Manufacturing system

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing system that can maintain a low dew point inside the enclosure while improving maintainability. [Solution] The manufacturing system comprises an enclosure maintained at a predetermined dew point, a solid-state battery manufacturing device housed inside the enclosure, and a fan positioned to be exposed to the outside of the enclosure and used to expel air from inside the enclosure to the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a manufacturing system for manufacturing a solid-state battery.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to maintain the environment of a manufacturing line for manufacturing a solid-state battery at a low dew point, manufacturing equipment and processing equipment have been enclosed with panels such as acrylic plates to form an enclosure. In addition, in order to adjust the air conditioning inside the enclosure, a fan is also provided inside the enclosure.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a clean booth that houses a secondary battery manufacturing apparatus inside, a main filter unit that is connected to the clean booth and sucks and decomposes harmful gases generated inside the clean booth, a dry room that houses the clean booth and the main filter unit, maintains a certain humidity inside, and is configured such that air having a certain humidity flows into the clean booth, and a dehumidification unit that is disposed outside the dry room and is configured to maintain a certain humidity inside the dry room.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the prior art, there is still room for improvement in maintaining the internal space of the clean booth in a desired atmosphere.

[0006] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a manufacturing system that can maintain the internal space of an enclosure in a desired atmosphere over a long period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following embodiments. (1) A manufacturing system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an enclosure maintained at a predetermined dew point, a solid-state battery manufacturing apparatus housed inside the enclosure, and a fan provided in a position exposed to the outside of the enclosure and for discharging air from inside the enclosure to the outside of the enclosure.

[0008] In this embodiment, since the fan is positioned exposed to the outside of the enclosure, the heat generated when the fan is operating is easily dissipated to the outside of the enclosure. Therefore, the transfer of heat from the fan into the inside of the enclosure is suppressed, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere in the internal space of the enclosure over a long period of time. Furthermore, the fan, which is a piece of equipment that is expected to undergo periodic maintenance and inspection, is installed in an exposed position to the outside of the enclosure from the outset. With this configuration, maintenance and inspection of the fan can be performed from outside the enclosure, eliminating the need for workers to enter and exit the inside of the enclosure. Therefore, the entry of air from the outside space of the enclosure into the inside space of the enclosure is suppressed, and the rise in the dew point of the internal space of the enclosure with each maintenance can be suppressed. As a result, maintainability is improved, and the inside of the enclosure can be kept at a low dew point.

[0009] (2) In the manufacturing system according to the embodiment of (1) above, it is preferable that the fan is provided outside the enclosure at a position away from the enclosure and connected to the inside of the enclosure via a duct. According to this embodiment, since the fan and the enclosure are connected via a duct, the fan and the enclosure can be separated to a desired position. This suppresses the effect of the fan's heat on the interior space of the enclosure. Furthermore, it also suppresses the entry of wear particles generated during fan operation and dust present in the exterior space of the enclosure into the interior space of the enclosure, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere in the interior space of the enclosure over a long period of time.

[0010] (3) In the manufacturing system according to the embodiment of (2) above, it is preferable that the system includes the fan and a plurality of ducts, and that a plurality of ducts are connected to one of the fans. According to this embodiment, the number of fans can be reduced compared to the case where a fan is installed for each duct.

[0011] (4) In the manufacturing system according to the embodiment of (2) above, it is preferable that there are multiple fans and multiple ducts, and that one fan and one duct are connected to each other. According to this embodiment, even if an individual fan fails, another fan can operate normally, enabling continuous operation. Furthermore, the dew point is individually managed by filter absorption, and when deterioration is detected by sensors or other factors, it is possible to increase fan operation only in the affected areas, regardless of whether they are upstream or downstream.

[0012] (5) In a manufacturing system according to any of the embodiments described in (2) to (4) above, it is preferable that a filter is provided in the portion of the duct that is located on the enclosure side of the fan. According to this embodiment, moisture, dust, and other particles can be captured as air passes through the duct. This prevents moisture, dust, and other particles remaining in the duct from re-entering the internal space of the enclosure, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere in the internal space of the enclosure over a long period of time.

[0013] (6) In a manufacturing system according to any of the embodiments of (5) above, it is preferable that the filter is a replaceable dehumidifying filter. According to this embodiment, the dehumidification function can be restored without replacing the fan or duct. This improves maintainability.

[0014] (7) In a manufacturing system according to any of the embodiments of (1) to (6) above, the manufacturing apparatus comprises a plurality of processing units arranged in the direction of transport of the solid battery, wherein the plurality of processing units have different dimensions in the intersecting direction that intersects the transport direction, and preferably the dimensions in the intersecting direction of the enclosure differ depending on the position in the transport direction in accordance with the shape of the processing unit. According to this embodiment, for example, the enclosure volume can be reduced compared to the case where the dimensions in the intersecting direction are matched to the maximum dimensions of the processing unit and the enclosure is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. This makes it possible to save space in the manufacturing system. In addition, since the space requiring atmosphere control can be reduced, it is possible to miniaturize the equipment required for atmosphere control and improve maintainability. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to each of the above embodiments, the internal space of the enclosure can be maintained in a desired atmosphere for a long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing a solid-state battery according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the manufacturing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing a part of the manufacturing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing an example of a filter in a manufacturing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a plan view showing a part of the manufacturing system according to the second embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] <First Embodiment> Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a manufacturing system for a solid-state battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0018] (Solid-state battery 1) First, referring to FIG. 1, the solid-state battery 1 manufactured by the manufacturing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the solid-state battery 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the solid-state battery 1 is an all-solid-state battery having an electrode 7 in which a negative electrode layer 2, a solid electrolyte layer 4, a positive electrode layer 3, a solid electrolyte layer 4, and a negative electrode layer 2 are laminated in this order. However, the structure of the solid-state battery 1 is not limited to the above. The solid-state battery 1 may have a configuration that can be used for a solid-state battery such as an exterior body in addition to the electrode 7.

[0020] The solid electrolyte layer 4 in the solid-state battery 1 has at least a first solid electrolyte layer SE1 disposed on the positive electrode layer 3 side and a negative electrode side solid electrolyte layer SE3 disposed on the negative electrode layer 2 side. The solid electrolyte is composed of an inorganic solid electrolyte such as a sulfide-based electrolyte, and it is necessary to manage the dew point so as not to react with moisture. The solid electrolyte layer 4 may have a second solid electrolyte layer SE2 disposed adjacent to the first solid electrolyte layer SE1. Further, an intermediate layer 5 may be optionally disposed between the negative electrode layer 2 and the solid electrolyte layer 4.

[0021] The solid-state battery 1 is not particularly limited, and may be a lithium-ion solid secondary battery or a lithium metal secondary battery.

[0022] (Manufacturing process of the solid-state battery 1) Next, the main manufacturing process of the solid-state battery 1 will be described. The process of manufacturing the solid-state battery 1 mainly includes an electrode manufacturing process and an assembly process.

[0023] The electrode manufacturing process includes a mixing step in which active material (battery metal), conductive additive, binder, and solid electrolyte are mixed together, and a coating step in which the mixed material is applied to a substrate such as metal foil. The material needs to be dried after coating.

[0024] The assembly process includes a roll press process, which involves compressing the coated material to smooth the surface and integrating the negative electrode layer 2 and the positive electrode layer 3 to produce the electrode 7, and a cutting process, which involves cutting the electrode 7 to a predetermined size.

[0025] Furthermore, the assembly process includes a lamination step of stacking multiple electrodes 7 to form a solid battery 1, and an end insulation step of UV coating the ends of the stacked solid battery 1 to insulate them.

[0026] Furthermore, the assembly process includes a bonding step of joining tabs that function as current collectors to a plurality of UV-coated electrodes 7, and a lamination step of laminating and sealing the solid battery 1.

[0027] (Manufacturing system 10) Next, the manufacturing system 10 of the solid-state battery 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the manufacturing system 10 mainly performs the assembly process among the manufacturing processes described above. The manufacturing system 10 includes a solid battery 1 manufacturing apparatus 100 having a plurality of processing units arranged in the direction of transport of the solid battery 1. The manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, as processing units, at least an unwinding machine 11, a roll press unit 12, a cutting and lamination unit 13, and an end insulation unit 14. The dimensions of these plurality of processing units differ depending on the processing unit in the intersecting direction (vertical direction and width direction) that intersects the transport direction of the solid battery 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the manufacturing system 10 includes an enclosure 15 that encloses the manufacturing apparatus 100, thereby housing the entire apparatus 100 inside. The enclosure 15 separates the internal space, which serves as the operating environment for the manufacturing apparatus 100, from the external space. The internal space of the enclosure 15 is maintained in a low dew point atmosphere (e.g., below -60°C). Dew point control in the internal space of the enclosure 15 may be performed independently by a dehumidifier (not shown), or by utilizing the dry air used in the pretreatment process of the manufacturing system 10 (e.g., coating process). Alternatively, air from which moisture, dust, contaminants, etc. have been removed via a filter 23 (described later) may be returned to the enclosure 15.

[0030] The unwinding machine 11 unwinds the material of the solid battery 1, which has undergone the coating process, to the downstream side.

[0031] The roll press section 12 stacks, for example, the negative electrode layer 2, the intermediate layer 5, the solid electrolyte layer 4, and the positive electrode layer 3 in this order, and then uses a roll press to integrate the negative electrode layer 2 and the positive electrode layer 3 to produce the electrode 7.

[0032] The cutting and lamination section 13 cuts the electrodes 7 produced in the roll press section 12 to a predetermined size, and stacks the cut electrodes 7 to form a solid-state battery 1. The solid-state battery 1 can, for example, have 27 electrodes 7 stacked, but the number of electrodes 7 to be stacked is not limited to this. When moving the stack of cut cells (electrodes 7) here, it is also possible to use a fan to attract the workpiece (stack). In this case, the same effect can be achieved by externalizing the fan used for attraction.

[0033] The end insulation portion 14 insulates the ends of the solid battery 1 stacked in the cut and stacked portion 13 by UV coating, for example, using a paint that reacts and hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light, and hardening the paint in a few seconds by irradiation with ultraviolet light from a UV lamp.

[0034] The enclosure 15 is formed using a light-transmitting material such as an acrylic sheet, and the dimensions of the enclosure 15 in the intersecting direction differ depending on the position in the transport direction to match the shape of each processing section. In the illustrated example, at least the top wall 15a of the enclosure 15 is formed to conform to the upper end position of each processing section. However, the side walls 15b in the width direction of the enclosure 15, which are determined by the large cell being transported, may be formed to conform to the positions of both ends in the width direction of each processing section.

[0035] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a part of the manufacturing system 10. As an example, Figure 3 shows a portion where the roll press section 12 and the cutting and lamination section 13 are covered by the enclosure 15. As shown in Figure 3, the manufacturing system 10 is equipped with exhaust units 110 that discharge air from the internal space of the enclosure 15. Multiple exhaust units 110 are provided in the transport direction, for example, corresponding to each processing unit. In the following description, the details of the exhaust unit 110 will be explained using one exhaust unit 110 as an example. Note that the number and layout of the exhaust units 110 can be changed as appropriate.

[0036] The exhaust unit 110 includes a fan 21, a duct 22, and a filter 23. The fan 21 draws in air from inside the enclosure 15 and discharges it to the outside. At the same time, the fan 21 can also draw in moisture, dust, and other particles from inside the enclosure 15 along with the discharged air. In other words, the fan 21 functions as an auxiliary device for maintaining the atmosphere inside the enclosure 15.

[0037] The fan 21 is located outside the enclosure 15, at a distance from the enclosure 15. Therefore, the fan 21 is installed in an exposed state outside the enclosure 15.

[0038] The duct 22 connects the fan 21 and the enclosure 15. Multiple ducts 22 are provided, for example, spaced apart in the direction of transport. The first end of each duct 22 communicates with the internal space of the enclosure 15 through the top wall 15a. On the other hand, the second end of each duct 22 is connected to the fan 21 via a confluence duct or the like (not shown). In other words, in this embodiment, the exhaust unit 110 has multiple ducts 22 connected together to one fan 21. It is preferable to set the length of the duct 22 to a length such that, for example, heat from the fan 21 is not transmitted through the duct 22 to the internal space of the enclosure 15. Although not shown, the air from which dust and moisture have been adsorbed by the filter 23 can be returned to the enclosure 15 as appropriate.

[0039] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a filter 23 in the manufacturing system 10. As shown in Figure 4, the filter 23 is a so-called dehumidifying filter. In this embodiment, the filter 23 can be a filter having dehumidifying and dust collection functions (for example, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter). Specifically, the filter 23 has a mesh-like filter surface 24 that captures moisture, dust, etc., while allowing air to pass through.

[0040] Each duct 22 is individually provided with a filter 23. The filter 23 is installed at the first end of the duct 22 so as to shield the inside of the duct 22 with a filter surface 24. Each duct 22 is provided with a filter 23 that is removable (replaceable). In this case, the filter 23 may be attached and detached from outside the enclosure 15, for example, through the opening and closing door of the duct 22, or it may be attached and detached from the internal space of the enclosure 15. Alternatively, the filter 23 may be installed at the connection point of the duct 22, for example, on the top wall 15a of the enclosure 15, as long as it separates the fan 21 from the internal space of the enclosure 15.

[0041] In the manufacturing system 10 of this embodiment, the assembly process is carried out while maintaining a low dew point in the internal space of the enclosure 15, as described above. At this time, by performing the assembly process while appropriately discharging the air from the internal space of the enclosure 15 with the exhaust unit 110, the manufacturing of the solid battery 1 can be continued while discharging the air and dust present in the internal space of the enclosure 15 to the external space of the enclosure 15. In addition, in the manufacturing system 10, a dew point measuring instrument may be provided for each processing unit, and the output of the fan 21 may be adjusted for each processing unit.

[0042] In the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment, the fan 21 is positioned so that it is exposed to the outside of the enclosure 15. As a result, the heat generated when the fan 21 is operating is easily dissipated to the outside of the enclosure 15. Therefore, the transfer of heat from the fan 21 into the inside of the enclosure 15 is suppressed, making it easier to maintain the internal space of the enclosure 15 under the desired atmosphere for a long period of time. Furthermore, the fan 21, which is a piece of equipment that is expected to undergo periodic maintenance and inspection, is installed in a position that is exposed to the outside of the enclosure 15. With this configuration, maintenance and inspection of the fan 21 can be performed from outside the enclosure 15, eliminating the need for workers to enter and exit the inside of the enclosure 15. Therefore, the entry of air from the external space of the enclosure 15 into the internal space of the enclosure 15 is suppressed, and the rise in the dew point of the internal space of the enclosure 15 with each maintenance can be suppressed. As a result, maintainability is improved, and the inside of the enclosure 15 can be kept at a low dew point.

[0043] In the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment, the fan 21 is located outside the enclosure 15 at a distance from the enclosure 15 and is connected to the inside of the enclosure 15 via a duct 22. With this configuration, since the fan 21 and the enclosure 15 are connected via the duct 22, the fan 21 and the enclosure 15 can be separated to a desired position. This suppresses the effect of heat from the fan 21 on the internal space of the enclosure 15. In addition, it is possible to suppress the entry of wear particles generated when the fan 21 is operating and dust and other particles present in the external space of the enclosure 15 into the internal space of the enclosure 15, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere in the internal space of the enclosure 15 over a long period of time.

[0044] In the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment, multiple ducts 22 are connected to a single fan 21. This configuration allows for a reduction in the number of fans 21 compared to the case where a fan 21 is provided for each duct 22.

[0045] In the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment, a filter 23 is provided in the portion of the duct 22 that is located on the enclosure 15 side of the fan 21. With this configuration, moisture and dust can be captured as air passes through the duct 22. This prevents moisture and dust remaining in the duct 22 from re-entering the internal space of the enclosure 15, making it easier to maintain the desired atmosphere in the internal space of the enclosure 15 over a long period of time.

[0046] In the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment, the filter 23 is a replaceable dehumidifying filter. This configuration allows the dehumidification and dust collection functions to be restored without replacing the fan 21 or duct 22. This improves maintainability.

[0047] In the manufacturing system 10 according to this embodiment, the multiple processing units have different dimensions in the intersecting direction that crosses the transport direction, and the dimensions in the intersecting direction of the enclosure 15 differ depending on the position in the transport direction to match the shape of the processing unit. This configuration allows for a smaller volume of the enclosure 15 compared to, for example, forming the enclosure 15 in a rectangular parallelepiped shape to match the maximum dimensions of the processing unit in the intersecting direction. This enables space savings in the manufacturing system 10. Furthermore, since the space requiring atmosphere control can be reduced, it is possible to miniaturize the equipment required for atmosphere control and improve maintainability.

[0048] <Second Embodiment> Referring to Figure 5, the configuration of the manufacturing system 30 according to the second embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a plan view showing a part of the manufacturing system 30 according to this embodiment. The difference between the manufacturing system 30 according to this embodiment and the manufacturing system 10 according to the first embodiment is that one fan 31 is connected to one duct 22. The other configurations are the same as those of the manufacturing system 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0049] As shown in Figure 5, in the manufacturing system 30, the exhaust unit 130 has one duct 22 connected to each fan 31. Furthermore, the manufacturing system 30 has a filter 23 in the portion of the duct 22 that is located on the enclosure 15 side of the fan 31.

[0050] The manufacturing system 30 according to this embodiment can achieve the same effects as the manufacturing system 10 according to the first embodiment. In addition, since one duct 22 is connected to one fan 31 in the manufacturing system 30, replacement of the fan 31 is easy, improving maintainability. Moreover, since a small and inexpensive fan 31 can be used, the cost per fan 31 can be reduced. Furthermore, by adjusting the output for each fan 31, it becomes easier to control the atmosphere in each area within the internal space of the enclosure 15. Furthermore, even if one of the multiple fans 31 fails, the other fans 31 can operate normally, allowing for continuous operation. In addition, since each fan 31 is provided with a filter 23, the dew point can be individually managed by filter absorption. Therefore, when deterioration is detected by sensors or due to adverse effects, it is possible to increase the operation of only the affected fan 31, regardless of whether it is upstream or downstream.

[0051] While embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, combinations, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. In the embodiments described above, a configuration was described in which the fans 21 and 31 are located away from the enclosure 15, but the configuration is not limited to this. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the fans 21 and 31 are exposed to the outside from the enclosure 15. For example, the fans 21 and 31 may be installed so as to penetrate the top wall 15a or side wall 15b of the enclosure. In this case, the duct 22 is not an essential component. In the embodiments described above, the exhaust units 110 and 130 were configured to include a filter 23, but the filter 23 is not an essential component. In the embodiments described above, the filter 23 was configured to have a dehumidifying function and a dust collection function, but it is not limited to this configuration. The filter 23 may also have functions other than dehumidifying and dust collection functions (such as a deodorizing function).

[0052] In the embodiments described above, a configuration was described in which the dimensions in the intersecting direction of the enclosure 15 differ depending on the position in the transport direction to match the shape of the processing unit, but the configuration is not limited to this. The dimensions in the intersecting direction of the enclosure 15 may be a rectangular parallelepiped shape or the like, matching the maximum dimension of any of the processing units. In the embodiments described above, the manufacturing systems 10 and 30 used in the assembly process of the manufacturing process of the solid-state battery 1 were explained as examples, but the configuration is not limited to this. The manufacturing systems 10 and 30 according to the present invention may be used in processes other than the assembly process. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1 solid state battery 2. Negative electrode layer 3. Positive electrode layer 4 Solid electrolyte layer 5. Middle Class 7 electrodes 10, 30 Manufacturing Systems 11. Unwinding machine (processing unit) 12 Roll press section (processing section) 13 Cutting and Lamination Section (Processing Section) 14 End insulation section (processing section) 15 Enclosures 21, 31 Fans 22 ducts 23 Filters

Claims

1. An enclosure maintained at a predetermined dew point, A solid battery manufacturing apparatus housed inside the aforementioned enclosure, A manufacturing system comprising a fan provided in a position exposed to the outside of the enclosure, which discharges the air inside the enclosure to the outside of the enclosure.

2. The manufacturing system according to claim 1, wherein the fan is provided outside the enclosure at a distance from the enclosure and is connected to the inside of the enclosure via a duct.

3. The fan and a plurality of ducts are provided, The manufacturing system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of ducts are connected to one of the fans.

4. The system comprises multiple fans and multiple ducts. The manufacturing system according to claim 2, wherein one fan and one duct are connected to each other.

5. The manufacturing system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a filter is provided in the duct in a portion located on the enclosure side of the fan.

6. The manufacturing system according to claim 5, wherein the filter is a replaceable dehumidifying filter.

7. The manufacturing apparatus comprises a plurality of processing units arranged in the direction of transport of the solid battery, The aforementioned multiple processing units have different dimensions in the intersecting direction that crosses the transport direction. The manufacturing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dimensions in the crossing direction of the enclosure differ depending on the position in the transport direction in accordance with the shape of the processing unit.

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