Manufacturing apparatus and method for laminated electrode body

Abstract

This layered electrode body production device is provided with: a first layering drum for layering, on a first layering stage, a layered body obtained by layering a separator single sheet and an electrode and then cutting the separator single sheet of the resulting layered body to a specific width; and a second layering drum, which is different from the first layering drum, that is for layering the cut layered body on a second layering stage, which is different from the first layering stage.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a laminated electrode body. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, lithium-ion secondary batteries for vehicles require large capacity, low internal resistance, and high heat dissipation performance, so laminated batteries that can satisfy these requirements have been developed. This battery is made by alternately stacking positive electrodes, separators, and negative electrodes, connecting each electrode to a metal terminal called a tab, placing it in a container made of aluminum laminate film, and then injecting the electrolyte and sealing it.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a stacking unit that includes an electrode support section that receives electrodes supplied by a conveying device and supports the electrodes, a circulating member that is loop-shaped extending in the vertical direction and has the electrode support section attached to its outer peripheral surface, a stacking unit that is arranged on the opposite side of the conveying device across the circulating member and has multiple stacking sections in which the electrodes are stacked, an extrusion section that simultaneously extrudes the electrodes supported by the multiple electrode support sections toward the multiple stacking sections, and a control section that controls the circulation and raising and lowering of the circulating member and the operation of the extrusion section, and the control section controls the operation of the extrusion section so as to extrude the electrodes toward the stacking sections at a speed slower than the speed at which the electrodes are conveyed by the conveying device.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes an apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode body in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked with a separator sandwiched between them, which is equipped with a winding drum having an outer peripheral surface capable of winding up a separator sheet that is continuously unwound, and an electrode supply unit that sequentially supplies electrodes at intervals to a valley formed between a separator sheet SS wound around the outer peripheral surface and a separator sheet wound around the outer peripheral surface, so that the electrodes can be switched between positive and negative electrodes.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes a continuous battery material that is formed by overlapping a continuous positive electrode material, a continuous negative electrode material, and a continuous separator material, which are formed continuously via break lines that allow the positive electrode, negative electrode, and separator to be easily separated, in the order of continuous separator material, continuous positive electrode material, continuous separator material, continuous negative electrode material, or continuous separator material, continuous negative electrode material, continuous separator material, continuous positive electrode material, and continuous positive electrode material, with their break lines aligned. The device includes a substantially cylindrical winding means for winding the continuous battery material, a pressing means for pressing the wound continuous battery material against a side circumferential surface of the winding means, and a cutting means for cutting the continuous battery material at each break line after the required number of layers of the continuous battery material have been wound around the winding means, and the cutting means has a circumferential part of the side circumferential surface of the winding means protruding in the radial direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 131027 [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-199211 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2011-86508 A Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to efficiently manufacture a laminated electrode body formed by alternately stacking positive electrodes, separators, and negative electrodes, it is necessary to supply a strip-shaped positive electrode body and a strip-shaped negative electrode body to a drum, cut these strip-shaped positive electrode body and negative electrode body to the desired size to obtain positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates, respectively, and stack these in the desired positions.

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique capable of rapidly manufacturing a laminated electrode assembly formed by laminating separator plates and electrodes.

[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure is a separator veneer of a laminate formed by laminating a separator veneer and an electrode. but The laminate cut to a specified width is stacked on the first stacking stage. doA first lamination drum and a second lamination stage that is different from the first lamination stage. do and a second lamination drum different from the first lamination drum.

[0010] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum are arranged to rotate in the same direction as each other with respect to a conveying direction of the cut laminate.

[0011] In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum are disposed so as to rotate in directions different from each other.

[0012] In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the cut stack is transported to the second stacking drum via the first stacking drum.

[0013] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator veneer of the laminate to a predetermined width, the laminate being a four-layer laminate having a first electrode plate disposed on a first separator veneer, a second separator veneer plate disposed on the first electrode plate, and a second separator veneer plate disposed on the first electrode plate, and the cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the four-layer laminate to a predetermined width.

[0014] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator veneer of the laminate to a predetermined width, the laminate being a three-layer laminate having a first electrode plate disposed on a first separator veneer plate and a second separator veneer plate disposed thereon, and the cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the three-layer laminate to a predetermined width.

[0015] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator veneer of the laminate to a predetermined width, the laminate being a four-layer laminate having a first electrode plate placed on a first separator veneer plate, a second separator veneer plate placed on top of that, and a second electrode plate placed on top of that, and a three-layer laminate having the first electrode plate placed on the first separator veneer plate and the second separator veneer plate placed on top of that, and the cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate to a predetermined width.

[0016] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates onto the first stacking stage and a predetermined number of the four-layer laminates onto the first stacking stage, and the second stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates onto the second stacking stage and the predetermined number of the four-layer laminates onto the second stacking stage.

[0017] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates onto the first stacking stage, and if the three-layer laminate is supplied from the cutting means before the predetermined number of the four-layer laminates have been stacked onto the first stacking stage, the supplied three-layer laminate is not stacked onto the first stacking stage, and the second stacking drum stacks the supplied three-layer laminate onto the second stacking stage.

[0018] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum includes a plurality of first stacking heads that hold the laminate on their outer peripheral surface, and the plurality of first stacking heads rotate in a drum circumferential direction to stack the laminate on the first stacking stage, and the second stacking drum includes a plurality of second stacking heads that hold the laminate on their outer peripheral surface, and the plurality of second stacking heads rotate in a drum circumferential direction to stack the laminate on the second stacking stage.

[0019] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a step of transporting a laminate formed by stacking a separator veneer plate and an electrode plate, the separator veneer plate being cut to a predetermined width, to a first stacking drum or a second stacking drum, a step of stacking the cut laminate on a first stacking stage by the first stacking drum, and a step of stacking the cut laminate on a second stacking stage different from the first stacking stage by the second stacking drum different from the first stacking drum.

[0020] In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum rotate in the same direction to stack the materials.

[0021] In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum rotate in directions different from each other to stack the materials.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a laminated electrode assembly formed by laminating separator plates and electrodes can be produced at high speed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for producing a four-layer laminate according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a four-layer laminate according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for producing a three-layer laminate according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a three-layer laminate according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a layered view illustrating a three-layer laminate and a four-layer laminate according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cutaway explanatory view of a separator according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the production sequence of a three-layer laminate and a four-layer laminate according to an embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a laminated electrode body according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of a positive electrode cut head according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cut-away explanatory view of a positive electrode plate of a comparative example. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a cutaway explanatory diagram (part 1) of a positive electrode plate according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a cutaway explanatory diagram (part 2) of a positive electrode plate according to an embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the reciprocating motion of a circular blade according to an embodiment. [Figure 16] 1A and 1B are a top view and a side view of a positive electrode plate according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a positive electrode plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a positive electrode plate according to a comparative example. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another blade shape according to the embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the reciprocating movement of another blade according to the embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the supply of positive electrode plates according to the embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 23A] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a negative electrode heat drum and an adhesive drum according to an embodiment. [Figure 23B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pressure adjusting mechanism according to the embodiment. [Figure 23C] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pressure adjustment mechanism of the embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the adhesion of a negative electrode plate in a comparative example. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the adhesion of a negative electrode plate according to the embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a pressure range when bonding a negative electrode plate according to an embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the pressure range when bonding the separator S2 in the embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a pressure range when bonding a positive electrode plate according to an embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of a stacking drum according to the embodiment. [Diagram 30] 4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams (part 1) of the operation of the stacking drum according to the embodiment. [Diagram 31] 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of the operation of the stacking drum according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 32] 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) of the operation of the stacking drum according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 33] 4 is an explanatory diagram (part 4) of the operation of the stacking drum according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 34] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of a laminated head according to the embodiment. [Diagram 35] FIG. 4 is a graph showing a change in position of a lamination head according to an embodiment. [Diagram 36] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of a stacking stage according to the embodiment. [Figure 37] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the arrangement of claws of a lamination stage according to an embodiment. [Figure 38] 6A to 6C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the claws of the stacking stage according to the embodiment. [Figure 39] 13 is a plan view showing another claw arrangement of the stacking stage of the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 40] 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of the interlocking operation of the lamination head and the claws in the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 41] 13 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of the interlocking operation of the lamination head and the claws in the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 42] 13 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) of the interlocking operation of the lamination head and the claws in the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 43] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram (part 4) of the interlocking operation of the lamination head and the claws in the embodiment. [Diagram 44] FIG. 5 is a fifth explanatory diagram of the interlocking operation of the lamination head and the claws in the embodiment. [Diagram 45] FIG. 13 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a first modified example. [Diagram 46] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a layer structure according to the first modified example. [Figure 47] FIG. 11 is another explanatory diagram of the layer stack of the first modified example. [Figure 48] FIG. 11 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a second modified example. [Figure 49] FIG. 11 is another conceptual configuration diagram of the second modified example. [Figure 50]FIG. 13 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a third modified example. [Figure 51] FIG. 13 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body according to one aspect of the present disclosure will be described. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0025] 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a manufacturing apparatus for a laminated electrode body in this embodiment. The manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment is a continuous drum type manufacturing apparatus that combines multiple drums, and includes a negative electrode cutting drum 10, a negative electrode heating drum 12, a positive electrode cutting drum 14, a positive electrode heating drum 16, a bonding drum 18, a separator cutting drum 20, and a lamination drum 22.

[0026] The negative electrode cutting drum 10 is a first electrode cutting drum, has a first radius, and rotates around a central axis at a first angular velocity. A band-shaped negative electrode single plate N is supplied to the negative electrode cutting drum 10 as a first electrode single plate. The negative electrode single plate N is a negative electrode. The negative electrode single plate N is composed of a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode active material layer may be formed on one surface of the negative electrode current collector, or may be formed on both surfaces. In the following description, the negative electrode active material layer is formed on both surfaces of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode active material layer includes a negative electrode active material and a binder.

[0027] Known materials can be used for both the negative electrode current collector and the negative electrode active material layer, and examples for a lithium ion secondary battery are as follows.

[0028] As the negative electrode collector, a foil of a metal stable in the potential range of the negative electrode, a film having the metal disposed on the surface layer, or the like can be used. As the negative electrode collector, a porous body such as a mesh body, a punching sheet, or an expanded metal of the metal can be used. As the material of the negative electrode collector, copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, stainless steel, nickel, or the like can be used. From the viewpoint of current collection property, mechanical strength, and the like, the thickness of the negative electrode collector is preferably, for example, 3 μm or more and 50 μm or less. The negative electrode single plate N can be produced, for example, by applying a negative electrode mixture slurry containing a negative electrode active material, a binder, and a dispersion medium onto the negative electrode collector, drying the coating, and then rolling to form a negative electrode active material layer on one or both sides of the negative electrode collector. The negative electrode active material layer may contain an optional component such as a conductive agent, if necessary. The thickness of the negative electrode active material layer is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

[0029] In the case of a lithium ion secondary battery, the negative electrode active material is not particularly limited as long as it is a material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions. The material constituting the negative electrode active material may be a non-carbon material, a carbon material, or a combination of these. Examples of the non-carbon material include lithium metal, an alloy containing lithium element, and a metal compound such as a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, or a metal nitride containing lithium. Examples of the alloy containing lithium element include a lithium aluminum alloy, a lithium tin alloy, a lithium lead alloy, and a lithium silicon alloy. Examples of the metal oxide containing lithium include a metal oxide containing lithium and titanium, tantalum, niobium, or the like, and lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O 12etc.) are preferred. Examples of carbon materials used as the negative electrode active material include graphite and hard carbon. Among them, graphite is preferred because it has a high capacity and a small irreversible capacity. Graphite is a general term for carbon materials having a graphite structure, and includes natural graphite, artificial graphite, expanded graphite, graphitized mesophase carbon particles, etc. When graphite is used as the negative electrode active material, it is preferred to coat the surface of the negative electrode active material layer with a coating film in order to reduce the activity of the aqueous electrolyte against reductive decomposition. These negative electrode active materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. As the binder contained in the negative electrode active material layer, a fluorine-based polymer, a rubber-based polymer, etc. may be used, and a styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR) or a modified product thereof may be used.

[0030] The negative electrode cutting drum 10 is provided with a plurality of electrode cutting heads arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum. The plurality of electrode cutting heads are provided with an outer peripheral surface for attracting and holding the negative electrode single plate N, and cutting means. The cutting means is, for example, a blade that moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface. The supplied negative electrode single plate N is attracted and held by this outer peripheral surface and rotates. The electrode cutting head is also called a holding head because it attracts and holds the negative electrode single plate N. A gap is formed between the plurality of electrode cutting heads, and a blade mounted on the electrode cutting head moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction in this gap, cutting the negative electrode single plate N attracted and held by the outer peripheral surface to a predetermined width (first width) with the blade.

[0031] The electrode cut heads each rotate around a common central axis of the negative electrode cut drum 10, and each electrode cut head is driven by a motor in the circumferential direction of the drum independently of the other electrode cut heads. For example, if two electrode cut heads adjacent in the circumferential direction are electrode cut head a and electrode cut head b, the electrode cut head a and electrode cut head b rotate at a constant speed around the common central axis of the drum, and the relative speed between them is changed for each predetermined section on the circumference of the negative electrode cut drum 10. For example, at a certain timing, the electrode cut head a and the electrode cut head b both rotate at a constant speed and the relative speed is 0, but at another timing, the electrode cut head a accelerates in the direction away from the following electrode cut head b, and the relative speed becomes finite. By independently driving the electrode cut heads in this way, the cutting position of the negative electrode single plate N by the blade mounted on the electrode cut head can be adjusted, and the position of the negative electrode plate generated by cutting can be adjusted. The moving speed of the electrode cut heads can be realized by using a motor or the like corresponding to each electrode cut head.

[0032] The negative electrode cutting drum 10 may be equipped with various cameras, and these cameras may be used to monitor the position of the negative electrode veneer N before cutting, as well as the positions of the multiple negative electrode plates generated by cutting. The negative electrode cutting drum 10 adsorbs and holds the supplied negative electrode veneer N, rotates and transports it, and cuts the negative electrode veneer N at position 11 in FIG. 1 to generate negative electrode plates. The electrode cutting head that rotates while adsorbing and holding the negative electrode veneer N rotates while adsorbing and holding the negative electrode veneer N up to position 11, and cuts the negative electrode veneer N with a mounted blade when it reaches position 11. The negative electrode plates of the first width generated by cutting are rotated and transported while being adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surfaces of the electrode cutting heads.

[0033] The negative electrode heat drum 12 is a first electrode heating drum, and is disposed adjacent to the negative electrode cutting drum 10 so as to be in close proximity to the negative electrode cutting drum 10. The negative electrode heat drum 12 has a second radius and rotates around the central axis at a second angular velocity. The second radius of the negative electrode heat drum 12 may be the same as or different from the first radius of the negative electrode cutting drum 10. The second angular velocity of the negative electrode heat drum 12 is different from the first angular velocity of the negative electrode cutting drum 10. Specifically, the second angular velocity of the negative electrode heat drum 12 is set so that its linear velocity is approximately the same as the linear velocity of the adhesive drum 18 described later. As an example, the second radius and the first radius are the same, and are set so that the second angular velocity is greater than the first angular velocity. In this case, the linear velocities of the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the negative electrode heat drum 12 are different, and the linear velocity of the negative electrode heat drum 12 is greater than the linear velocity of the negative electrode cutting drum 10. For this reason, the electrode cutting head of the negative electrode cutting drum 10 temporarily increases its speed until it becomes substantially the same as the linear speed of the negative electrode heat drum 12 just before approaching the position close to the negative electrode heat drum 12, and the relative speed with respect to the negative electrode heat drum 12 becomes substantially zero. The electrode cutting head of the negative electrode cutting drum 10 discharges the negative electrode plate that it has been adsorbing and holding toward the negative electrode heat drum 12 at the timing when the relative speed becomes substantially zero. After discharging the negative electrode plate that it has been adsorbing and holding, the electrode cutting head of the negative electrode cutting drum 10 is switched back to the speed before the increased speed.

[0034] The negative electrode heat drum 12 attracts and holds the negative electrode plates discharged from the negative electrode cutting drum 10, and heats (preheats) the negative electrode plates with a built-in heater. In the figure, the negative electrode plates are shown being heated at position 13. This heating (preheating) process is for thermally bonding the separator and the negative electrode plate in the subsequent bonding process. The location heated by the negative electrode heat drum 12 is not limited to a specific position (e.g., position 13). The negative electrode heat drum 12 may be in a constantly heated state while the drum is rotating.

[0035] The positive electrode cutting drum 14 is a second electrode cutting drum, has a third radius, and rotates around the central axis at a third angular velocity. A band-shaped positive electrode single plate P is supplied to the positive electrode cutting drum 14 as the second electrode single plate. The positive electrode single plate P is a rectangular electrode body. The positive electrode single plate P is composed of a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material layer may be formed on one surface of the positive electrode current collector, or may be formed on both surfaces. In the following description, the positive electrode active material layer is formed on both surfaces of the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material and a binder.

[0036] The positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode active material layer can both be made of known materials, examples of which are as follows.

[0037] As the positive electrode collector, a foil of a metal stable in the potential range of the positive electrode, a film having the metal disposed on the surface layer, etc. can be used. As the positive electrode collector, a porous body such as a mesh body, a punching sheet, or an expanded metal of the metal can be used. As the material of the positive electrode collector, stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, titanium, etc. can be used. From the viewpoint of current collection property, mechanical strength, etc., the thickness of the positive electrode collector is preferably, for example, 3 μm or more and 50 μm or less. The positive electrode single plate can be obtained, for example, by applying and drying a positive electrode mixture slurry containing a positive electrode active material, a conductive material, a binder, etc., onto the positive electrode collector, forming a positive electrode active material layer on the positive electrode collector, and rolling the positive electrode active material layer. The thickness of the positive electrode active material layer is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

[0038] The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide containing lithium (Li) and transition metal elements such as cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni). Examples of conductive materials contained in the positive electrode active material layer include carbon powders such as carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black, and graphite. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of binders contained in the positive electrode active material layer include fluorine-based polymers and rubber-based polymers. Examples of fluorine-based polymers include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or modified versions of these, and examples of rubber-based polymers include ethylene-propylene-isoprene copolymers and ethylene-propylene-butadiene copolymers. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0039] The positive electrode cut drum 14 is provided with a plurality of electrode cut heads arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum. The electrode cut head has an outer peripheral surface for adsorbing and holding the positive electrode single plate P, and a cutting means. The cutting means is, for example, a blade that moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface. The supplied positive electrode single plate P is adsorbed and held on this outer peripheral surface and rotates. The electrode cut head is also called a holding head because it adsorbs and holds the positive electrode single plate P. A gap is formed between the plurality of electrode cut heads in the circumferential direction, and the blade mounted on the electrode cut head moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction in this gap, thereby cutting the positive electrode single plate P adsorbed and held on the outer peripheral surface to a predetermined width (second width) with the blade. The plurality of electrode cut heads rotate around the common central axis of the positive electrode cut drum 14, similar to the electrode cut head of the negative electrode cut drum 10, and each electrode cut head is driven by a motor in the circumferential direction of the drum independently of the other electrode cut heads. For example, if two electrode cut heads adjacent in the circumferential direction are electrode cut head a and electrode cut head b, electrode cut head a and electrode cut head b rotate at a constant speed around the common central axis of the drum, and the relative speed between them is changed for each predetermined section on the circumference of the positive electrode cut drum 14. For example, at a certain timing, electrode cut head a and electrode cut head b both rotate at a constant speed and the relative speed is 0, but at another timing, electrode cut head a accelerates in the direction away from the following electrode cut head b, resulting in a finite relative speed. By independently driving the electrode cut heads in this way, the cutting position of the positive electrode veneer P by the circular blade mounted on the electrode cut head can be adjusted, and the cutting speed can be adjusted to adjust the cutting speed of the positive electrode veneer P generated by the cutting. positive electrode The position of the plate can be adjusted. The moving speed of the electrode cut head can be controlled by using a motor or the like corresponding to each electrode cut head.

[0040] The positive electrode cutting drum 14 may be equipped with various cameras, and these cameras may be used to monitor the position of the positive electrode monolith P before cutting, as well as the positions of the multiple positive electrode plates produced by cutting. The positive electrode cutting drum 14 adsorbs and holds the supplied positive electrode monolith P, rotates and transports it, and cuts the positive electrode monolith P at position 15 in FIG. 1 to produce a positive electrode plate. The electrode cutting head that rotates while adsorbing and holding the positive electrode monolith P rotates while adsorbing and holding the positive electrode monolith P up to position 15, and cuts the positive electrode monolith P with a mounted blade when position 15 is reached. The positive electrode plates produced by cutting are rotated and transported while being adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surfaces of the electrode cutting heads.

[0041] The positive electrode heat drum 16 is a second electrode heating drum, and is disposed adjacent to the positive electrode cutting drum 14 so as to be in close proximity to the positive electrode cutting drum 14. The positive electrode heat drum 16 has a fourth radius and rotates around the central axis at a fourth angular velocity. The fourth radius of the positive electrode heat drum 16 may be the same as or different from the third radius of the positive electrode cutting drum 14. The fourth angular velocity of the positive electrode heat drum 16 is different from the third angular velocity of the positive electrode cutting drum 14. Specifically, the fourth angular velocity of the positive electrode heat drum 16 is set so that its linear velocity is approximately the same as the linear velocity of the adhesive drum 18 described later. As an example, the fourth radius and the third radius are the same, and are set so that the fourth angular velocity>the third angular velocity. In this case, the linear velocities of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heat drum 16 are different, and the linear velocity of the positive electrode heat drum 16>the linear velocity of the positive electrode cutting drum 14. For this reason, the electrode cutting head of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 temporarily increases its speed until it becomes substantially the same as the linear speed of the positive electrode heat drum 16 just before the position where it approaches the positive electrode heat drum 16, and the relative speed with respect to the positive electrode heat drum 16 becomes substantially zero. The electrode cutting head of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 discharges the positive electrode plate that it has been adsorbing and holding toward the positive electrode heat drum 16 at the timing when the relative speed becomes substantially zero. After discharging the positive electrode plate that it has been adsorbing and holding, the electrode cutting head of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 is switched to the rotation speed before the increased speed.

[0042] The positive electrode heat drum 16 adsorbs and holds the positive electrode plates discharged from the positive electrode cutting drum 14, and heats (preheats) the positive electrode plates with a built-in heater. In the figure, the positive electrode plates are shown heated at position 17. This heating (preheating) process is for thermally bonding the separator and the positive electrode plate in the subsequent bonding process. The location heated by the positive electrode heat drum 16 is not limited to a specific position (e.g., position 17). The positive electrode heat drum 16 may be in a constantly heated state while the drum is rotating.

[0043] The adhesive drum 18 is disposed between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the positive electrode heat drum 16 so as to be in close proximity to both the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the positive electrode heat drum 16. The adhesive drum 18 has a fifth radius and rotates around the central axis at a fifth angular velocity. A strip-shaped separator S1 is supplied to the adhesive drum 18 as the first separator plate, and a strip-shaped separator S2 is supplied to the adhesive drum 18 as the second separator plate. Furthermore, a negative electrode plate heated by the negative electrode heat drum 12 is supplied, and a positive electrode plate heated by the positive electrode heat drum 16 is supplied.

[0044] For the negative electrode plate, the linear speed of the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the linear speed of the adhesive drum 18 are approximately the same, and the heated negative electrode plate adsorbed and held on the negative electrode heat drum 12 is discharged to the adhesive drum 18 side at a position close to the adhesive drum 18. Similarly, for the positive electrode plate, the linear speed of the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the linear speed of the adhesive drum 18 are approximately the same, and the heated positive electrode plate adsorbed and held on the positive electrode heat drum 16 is discharged to the adhesive drum 18 side at a position close to the adhesive drum 18.

[0045] Since the linear speed of the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the linear speed of the adhesive drum 18 are substantially the same, the linear speed of the electrode cut head of the negative electrode cut drum 10 just before the position where it approaches the negative electrode heat drum 12 is substantially the same as the linear speed of the adhesive drum 18. Since the linear speed of the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the linear speed of the adhesive drum 18 are substantially the same, the linear speed of the electrode cut head of the positive electrode cut drum 14 just before the position where it approaches the positive electrode heat drum 16 is substantially the same as the linear speed of the adhesive drum 18. Therefore, the electrode cut head moves in a direction parallel to the adhesive drum. 18 When the linear velocity of the negative electrode plate or the positive electrode plate that has been attracted and held becomes substantially the same as that of the positive electrode plate, the negative electrode plate or the positive electrode plate that has been attracted and held is discharged.

[0046] The adhesive drum 18 adsorbs and holds the strip-shaped separator S1 at a predetermined position. Then, at a position close to the negative electrode heat drum 12 located downstream in the rotation direction, the heated negative electrode plate discharged from the negative electrode heat drum 12 is placed on the separator S1. Then, at a predetermined position further downstream in the rotation direction, the strip-shaped separator S2 is placed on the negative electrode plate. Then, the separator S1, the negative electrode plate, and the separator S2 are bonded together by pressure applied by the thermocompression roller 19, and at a position close to the positive electrode heat drum 16 located further downstream in the rotation direction, the heated positive electrode plate discharged from the positive electrode heat drum 16 is placed inside the separator S2, and the positive electrode plate is bonded by the pressing force of the positive electrode heat drum 16. A thermal adhesive layer is formed on the surfaces of the separator S1 and the separator S2, which does not exhibit adhesiveness at room temperature but exhibits adhesiveness when heated. The thermal adhesive layer is, for example, a thermoplastic layer containing a thermoplastic polymer, and utilizes the plastic deformation of the thermoplastic polymer caused by heating to bond the strip separator S1 to the negative electrode plate, the negative electrode plate to the strip separator S2, and the strip separator S2 to the positive electrode plate. Strip separator S1 / negative plate / Strip separator S2 / positive plate A four-layer laminate is produced on the bonding drum 18. The four-layer laminate is transported from the bonding drum 18 to a separator cutting drum 20.

[0047] On the other hand, the positive electrode plates are not supplied from the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heating drum 16 for each fixed number of plates. Therefore, the positive electrode plates are not supplied to the bonding drum 18 for each fixed number of plates. Strip separator S1 / negative electrode plate / strip separator S2 A three-layer laminate is produced on the bonding drum 18. The three-layer laminate is transported from the bonding drum 18 to the separator cutting drum 20 in the same manner as the four-layer laminate.

[0048] The separator cut drum 20 has a sixth radius and rotates around the central axis at a sixth angular velocity. The separator cut drum 20 includes a plurality of separator cut heads arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum. The separator cut head includes an outer peripheral surface for adsorbing and holding the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate, and a cutting means. The cutting means is, for example, a blade that moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface. The conveyed four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate rotate while being adsorbed and held by the outer peripheral surface. The separator cut head is also called a holding head because it adsorbs and holds the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate. A gap is formed between the plurality of separator cut heads in the circumferential direction, and the blade mounted on the separator cut head moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circumferential direction in this gap, cutting the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate adsorbed and held by the outer peripheral surface to a predetermined width (third width) with the blade. Specifically, Strip separator S1 / negative plate / Strip separator S2 / positive plate Between adjacent negative plates arranged at a predetermined interval of the four-layer laminate, or Strip separator S1 / negative electrode plate / strip separator S2 The separator strip S1 and separator strip S2 are cut between adjacent negative plates arranged at a predetermined interval in the three-layer laminate, or between adjacent negative plates arranged at a predetermined interval in the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate. In the figure, the cutting is shown at position 21.

[0049] The lamination drum 22 has a seventh radius and rotates around the central axis at a seventh angular velocity. The linear velocity of the lamination drum is adjusted to be approximately the same as the linear velocity of the separator cut drum 20. The lamination drum 22 has a plurality of lamination heads arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum. The lamination heads have an outer peripheral surface for adsorbing and holding the cut four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate. The plurality of lamination heads each rotate around the common central axis of the lamination drum 22, and each lamination head is driven by a cam in the circumferential direction of the drum independently of the other lamination heads. For example, if two lamination heads adjacent in the circumferential direction are lamination head a and lamination head b, the lamination head a and lamination head b rotate at a constant speed around the common central axis of the drum, and the relative speed between them is changed for each predetermined section on the circumference of the lamination drum 22. For example, at a certain timing, lamination head a and lamination head b are both rotating at a constant speed so that the relative speed is 0, but at another timing, lamination head a accelerates in the direction away from the subsequent lamination head b, resulting in a finite relative speed. By independently driving the lamination heads in this way, it is possible to maintain the rotation of the lamination drum 22 as a whole at a constant angular speed while allowing a specific lamination head to be stopped at a lamination position, and in this stopped state, it is possible to eject the cut four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate that are adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surface of the lamination drum 22 and place them on the lamination stage 24.

[0050] The lamination stage 24 is disposed directly below the lamination drum 22. The lamination stage 24 sequentially stacks the cut four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate discharged from the lamination drum 22 to form a laminated electrode body. The lamination stage 24 can be driven in two mutually perpendicular axial directions (X-axis and Y-axis) and can adjust the tilt angle (θ) on the X-Y plane, thereby adjusting and aligning the positions (XY positions) and tilt angle (θ) of the cut four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate discharged from the lamination drum 22, and sequentially stacks the cut four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate to produce a laminated electrode body. The lamination stage 24 has claws at its four corners, which press and fix the stacked four-layer laminate and three-layer laminate. The stacked three-layer laminate and four-layer laminate are pressurized and / or heated to be bonded to each other.

[0051] The manufacturing process of the laminated electrode body can be summarized as follows. (1) The negative electrode plate is cut on the drum to produce a negative electrode plate. (2) Heat the negative plate on the drum (3) The positive electrode plate is cut on the drum to produce a positive electrode plate. (4) Heat the positive plate on the drum (5) A strip-shaped separator and a negative electrode plate are bonded on a drum, another strip-shaped separator is bonded on the drum, and a positive electrode plate is bonded on the drum. (6) The strip of separator is cut on the drum to produce 3-ply and 4-ply laminates. (7) Laminating 3-ply and 4-ply laminates in a drum (8) Pressurizing and / or heating are applied to bond the stacked three-layer and four-layer laminates together. In this way, by performing each of the steps of cutting, heating, bonding, and lamination using a drum, high speed and continuous processing is possible.

[0052] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of a manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0053] In the figure, from the left, the negative electrode cutting drum 10, the negative electrode heat drum 12, the adhesive drum 18, the positive electrode heat drum 16, and the positive electrode cutting drum 14 are arranged in close proximity. The negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the negative electrode heat drum 12 are arranged in close proximity, the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the adhesive drum 18 are arranged in close proximity, the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heat drum 16 are arranged in close proximity, and the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the adhesive drum 18 are arranged in close proximity. The negative electrode cutting drum 10, the negative electrode heat drum 12, the adhesive drum 18, the positive electrode heat drum 16, and the positive electrode cutting drum 14 each rotate around a central axis, and these central axes are approximately parallel to each other.

[0054] A band-shaped negative electrode single plate N, the tension of which is adjusted by a tension roller, is supplied to the negative electrode cutting drum 10. The negative electrode cutting drum 10 is provided with a plurality of cutting heads that rotate around a central axis, for example, 12 electrode cutting heads arranged in the circumferential direction, and the band-shaped negative electrode single plate N is attracted and held to the outer peripheral surface of the electrode cutting head and rotates together with the electrode cutting head.

[0055] Each of the multiple electrode cut heads is provided with a blade that moves in a direction approximately perpendicular to the circumferential direction, i.e., in the width direction of the negative electrode cut drum, and the blade moves in the width direction of the drum within a certain range in the rotation direction to cut the negative electrode monolith N. After cutting the negative electrode monolith N, the electrode cut head moves in the circumferential direction independently of the other electrode cut heads, adjusting the interval between the negative electrode plates and setting the relative speed to approximately 0 when approaching the negative electrode heat drum 12.

[0056] The negative electrode plate adsorbed and held by the electrode cut head of the negative electrode cut drum 10 is supplied to the negative electrode heat drum 12 at a position close to the negative electrode heat drum 12. Specifically, the electrode cut head (holding head) has an outer peripheral surface formed with suction holes for adsorbing and holding the negative electrode plate, and a groove extending in the circumferential direction. A supply means is disposed between the holding head and the next drum, which engages with the groove formed in the holding head to release the negative electrode plate, which is an electrode body, from the adsorption surface of the holding head and supply it to the next drum. As the supply means, for example, a belt conveyor is inserted into the groove at a position close to the negative electrode heat drum 12, the negative electrode plate adsorbed and held by the electrode cut head is caused to ride up onto the belt conveyor, and the negative electrode plate is supplied to the negative electrode heat drum 12 side via the belt conveyor. The belt conveyor will be described further below. The negative electrode cut drum 10 rotates and transports the negative electrode plates at a predetermined interval.

[0057] The negative electrode plates cut by the negative electrode cutting drum 10 are sequentially supplied to the negative electrode heating drum 12. The negative electrode heating drum 12 rotates at approximately the same linear speed as the bonding drum 18, heats the negative electrode plates, and rotates and transports the heated negative electrode plates to a position close to the bonding drum 18.

[0058] In addition, a belt-shaped positive electrode single plate P, the tension of which is adjusted by a plurality of tension rollers, is supplied to the positive electrode cutting drum 14. The positive electrode cutting drum 14 is provided with a plurality of cutting heads that rotate around a central axis, for example, 12 electrode cutting heads arranged in the circumferential direction, and the belt-shaped positive electrode single plate P is attracted and held to the outer peripheral surface of the electrode cutting head and rotates together with the electrode cutting head.

[0059] Each of the multiple electrode cut heads is provided with a blade that moves in a direction approximately perpendicular to the circumferential direction, i.e., in the width direction of the positive electrode cut drum, and the blade moves in the width direction of the drum within a certain range in the rotation direction to cut the positive electrode monolith P. After cutting the positive electrode monolith P, the electrode cut head moves in the circumferential direction independently of the other electrode cut heads, adjusting the interval between the positive electrode plates and setting the relative speed to approximately 0 when approaching the positive electrode heat drum 16.

[0060] The positive electrode plate adsorbed and held by the electrode cut head of the positive electrode cut drum 14 is supplied to the positive electrode heat drum 16 at a position close to the positive electrode heat drum 16. Specifically, the electrode cut head (holding head) has an outer peripheral surface formed with suction holes for adsorbing and holding the positive electrode plate, and a groove extending in the circumferential direction. A supply means is disposed between the holding head and the next drum, engaging with the groove formed in the holding head to release the positive electrode plate, which is an electrode body, from the adsorption surface of the holding head and supply it to the next drum. As the supply means, for example, a belt conveyor is inserted into the groove at a position close to the positive electrode heat drum 16, the positive electrode plate adsorbed and held by the electrode cut head is caused to ride up onto the belt conveyor, and the positive electrode plate is supplied to the positive electrode heat drum 16 side via the belt conveyor.

[0061] The positive electrode cutting drum 14 rotates and conveys the positive electrode plates at predetermined intervals.

[0062] The positive electrode plates cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14 are sequentially supplied to the positive electrode heating drum 16. The positive electrode heating drum 16 rotates at approximately the same linear speed as the bonding drum 18, heats the positive electrode plates, and rotates and transports the heated positive electrode plates to a position close to the bonding drum 18.

[0063] The adhesive drum 18 is supplied with strip-shaped separators S1 and S2 whose tension is adjusted by a plurality of tension rollers. A heated negative electrode plate is supplied to a position adjacent to the negative electrode heat drum 12, and a heated positive electrode plate is supplied to a position adjacent to the positive electrode heat drum 16. The adhesive drum 18 rotates in the same direction as the linear speed of the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the linear speed of the positive electrode heat drum 16. From the upstream side to the downstream side of the rotation direction of the adhesive drum 18, a supply position for the separator S1, a supply position for the negative electrode plate, a supply position for the separator S2, and a supply position for the positive electrode plate are arranged in this order. A thermocompression roller 19 is arranged between the supply position for the separator S2 and the supply position for the positive electrode plate.

[0064] The adhesive drum 18 holds the strip-shaped separator S1 on its outer circumferential surface and rotates to transport the separator S1. Then, heated negative electrode plates are arranged at a predetermined interval on the separator S1 at a position close to the negative electrode heat drum 12 and pressed by the pressure between the drums. The adhesive drum 18 holds the negative electrode plates arranged at a predetermined interval on the separator S1 and rotates to transport them, and at the separator S2 supply position, the strip-shaped separator S2 is placed on the negative electrode plate, and the three-layer laminate of separator S1 / negative electrode plate / separator S2 is pressed by the pressing force of the thermocompression roller 19.

[0065] The three-layer laminate thermocompressed by the thermocompression roller 19 is further rotated and conveyed to a position close to the positive electrode heat drum 16, where the positive electrode plates are arranged on the separator S2 at a predetermined interval and pressed by the pressure between the drums. The positive electrode plates are thermocompressed to the separator S2 by this pressure between the drums. In addition, the rotation of the positive electrode cut drum 14 and the positive electrode heat drum 16 is stopped every certain number of plates, and the supply of the positive electrode plates from the positive electrode heat drum 16 to the bonding drum 18 is stopped. As a result, the positive electrode plates are not placed on the separator S2 and remain as a three-layer laminate. The three-layer laminate consisting of the strip-shaped separator S1 / negative electrode plate / strip-shaped separator S2 and the four-layer laminate consisting of the strip-shaped separator S1 / negative electrode plate / strip-shaped separator S2 / positive electrode plate are conveyed to the separator cut drum 20 via multiple tension rollers. In addition, instead of stopping the rotation of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heating drum 16 at the timing to obtain the three-layer laminate, the three-layer laminate may be prepared separately and introduced via a route separate from the introduction route of the four-layer laminate.

[0066] The three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate are thermocompressed by the drum pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18, the drum pressure between the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the bonding drum 18, and the pressing force by the thermocompression roller 19. However, when the end of the negative electrode plate cut by the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the end of the positive electrode plate cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14 are pressed by a drum or roller, damage may occur to the end of the negative electrode plate and the end of the positive electrode plate. For this reason, damage is prevented by temporarily relaxing the drum pressure and the pressing force by the thermocompression roller 19 at the end of the negative electrode plate cut by the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the end of the positive electrode plate cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14. Damage to the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate can be suppressed by relaxing the pressing force not only to the end of the negative electrode plate cut by the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the end of the positive electrode plate cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14, but also to the end of the four sides of the negative electrode plate and the end of the four sides of the positive electrode plate. That is, in order to prevent damage to the negative and positive electrode plates, it is even more preferable that only the inside of the negative and positive electrode plates be bonded to the separator.

[0067] The separator cutting drum 20 can also be arranged apart from the group of drums consisting of the negative electrode cutting drum 10, the negative electrode heat drum 12, the bonding drum 18, the positive electrode heat drum 16, and the positive electrode cutting drum 14.

[0068] The separator cutting drum 20 adsorbs and holds the three-layer laminate and four-layer laminate supplied via a tension roller on its outer circumferential surface, and cuts the strip-shaped separators S1 and S2 of the three-layer laminate and four-layer laminate using a multiple separator cutting head structure similar to that of the negative electrode cutting drum 10. The cut three-layer laminate and four-layer laminate are rotated and conveyed to a position close to the lamination drum 22 while being adsorbed and held by the separator cutting head. The separator cutting head has suction holes formed on its outer circumferential surface for adsorbing and holding the three-layer laminate and four-layer laminate.

[0069] The separator cutting drum 20 rotates and conveys the three-layer laminate or the four-layer laminate at predetermined intervals.

[0070] The lamination drum 22 is disposed close to the separator cut drum 20 and rotates at approximately the same linear speed as the separator cut drum 20. The lamination drum 22 is composed of a plurality of lamination heads that rotate around the drum rotation center. The lamination heads have a substantially T-shaped longitudinal section, and have suction holes formed on the outer circumferential surface for suction-holding the three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate, and a vacuum pad is provided inside the suction holes. The three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate that are suction-held on the separator cut drum 20 are sucked to the lamination heads via the vacuum pads. The plurality of lamination heads each rotate around a common central axis of the lamination drum 22, and each lamination head is driven in the circumferential direction of the drum independently of the other lamination heads, and is further driven in the radial direction of the drum. That is, the lamination heads rotate and transport the three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate to a position close to the lamination stage 24 while suction-holding them. When the lamination head reaches a position close to the lamination stage 24, the relative speed in the circumferential direction of the drum with respect to the lamination stage 24 becomes zero, and the lamination head moves in the radial direction of the drum toward the lamination stage 24. The lamination head brings the three-layer laminate or four-layer laminate that it is suction-holding into contact with the lamination stage 24, or, if three-layer laminate or four-layer laminate is already stacked on the lamination stage 24, brings it into contact with these laminates, turns off the suction-holding force, and stacks the three-layer laminate or four-layer laminate that it was suction-holding. The lamination head then moves again in the radial direction of the drum away from the lamination stage 24 and resumes rotation.

[0071] This concludes the overall explanation.

[0072] The method for transferring the three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate from the separator cutting drum 20 to the lamination drum 22 via the vacuum pad provided on the lamination head of the lamination drum 22 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to provide a groove in the separator cutting drum, similar to the positive electrode cutting drum and the negative electrode cutting drum, and transfer the three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate to the lamination drum 22 via a belt conveyor.

[0073] Also, when transferring the positive and negative plates from the positive and negative cutting drums to the respective heating and bonding drums, vacuum pads can be used instead of belt conveyors. Note that the drum that supplies the electrode body or laminate such as the positive and negative plates to the suction pad is referred to as the first drum, and the drum equipped with the suction pad is also referred to as the second drum.

[0074] Next, the manufacturing process for the three-layer laminate and the four-layer laminate will be described in detail.

[0075] 3 and 4 show schematic diagrams of the manufacturing process for a basic four-layer laminate.

[0076] FIG. 3(a) shows how the negative electrode is cut by the negative electrode cutting drum 10. Tabs Nt are formed at regular intervals on the negative electrode single plate N, which includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The tabs Nt are formed integrally with the negative electrode current collector and protrude from one edge of the negative electrode current collector (protrude in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the band-shaped negative electrode single plate N). The negative electrode cutting drum 10 cuts the negative electrode single plate N at regular intervals to generate a negative electrode plate NP of a first width. The tabs Nt are formed on one edge of the negative electrode plate NP.

[0077] FIG. 3(b) shows how the positive electrode is cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14. The positive electrode single plate P, which includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer, has tabs Pt formed at regular intervals. The tabs Pt are formed integrally with the positive electrode current collector and protrude from one edge of the positive electrode current collector (protrude in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the strip-shaped positive electrode single plate P). The positive electrode cutting drum 14 cuts the positive electrode single plate P at regular intervals to generate a positive electrode plate PP of a second width. The tabs Pt are formed on one edge of the positive electrode plate PP. The size of the positive electrode plate PP is smaller than the size of the negative electrode plate NP. In addition, the interval (pitch) of the tabs Pt of the positive electrode plate PP is smaller than the interval (pitch) of the tabs Nt of the negative electrode plate NP.

[0078] 3(c) shows the state of bonding in the bonding drum 18. Negative plates NP are arranged at regular intervals on a strip-shaped separator S1 and bonded, strip-shaped separator S2 is arranged and bonded on top of that, and positive plates PP are arranged at regular intervals and bonded so as to overlap the negative plates NP. The positive plates PP are arranged inside the presence area of ​​the negative plates NP. The negative plates NP and the positive plates PP are spaced apart from each other, but the strip-shaped separators S1 and S2 have not yet been cut and remain strip-shaped, so that the overall structure is a strip-shaped four-layer laminate.

[0079] 3(d) shows the cutting process by the separator cutting drum 20. The separator cutting drum 20 cuts the strip-shaped four-layer laminate at regular intervals, i.e., between adjacent negative electrode plates NP, to generate a four-layer laminate 40 of a third width from which the separators S1 and S2 are cut off.

[0080] 4 shows the configuration of a four-layer laminate 40. A separator S1 is disposed as the bottom layer, a negative electrode plate NP is laminated thereon, a separator S2 is laminated thereon, and a positive electrode plate PP is further laminated thereon.

[0081] 5 and 6 show schematic diagrams of the manufacturing process for a three-layer laminate.

[0082] 5(a) shows the state of bonding in the bonding drum 18. Negative electrode plates NP are arranged at regular intervals on a strip-shaped separator S1 and bonded, and strip-shaped separator S2 is arranged and bonded on top of them. As for positive electrode plates PP, the positive electrode plates PP are not arranged at regular intervals. Although the negative electrode plates NP are spaced apart from each other, the strip-shaped separators S1 and S2 have not yet been cut and remain strip-shaped, so that the overall structure is a strip-shaped three-layer laminate.

[0083] FIG. 5(b) shows the cutting process at the separator cutting drum 20. The separator cutting drum 20 cuts the strip-shaped three-layer laminate at regular intervals, i.e., between adjacent negative electrode plates NP, to generate three-layer laminates 30 of a third width from which the separators S1 and S2 are cut off. The three-layer laminates 30 are generated in fixed numbers. That is, 4-layer laminate 40, 4-layer laminate 40, 3-layer laminate 30, 4-layer laminate,... It is like this.

[0084] 6 shows the configuration of a three-layer laminate 30. A separator S1 is disposed in the bottom layer, a negative electrode plate NP is laminated thereon, and a separator S2 is laminated thereon.

[0085] In this manner, the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 are produced and fed from the separator cutting drum 20 to the lamination drum 22.

[0086] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the lamination process in the lamination drum 22. As shown in FIG.

[0087] When the stacking drum 22 receives the rectangular three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40 from the separator cutting drum 20, the stacking drum 22 sequentially places them on the stacking stage 24 and stacks them. Separator S1 / Negative plate NP / Separator S2 When the three-layer laminate 30 is received, it is turned upside down and Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 The resultant is placed on the stacking stage 24.

[0088] Next, the stacking drum 22 Separator S1 / Negative plate NP / Separator S2 / Positive plate PP When the four-layer laminate 40 is received, it is turned upside down and Positive plate PP / Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 The laminated stage 24 is then placed on the three-layer laminate 30 and laminated thereon. Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 / Positive plate PP / Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 In the same manner, the stacking drum 22 receives the four-layer stack 40, turns it upside down, and places it on the four-layer stack 40 on the stacking stage 24 for stacking. Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 / Positive plate PP / Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 / Positive plate PP / Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 / ··· / Positive plate PP / Separator S2 / Negative plate NP / Separator S1 are stacked. The stacking drum 22 produces a laminated electrode body by stacking one three-layer laminate 30 and a predetermined number of four-layer laminates 40 in sequence on the stacking stage 24. By stacking the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 in combination, a rectangular laminated electrode body in which the electrodes at both ends are always negative electrodes NP is obtained.

[0089] It goes without saying that the inverted lamination is merely an example, and other lamination methods are possible. For example, a four-layer laminate may be first laminated without inverting, and then a three-layer laminate may be laminated last without inverting.

[0090] 8 to 10 show the lamination process of the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 in more detail.

[0091] 8 shows a separator cutting process in the separator cutting drum 20. The strip-shaped three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40 bonded by the bonding drum 18 are cut and separated at approximately the midpoint between adjacent negative electrode plates NP. Similarly, the strip-shaped four-layer laminates 40 are also cut and separated from each other at approximately the midpoint between adjacent negative electrode plates NP.

[0092] 9 shows the cut three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40. If a blank for the positive electrode plate PP is generated, for example, every 38 positive electrode plates PP, then one three-layer laminate 30 is followed by 37 four-layer laminates 40, which are then again generated one three-layer laminate 30, which is then further generated 37 four-layer laminates 40. If N is a counter variable, then N=1 is a three-layer laminate 30, N=2 is a four-layer laminate 40, N=3 is a four-layer laminate 40, ..., N=38 is a four-layer laminate 40, N=39 is a three-layer laminate 30, and N=40 is a four-layer laminate 40.

[0093] 10 shows the configuration of a laminated electrode body in which a three-layer laminate 30 is first placed on a stacking stage 24, and then a four-layer laminate 40 is stacked on top of this. One three-layer laminate 30 and 37 four-layer laminates 40 are stacked together. The electrodes at both ends of the laminated electrode body are negative electrode plates NP.

[0094] Next, the specific configuration of the electrode cutting head will be described in more detail.

[0095] 11 shows a perspective view of the configuration of the electrode cut head that constitutes the positive electrode cut drum 14. A plurality of electrode cut heads are provided in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the positive electrode cut drum 14. The electrode cut heads are driven in the circumferential direction (direction a in the figure) by a motor 14v provided for each electrode cut head, independently of the other electrode cut heads. Here, instead of the motor 14v, a linear motor, a planetary gear, a cog belt, or the like may be used for independent drive.

[0096] The electrode cut head has an outer peripheral surface 14p formed with suction holes 14g for suctioning and holding the positive electrode single plate P and the positive electrode plate PP (after cutting). A groove 14r is formed along the circumferential direction at approximately the center of the outer peripheral surface 14p in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction (direction b in the figure), and no suction holes 14g are formed in this groove 14r. The electrode cut head is also provided with a cutting mechanism block 14t equipped with circular blades 50a, 50b. The circular blades 50a, 50b are a pair of blades. The circular blades 50a, 50b are a pair of upper and lower rotating blades that rotate in the direction b in the figure. ReciprocatingThe circular blades 50a and 50b cut the positive electrode plate, which is a rectangular electrode body, by moving forward in the direction b in the figure from the initial position where they are retracted from the outer circumferential surface 14p, and then move back in the direction b in the figure to return to the initial position. The cutting mechanism block 14t has a cam 14u that engages with a cam groove formed on the fixed shaft of the positive electrode cutting drum 14. The cutting mechanism block 14t reciprocates the circular blades 50a and 50b along the rail in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction (direction b in the figure) in the gap between the adjacent electrode cutting heads via a rack and pinion mechanism, as the cam 14u moves along the cam groove with the rotation of the electrode cutting head. The reciprocating speed of the circular blades 50a and 50b in the direction b in the figure can be appropriately adjusted by setting the gear ratio of the rack and pinion mechanism.

[0097] Furthermore, the cutting mechanism block 14t is connected to a cam 14w, and after the circular blades 50a and 50b move forward in the direction b in the figure to cut the positive electrode single plate, the cut head that attracts and holds the positive electrode plate moves in a direction away from the cut head that holds the positive electrode single plate, and then the cam 14w rotates, rotating the rotary shaft 14x of the cutting mechanism block 14t. Then, with the rotation of the rotary shaft 14x, the cutting mechanism block 14t and the circular blades 50a and 50b move in a direction away from the cut surface of the positive electrode single plate. After that, the circular blades 50a and 50b move backward in the direction b in the figure.

[0098] 12 shows a case where the upper and lower circular blades 50a, 50b are arranged so as to overlap each other in the thickness direction of the positive electrode monolith P, and cutting is performed. The positive electrode monolith P is composed of a positive electrode current collector P1 and a positive electrode active material layer P2, and the upper circular blade 50a is arranged to a depth that penetrates the upper positive electrode active material layer P2 and the positive electrode current collector P1. The lower circular blade 50b is arranged to a depth that penetrates the lower positive electrode active material layer P2 and the positive electrode current collector P1. The depth of the circular blade 50a and the circular blade 50b Depthoverlap in the thickness direction of the positive electrode monolith P. Although the positive electrode monolith P can be cut with such an arrangement of the circular blades 50a, 50b, the inventors of the present application have confirmed that such an arrangement of the circular blades 50a, 50b may result in unnecessary protrusions, i.e., burrs, on the cut surface of the positive electrode monolith P, which may cause deterioration of the laminated electrode body.

[0099] On the other hand, FIG. 13 shows a case where the upper and lower circular blades 50a, 50b are arranged so as not to overlap in the thickness direction of the positive electrode single plate P and cut. The upper circular blade 50a is arranged at a depth that penetrates the upper positive electrode active material layer P2 but does not penetrate the positive electrode current collector P1. The lower circular blade 50b is arranged at a depth that penetrates the lower positive electrode active material layer P2 but does not penetrate the positive electrode current collector P1, and the upper and lower circular blades 50a, 50b are arranged at a finite distance from each other in the thickness direction. In this arrangement, the upper and lower positive electrode active material layers P2 of the positive electrode single plate P are cut by the circular blades 50a, 50b, but the positive electrode current collector P1 is not cut and remains in a band shape although a notch is generated in a part of it. However, the positive electrode single plate P is attracted and held on the outer peripheral surface of multiple electrode cut heads, and the electrode cut heads move independently in the circumferential direction to adjust the interval between the positive electrode plates PP and move so that the relative linear speed with the positive electrode heat drum 16 is approximately zero. When the electrode cut heads move independently in the circumferential direction, tensile forces in opposite directions act on the cut portion of the positive electrode single plate P. This tensile force causes the positive electrode current collector P1 to break from the notch as a base point, leading to cutting. The inventors of the present application have confirmed that the arrangement of the circular blades 50a, 50b shown in FIG. 13 does not produce burrs or makes them less likely to produce burrs on the cut surface of the positive electrode single plate P.

[0100] In FIG. 13, the upper and lower circular blades 50a and 50b are arranged so as not to overlap in the thickness direction of the positive electrode single plate P, but the upper and lower circular blades 50a and 50b may be arranged so that the distance in the thickness direction is 0. In other words, if the distance in the thickness direction of the positive electrode single plate P between the cutting edge of the upper and lower circular blades 50a and 50b is L and the thickness of the positive electrode current collector P1 is d, then the upper and lower circular blades 50a and 50b may be arranged so that d>L≧0. Here, L<0 means that the upper and lower circular blades 50a and 50b overlap each other, and the upper and lower circular blades 50a and 50b cut the upper and lower positive electrode active material layers P2 and the positive electrode current collector P1. d>L≧0 means that the upper circular blade 50a cuts the upper positive electrode active material layer P2, the lower circular blade 50b cuts the lower positive electrode active material layer P2, and the positive electrode current collector P1 is not cut but is broken by the tensile force.

[0101] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of how the positive electrode veneer P is cut by the electrode cut head 14a and the electrode cut head 14b shown in FIG.

[0102] As shown in Fig. 14(a), the electrode cut head 14a and the electrode cut head 14b rotate around the center of the rotation axis of the drum while adsorbing and holding the positive electrode single plate P on their outer circumferential surfaces. The positive electrode single plate P is composed of a positive electrode current collector P1 and a positive electrode active material layer P2 formed on both sides of the positive electrode current collector P1. When rotated to a predetermined position, the cutting mechanism 14t provided on the electrode cut head 14a moves the round blades 50a, 50b forward to cut the positive electrode active material layer P2 of the positive electrode single plate P.

[0103] 14(b) shows the state where the positive electrode active material layer P2 has been cut by the circular blades 50a and 50b. At this time, the positive electrode current collector P1 has not yet been cut and continues to be attracted and held in a strip-like shape by the outer circumferential surfaces of the electrode cut heads 14a and 14b.

[0104] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14(c), the electrode cut head 14a moves at an increased speed in the circumferential direction of the drum independently of the electrode cut head 14b. This movement applies a tensile force to the positive electrode current collector P1, cutting the strip-shaped positive electrode current collector P1. Then, the circular blades 50a, 50b are returned by the cutting mechanism 14t provided on the electrode cut head 14a. In this sense, in this embodiment, the cutting of the positive electrode single plate P is performed by a combination of the movement of the circular blades 50a, 50b and the movement of the electrode cut head. Details of the reciprocating movement of the circular blades 50a, 50b will be described further below with reference to FIG. 15.

[0105] In this embodiment, the positive electrode current collector P1 of the positive electrode single plate P is cut by tensile force, and the positive electrode active material layer P2 is cut by the circular blades 50a, 50b, so that the cut surface of the positive electrode current collector P1 and the cut surface of the positive electrode active material layer P2 have different cut shapes.

[0106] Figure 16 shows a top view and a side view of the positive electrode plate PP after cutting. Figure 16(a) is a top view, and the positive electrode active material layer P2 is present on the surface, and the tab Pt extends from the end. Figure 16(b) is a side view, and the positive electrode active material layer P2 is present on the upper and lower parts of the positive electrode current collector P1, as in Figure 14. Here, the cut surface cut by the electrode cut head is shown as c in the figure.

[0107] FIG. 17 shows a cross section of the cut surface c in FIG. 16(b). FIG. 17 shows a cross section of the cut surface c of the positive electrode single plate P cut by the electrode cut head 14a and the electrode cut head 14b according to FIG. 13. FIG. 17 shows a range 500a where the circular blade 50a contacts in the forward movement and a range 500b where the circular blade 50b contacts in the forward movement. Since the range where the circular blades 50a and 50b rub against the positive electrode current collector P1 is relatively small, the positive electrode current collector P1 is rubbed against the circular blades 50a and 50b, and the burrs that extend the end surface of the positive electrode current collector P1 are suppressed. In addition, as described later, by moving the circular blades 50a and 50b away from the cut surface after cutting, the circular blades 50a and 50b do not rub against the cut surface during the return movement, and in this respect, damage to the cut surface is also suppressed.

[0108] On the other hand, for comparison, Fig. 18 shows a schematic diagram of a cut surface c when the circular blades 50a, 50b are arranged to overlap each other in the thickness direction of the positive electrode single plate P as shown in Fig. 12. The reciprocating range 500a of the circular blade 50a and the reciprocating range 500b of the circular blade 50b overlap each other, and the circular blades 50a, 50b rub against the positive electrode current collector P1, stretching the end surface of the positive electrode current collector P1 and causing burrs. By comparing Fig. 17 with Fig. 18, the effect of the circular blade arrangement of this embodiment becomes clear.

[0109] As described above, the circular blades 50a, 50b cut the positive electrode veneer P by reciprocating, and Fig. 15 shows a schematic diagram of the reciprocating movement of the circular blades 50a, 50b. The circular blades 50a, 50b are moved forward from the initial position in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the drum by the cutting mechanism block 14t to cut the positive electrode active material layer P2. The circular blades 50a, 50b move forward along a moving plane 52.

[0110] Next, the circular blades 50a, 50b return to their initial positions by moving backward. First, the electrode cut head 14a that adsorbs and holds the positive electrode plate PP moves in a direction away from the electrode cut head 14b that holds the positive electrode plate P, and then the cam 14w shown in FIG. 11 rotates to rotate the rotary shaft 14x, and the cutting mechanism block 14t and the circular blades 50a, 50b move in a direction away from the positive electrode plate P in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft 14x. Thereafter, the circular blades 50a, 50b move backward in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the drum. After the forward movement, the cam 14w rotates in the opposite direction again, moving the cutting mechanism block 14t and the circular blades 50a, 50b to their initial positions. The forward movement trajectory and the return movement trajectory of the circular blades 50a, 50b are different from each other, and the circular blades 50a, 50b cut the positive electrode plate P and Positive plate Since there is no contact with the cut surface of the PP, damage to the cut surface can be effectively suppressed.

[0111] In this embodiment, the circular blades 50a and 50b are exemplified as the blades of the electrode cutting head, but the shape of the blade is not limited to this. Also, in this embodiment, the trajectories of the round blades 50a and 50b of the electrode cutting head are made different to suppress damage to the cutting surface, but the configuration for suppressing damage to the cutting surface is not limited to this.

[0112] FIG. 19 shows another blade shape of the electrode cut head. The upper and lower blades 50a and 50b are round blades as a whole, but some of them are flat. Focusing on the blade 50a, it is composed of an arc portion 50a1 and a flat portion 50a2, and the blade is formed in the arc portion 50a1, and the blade is not formed in the flat portion 50a2. The same is true for the blade 50b, which is composed of an arc portion 50b1 and a flat portion 50b2, and the blade is formed in the arc portion 50b1, and the blade is not formed in the flat portion 50b2. Both the blades 50a and 50b rotate around the rotation axis, and cut the positive electrode single plate P at the arc portions 50a1 and 50b1 where the blade is formed.

[0113] FIG. 20 shows how the positive electrode monolith P is cut by the rotation of the blades 50a and 50b shown in FIG. 19. In the initial position, the arcuate portion 50a1 of the blade 50a and the arcuate portion 50b1 of the blade 50b face each other, and during forward movement, the blades 50a and 50b rotate from this initial position, cutting the positive electrode monolith P with the arcuate portion 50a1 and the arcuate portion 50b1 as shown in (a) and (b). When the blades 50a and 50b further rotate to a position where the flat portion 50a2 and the flat portion 50b2 face each other as shown in (c), the cutting of the positive electrode monolith P ends and the forward movement is completed. During the return movement, the blades 50a and 50b are moved to the initial position while maintaining the flat portion 50a2 and the flat portion 50b2 facing each other. Since the distance between the axes of the blades 50a and 50b is constant, a gap is generated between the blades 50a and 50b when the flat portion 50a2 and the flat portion 50b2 face each other. By maintaining this gap while moving back, the blades 50a and 50b do not come into contact with the cut surface, and damage to the cut surface can be suppressed. In this case, the movement (tilt) of the cutting mechanism block 14t due to the rotation of the cam 14w as shown in FIG. 15 may be unnecessary.

[0114] As described above, the positive electrode single plate P is cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14 to produce the positive electrode plate PP, and the produced positive electrode single plate PP is supplied to the positive electrode heating drum 16. The positive electrode plate PP can be supplied from the positive electrode cutting drum 14 to the positive electrode heating drum 16 via, for example, a belt conveyor or the like.

[0115] Fig. 21 shows a schematic diagram of the supply of positive electrode plates PP from the positive electrode cutting drum 14 to the positive electrode heat drum 16. Fig. 22 shows a partial enlarged view of Fig. 21, that is, an enlarged view of the contact portion between the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heat drum 16.

[0116] The belt conveyor 140 is disposed near the contact portion between the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heat drum 16, and one end of the belt conveyor 140 is inserted into the groove 14r of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 (see FIG. 11). The width of the pulley on one end side of the belt conveyor 140 inserted into the groove 14r is approximately the same as the width of the groove 14r. The pulley on the other end side of the belt conveyor 140 is disposed near the positive electrode heat drum 16. The belt of the belt conveyor 140 extends from the groove 14r of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 to the vicinity of the positive electrode heat drum 16, turns around at the pulley on the other end side of the belt conveyor 140, and returns to the groove 14r of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 again.

[0117] The positive electrode single plate PP is cut by the positive electrode cutting drum 14, and is held by suction on its outer circumferential surface while being rotated and transported. When the positive electrode plate PP is rotated and transported and comes into contact with the belt conveyor 140, one end of which is inserted into the groove 14r, the positive electrode plate PP rides up onto the belt conveyor 140, and leaves the surface of the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and rides on the belt conveyor 140. The positive electrode plate PP that is on the belt conveyor 140 is carried by the belt conveyor 140 to the positive electrode heat drum 16, is sucked into the suction holes formed on the outer circumferential surface of the positive electrode heat drum 16, and is moved from the belt conveyor 140 to the outer circumferential surface of the positive electrode heat drum 16 and is held by suction. In the above description, the belt conveyor 140 inserted into the groove 14r is held by a pulley on one end side, but instead of the pulley, a knife edge can be inserted into the groove 14r, and the belt conveyor 140 inserted into the groove 14r can be held by the knife edge.

[0118] The above has been described regarding the cutting of the positive electrode single plate P at the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the supply of the positive electrode plate PP from the positive electrode cutting drum 14 to the positive electrode heat drum 16, but the same is true for the cutting of the negative electrode single plate N at the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the supply of the negative electrode plate NP from the negative electrode cutting drum 10 to the negative electrode heat drum 12. Also, regarding the cutting of the strip-shaped separator at the separator cutting drum 20, damage to the cut surface can be suppressed by moving the blades 50a, 50b back without contacting the cut surface.

[0119] Next, the process of supplying the negative electrode plate NP or the positive electrode plate PP from the negative electrode heat drum 12 or the positive electrode heat drum 16 to the bonding drum 18 will be described in detail.

[0120] 23A shows the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18. The negative electrode heat drum 12 receives the negative electrode plates NP cut by the negative electrode cutting drum 10, and heats them while adsorbing and holding them on its outer circumferential surface and rotating and transporting them. Then, at a position close to the bonding drum 18, the heated negative electrode plates NP are adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surface of the bonding drum 18 and are sequentially bonded at regular intervals onto the strip-shaped separator S1, which is being rotated and transported.

[0121] The negative electrode heat drum 12 is axially supported so as to be freely swingable around a drum rotation fulcrum 122, and is swung around the drum rotation fulcrum 122 by a motor 124. A coil spring 120 is also installed on the negative electrode heat drum 12 so as to face the drum rotation fulcrum 122. When the negative electrode heat drum 12 swings around the rotation fulcrum 122, the amount of deflection of the coil spring 120 changes, thereby adjusting the pressure at the pressure point, which is the contact point between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the adhesive drum 18.

[0122] The negative electrode heat drum 12 presses the heated negative electrode plate NP against the strip-shaped separator S1 on the bonding drum 18 by the pressure at the pressurizing point, and bonds the negative electrode plate NP to the separator S1, but there is a finite eccentricity in the negative electrode heat drum 12 and also in the bonding drum 18. If there is eccentricity, the amount of deflection of the coil spring 120 changes, so it is not possible to pressurize and bond the negative electrode plate NP with a constant pressure.

[0123] Therefore, the eccentricity amounts of the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the adhesive drum 18 are combined, and this combined value is used to constantly rotate the motor 124 in accordance with the drum rotation, causing the negative electrode heat drum 12 to oscillate around the rotation fulcrum 122, offsetting the change in pressure at the pressure point, and the negative electrode plate NP is pressed with an almost constant pressure to adhere it onto the strip-shaped separator S1.

[0124] The amount of eccentricity of the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the adhesive drum 18 is measured in advance and stored as a table in the memory of the control device. A drive signal based on a cancellation waveform that cancels the composite waveform of the eccentricity of the two drums is supplied to the motor 124 to suppress deflection due to the eccentricity of the coil spring 120 and suppress fluctuations in the pressing force.

[0125] The control device drives the motor 124 using this cancellation waveform as a drive signal waveform, thereby canceling out the eccentricities and always pressing the negative electrode heat drum 12 against the bonding drum 18 with a constant pressure force.

[0126] However, if the negative electrode plate NP is bonded onto the band-shaped separator S1 by pressing the negative electrode heat drum 12 against the bonding drum 18 with a constant pressure, the negative electrode plate NP may be damaged by the pressure, particularly at the ends of the negative electrode plate NP, i.e., the ends in the circumferential direction of the drum. For this reason, instead of bonding the negative electrode plate NP onto the separator S1 with a constant pressure, the pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 is reduced or the pressure is interrupted (pressure is set to 0) at both ends in the circumferential direction of the negative electrode plate NP to prevent damage to both ends of the negative electrode plate NP.

[0127] Fig. 24 shows how the negative electrode plate NP is bonded to the strip-shaped separator S1 with a constant pressure. That is, Fig. 24 shows how the negative electrode plate NP is bonded to the separator S1 without reducing the pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 or interrupting the pressure. In Fig. 24, the separator S1 is shown in a straight line, but in reality, it is attracted and held by the bonding drum 18 and is in an arc-like state along the arc-shaped outer shape of the bonding drum 18. In Fig. 24, one negative electrode plate NP is heated on the negative electrode heat drum 12, but multiple negative electrode plates NP can be heated.

[0128] In FIG. 24(a), the negative electrode heat drum 12 directly contacts the separator S1 in the area where the negative electrode plate NP does not exist, and presses the separator S1 with a constant pressure. When the negative electrode plate NP is rotated and conveyed in this state, as shown in FIG. 24(b), first The negative electrode heat drum 12 The separator S1 is placed on the circumferential end of the negative electrode plate NP and the circumferential end is pressed against the separator S1 with a constant pressure. At this time, the tip of the negative electrode plate NP is crushed and deformed by the pressure.

[0129] Thereafter, the negative electrode heat drum 12 continues to press the negative electrode plate NP against the separator S1 with a constant pressure, bonding the negative electrode plate NP to the separator S1. Then, as shown in Fig. 24(c), the rear end portion in the circumferential direction of the negative electrode plate NP is also pressed against the separator S1 with a constant pressure, so that the rear end portion is crushed and deformed by the pressure, just like the front end portion.

[0130] In this way, if the negative electrode heat drum 12 is always pressed against the adhesive drum 18 with a constant pressure, the separator S1 is pressed even in the portion where the negative electrode plate NP is not present, and the separator S1 may be damaged, and the circumferential leading end and circumferential trailing end of the negative electrode plate NP may also be pressed and damaged. In Fig. 24(c), the crushing at the circumferential leading end and circumferential trailing end is shown as a sloped surface.

[0131] On the other hand, Fig. 25 shows the state of bonding of the negative electrode plate NP to the separator S1 in this embodiment. That is, Fig. 25 shows the state of bonding the negative electrode plate NP onto the separator S1 after reducing the pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 or interrupting the pressure. In Fig. 25, the separator S1 is shown in a straight line, but in reality, it is attracted and held by the bonding drum 18 and is in a state of drawing an arc along the arc-shaped outer shape of the bonding drum 18. Also, in Fig. 25, one negative electrode plate NP is heated on the negative electrode heat drum 12, but multiple negative electrode plates NP can be heated.

[0132] 25(a), the negative electrode heat drum 12 regulates the pressure at the pressure point in the area where the negative electrode plate NP is not present, so that the negative electrode heat drum 12 is not pressed against the bonding drum 18. In this state, the negative electrode plate NP is rotated and conveyed, and even if the circumferential leading end of the negative electrode plate NP abuts against the separator S1, the regulation of the constant pressure force is maintained as is. Therefore, the circumferential leading end of the negative electrode plate NP is not pressed.

[0133] 25(b), when the negative electrode plate NP is further rotated and conveyed, and the central portion other than the circumferential tip portion comes into contact with the separator S1, the negative electrode heat drum 12 is pressed against the bonding drum 18 with a constant pressure force. This bonds the negative electrode plate NP to the separator S1.

[0134] 25(c), when the negative electrode plate NP is further rotated and conveyed, and the circumferential rear end portion comes into contact with the separator S1, the pressure is regulated so that the negative electrode heat drum 12 is not pressed against the bonding drum 18. Therefore, the circumferential rear end portion of the negative electrode plate NP is not pressed.

[0135] As described above, only the center of the negative plate NP is pressed with a constant pressure, and the pressure is restricted to a constant pressure at both ends of the negative plate NP, i.e., the circumferential leading end and the circumferential trailing end, so that both ends are not pressed, thereby preventing damage to both ends of the negative plate NP. In addition, by restricting the pressure to a constant pressure even in an area where the negative plate NP does not exist, damage to the separator S1 is also prevented.

[0136] The control device reduces the pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 or interrupts the application of pressure at both ends of the negative electrode plate NP, separately from canceling the eccentricity of the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18. The mechanism for reducing the pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 or interrupting the application of pressure will be described with reference to Figures 23B and 23C.

[0137] 23B and 23C are perspective and rear views of the pressure adjustment mechanism, in which a cam mechanism 80 is provided on the support α of the bonding drum 18. A swing arm 82 is attached to the support β of the negative electrode heat drum 12 as an arm that engages with the cam mechanism 80, and the swing arm 82 supports a roller 84. The surface of the cam mechanism 80 and the roller 84 come into contact with each other. The surface shape of the cam mechanism 80 is polygonal or has protrusions at predetermined intervals. The cam mechanism 80 operates so that the corners or protrusions of the polygon reduce the pressure between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 or interrupt the application of pressure. The cam mechanism 80 is driven by a motor independent of the motor 124. The distance between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 is controlled by the operation of the cam mechanism 80, and the pressure on the negative electrode plate NP can be reduced or the pressure can be interrupted.

[0138] By the way, the pressing force between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 is kept constant by driving the motor 124, but the distance between the support β to which the negative electrode heat drum 12 is attached and the support α to which the bonding drum 18 is attached fluctuates. Due to the fluctuation of the distance, the distance between the cam mechanism 80 and the roller 84 fluctuates, and it may be impossible to reduce the pressing force between the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 or to interrupt the pressing force at the specified timing.

[0139] In order to keep the distance between the cam mechanism 80 and the roller 84 constant, a roller 86 is provided on the swing arm 82, and a tilting member 88, roller 90, and cam mechanism 92 that can be driven independently of the support column β of the negative electrode heat drum 12 are provided on the support column β side. The roller 86 contacts the inclined surface of the tilting member 88. The roller 90 is attached to the tilting member 88 and contacts the cam mechanism 92. When the tilting member 88 moves up and down due to the cam mechanism 92 driven by a motor, the swinging arm 82 swings via the roller 86 that contacts the inclined surface of the tilting member 88.

[0140] By driving motor 124 according to the canceling waveform, support column β and tilting member 88 move left and right, but by also driving a motor (not shown) that moves cam mechanism 92 up and down according to the canceling waveform, the tilted surface of tilting member 88 also moves up and down, thereby suppressing fluctuations in the position of roller 86. By suppressing fluctuations in the position of roller 86, fluctuations in the distance between roller 84 and cam mechanism 80 can be suppressed.

[0141] In the above explanation, a method was described in which the negative electrode plate NP is adhered to the band-shaped separator S1 with a constant pressure by driving the motor 124, and damage to both ends of the negative electrode plate NP is suppressed by driving the cam mechanism 80. However, it is also possible to adhere the negative electrode plate NP to the band-shaped separator S1 with a constant pressure and suppress damage to both ends of the negative electrode plate NP by driving the motor 124.

[0142] The positions of the negative electrode plates NP on the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the interval between the negative electrode plates NP can be detected, for example, by a camera arranged near the negative electrode heat drum 12. A control device that monitors and controls the entire manufacturing apparatus receives the position data and interval data of the negative electrode plates NP detected by the camera, and can also use this received position data and interval data to control permission / restriction of a certain pressure force (or ON / OFF of a certain pressure force).

[0143] The same applies to the relationship between the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the adhesive drum 18. The control device uses a drive signal waveform as a reference for canceling the eccentricity of the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the adhesive drum 18 and pressing the positive electrode heat drum 16 against the adhesive drum 18 with a constant pressure force, and superimposes on this a drive signal waveform for regulating the constant pressure force at both ends of the positive electrode plate PP and in areas where the positive electrode plate PP is not present.

[0144] Furthermore, the thermocompression roller 19 is a roller for pressing and thermocompressing the band-shaped separator S1 / negative electrode plate NP / band-shaped separator S2, and the control device can drive the roller with a drive signal waveform for regulating a constant pressure force at both ends of the negative electrode plate NP and in areas where the negative electrode plate NP is not present.

[0145] In the explanation of Fig. 23A, the drum rotation fulcrum 122, the motor 124, and the coil spring 120 are provided on the negative electrode heat drum 12, but these can also be provided on the bonding drum 18 side. However, Fig. 23A shows a state where the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 are in contact with each other, but the bonding drum 18 may have a Positive plate In such a case, the drum rotation fulcrum, motor and coil spring are Positive plate Supply drum and Negative plate It is preferable that the drum supplying the

[0146] 26 to 28 show the pressure ranges of the negative electrode heat drum 12, the thermocompression roller 19, and the positive electrode heat drum 16. FIG.

[0147] In Fig. 26, the area of ​​pressure applied when the strip-shaped separator S1 and the negative electrode plate NP are bonded by the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the bonding drum 18 is indicated by a dashed line. Of the negative electrode plate NP, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped separator S1 are not pressurized, and the other areas are pressed and pressed. In other words, of the four sides of the rectangular negative electrode plate NP, two opposing sides, i.e., two sides opposing in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped separator S1, are not pressurized, and two opposing sides perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are pressurized. Of the four sides of the rectangular negative electrode plate NP, the two pressed sides are bonded to the separator S1 at the pressurized portions, and the two unpressurized sides are not bonded to the separator S1.

[0148] In Fig. 27, the area of ​​pressure applied when the band-shaped separator S1, the negative electrode plate NP, and the band-shaped separator S2 are bonded by the heat pressing roller 19 and the bonding drum 18 is indicated by a dashed line. As in the case of Fig. 26, the longitudinal ends of the band-shaped separators S1 and S2 of the negative electrode plate NP are not pressurized, and the other areas are pressed and pressed. In other words, of the four sides of the rectangular negative electrode plate NP, the two opposing sides, i.e., the two opposing sides in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped separators S1 and S2, are not pressurized, and the two opposing sides in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are pressurized. Of the four sides of the rectangular negative electrode plate NP, the two pressed sides are bonded to the separator S2 at the pressed parts, and the two unpressurized sides are not bonded to the separator S1.

[0149] In FIG. 28, the area of ​​pressure applied when the strip-shaped separator S1, the negative electrode plate NP, the strip-shaped separator S2, and the positive electrode plate PP are bonded by the positive electrode heat drum 16 and the bonding drum 18 is indicated by a dashed line. Of the positive electrode plate PP, both ends of the strip-shaped separators S1 and S2 in the longitudinal direction are not pressurized, and the other areas are pressed and pressed. In other words, of the four sides of the rectangular positive electrode plate PP, the two opposing sides, i.e., the two opposing sides in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped separators S1 and S2, are not pressurized, and the two opposing sides in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are pressurized. Of the four sides of the rectangular positive electrode plate PP, the two pressed sides are bonded to the separators S1 and S2 at the pressurized parts, and the two unpressurized sides are not bonded to the separators S1 and S2.

[0150] Since the size of the positive electrode plate PP is smaller than the size of the negative electrode plate NP, the pressurized range in Fig. 28 is smaller than the pressurized range in Fig. 26. In this manner, the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 are manufactured while controlling the pressurized range.

[0151] Next, the lamination process in the lamination drum 22 and the lamination stage 24 will be described in more detail.

[0152] 29 shows a perspective view of the configuration of the lamination drum 22. The lamination drum 22 is disposed adjacent to the separator cutting drum 20 and rotates at approximately the same linear speed as the separator cutting drum 20. The lamination drum 22 is composed of a plurality of lamination heads that rotate around the drum rotation center. The number of lamination heads is arbitrary, but for example, The stacking drum 22 The lamination head is made up of 12 lamination heads 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 22g, 22h, 22i, 22j, 22k, and 22m. Each lamination head is made up of an arm (spoke) connected at one end to the drum central axis (hub) and a holding part connected to the other end of the spoke. Each lamination head has a substantially T-shaped longitudinal section due to the arm and the holding part, and a suction hole is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the holding part for suctioning and holding the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 cut and generated by the separator cut drum 20. The holding part is connected to the arm so as to be freely swingable in the circumferential direction.

[0153] Each of the lamination heads 22a to 22m rotates around the central axis of the lamination drum 22, and each lamination head is driven in the circumferential direction of the drum independently of the other lamination heads, and is further driven in the radial direction of the drum. That is, each lamination head rotates and conveys the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 while adsorbing and holding them to a position close to the lamination stage 24. When each lamination head reaches a position close to the lamination stage 24, the relative speed of the drum in the circumferential direction with respect to the lamination stage 24 becomes zero, and the lamination head moves in the radial direction of the drum toward the lamination stage 24. When each lamination head approaches the lamination stage 24, it abuts the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 that it is adsorbing and holding against the lamination stage 24, or, if the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 is already stacked on the lamination stage 24, it abuts on the laminate, turns off the adsorption and holding force, and stacks the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 that it is adsorbing and holding. Thereafter, each lamination head moves in the radial direction of the drum away from the lamination stage 24 .

[0154] 30 to 33 show the basic operation of the lamination heads 22a to 22m. Hereinafter, in the description of the operation of each lamination head, the "radial direction of the drum" and the "radial direction of the lamination drum 22" will be referred to as the "radial direction" as appropriate.

[0155] 30, the lamination heads 22a to 22m rotate at a constant angular velocity around the central axis of rotation of the lamination drum 22, but when they reach a predetermined position, they increase their speed in the circumferential direction independently of the other lamination heads. For example, when focusing on the lamination head 22a, when it reaches a predetermined position in the circumferential direction, the lamination head 22a increases its speed and approaches the adjacent lamination head 22m located upstream in the rotation direction and moves away from the adjacent lamination head 22b located downstream in the rotation direction.

[0156] After the speed is increased, when the lamination head 22a reaches a position close to the lamination stage 24 as shown in FIG. 31, the lamination head 22a stacks the three-layer laminate 30 or four-layer laminate 40 that has been adsorbed and held on its outer circumferential surface on the lamination stage 24. More specifically, when the lamination head 22a approaches a position close to the lamination stage 24, it swings to an angle where the outer circumferential surface of its holding part is approximately parallel to the stage surface of the lamination stage 24, and while maintaining the state where the outer circumferential surface of the holding part is approximately parallel to the stage surface of the lamination stage 24, the arm moves in the radial direction to move toward the lamination stage 24, bringing the outer circumferential surface of the holding part closer to the stage surface of the lamination stage 24, and stacks the three-layer laminate 30 or four-layer laminate 40 that has been adsorbed and held on its outer circumferential surface on the lamination stage 24.

[0157] 32 and 33 show the state after the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 is laminated on the lamination stage 24. The adjacent lamination head 22b on the downstream side of the rotation direction of the lamination head 22a reaches a predetermined position, so the speed increases and approaches the lamination head 22a. After lamination head 22a laminates the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 on the lamination stage 24, it rotates in the circumferential direction and retreats from the position close to the lamination stage 24. More specifically, the lamination head 22a moves in the radial direction so that the outer peripheral surface of the lamination head 22a moves in a direction away from the position close to the stage surface of the lamination stage 24, and the lamination head 22a moves in the rotation direction to retreat so as not to interfere with the lamination head 22b. After retreating from the close position, the outer peripheral surface of the holding part swings in the opposite direction to return.

[0158] 34 shows a specific example of the configuration of the laminated head 22a. The same applies to the other laminated heads 22b to 22m.

[0159] The stacking head 22a includes two arms 22a1 and 22a2 and a holding portion 22a3. The arms 22a1 and 22a2 extend in parallel in the radial direction of the stacking drum 22, and the arms 22a1 and 22a2 are rotated as one unit in the circumferential direction of the drum by a cam mechanism 22a4, and the arms 22a1 and 22a2 are swung in the circumferential direction by a cam mechanism 22a5. An outer peripheral surface 22a3 is provided at the radial end of the arms 22a1 and 22a2 so as to be able to swung. The outer peripheral surface 22a3 rotates with the rotation of the arms 22a1 and 22a2 in the circumferential direction, and swung and moved with the swing and radial movement of the arms 22a1 and 22a2. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface 22a3 swung relative to the arms 22a1 and 22a2 by a cam mechanism 22a6.

[0160] 35 shows the change in the position of the lamination head 22a over time. In the figure, the horizontal axis shows time, and the vertical axis shows the position (angle) in the circumferential direction of the drum.

[0161] The lamination head 22a rotates at a constant angular velocity from a certain reference position until it reaches the position θ1. The outer peripheral surface 22a3 rotates while suction-holding the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40.

[0162] Next, when the lamination head 22a reaches a predetermined position θ1, the speed of the lamination head 22a increases in the circumferential direction, and the speed of the outer circumferential surface 22a3 also increases accordingly. During this time, the adjacent lamination head 22b downstream in the rotation direction continues to rotate at a constant angular velocity, so the separation distance between the lamination heads 22a and 22b increases. This speed increase can be said to generate and ensure a stop time for the lamination head 22a at a position close to the lamination stage 24, that is, a time for laminating the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 onto the lamination stage 24. During this speed increase, the outer circumferential surface 22a3 swings relative to the arms 22a1 and 22a2, and the surface that adsorbs and holds the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 is tilted so as to be approximately parallel to the stage surface of the lamination stage 24.

[0163] Next, when the lamination head 22a reaches a position θ2 close to the lamination stage 24, it stops at that position (it goes without saying that deceleration control is performed before the lamination head 22a stops, but for convenience of explanation, this is omitted), and the arms 22a1 and 22a2 move in the radial direction to bring the outer peripheral surface close to the stage surface of the lamination stage 24, turning off the suction force of the outer peripheral surface, and laminating the three-layer laminate 30 or four-layer laminate 40 on the lamination stage 24. At this time, the lamination head 22a is pulled by a claw provided on the lamination stage 24. head The lamination head 22a presses and holds the corners of the three-layer laminate 30 or four-layer laminate 40 supplied from the lamination head 22a. The movement of the claws of the lamination stage 24 linked to the movement of the lamination head 22a will be described in further detail below.

[0164] After stacking the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40, the lamination head 22a rotates at an increased speed to retreat to a predetermined position θ3. During this retreat, the outer peripheral surface 22a3 swings relative to the arms 22a1 and 22a2, and the surface that adsorbs and holds the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 is tilted and returned to the initial angle.

[0165] After reaching the predetermined position θ3, the lamination head 22a rotates again at a constant angular velocity until it reaches the predetermined position θ1 again. During this period, the lamination head 22a receives a new three-layer laminate 30 or four-layer laminate 40 from the separator cutting drum 20, suctions and holds it on the outer peripheral surface 22a3, and then reaches the predetermined position θ1.

[0166] Next, the operation of the stacking stage 24 will be described in more detail.

[0167] 36 shows a perspective view of the configuration of the lamination stage 24. The lamination stage 24 is disposed directly below the lamination drum 22. The lamination stage 24 includes a stage surface 24g on which the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 are laminated, and claws 24a to 24d that press from above and hold the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 laminated on the stage surface 24g.

[0168] The stage surface 24g has a rectangular outer shape corresponding to the rectangular shape of the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40, and is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane. The three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40, which is adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surface of the lamination heads 22a to 22m of the lamination drum 22, is positioned and arranged on the rectangular stage surface 24g and laminated. Specifically, if two orthogonal axes in the horizontal plane are the X-axis and the Y-axis, and the rotation direction of the X-axis based on a certain direction in the horizontal plane is the θ-direction, the stage surface 24g is driven in the X-axis and Y-axis directions and also driven in the θ-direction, that is, moved and rotated in the horizontal plane, so that it is positioned to match the adsorption and holding posture of the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40, which is adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surface of the lamination heads 22a to 22m of the lamination drum 22. The stacking order is, for example, first the three-layer stack 30 is placed on the stage surface 24g, then the four-layer stack 40 is stacked on the three-layer stack 30, and then a new four-layer stack 40 is stacked on the already stacked four-layer stack 40.

[0169] The claws 24a to 24d are disposed at the four corners of the rectangular stage surface 24g. The claws 24a to 24d each have a substantially L-shaped planar shape, and are supported so as to be swingable about an axis in the θ direction, and are supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as the vertically upward direction or the vertically downward direction). The drive source for the claws 24a to 24d may be mounted on the stacking stage 24, similar to the drive source for driving and positioning the stage surface 24g in the XY and θ directions, but may also be mounted outside the stacking stage 24 in order to reduce the weight of the stacking stage 24. Nail 24a When the drive source for the claws 24a to 24d is mounted outside the stacking stage 24, the external drive source and the claws 24a to 24d are connected by a wire 24e via a cam mechanism, and the drive force from the external drive source is transmitted by the wire 24e to drive the claws 24a to 24d to swing and move up and down. The claws 24a to 24d are pressurized vertically downward by a spring 24f, and this pressure presses and holds the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 on the stage surface 24g.

[0170] FIG. 37 shows the planar arrangement of the stage surface 24g and the claws 24a to 24d of the stacked stage 24. If the stage surface 24g is rectangular, the claws 24a to 24d are arranged at the four corners of the rectangular shape. The claw 24a and the claw 24c are arranged on a diagonal line of the stage surface 24g, and the claw 24b and the claw 24d are arranged on another diagonal line of the stage surface 24g. The claw 24a and the claw 24c are paired and are the first claw pair, and the claw 24b and the claw 24d are paired and are the second claw pair. The claws 24a to 24d are each free to swing (rotate) clockwise and counterclockwise around a rotation axis. Focusing on the claw 24d, it is arranged at the upper left corner of the stage surface 24g, and its axis is located within an area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g. At the initial position, the claw 24d is retracted outside the presence area of ​​the stage surface 24g (retracted position), and by swinging clockwise, a part of it is positioned within the presence area of ​​the stage surface 24g, and the claw 24d presses the laminate (three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40) stacked on the stage surface 24g at the pressing position. In addition, when focusing on the claw 24a, it is disposed at the upper right corner of the stage surface 24g, and its axis is positioned within the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g. At the initial position, the claw 24a is retracted outside the presence area of ​​the stage surface 24g (retracted position), and by swinging counterclockwise, a part of it is positioned within the presence area of ​​the stage surface 24g, and the claw 24b presses and holds the laminate stacked on the stage surface 24g. The claw 24b operates in the same manner as the claw 24d, and the claw 24c operates in the same manner as the claw 24a.

[0171] When pressing and holding the laminate, the claws 24a and 24c, and the claws 24b and 24d, which are located on the diagonal line of the stage surface 24g, each swing as a pair in the horizontal plane and move up and down. That is, the first claw pair of claws 24a and 24c swings to press and hold the laminate, but at this time the second claw pair of claws 24b and 24d does not hold the newly stacked laminate because it is pressing and holding the already stacked laminate. Then, when a new laminate is stacked next, the second claw pair of claws 24b and 24d swings to retreat from the stage surface 24g, moves upward, and swings again to press and hold the newly stacked laminate.

[0172] FIG. 38 shows the operation of the claws 24a to 24d for pressing and holding the laminate.

[0173] 38(a) shows a state in which three-layer laminate 30-1 stacked on stage surface 24g is pressed and held. When the first three-layer laminate 30-1 is stacked on stage surface 24g, claws 24a and 24c swing counterclockwise to be positioned on three-layer laminate 30-1, and the pressure of spring 24f presses three-layer laminate 30-1 vertically downward from above, holding three-layer laminate 30-1.

[0174] Fig. 38(b) shows a state in which a four-layer laminate 40-2 has been newly laminated on the three-layer laminate 30-1 from the state shown in Fig. 38(a). The four-layer laminate 40-2 is laminated on top of the claws 24a and 24c which press and hold the three-layer laminate 30-1, so that the four-layer laminate 40-2 is laminated so as to cover a portion of the claws 24a and 24c.

[0175] 38(c) shows the state in which four-layer laminate 40-2 is pressed and held. With claws 24a and 24c pressing and holding three-layer laminate 30-1, claws 24b and 24d move vertically upward and then swing clockwise to be placed on four-layer laminate 40-2. Claws 24b and 24d press and hold four-layer laminate 40-2 vertically downward from above by the pressure of spring 24f.

[0176] FIG. 38(d) shows a state in which the claws 24a and 24c have been withdrawn from the state of FIG. 38(c). After the four-layer laminate 40-2 has been pressed and held by the claws 24b and 24d, the claws 24a and 24c no longer need to press and hold the three-layer laminate 30-1, and need to be withdrawn from the stage surface 24g so as not to interfere with the next laminate to be stacked. Therefore, the claws 24a and 24c are moved vertically upward and swung clockwise to be withdrawn from the stage surface 24g. At this time, the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2 are pressed and held by the claws 24b and 24d, so that the stacking positions of the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2 are not shifted by the swinging of the claws 24a and 24c.

[0177] Fig. 38(e) shows a state in which the next laminate 40-3 has been laminated on the four-layer laminate 40-2 from the state shown in Fig. 38(d). The four-layer laminate 40-3 is laminated on top of the claws 24b and 24d which are pressing and holding the four-layer laminate 40-2, so that the four-layer laminate 40-3 is laminated so as to cover a portion of the claws 24b and 24d.

[0178] Fig. 38(f) shows the state in which four-layer laminate 40-3 is pressed and held. While claws 24b and 24d press and hold four-layer laminate 40-2, claws 24a and 24c move vertically upward and then swing counterclockwise to be placed on four-layer laminate 40-3. Claws 24a and 24c press and hold four-layer laminate 40-3 vertically downward from above by the pressure of spring 24f. By repeating the above operation, four-layer laminates 40-2, 40-3, ... are sequentially stacked on top of three-layer laminate 30-1.

[0179] In this embodiment, the claws 24a to 24d and their respective shafts are arranged within an area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g as shown in Fig. 37, but this is not necessarily limited thereto, and they may be arranged outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g. The area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g is an area that includes the stage surface 24g. The area outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g is an area that does not include the stage surface 24g.

[0180] FIG. 39 shows a plan view in which each axis of the claws 24a to 24d is located outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g. Focusing on the claw 24d, it is located at the upper left corner of the stage surface 24g, and its axis is located outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g. Please pay attention to the difference between the position of the claw 24d in FIG. 37 and the position of the claw 24d in FIG. 39. The same applies to the other claws 24a to 24c. Note that in FIG. 39, each axis of the claws 24a to 24d is located outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing short sides of the stage surface 24g. The area outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing short sides of the stage surface 24g is an area that does not include the stage surface 24g.

[0181] If the axes of the claws 24a to 24d are positioned outside the area defined by the extensions of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g, when the stacks sucked and held on the outer circumferential surfaces of the stacking heads 22a to 22m of the stacking drum 22 are stacked on the stage surface 24g, the stacks do not approach from directly above the stage surface 24g, but rather approach from diagonally above the stage surface 24g because the outer circumferential surface moves along the circumference. If the radius of the stacking drum 22 is sufficiently large relative to the size of the stage surface 24g, this is approximately equivalent to the stacks approaching from the lateral direction of the stage surface 24g.

[0182] In FIG. 39, the laminate is thus approach2 is a schematic diagram showing how the four-layer laminate 40-2 is stacked on the stage surface 24g, and the four-layer laminate 40-2 is pressed and held by the claws 24a and 24c. When the next four-layer laminate 40-3 is to be stacked, the four-layer laminate 40-3, which is attracted and held on the outer circumferential surface of the stacking drum 22, enters the stage surface 24g from the side (from below in the figure). The axes of the claws 24b and 24d are located outside the area defined by the extension lines of the two opposing long sides of the stage surface 24g. The claws 24b and 24d move and swing vertically upward, and even if they are located on the stage surface 24g, they will not collide with the next four-layer laminate 40-3 entering from the side. The claws 24b and 24d do not become obstacles for the four-layer laminate 40-3. Therefore, when stacking four-layer laminate 40-3, it is not necessary to retract claws 24b and 24d to the outside of the stage surface 24g (retracted position). Claws 24b and 24d are positioned on stage surface 24g (standby position) and kept on standby, and claws 24b and 24d can press and hold four-layer laminate 40-3 by the pressure of spring 24f immediately after four-layer laminate 40-3 is stacked on four-layer laminate 40-2.

[0183] 40 to 44 show in more detail the operation of the claws 24a to 24d of the lamination stage 24 in conjunction with the operation of the lamination heads 22a to 22m. Of the lamination heads 22a to 22m, the figures show the operation of the lamination head 22a as an example, but the operation of the other lamination heads 22b to 22m is similar.

[0184] 40 shows a side view of a case where a three-layer laminate 30-1 and a four-layer laminate 40-2 have already been laminated on stage surface 24g of lamination stage 24, and then a four-layer laminate 40-3 is newly laminated by lamination head 22a. In the figure, claws 24c and 24d are shown, but claw 24a operates in the same manner as claw 24c, and claw 24b operates in the same manner as claw 24d.

[0185] The claw 24c presses and holds the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2 on the stage surface 24g by the pressure of the spring 24f. On the other hand, the claw 24d moves vertically upward and swings around its axis to be in a standby state so that a part of it is located above the stage surface 24g (at a retreated position). The lamination head 22a rotates while adsorbing and holding the four-layer laminate 40-3 on its outer circumferential surface, and when it reaches a specific position, it accelerates and approaches a position close to the stage surface 24g. When the lamination head 22a approaches a position close to the stage surface 24g, the holder 22a3 swings relative to the arms 22a1 and 22a2 to make the outer circumferential surface approximately parallel to the stage surface 24g while avoiding collision with the stage surface 24g.

[0186] FIG. 41 shows a case where the lamination head 22a has reached a position close to the stage surface 24g.

[0187] The arms 22a1 and 22a2 of the lamination head 22a move in the radial direction of the lamination drum 22, and the holding part 22a3 also moves vertically downward, so that the outer peripheral surface of the holding part 22a3 approaches the stage surface 24g further. At this time, the claws 24d are in a standby state above the stage surface 24g (at the retreated position), and the claws 24c maintain a state in which they press and hold the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2. Then, from this state, as shown in FIG. 42, the lamination head 22a laminates the four-layer laminate 40-3 on the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2 on the stage surface 24g, and the suction force of the holding part 22a3 is turned off. Note that the vertical downward movement of the holding unit 22a3 may be temporarily stopped after the start of the vertical downward movement of the holding unit 22a3 until the four-layer stack 40-3 is stacked on the three-layer stack 30-1 and the four-layer stack 40-2 on the stage surface 24g. By temporarily stopping the movement, it is possible to reduce the impact when the four-layer stack 40-3 is stacked on the three-layer stack 30-1 and the four-layer stack 40-2 on the stage surface 24g.

[0188] 43 shows a state in which the four-layer laminate 40-3 is laminated on the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2. Since the claw 24c (and the claw 24a) presses and holds the three-layer laminate 30-1 and the four-layer laminate 40-2, the four-layer laminate 40-3 is laminated on the claw 24c (and the claw 24a). In addition, the claw 24d (and the claw 24b) is in a waiting state above the stage surface 24g. When the four-layer laminate 40-3 is laminated, the claw 24d (and the claw 24b) quickly moves vertically downward to press and hold the newly laminated four-layer laminate 40-3. Once claw 24d (and claw 24b) has pressed and held four-layer laminate 40-3, claw 24c (and claw 24a) no longer needs to press and hold three-layer laminate 30-1 and four-layer laminate 40-2, so it moves vertically upward and then swings around its axis to retreat from stage surface 24g and waits above stage surface 24g (at the retreated position).

[0189] 44 shows the state where the lamination of the four-layer laminate 40-3 has been completed. The three-layer laminate 30-1, the four-layer laminate 40-2, and the four-layer laminate 40-3 are laminated by the claw 24d (and the claw 24b). 40-3 Furthermore, claws 24c (and claws 24a) are positioned above stage surface 24g (at the retreated position) and are in a standby state, preparing for lamination of the next four-layer laminate to be newly laminated, that is, the four-layer laminate that is adsorbed and held on the outer circumferential surface of lamination head 22b.

[0190] Thus, with the arrangement of claws 24a to 24d shown in Figure 39, the two claws other than the claw pressing and holding the stack do not need to be retracted so as not to obstruct the next stack entering, and can wait on stage surface 24g (retracted position), so that the stack can be pressed and held quickly after it is stacked, shortening the total stacking time.

[0191] The outer peripheral surface (holding portion 22a3) of the lamination head 22a may be configured such that the cross section viewed from the circumferential direction of the lamination drum 22 is not flat but curved into a concave or convex shape, and the three-layer laminate or four-layer laminate is adsorbed and held on this concave or convex surface. This is to prevent the part of the three-layer laminate or four-layer laminate protruding from the end of the lamination head 22a from flapping even if the size of the outer peripheral surface of the lamination head 22a is made slightly smaller than the size of the three-layer laminate or four-layer laminate. When the holding portion 22a3 of the lamination head 22a is curved into a convex shape, the position where the lamination head 22a is close to the stage surface 24g means the position where the distance between the most convex part of the holding portion 22a3 and the stage surface 24g is the shortest. When the outer peripheral surface of the lamination head 22a is curved into a concave shape, the lamination head 22a and Ste The position close to the stage surface 24g means the position where the distance between the outermost periphery of the lamination head 22a and the stage surface 24g is the shortest.

[0192] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments and various modifications are possible. Modifications will be described below.

[0193] <Variation 1> In this embodiment, only one set of the stacking drum 22 and the stacking stage 24 is provided, but a plurality of sets of the stacking drum 22 and the stacking stage 24 may be provided.

[0194] FIG. 45 shows a configuration diagram in which a lamination drum 23 and a lamination stage 25 are arranged in addition to the lamination drum 22 and the lamination stage 24. In FIG.

[0195] The three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40 produced by cutting by the separator cut drum 20 are supplied to the stacking drum 22 or stacking drum 23. The three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40 supplied to the stacking drum 22 are stacked in sequence on the stacking stage 24 arranged adjacent to the stacking drum 22. The three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40 supplied to the stacking drum 23 are stacked in sequence on the stacking stage 25 arranged adjacent to the stacking drum 23.

[0196] The stacking drums 22 and 23 each abut against the separator cutting drum 20 and rotate in the same direction as the rotation direction of the separator cutting drum 20. An arrangement in which the multiple stacking drums 22, 23 rotate in the same direction as the conveying direction of the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 conveyed from the separator cutting drum 20 is referred to as a parallel arrangement. In the parallel arrangement, the laminates stacked on the stacking stages 24, 25 have the same structure.

[0197] FIG. 46 shows a state of lamination using a set of a lamination drum 22 and a lamination stage 24, and a set of a lamination drum 23 and a lamination stage 25.

[0198] A control device that controls the entire manufacturing apparatus selectively supplies the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 that are cut and produced by the separator cutting drum 20 to either the lamination drum 22 or the lamination drum 23. For example, when a laminated electrode body is first produced by laminating at the lamination stage 24 and then produced by laminating at the lamination stage 25, the control device first supplies the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 from the separator cutting drum 20 to the lamination drum 22.

[0199] The lamination drum 22 receives the three-layer laminate 30 supplied from the separator cutting drum 20 and stacks it on the lamination stage 24. Then, for example, a total of 37 four-layer laminates 40 are stacked on the three-layer laminate 30 to manufacture one laminated electrode body. When the last, 37th four-layer laminate 40 is supplied to the lamination drum 22, the control device switches the output destination of the separator cutting drum 20 from the lamination drum 22 to the lamination drum 23.

[0200] The lamination drum 23 receives the three-layer laminate 30 supplied from the separator cutting drum 20 and stacks it on the lamination stage 25. Then, for example, a total of 37 four-layer laminates 40 are stacked on the three-layer laminate 30 to manufacture another laminated electrode body. When the last, 37th four-layer laminate 40 is supplied to the lamination drum 23, the control device again switches the output destination of the separator cutting drum 20 from the lamination drum 23 to the lamination drum 22.

[0201] In addition, the separator cut drum 20 is normally 3-layer laminate 30, 4-layer laminate 40, 4-layer laminate 40,..., 3-layer laminate 30, 4-layer laminate 40,... However, there may be cases where an abnormality occurs in at least one of the negative electrode cutting drum 10, the negative electrode heat drum 12, the positive electrode cutting drum 14, the positive electrode heat drum 16, the bonding drum 18, and the separator cutting drum 20, and normal three-layer laminates 30 and four-layer laminates 40 are not produced. In such a case, if an abnormality is detected by the detection sensor provided on each drum, the three-layer laminate 30 or the four-layer laminate 40 is rejected as defective before being supplied to the stacking drums 22 and 23, and the normal flow of laminates in which one three-layer laminate 30 is followed by 37 four-layer laminates 40 is not maintained. For example, when the 37th four-layer laminate 40 is produced, if a bonding failure occurs in the bonding drum 18 and the 37th four-layer laminate 40 is judged to be defective and rejected in the inspection process of the bonding drum 18, the separator cutting drum 20 will supply the next three-layer laminate 30 instead of the 37th four-layer laminate 40. If this three-layer laminate 30 is laminated from the lamination drum 22 onto the lamination stage 24, a normal laminated electrode body will not be manufactured.

[0202] In such a case, the three-layer laminate 30 supplied in place of the 37th four-layer laminate 40 can be supplied to the lamination drum 23 instead of the lamination drum 22, and the lamination drum 23 can stack the three-layer laminate 30 on the lamination stage 25. The four-layer laminate 40 supplied from the separator cut drum 20 after the three-layer laminate is supplied to the lamination drum 22 and stacked on the lamination stage 24, thereby forming a laminate on the lamination stage 24 in which 37 four-layer laminates 40 are stacked on the three-layer laminate 30.

[0203] The laminate, in which a predetermined number of four-layer laminates 40 are laminated on the three-layer laminate 30, is pressurized and / or heated to bond the laminates together, forming a laminated electrode body.

[0204] FIG. 47 shows a schematic diagram of the lamination method in this case.

[0205] The control device monitors the laminates cut by the separator cut drum 20, identifies whether they are three-layer laminates 30 or four-layer laminates 40, and counts the number of laminates. If an abnormality occurs in the 37th four-layer laminate 40 and it is rejected as defective, the 37th laminate will be a three-layer laminate 30 rather than a four-layer laminate 40.

[0206] If the 37th laminate is a four-layer laminate 40, the control device supplies it to the lamination drum 22. However, if the control device detects that the 37th laminate is not a four-layer laminate 40 but a three-layer laminate 30, the control device changes the output destination of the separator cutting drum 20 from the lamination drum 22 to the lamination drum 23, and stacks the three-layer laminate 30 on the lamination stage 25 instead of the lamination stage 24. In the figure, the cross mark on the three-layer laminate 30 indicates that it is not stacked on the lamination stage 24 but on the lamination stage 25. After that, since the four-layer laminates 40 are sequentially supplied, the control device maintains the output destination of the separator cutting drum 20 as the lamination drum 23, and stacks the 37 four-layer laminates 40 on the lamination stage 25 in order. For the lamination stage 24, the missing one four-layer laminate 40 may be stacked at an appropriate timing to complete the laminated electrode body.

[0207] As described above, by arranging multiple sets of stacking drums and stacking stages and allocating the stacks appropriately, it is possible to efficiently manufacture stacked electrode bodies without stopping the manufacturing process even if a defect occurs in the stack.

[0208] Although defects in the laminate can be detected by either drum, in order to detect defects in the negative electrode plate NP and the positive electrode plate PP in particular, a detection sensor such as a camera can be arranged on the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the positive electrode heat drum 16, and defects detected in these drums can be eliminated. In this case, the negative electrode heat drum 12 has a function to heat the negative electrode plate NP, a function to determine whether the plate is normal / defective, and a function to eliminate defects. Similarly, the positive electrode heat drum 16 has a function to heat the positive electrode plate PP, a function to determine whether the plate is normal / defective, and a function to eliminate defects.

[0209] When defects are detected on the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the positive electrode cutting drum 14, a normal / defective determination function and a defect removal function are provided after the negative electrode single plate or the positive electrode single plate is cut. The negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the positive electrode cutting drum 14 can also be provided with a normal / defective determination function, and the negative electrode heating drum 12 and the positive electrode heating drum 16 can also be provided with a defect removal function.

[0210] When defects are detected on the separator cutting drum 20, after the separator is cut and before the cut laminate is supplied to the lamination drum, the separator cutting drum 20 is provided with a function of determining whether the separator is normal or defective and a function of removing the defect. In other words, the separator cutting drum 20 is provided with a function of cutting the separator, a function of determining whether the separator is normal or defective, and a function of removing the defect.

[0211] <Variation 2> In FIG. 45, the stacking drums 22 and 23 are arranged in parallel, but the stacking drums 22 and 23 may be arranged in series with respect to the separator cutting drum 20.

[0212] Fig. 48 shows the configuration in this case. The three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 cut by the separator cutting drum 20 are supplied to the stacking drum 22. The stacking drum 23 is disposed in contact with the stacking drum 22, not the separator cutting drum 20. The three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 are supplied to the stacking drum 23 via the stacking drum 22. The three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 supplied to the stacking drum 22 are stacked in sequence on the stacking stage 24 disposed adjacent to the stacking drum 22. The three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 supplied to the stacking drum 23 are stacked in sequence on the stacking stage 25 disposed adjacent to the stacking drum 23.

[0213] The stacking drum 22 and the stacking drum 23 rotate in different directions. Such an arrangement in which the abutting stacking drums 22 and 23 rotate in different directions is called a serial arrangement. Rotating in different directions means that one drum rotates clockwise while the other drum rotates counterclockwise. In the serial arrangement, the structures of the stacks stacked on the stacking stages 24 and 25 may be different.

[0214] That is, the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 are supplied to the lamination drum 23 through the abutting lamination drum 22, but the rotation direction of the lamination drum 23 is opposite to that of the lamination drum 22. The three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 supplied from the lamination drum 23 to the lamination stage 25 are inverted with respect to the arrangement of the three-layer laminate 30 and the four-layer laminate 40 supplied from the lamination drum 22 to the lamination stage 24. Thus, for example, the three-layer laminate is first laminated on the lamination stage 24, and the four-layer laminate is sequentially laminated on the three-layer laminate, whereas the four-layer laminate is sequentially laminated on the lamination stage 25, and the three-layer laminate is laminated on the four-layer laminate. For this reason, in the serial arrangement, the structures of the laminates laminated on the lamination stages 24 and 25 may differ.

[0215] Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 49, if an intermediate drum 27 is interposed between the stacking drum 22 and the stacking drum 23 is brought into contact with the intermediate drum 27 rather than the stacking drum 22 being brought into contact with the stacking drum 23, the stacking drum 22 and the stacking drum 23 will rotate in the same direction relative to the separator cutting drum 20 and will be arranged in parallel.

[0216] <Modification 3> In this embodiment, the configuration includes a negative electrode cutting drum 10, a negative electrode heat drum 12, a positive electrode cutting drum 14, a positive electrode heat drum 16, an adhesive drum 18, a separator cutting drum 20, and a stacking drum 22, but the negative electrode heat drum 12 may be omitted and the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the adhesive drum 18 may be arranged adjacent to each other, and the positive electrode heat drum 16 may be omitted and the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the adhesive drum 18 may be arranged adjacent to each other.

[0217] Figure 50 shows the configuration in this case. Unlike Figure 1, the negative electrode heat drum 12 and the positive electrode heat drum 16 are not present, the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the bonding drum 18 are adjacent to each other, and the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the bonding drum 18 are adjacent to each other.

[0218] The negative electrode cutting drum 10 cuts the strip-shaped negative electrode single plate N to produce negative electrode plates NP, heats the negative electrode plates NP, and supplies them to the bonding drum 18. It can be said that the negative electrode cutting drum 10 also functions as the negative electrode heating drum 12 in FIG.

[0219] The positive electrode cutting drum 14 cuts the strip-shaped positive electrode single plate P to produce a positive electrode plate PP, heats the positive electrode plate PP, and supplies it to the bonding drum 18. It can be said that the positive electrode cutting drum 14 also functions as the positive electrode heating drum 16 in FIG.

[0220] 50, the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the bonding drum 18 are adjacent to each other, but the negative electrode cutting drum 10 and the bonding drum 18 may be separated, and the heated negative electrode plate NP from the negative electrode cutting drum 10 may be transported to the bonding drum 18 by a transport mechanism such as a belt conveyor. Similarly, the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the bonding drum 18 may be separated, and the heated positive electrode plate PP from the positive electrode cutting drum 14 may be transported to the bonding drum 18 by a transport mechanism such as a belt conveyor.

[0221] <Variation 4> In this embodiment, the separator cutting drum 20 cuts the strip-shaped separators S1, S2. However, the separator cutting drum 20 may be omitted and the strip-shaped separators S1, S2 may be cut on the bonding drum 18.

[0222] Figure 51 shows the configuration in this case. Unlike Figure 1, there is no separator cutting drum 20, and the three-layer laminate 30 and four-layer laminate 40 cut by the bonding drum 18 are supplied to the stacking drum 22 via a conveying mechanism.

[0223] The bonding drum 18 includes a bonding head having a circular blade, and cuts the strip-shaped separators S1, S2 at a predetermined cutting position 28. The bonding head may include, for example, a circular blade and a cutting function.

[0224] <Variation 5> In this embodiment, a three-layer laminate and a four-layer laminate are produced, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a two-layer laminate or a laminate with four or more layers may be produced. For example, in FIG. 1, the positive electrode cutting drum 14 and the positive electrode heating drum 16 may be removed or stopped, and a negative electrode plate NP may be supplied onto the separator S1, bonded by the bonding drum 18, and supplied to the separator cutting drum 20 as a two-layer laminate. A separator S2 may be supplied onto the negative electrode plate NP, bonded by the bonding drum 18, and supplied to the separator cutting drum 20 as a two-layer laminate. A separator S2 may be supplied onto the negative electrode plate NP, bonded by the bonding drum 18, and a positive electrode plate PP may be supplied onto the separator S2, bonded by the bonding drum 18, and supplied to the separator cutting drum 20 as a three-layer laminate. Alternatively, bonding on the bonding drum 18 may be repeatedly performed to produce a laminate with four or more layers, which is then supplied to the separator cutting drum 20.

[0225] <Variation 6> The separator cutting drum 20 and the lamination drum 22 do not need to be disposed in close proximity to the bonding drum 18. A laminate may be prepared by laminating a strip-shaped separator with a positive electrode and a negative electrode using a method and device other than the bonding drum 18, and the strip-shaped separator may be cut and laminated using the lamination drum 22. On the other hand, a laminate in which a strip-shaped separator and a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated may be prepared using the bonding drum 18, and a laminated electrode body may be prepared using a method and device other than the separator cutting drum 20 and the lamination drum 22. [Explanation of symbols]

[0226] 10 Negative electrode cutting drum 12 Negative electrode heat drum 14 Positive cut drum 16 Positive electrode heat drum 18 Adhesive drum 20 Separator cutting drum 22 Stacking drum 24 Stacking Stage N negative electrode single plate P Positive electrode single plate NP negative plate PP positive electrode plate

Claims

1. a first stacking drum for stacking a laminate formed by stacking a separator veneer and an electrode, the separator veneer being cut to a predetermined width, on a first stacking stage; A second stacking drum different from the first stacking drum for stacking the cut laminate on a second stacking stage different from the first stacking stage; Equipped with one production line includes the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum, The first stacking drum and the second stacking drum are arranged to rotate in different directions from each other. Manufacturing equipment for laminated electrode bodies.

2. The first stacking drum and the second stacking drum are arranged in series or in parallel with respect to the conveying direction of the cut laminate. An apparatus for manufacturing the laminated electrode assembly according to claim 1 .

3. a first stacking drum for stacking a laminate formed by stacking a separator veneer and an electrode, the separator veneer being cut to a predetermined width, on a first stacking stage; A second stacking drum different from the first stacking drum for stacking the cut laminate on a second stacking stage different from the first stacking stage; Equipped with The cut stack is transported to the second stacking drum via the first stacking drum.

4. The separator laminate further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator laminate into a predetermined width. the laminate is a four-layer laminate including a first separator veneer, a first electrode plate disposed thereon, a second separator veneer, and a second electrode plate disposed thereon; The cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the four-layer laminate to a predetermined width.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode assembly according to claim 1.

5. The separator laminate further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator laminate into a predetermined width. the laminate is a three-layer laminate having a first separator veneer, a first electrode plate disposed thereon, and a second separator veneer disposed thereon; The cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the three-layer laminate to a predetermined width.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode assembly according to claim 1.

6. The separator laminate further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator laminate into a predetermined width. the laminate is a four-layer laminate having a first electrode plate disposed on a first separator veneer plate, a second separator veneer plate disposed thereon, and a second electrode plate disposed thereon, and a three-layer laminate having the first electrode plate disposed on the first separator veneer plate, and the second separator veneer plate disposed thereon, The cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate to a predetermined width.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode assembly according to claim 1.

7. The first stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates on the first stacking stage, and stacks a predetermined number of the four-layer laminates on the first stacking stage; The second stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer stacks on the second stacking stage, and stacks the predetermined number of the four-layer stacks on the second stacking stage. An apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode assembly according to claim 6.

8. a first stacking drum for stacking a laminate formed by stacking a separator veneer and an electrode, the separator veneer being cut to a predetermined width, on a first stacking stage; A second stacking drum different from the first stacking drum for stacking the cut laminate on a second stacking stage different from the first stacking stage; Equipped with The separator laminate further includes a cutting means for cutting the separator laminate into a predetermined width. the laminate is a four-layer laminate having a first electrode plate disposed on a first separator veneer plate, a second separator veneer plate disposed thereon, and a second electrode plate disposed thereon, and a three-layer laminate having the first electrode plate disposed on the first separator veneer plate, and the second separator veneer plate disposed thereon, the cutting means cuts the first separator veneer and the second separator veneer of the four-layer laminate and the three-layer laminate to a predetermined width; The first stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates on the first stacking stage, and stacks a predetermined number of the four-layer laminates on the first stacking stage; The second stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates on the second stacking stage, and stacks the predetermined number of the four-layer laminates on the second stacking stage, the first stacking drum stacks one of the three-layer laminates on the first stacking stage, and when the three-layer laminate is supplied from the cutting means before the predetermined number of the four-layer laminates are stacked on the first stacking stage, the supplied three-layer laminate is not stacked on the first stacking stage, and the second stacking drum stacks the supplied three-layer laminate on the second stacking stage. Manufacturing equipment for laminated electrode bodies.

9. The first stacking drum includes a plurality of first stacking heads that hold the laminate on an outer peripheral surface, and the plurality of first stacking heads rotate in a drum circumferential direction to stack the laminate on the first stacking stage, and the second stacking drum includes a plurality of second stacking heads that hold the laminate on an outer peripheral surface, and the plurality of second stacking heads rotate in a drum circumferential direction to stack the laminate on the second stacking stage.

3. An apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode assembly according to claim 1.

10. a step of conveying a laminate obtained by cutting the separator veneer plate of a laminate formed by stacking the separator veneer plate and the electrode plate to a predetermined width to a first stacking drum or a second stacking drum; stacking the cut laminate on the first stacking stage by the first stacking drum; stacking the cut laminate on a second stacking stage different from the first stacking stage by a second stacking drum different from the first stacking drum; Equipped with one production line includes the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum, The first stacking drum and the second stacking drum rotate in different directions to stack the cut stack. A method for manufacturing a laminated electrode body.

11. The cut laminate is transported to the first stacking drum and the second stacking drum which are arranged in series or in parallel with respect to a transport direction. The method for producing a laminated electrode assembly according to claim 10.

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