when viewed along the rotation axis of the transfer roller, the distance from the rotation axis to the width direction edge of the tip of the tab is L1 (mm), 0.1≦R1-L1≦1.0 The winding device according to means 10 is configured to satisfy the above.

[0039] When the tab passes through the transfer roller, at least the tip of the tab may pass through the transfer roller in a flat state without being curved so as to wrap around the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller.

[0040] Taking this into consideration, the above-mentioned means 11 is configured to satisfy the relationship 0.1≦R1−L1≦1.0. That is, assuming that the leading end of the tab remains flat without curving as it passes through the transfer roller, the size of the gap formed between the portion of the tab closest to the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide (i.e., the widthwise edge of the leading end of the tab) and the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide is configured to be 0.1 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. By setting the size of the gap to 0.1 mm or more, excessive contact of the tab with the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide can be suppressed, further reducing the load on the tab. Furthermore, by setting the size of the gap to 1.0 mm or less, the effect of preventing the tab from rising up, which is achieved by providing the roller outer periphery guide, can be more reliably achieved.

[0041] The technical features of the above means may be combined as appropriate. For example, the technical features of the above means 2 or 3 may be combined with the technical features of the above means 7 or 8. Furthermore, for example, the technical features of the above means 2, 3 or 6 may be combined with the technical features of the above means 10 or 11. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a battery element. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a positive electrode sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a negative electrode sheet. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a winding device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a winding section. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line KK in FIG. 7. [Figure 10] 10 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the size of a gap formed between the tab and the roller outer periphery guide. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a correction unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a winding section when a separator sheet is placed in a gap in the winding core. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a winding section when cutting a separator sheet. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the winding section when winding of the electrode sheet and the like is completed. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a vibration suppression guide formed by curving a portion of a metal plate or a resin plate in another embodiment. [Figure 16]FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a vibration suppression guide according to another embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a divided guide portion and the like that constitutes the shake suppression guide in another embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged schematic side view showing a division guide portion and the like in another embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a division guide portion and the like in another embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a relatively short division guide portion and the like in another embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a divided guide portion made up of rotatable rollers in another embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a shake suppression guide having an inclined surface in another embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a vibration suppression guide and the like when viewed from the inclined surface side in another embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing two vibration suppression guides arranged at positions sandwiching a tab in another embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing two vibration suppression guides arranged at positions sandwiching a tab in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of a lithium ion battery element as a wound element obtained by a winding device will be described.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, a lithium-ion battery element 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "battery element 1") is manufactured by winding a positive electrode sheet 4 and a negative electrode sheet 5 in a stacked state with two separator sheets 2 and 3 interposed therebetween. In this embodiment, the positive electrode sheet 4 and the negative electrode sheet 5 each correspond to an "electrode sheet." Note that, instead of the two separator sheets 2 and 3, a single folded separator sheet may be used. Furthermore, for convenience of explanation, hereinafter, the separator sheets 2 and 3 and the electrode sheets 4 and 5 may be referred to as "various sheets 2 to 5."

[0045] The separator sheets 2 and 3 are strip-shaped and have the same width, and are made of an insulating material such as polypropylene (PP) to prevent the different electrode sheets 4 and 5 from coming into contact with each other and causing a short circuit.

[0046] Each of the electrode sheets 4, 5 is made of a thin metal sheet, with, for example, an aluminum foil sheet being used for the positive electrode sheet 4 and a copper foil sheet being used for the negative electrode sheet 5. Each of the electrode sheets 4, 5 is relatively thin (for example, 5 to 50 μm or 10 to 30 μm thick).

[0047] 2 and 3, each electrode sheet 4, 5 includes an electrode main body 4a, 5a and a tab 4b, 5b. The electrode main body 4a, 5a has approximately the same width as the separator sheets 2, 3, and an active material is applied to both the front and back surfaces of the electrode main body 4a, 5a. For example, the electrode main body 4a of the positive electrode sheet 4 is applied with a positive electrode active material (e.g., lithium manganate particles, etc.), and the electrode main body 5a of the negative electrode sheet 5 is applied with a negative electrode active material (e.g., activated carbon, etc.). In FIGS. 2 and 3, the areas where the active material is applied are marked with a dotted pattern.

[0048] Ion exchange is then possible between the positive electrode sheet 4 and the negative electrode sheet 5 via the active material. Although Figures 2 and 3 show a configuration in which the active material is not applied to a portion (for example, the widthwise edge portion) of the electrode main bodies 4a and 5a, the active material may be applied to the entire area of the electrode main bodies 4a and 5a.

[0049] The tabs 4b, 5b are so-called molded tabs formed by, for example, cutting out a portion of the electrode material, and are integrated with the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a. The tabs 4b, 5b protrude from the widthwise edges of the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a and are provided at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a. In this embodiment, the tab 4b of the positive electrode sheet 4 is located at one end of the battery element 1 along the central axis CL of the battery element 1, and the tab 5b of the negative electrode sheet 5 is located at the other end of the battery element 1 along the central axis CL (see FIG. 1). In other words, the tabs 4b, 5b are located at different ends of the battery element 1. Alternatively, the tabs 4b, 5b may be located at the same end of the battery element 1.

[0050] To obtain a lithium-ion battery, the battery element 1 is placed in a cylindrical metal battery container (case) (not shown), and the tabs 4b and 5b are bundled together. If necessary, the bundled tabs 4b and 5b are welded together. The bundled tabs 4b are then connected to a positive electrode terminal component (not shown), and the bundled tabs 5b are connected to a negative electrode terminal component (not shown). The two terminal components are then positioned to close both end openings of the battery container, thereby obtaining a lithium-ion battery.

[0051] Next, a description will be given of a winding device 10 for manufacturing the battery element 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the winding device 10 includes a winding section 11 for winding the various sheets 2 to 5, a positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 for supplying the positive electrode sheet 4 to the winding section 11, a negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41 for supplying the negative electrode sheet 5 to the winding section 11, separator supply mechanisms 51 and 61 for supplying the separator sheets 2 and 3 to the winding section 11, respectively, and a control device 91. The operation of various mechanisms within the winding device 10, such as the winding section 11 and the supply mechanisms 31, 41, 51, and 61, is controlled by the control device 91.

[0052] The positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 includes a positive electrode sheet raw sheet 32 in which the positive electrode sheet 4 is wound in a roll shape. The positive electrode sheet raw sheet 32 is supported so as to be freely rotatable, and the positive electrode sheet 4 is pulled out from there as needed.

[0053] The positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 includes a roller device 71, a positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72, a sheet inserting mechanism 73, a sheet cutting cutter 74, a tension applying mechanism 75, and a buffer mechanism .

[0054] The roller device 71 is a device having the positive electrode sheet 4 wrapped around its outer periphery and including transfer rollers 711 for determining a transport path for the positive electrode sheet 4. A plurality of roller devices 71 (transfer rollers 711) are provided along the transport path for the positive electrode sheet 4. The configuration of the roller device 71 will be described in detail later.

[0055] The positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 is provided immediately upstream of the transfer roller 711 along the transport path of the positive electrode sheet 4, and serves to maintain an appropriate positional relationship between a vibration suppression guide 717 (described later) of the roller device 71 and the positive electrode sheet 4 hung on the transfer roller 711. The configuration of the positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 will also be described later.

[0056] The sheet insertion mechanism 73 is for feeding the positive electrode sheet 4 to the winding unit 11 while holding it.

[0057] The sheet cutting cutter 74 is used to cut the positive electrode sheet 4. The cutting of the positive electrode sheet 4 is performed while the positive electrode sheet 4 is being held by the sheet insertion mechanism 73. The sheet cutting cutter 74 can be separated from the conveyance path of the positive electrode sheet 4 so as not to interfere with the supply of the positive electrode sheet 4 by the sheet insertion mechanism 73.

[0058] The tension applying mechanism 75 applies tension to the positive electrode sheet 4 and includes a plurality of rollers (e.g., dancer rollers). The operation of these rollers is controlled by the control device 91, thereby making it possible to adjust the tension applied by the tension applying mechanism 75 to the positive electrode sheet 4. In this embodiment, the tension applying mechanism 75 applies a constant tension to the positive electrode sheet 4 at all times. The rollers constituting the tension applying mechanism 75 may have the same configuration as the transfer roller 711. Therefore, for example, a runout suppression guide 717 (described later) may be applied to the rollers constituting the tension applying mechanism 75.

[0059] The buffer mechanism 76 has, for example, a pair of driven rollers and a lifting roller disposed between the pair of rollers so as to be displaceable in the up and down direction, and is used to temporarily store the positive electrode sheet 4. The rollers constituting the buffer mechanism 76 may have the same configuration as the transfer roller 711.

[0060] The negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41 is provided, at its most upstream side, with a negative electrode sheet raw material 42 in which the negative electrode sheet 5 is wound in a roll shape. The negative electrode sheet raw material 42 is supported so as to be freely rotatable, and the negative electrode sheet 5 is pulled out from there as appropriate.

[0061] Further, in the middle of the conveyance path for the negative electrode sheet 5 from the negative electrode sheet raw roll 42 to the winding unit 11, a roller device 71, a positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72, a sheet inserting mechanism 73, a sheet cutting cutter 74, a tension applying mechanism 75, a buffer mechanism 76, and the like are provided, similar to the conveyance path for the positive electrode sheet 4. These are the same as those provided in the conveyance path for the positive electrode sheet 4, except that they function for the negative electrode sheet 5.

[0062] On the other hand, the separator supply mechanisms 51, 61 are provided with separator raw rolls 52, 62 each formed by winding up the separator sheets 2, 3 in a roll shape. The separator raw rolls 52, 62 are supported so as to be freely rotatable, and the separator sheets 2, 3 are pulled out from them as appropriate.

[0063] Furthermore, the separator supply mechanisms 51 and 61, like the electrode sheet supply mechanisms 31 and 41, are provided with a tension applying mechanism 75. This is the same as that provided in the positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31, except that it functions to apply tension to the separator sheets 2 and 3.

[0064] Next, the configuration of the winding unit 11 will be described. As shown in Fig. 5, the winding unit 11 includes a turret 12 consisting of two opposing disk-shaped tables rotatably mounted by a drive mechanism (not shown), two winding cores 13 and 14 spaced 180° apart in the rotational direction of the turret 12, two support rollers 15a and 15b positioned approximately 90° apart from the winding cores 13 and 14 in the rotational direction of the turret 12, a separator cutter 16, a pressure roller 17 for pressing down the various sheets 2 to 5 just before winding is completed, and a tape application mechanism 18 for applying a predetermined fixing tape. The winding unit 11 also includes a removal device (not shown) for removing the battery element 1 from the winding cores 13 and 14, located around a removal position P2 (described later).

[0065] The winding cores 13 and 14 are configured to rotate around their own central axes as the rotation axes by a drive mechanism (not shown). The amount of rotation of the winding cores 13 and 14 can be detected by an encoder (not shown), and information relating to the amount of rotation is input from the encoder to the control device 91.

[0066] Furthermore, winding cores 13 and 14 are provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from one of the tables constituting turret 12 along the axial direction of turret 12 (the depth direction of the paper in FIG. 5). When winding cores 13 and 14 protrude from one of the tables, their leading ends are inserted into receiving holes formed in the other table, and are supported in a rotatable state by both tables.

[0067] In addition, the winding cores 13, 14 are each configured to have a non-circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis. In this embodiment, the winding cores 13, 14 have an elliptical shape in a cross section perpendicular to their rotation axis. Because the winding cores 13, 14 have a non-circular cross section, even when the winding cores 13, 14 are rotated at a constant speed, the various sheets 2-5 are supplied to the winding cores 13, 14 while being accelerated and decelerated. Immediately after the start of winding of the various sheets 2-5, the various sheets 2-5 are supplied to the winding cores 13, 14 while being accelerated, and immediately before the end of winding of the various sheets 2-5, the various sheets 2-5 are supplied to the winding cores 13, 14 while being decelerated.

[0068] Furthermore, the winding core 13 (14) has a pair of core pieces 13a, 13b (14a, 14b) that extend along the direction of their own rotation axis (the depth direction of the paper in FIG. 5). A gap 13c (14c) is formed between the core pieces 13a, 13b (14a, 14b). In addition, a chuck mechanism (not shown) is provided at the portion of the winding core 13 (14) that forms the gap 13c (14c) to clamp the separator sheets 2, 3 that are placed in the gap 13c (14c).

[0069] Furthermore, the winding cores 13, 14 are configured to be rotatable between a winding position P1 and a removal position P2 by rotation of the turret 12. The winding position P1 is a position where the winding cores 13, 14 are positioned when winding the various sheets 2 to 5. The removal position P2 is a position where the winding cores 13, 14 are positioned when removing the various sheets 2 to 5 (i.e., the battery element 1) after winding.

[0070] The support rollers 15a and 15b are for hooking and supporting the various sheets 2 to 5 between the cores 13 and 14 that have moved to the removal position P2 and the supply mechanisms 31, 41, 51, and 61.

[0071] The separator cutter 16 is for cutting the separator sheets 2 and 3. The pressure roller 17 is for pressing down the various sheets 2 to 5 that have been wound up.

[0072] The tape application mechanism 18 is for applying fixing tape to the end portions of the separator sheets 2 and 3 after the winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 is completed.

[0073] Next, we will explain the roller device 71. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the roller device 71 includes a transfer roller 711, a shaft portion 712, a bearing 713, a holder 714, an upstream guide support portion 715, a downstream guide support portion 716, a vibration suppression guide 717, and a roller outer periphery guide 718.

[0074] As described above, the electrode sheets 4 and 5 are hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 711, and the transfer roller 711 serves to determine the transport path of the electrode sheets 4 and 5. The transfer roller 711 is cylindrical and can freely rotate about a rotation axis RA. In this embodiment, the width of the transfer roller 711 is greater than the width of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, so that the entire width of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, including the tabs 4b and 5b, are hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 711.

[0075] The shaft portion 712 has a rod shape extending in the direction of the rotation axis RA, and both ends are supported by the holder 714. In this embodiment, the shaft portion 712 is fixed to the holder 714 and configured to be unable to rotate around the rotation axis RA. However, the shaft portion 712 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the holder 714 around the rotation axis RA.

[0076] The bearings 713 are provided between the shaft portion 712 and the transfer roller 711, and support the transfer roller 711 in a freely rotatable state relative to the shaft portion 712. The bearings 713 are attached to both ends of the transfer roller 711 in the direction of the rotation axis RA, one on each side, with their central axes coinciding with the rotation axis RA.

[0077] The holder 714 has a role of supporting the transfer roller 711 via the shaft portion 712 and the like, and a role of supporting the upstream guide support portion 715 and the downstream guide support portion 716. In this embodiment, the holder 714 is fixed to a predetermined mounting portion W and is immovable.

[0078] Of the two guides 717, 718, the upstream guide support portion 715 is responsible for supporting the vibration suppression guide 717, which is located upstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5. The upstream guide support portion 715 is configured not to come into contact with the tabs 4b, 5b even if the tabs 4b, 5b vibrate.

[0079] The downstream guide support portion 716 is responsible for supporting the roller outer periphery guide 718, which is located downstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, out of the two guides 717 and 718. In this embodiment, the downstream guide support portion 716 is integrated with the roller outer periphery guide 718, but the two may be separate bodies. Also, a single guide support portion that integrates the two guide support portions 715 and 716 may be configured to support both the runout suppression guide 717 and the roller outer periphery guide 718.

[0080] The vibration suppression guide 717 is provided immediately upstream of the transfer roller 711 in the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, and serves to suppress vibration of the tabs 4b and 5b when such vibration occurs. The vibration suppression guide 717 is arranged along the transport path of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, and in this embodiment, is provided corresponding to the rear side of the surface of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 that is fitted over the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 711. In addition, in this embodiment, the vibration suppression guide 717 is configured as a plate-shaped tapered guide 717x whose widthwise edge portion 717e is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 and whose width gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction.

[0081] The widthwise edge 717e of the vibration suppression guide 717 (tapered guide 717x) located on the tab 4b, 5b side is close to the ideal (non-vibrating) transport path of the tabs 4b, 5b and is capable of contacting the tabs 4b, 5b when the tabs 4b, 5b vibrate. The upstream portion of the widthwise edge 717e in the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5 corresponds to the base of the tabs 4b, 5b and is configured to overlap with the base of the tabs 4b, 5b when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a (thickness direction of the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a). The downstream portion of the widthwise edge 717e in the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5 corresponds to the tip of the tabs 4b, 5b and is configured to overlap with the tip of the tabs 4b, 5b when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a. When viewed along a direction perpendicular to the electrode main body portions 4a, 5a, the widthwise edge portion 717e has an inclined shape that gradually displaces from a position corresponding to the base side of the tabs 4b, 5b to a position corresponding to the tip side of the tabs 4b, 5b from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveying direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5.

[0082] With the above-described configuration, the contact portions of the swinging tabs 4b, 5b with the vibration suppression guide 717 gradually change from the base side of the tabs 4b, 5b to the tip side of the tabs 4b, 5b as the tabs 4b, 5b move from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5. By providing such a vibration suppression guide 717, when the tabs 4b, 5b start to swing, the vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b can be gradually suppressed.

[0083] 8, the entrance portion 717a, which is the portion of the vibration suppression guide 717 corresponding to the entrance for the electrode sheets 4, 5, has a shape that gradually approaches the transport path of the electrode sheets 4, 5 from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5. In this embodiment, the entrance portion 717a has a curved surface that is convex toward the electrode sheets 4, 5 (see FIG. 8). The entrance portion 717a may also have an inclined surface shape.

[0084] 9, the portions of the vibration suppression guide 717 that can come into contact with the tabs 4b and 5b (widthwise edge portions 717e) have curved surfaces without corners (edges). In this embodiment, the radii of curvature of the entrance portion 717a and the widthwise edge portions 717e are smaller than the widths of the tabs 4b and 5b along the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4 and 5.

[0085] The roller outer periphery guide 718 is a device for preventing the tabs 4b, 5b from rising up by moving away from the transfer roller 711 when the tabs 4b, 5b are positioned on the outer periphery of the transfer roller 711. As shown in Fig. 10 , the roller outer periphery guide 718 is installed adjacent to the vibration suppression guide 717 along the transport path of the electrode sheets 4, 5, and is positioned so as to sandwich the tabs 4b, 5b between itself and the outer periphery of the transfer roller 711. The roller outer periphery guide 718 is shaped like a curved plate, and the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide 718 has an arc shape extending along the circumferential direction of the transfer roller 711 when viewed along the direction of the rotation axis RA of the transfer roller 711.

[0086] Incidentally, when the tip ends of the tabs 4b and 5b pass along the outer periphery of the transfer roller 711, they may remain flat without curving along the outer periphery of the transfer roller 711. Taking this into consideration, the roller outer periphery guide 718 is configured to satisfy the formula 0.1≦R1−L1≦1.0.

[0087] Here, R1 (mm) is the radius of the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide 718 centered on the rotation axis RA of the transfer roller 711. Also, L1 (mm) is the distance from the rotation axis RA of the transfer roller 711 to the widthwise edge of the tip of the tab 4b, 5b when viewed along the rotation axis RA of the transfer roller 711, assuming that the tab 4b, 5b is positioned between the roller outer periphery guide 718 and the transfer roller 711 and the tip of the tab 4b, 5b is flat and not curved.

[0088] Therefore, R1-L1 corresponds to the size S1 of the gap formed between the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide 718 and the tabs 4b, 5b, and the size S1 of this gap is set to be 0.1 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

[0089] Next, the positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 will be described. As described above, the positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 maintains an appropriate positional relationship between the vibration suppression guide 717 and the like and the electrode sheets 4, 5 hung on the transfer roller 711. In this embodiment, a positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 corresponding to one of the multiple transfer rollers 711 in the positive electrode sheet supply mechanism 31 and a positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 corresponding to one of the multiple transfer rollers 711 in the negative electrode sheet supply mechanism 41 are provided. Of course, multiple positional relationship maintaining mechanisms 72 may be provided along the transport path of each of the electrode sheets 4, 5. For example, a positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 may be provided for each transfer roller 711.

[0090] As shown in Figure 4, the positional relationship maintenance mechanism 72 includes a position detection unit 721 that detects the widthwise position of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, a correction unit 722 that corrects the widthwise positional deviation of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 based on the position detected by the position detection unit 721, and a meandering correction actuator (not shown) for operating the correction unit 722.

[0091] The position detection unit 721 is composed of, for example, an edge sensor that can detect the widthwise position of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, and information regarding the widthwise position of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 detected by the position detection unit 721 is output to the control device 91.

[0092] 11, the correction unit 722 includes a pair of upper and lower rollers 722a, 722b, and is configured to be rotatable by the correction actuator around a pivot center α at the top center of the upper roller 722a. The control device 91 controls the correction actuator to rotate the correction unit 722, thereby correcting misalignment of the electrode sheets 4, 5. This more reliably prevents variations in the relative positional relationships between the electrode sheets 4, 5 (particularly the tabs 4b, 5b) and the runout suppression guide 717 and roller outer periphery guide 718.

[0093] In the winding device 10 configured as described above, the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound as follows. With the separator sheets 2 and 3 stretched across the support rollers 15a (15b), one of the winding cores 13 (14) positioned at winding position P1 is extended from one of the tables of the turret 12, thereby placing the separator sheets 2 and 3 in the gap 13c (14c) of the winding core 13 (14) (see FIG. 12). Next, the chucking mechanism clamps the separator sheets 2 and 3 placed in the gap 13c (14c). Then, the one of the winding cores 13 (14) is rotated a predetermined number of times, thereby winding a predetermined amount of the separator sheets 2 and 3 onto the winding core 13 (14).

[0094] Next, the electrode sheets 4 and 5 are sequentially supplied to one of the winding cores 13 (14) by the sheet insertion mechanism 73. Thereafter, the various sheets 2 to 5 are supplied to the winding core 13 (14) while the winding core 13 (14) is rotated, whereby the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound while being stacked.

[0095] Immediately after the start of winding of the various sheets 2 to 5, the various sheets 2 to 5 are accelerated and supplied to the winding cores 13, 14. After a certain time has elapsed since the start of winding of the various sheets 2 to 5, the winding cores 13, 14 begin to rotate at a constant speed, and the various sheets 2 to 5 are accelerated and decelerated and supplied to the winding cores 13, 14. As the electrode sheets 4, 5 accelerate and decelerate, vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b may occur, but this vibration is suppressed by the vibration suppression guide 717.

[0096] Thereafter, when a predetermined length of the various sheets 2 to 5 has been wound, the rotation of one of the winding cores 13 (14) is temporarily stopped. When the various sheets 2 to 5 are temporarily stopped, the various sheets 2 to 5 are fed to the winding cores 13, 14 while being decelerated. While the various sheets 2 to 5 are temporarily stopped, the electrode sheets 4, 5 are cut by the sheet cutting cutter 74.

[0097] Thereafter, the rotation of the turret 12 moves one of the winding cores 13 (14) around which the various sheets 2 to 5 are wound to a removal position P2. This results in the separator sheets 2 and 3 being suspended across the support rollers 15a (15b) and the like. The rotation of the turret 12 also moves the other winding core 14 (13) to a winding position P1. The next winding of the various sheets 2 to 5 is performed on this winding core 14 (13).

[0098] Next, a pressure roller 17 is brought close to one of the winding cores 13 (14) arranged at the removal position P2, and the various sheets 2 to 5 are pressed by the pressure roller 17, and the separator sheets 2, 3 are cut by the separator cutter 16 (see Figure 13). After that, one of the winding cores 13 (14) is rotated to completely wind up the various sheets 2 to 5, and the fixing tape is applied to the end portions of the separator sheets 2, 3 by the tape application mechanism 18. This results in a battery element 1 that has been subjected to a winding stop process (see Figure 14). The obtained battery element 1 is removed from the winding core 13 (14) by the removal device.

[0099] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the vibration suppression guide 717 can suppress the vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b on the upstream side of the transfer roller 711. This more reliably prevents the vibration-swaying tabs 4b, 5b from colliding with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller 711.

[0100] Furthermore, in suppressing the swinging of the tabs 4b, 5b, the swing suppressing guide 717 first comes into contact with the base sides of the tabs 4b, 5b, where the kinetic energy associated with the swinging is relatively small, and then this contact suppresses the swinging of the tabs 4b, 5b to a certain extent, and the swing suppressing guide 717 then comes into contact with the tip sides of the tabs 4b, 5b in a state where the kinetic energy at the tip sides of the tabs 4b, 5b has become relatively small. Therefore, the load applied to the tabs 4b, 5b when they come into contact with the swing suppressing guide 717 is kept relatively small, and the swinging of the tabs 4b, 5b can be suppressed little by little.

[0101] As described above, according to this embodiment, the vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b can be suppressed, preventing the tabs 4b, 5b from colliding with the transfer roller 717. Furthermore, suppressing the vibration does not impose a large load on the tabs 4b, 5b. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the tabs 4b, 5b from being significantly damaged when they pass through the transfer roller 711. As a result, the tabs 4b, 5b can be maintained in good condition with less damage, and the quality of the resulting battery element 1 can be improved.

[0102] Furthermore, by configuring the vibration suppression guide 717 using the tapered guide 717x, it is possible to make the shape of the vibration suppression guide 717 relatively simple, thereby reducing costs associated with the manufacture and maintenance of the vibration suppression guide 717.

[0103] Furthermore, since the entrance 717a is shaped so that it gradually approaches the transport path of the electrode sheets 4, 5 from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5, even if the tabs 4b, 5b come into contact with the entrance 717a, the load applied to the tabs 4b, 5b can be made relatively small. This makes it possible to more reliably improve the quality of the battery element 1.

[0104] In addition, the portion of the vibration suppression guide 717 that can come into contact with the tabs 4b, 5b (the widthwise edge portion 717e) has a curved surface without any corners, which effectively reduces the load applied to the tabs 4b, 5b due to contact with the vibration suppression guide 717. This further ensures an improvement in the quality of the battery element 1.

[0105] Furthermore, the tabs 4b and 5b can be more reliably prevented from rising up by the roller outer periphery guide 718. This allows the quality and productivity of the battery element 1 to be further improved.

[0106] Furthermore, by using the vibration suppression guide 717, the vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b can be suppressed at a position upstream of the roller outer periphery guide 718, which more reliably prevents the vibrating tabs 4b, 5b from colliding with the roller outer periphery guide 718. Therefore, it can be said that the vibration suppression guide 717 functions more effectively when the roller outer periphery guide 718 is provided.

[0107] In addition, by setting the size of the gap S1 to 0.1 mm or more, it is possible to prevent the tabs 4b, 5b from contacting the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide 718 excessively, thereby further reducing the load on the tabs 4b, 5b. Furthermore, by setting the size of the gap S1 to 1.0 mm or less, it is possible to more reliably achieve the effect of preventing the tabs 4b, 5b from rising up, which is achieved by providing the roller outer periphery guide 718.

[0108] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be implemented as follows: Of course, other applications and modifications not exemplified below are also possible.

[0109] (a) The configuration of the vibration suppression guide is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, but can be modified as appropriate.

[0110] 15 and 16, a metal plate or a resin plate having a curved widthwise edge 791e or an inlet 791a formed by curving the edge may be used as the vibration suppression guide 791. When such a vibration suppression guide 791 is used, when the vibrating tabs 4b and 5b come into contact with the vibration suppression guide 791, the reaction force applied from the vibration suppression guide 791 to the tabs 4b and 5b tends to be relatively small. This makes it possible to further reduce damage to the tabs 4b and 5b.

[0111] (a2-1) Furthermore, as shown in Figures 17 to 19, the vibration suppression guide 792 may be configured with a plurality of divided guide portions 792x arranged side by side along the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5. Note that in Figure 17 etc., the upstream guide support portion for supporting the vibration suppression guide 792 is not shown.

[0112] When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode main bodies 4a, 5b (thickness direction of the electrode main bodies 4a, 5a), the multiple division guide portions 792x are configured so that the widthwise edge 792e of the one located downstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5 is located closer to the tip of the tabs 4b, 5b than the widthwise edge 792e of the one located upstream of the widthwise edge 792e in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5. The swinging tabs 4b, 5b come into contact with the widthwise edge 792e of the division guide portion 792x, thereby suppressing the swinging movement of the tabs 4b, 5b.

[0113] By using such divided guide portions 792x, the shape of the vibration suppression guide 792 can be made relatively simple, and costs relating to the manufacture and maintenance of the vibration suppression guide 792 can be reduced.

[0114] (a2-2) Furthermore, the position of each of the plurality of division guide portions 792x may be adjustable along the width direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5 (the direction indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 19). In this case, by adjusting the position of the division guide portion 792x, it is possible to accommodate various electrode sheets 4, 5 with different shapes, sizes, etc., without replacing the vibration suppression guide 792, etc. This can improve the convenience of producing the battery element 1 and reduce the costs of manufacturing the device, etc.

[0115] (a2-3) In addition, as shown in FIG. 20, in order to reduce the contact area of the tabs 4b and 5b with the vibration suppression guide 793, the width of the divided guide portion 793x along the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 may be made smaller.

[0116] (a2-4) Furthermore, in order to ensure smooth transport of the electrode sheets 4, 5 (tabs 4b, 5b) and more reliably reduce the load on the tabs 4b, 5b, it is preferable to make the length of the divided guide portions 792x, 793x along the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5 smaller than the width of the tabs 4b, 5b, or to make the portions of the divided guide portions 792x, 793x corresponding to the inlets of the electrode sheets 4, 5 curved or inclined, as shown in Figures 19 and 20.

[0117] (a2-5) Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 21, the division guide portion 794x may be configured by a roller that is freely rotatable on a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis RA of the transfer roller 711. In this configuration, the load applied to the tabs 4b and 5b when they come into contact with the vibration suppression guide 794 (division guide portion 794x) can be more effectively reduced. This makes it possible to more effectively improve the quality of the resulting battery element 1.

[0118] (a3) As shown in Figures 22 and 23, the vibration suppression guide 795 may have a rectangular parallelepiped basic shape and include an inclined surface 795a. The inclined surface 795a is formed by cutting out an upstream side surface 795s1 located upstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, a sheet side surface 795s2 adjacent to the upstream side surface 795s1 and facing the electrode sheets 4 and 5, and a tab tip side surface 795s3 adjacent to the upstream side surface 795s1 and the sheet side surface 795s2 and located on the tip side of the tabs 4b and 5b. The inclined surface 795a comes into contact with the vibrating tabs 4b and 5b, thereby suppressing the vibrating movement of the tabs 4b and 5b.

[0119] By using such a vibration suppression guide 795, the shape of the vibration suppression guide 795 can be made relatively simple, and costs relating to the manufacture and maintenance of the vibration suppression guide 795 can be reduced.

[0120] Furthermore, the inclined surface 795a is shaped so that it gradually approaches the ideal transport path (in the absence of vibration) of the tabs 4b, 5b from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the electrode sheets 4, 5, so that the tabs 4b, 5b are gradually displaced toward the ideal transport path as they move while contacting the inclined surface 795a. Therefore, vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b can be more effectively suppressed.

[0121] Furthermore, the thickness of the vibration suppression guide 795 can be made relatively large, which can suppress vibration of the vibration suppression guide 795. This makes it possible to more reliably obtain the effect of suppressing the vibration of the tabs 4b and 5b.

[0122] (b) In the above embodiment, one vibration suppression guide 717 is provided in correspondence with the back side of the surface of the electrode sheets 4, 5 that is hung on the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller 711.

[0123] In contrast to this, one vibration suppressing guide 711 may be provided corresponding to the surface side of the electrode sheets 4 and 5 that is hung on the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller 711 .

[0124] 24 and 25, two vibration suppression guides 797, 798 may be provided. One vibration suppression guide 797 is provided corresponding to the back side of the surface of the electrode sheets 4, 5 that is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 711. The other vibration suppression guide 798 corresponds to the surface of the electrode sheets 4, 5 that is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 711 and is provided at a position where the electrode sheets 4, 5 (tabs 4b, 5b) are sandwiched between the one vibration suppression guide 797 and the vibration suppression guide 798. When the electrode sheets 4, 5 are transported from the upstream side to the downstream side, the two vibration suppression guides 797, 798 initially come into contact with the base sides of the vibrating tabs 4b, 5b, and then come into contact with the more distal sides of the tabs 4b, 5b as the tabs 4b, 5b move, thereby gradually suppressing the vibration of the tabs 4b, 5b.

[0125] By providing two vibration suppression guides 797, 798 in this way, the vibration suppression effect of the tabs 4b, 5b can be further enhanced. Note that the two vibration suppression guides 797, 798 each have a configuration similar to the vibration suppression guide 717 in the above embodiment, but of course they may have a configuration different from that of the vibration suppression guide 717 (for example, the configuration exemplified in (a) above). Furthermore, both vibration suppression guides may each have a different configuration.

[0126] (c) In the above embodiment, the tabs 4b, 5b are formed by cutting out a portion of the electrode material (so-called formed tabs), but the configuration of the tabs is not limited to this. Therefore, the tabs 4b, 5b may be joined to the electrode main body portions 4a, 5b by welding (so-called welded tabs), for example. However, welded tabs are often relatively thick, making tab vibration less likely to occur. On the other hand, formed tabs are often thin, making tab vibration more likely to occur. Therefore, the winding device 10 in the above embodiment is particularly effective when the electrode sheets 4, 5 have formed tabs.

[0127] (d) In the above embodiment, the positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 is provided immediately upstream of the transfer roller 711 along the transport path of the electrode sheets 4 and 5, but the location of the positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 may be changed as appropriate. Therefore, for example, the positional relationship maintaining mechanism 72 may be provided immediately downstream of the transfer roller 711 along the transport path of the electrode sheets 4 and 5.

[0128] (e) In the above embodiment, the winding unit 11 is configured to include two winding cores 13 and 14, but it may be configured to include one or three or more winding cores.

[0129] The outer peripheral shape of the winding core is not limited to those described in the above embodiment, and may be, for example, a circular or elliptical shape in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the winding core. Furthermore, the winding core may not have gaps between the core pieces. Additionally, the winding core may be configured such that the electrode sheets 4, 5, etc. are wound around a cylindrical core part provided on the outer periphery of the winding core.

[0130] (f) In the above embodiment, the battery element 1 of a lithium ion battery is manufactured by the winding device 10, but the wound element manufactured by the winding device 10 is not limited to this, and for example, the wound element of an electrolytic capacitor, etc. may also be manufactured.

[0131] (g) The materials of the separator sheets 2, 3 and the electrode sheets 4, 5 are not limited to those in the above embodiment and may be changed as appropriate. Of course, the active material applied to the electrode sheets 4, 5 may also be changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] 1...lithium ion battery element (wound element), 2, 3...separator sheet, 4...positive electrode sheet (electrode sheet), 4a, 5b...electrode main body portion, 4b, 5b...tab, 5...negative electrode sheet (electrode sheet), 10...winding device, 13, 14...winding core, 711...transport roller, 717, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 797, 798...vibration suppression guide, 717x...taper guide, 718...roller outer periphery guide, 792x, 793x, 794x...divided guide portion, 795a...inclined surface, 795s1...upstream side surface, 795s2...sheet side surface, 795s3...tab tip side surface.

Claims

1. It has a rotatable core, A winding device that supplies a strip-shaped electrode sheet, which includes an electrode main body having an active material on its surface and a plurality of tabs protruding from widthwise edge portions of the electrode main body and provided at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the electrode main body, and a strip-shaped separator sheet made of an insulating material to a winding core while rotating the winding core, and overlaps and winds the electrode sheet and the separator sheet, The electrode sheet is configured to be supplied to the winding core while being accelerated or decelerated, a rotatable transfer roller having an outer circumferential surface on which the electrode sheet is hung and defining a transfer path for the electrode sheet; a vibration suppression guide that is disposed along the electrode sheet transport path at a position immediately upstream of the transfer roller along the electrode sheet transport path, and that comes into contact with the tab that vibrates when the electrode sheet is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby suppressing the vibration of the tab, a contact portion of the tab that vibrates relative to the vibration suppression guide that gradually changes from the base side of the tab to the tip side of the tab as the tab moves from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveying direction of the electrode sheet.

2. the vibration suppression guide is configured as a plate-shaped tapered guide arranged so that a widthwise edge portion thereof overlaps with a transport path of the tab, a widthwise edge portion of the tapered guide, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode body, has an inclined shape that gradually changes from a position corresponding to a base side of the tab to a position corresponding to a tip side of the tab from an upstream side to a downstream side along the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet, 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the tab is configured to be able to suppress the swinging movement of the tab by contacting the widthwise edge of the tapered guide.

3. the vibration suppression guide is configured by a plurality of divided guide portions provided along a transport path of the electrode sheet, the plurality of dividing guide portions are configured such that, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode main body, a widthwise edge portion of one of the dividing guide portions located downstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet is positioned closer to the tip end of the tab than a widthwise edge portion of another of the dividing guide portions located upstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet than the widthwise edge portion, 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the tab is configured to be able to suppress the swinging movement of the tab by contacting the widthwise edge of the divided guide portion.

4. 4. The winding device according to claim 3, wherein the divided guide portions are configured so that the positions of the divided guide portions along the width direction can be adjusted.

5. 4. The winding device according to claim 3, wherein the divided guide portion is formed by a roller that is freely rotatable on a rotation axis that is parallel to the rotation axis of the transfer roller.

6. the vibration suppression guide has a basic shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and has an upstream side surface located upstream in the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet, a sheet side surface adjacent to the upstream side surface and facing the electrode sheet, and a tab tip side surface adjacent to the upstream side surface and the sheet side surface and located on the tip side of the tab, 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the tab is configured to be able to suppress the swinging movement of the tab by contacting the inclined surface when the tab swings relative to the inclined surface.

7. 2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the vibration suppression guide corresponding to the entrance of the tab has an inclined or curved surface shape that gradually approaches the transport path of the electrode sheet from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the electrode sheet.

8. The winding device according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the runout suppression guide that can come into contact with the tab has a curved surface without any corners.

9. Two of the vibration suppression guides are provided, one of the vibration suppression guides is provided corresponding to a back side of a surface of the electrode sheet that is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller, The winding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the other of the vibration suppression guides corresponds to the surface side of the electrode sheet that is hung on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller, and is positioned so that the tab is sandwiched between the other of the vibration suppression guides.

10. the vibration suppression guide is provided corresponding to a back side of a surface of the electrode sheet that is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller, 2. The winding device according to claim 1, further comprising a roller outer periphery guide that is disposed adjacent to the vibration suppression guide along the transport path of the electrode sheet, that is positioned to sandwich the tab between itself and the outer periphery of the transfer roller, and that has an inner surface that is arc-shaped and extends along the circumferential direction of the transfer roller when viewed along the rotational axis direction of the transfer roller.

11. The radius of the inner surface of the roller outer periphery guide centered on the rotation axis of the transfer roller is R1 (mm), Assuming that the tab is positioned between the roller outer periphery guide and the transfer roller and the tip of the tab is flat without being curved, when the distance from the rotation axis of the transfer roller to the width direction edge of the tip of the tab as viewed along the rotation axis direction of the transfer roller is L1 (mm), 0.1≦R1−L1≦1.0 11. The winding device according to claim 10, wherein the winding device is configured to satisfy the following condition.

Images