Welding device and method for manufacturing resin welded workpiece

Abstract

To improve operating efficiency of a welding device.SOLUTION: A welding device 40 welds resin units 20 and 30 to an electrode plate 11 serving as a workpiece. The welding device 40 is provided with: a heating unit 54 that heats and melts the resin units 20 and 30 by performing heating of the resin units 20 and 30; a pressing unit 51 that presses melted resin units 20 and 30 in a pressing direction Z toward an electrode pate 11 via a sheet material 60 to weld the melted resin units 20 and 30 to the electrode plate 11, the pressing unit 51 having a pressing surface 51b that presses the sheet material 60; a pair of support units 73a and 73b arranged to be separated in a movement direction T crossing the pressing direction Z, the pair of support units 73a and 73b supporting the sheet material 60 so that the sheet material 60 covers the pressing surface 51b in the pressing direction Z; and a movement mechanism 70 that slides the sheet material 60 supported by the support units 73a and 73b in the movement direction T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a welding device and a method for manufacturing a resin welded workpiece. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a welding device that heats and pressurizes a resin part with a heat seal bar to weld it. In the welding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a fluororesin tape is attached to the surface of the heat seal bar. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-126826 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, when a pressing part such as a heat seal bar presses a resin part through a sheet material such as a fluororesin tape, for example, a workpiece to be welded or a resin part comes into contact with the sheet material. At this time, the sheet material may be worn out and deteriorated. In order to suppress a decrease in yield, it is necessary to replace the deteriorated sheet material. However, if the replacement of the sheet material is complicated, it is necessary to stop the operation of the welding device for a long time, and there is a concern that the operating efficiency of the welding device may decrease. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A welding device that solves the above-mentioned problems is a welding device that welds a resin part to a workpiece, and includes a heating unit that melts the resin part by heating the resin part, a pressing unit that presses the molten resin part toward the workpiece in a pressing direction via a sheet material, thereby welding the molten resin part to the workpiece, the pressing unit having a pressing surface that presses the sheet material, a pair of support units that are arranged apart in a moving direction that intersects with the pressing direction, the pair of support units supporting the sheet material so that the sheet material covers the pressing surface from the pressing direction, and a moving mechanism that slides the sheet material in the moving direction while supported by the support units.

[0006] According to this, the pressing portion presses the molten resin portion toward the workpiece via the sheet material. As a result, the resin portion is welded to the workpiece. At this time, the sheet material comes into contact with the resin portion instead of the pressing surface of the pressing portion, thereby suppressing the welding of the resin portion to the pressing surface.

[0007] In this configuration, when deterioration of the sheet material progresses, the moving mechanism slides the sheet material in the moving direction while the sheet material is supported by the support portion. By sliding the sheet material, a region of the sheet material different from the region that contacted the resin portion by the previous pressing by the pressing portion can be arranged between the pressing surface and the resin portion. In other words, the deteriorated region of the sheet material can be replaced. This can save the effort of releasing the fixation between the sheet material and the pressing portion in order to replace the deteriorated region of the sheet material, for example, when the sheet material is fixed to the pressing portion. As a result, the sheet material arranged between the pressing portion and the resin portion can be replaced in a shorter time. Therefore, the operation efficiency of the welding device can be improved.

[0008] In the above welding device, the pressing surface may be rectangular, and the movement direction may intersect with the long side direction, where the direction in which a long side of the pressing surface extends is defined as the long side direction. According to this, since the moving direction intersects with the long side direction, the moving distance of the sheet material when sliding the sheet material covering the pressing surface is shorter than when the moving direction is parallel to the long side direction. As a result, the time required for replacing the sheet material can be shortened compared to when the moving direction is parallel to the long side direction. Therefore, the operating efficiency of the welding device can be further improved.

[0009] A manufacturing method for a resin welded workpiece that solves the above-mentioned problems is a manufacturing method for a resin welded workpiece in which a resin part is welded to a workpiece, and includes a welding process in which the resin part placed on the workpiece is melted and the molten resin part is pressed against the workpiece by a pressing part through a sheet material to weld the resin part to the workpiece, thereby manufacturing the resin welded workpiece, and a moving process in which, if the direction in which the resin part is pressed against the workpiece in the welding process is defined as a pressing direction, the sheet material is slid in a moving direction intersecting the pressing direction when the welding process has been performed one or more times, and, if an area of ​​the sheet material pressed by the pressing part in the welding process is defined as a sheet pressing area, in the moving process, an area of ​​the sheet material that is different in the moving direction from the sheet pressing area in the welding process before the moving process is slid to a position where it can be pressed in the welding process after the moving process.

[0010] According to this, the molten resin part is pressed against the workpiece through the sheet material, so that the resin part is welded to the workpiece. At this time, for example, the sheet material comes into contact with the resin part instead of a pressing part that presses the resin part through the sheet material. Therefore, the sheet material suppresses the welding of the resin part to the pressing part.

[0011] In this configuration, when the sheet material deteriorates due to the welding process, the sheet material slides in the movement direction in the movement process. As the sheet material slides, an area of ​​the sheet material different from the sheet pressing area in the welding process before the movement process comes into contact with the resin part in the welding process after the movement process. Therefore, for example, when the sheet material is fixed to a pressing part that presses a workpiece, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of releasing the fixing between the sheet material and the pressing part, which is necessary to replace the deteriorated area of ​​the sheet material. As a result, the sheet material can be replaced in a shorter time. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency of the resin welded workpiece can be improved. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the operating efficiency of the welding device can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electrode unit. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is an overall perspective view of a welding device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the welding device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a manufacturing method of an electrode unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view of a welding device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 10-10 cross-sectional view of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a welding device as a modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] <Configuration of the First Embodiment> Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a welding apparatus and a method for manufacturing an electrode unit using the welding apparatus will be described.

[0015] <Electrode unit 10> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrode unit 10 includes an electrode plate 11, a first resin portion 20, and a second resin portion 30. The electrode plate 11 includes an electrode plate 11, a first resin portion 20, and a second resin portion 30.

[0016] <Electrode plate 11> The electrode plate 11 serving as a workpiece is a bipolar electrode. The electrode plate 11 includes a current collector 12, a first active material layer 16, and a second active material layer 17.

[0017] <Current collector 12> The current collector 12 is made of a metal foil. The current collector 12 is, for example, a copper foil, an aluminum foil, a titanium foil, or a nickel foil. From the viewpoint of ensuring mechanical strength, the current collector 12 may be a stainless steel foil. The stainless steel foil is, for example, SUS304, SUS316, SUS301, etc., as specified in JIS G 4305:2015. The current collector 12 may be an alloy foil of the above metals, or a plurality of the above metal foils integrated together. The surface of the current collector 12 may be subjected to a known plating process or surface treatment. The thickness of the current collector 12 is, for example, 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less, specifically, 5 μm or more and 70 μm or less. The shape of the current collector 12 is a rectangular sheet. The current collector 12 has four side parts 12a that form its periphery. These four side parts 12a also form the periphery of the electrode plate 11. That is, the shape of the electrode plate 11 is also a rectangular sheet. It can also be said that electrode plate 11 has four side portions 12a that form the periphery thereof. Note that electrode plate 11 is not limited to the above-mentioned form, and may simply be two sheets of metal foil stacked together.

[0018] <Main surface 13> The current collector 12 has a main surface 13. The main surface 13 is a surface perpendicular to the thickness direction of the current collector 12. The main surface 13 includes a first main surface 14 and a second main surface 15. The second main surface 15 is located opposite to the first main surface 14 in the thickness direction of the current collector 12.

[0019] <First active material layer 16> The first active material layer 16 as an active material layer contains a positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material can absorb and release charge carriers such as lithium ions. Examples of the positive electrode active material include, for example, composite oxides, metallic lithium, and sulfur. The first active material layer 16 may contain a conductive assistant, a binder, and other components as necessary. The first active material layer 16 is bonded integrally to the first main surface 14. The first active material layer 16 has a thickness of, for example, 2 to 150 μm. Examples of a method for bonding the first active material layer 16 to the first main surface 14 include known methods such as roll coating.

[0020] The first main surface 14 includes a first uncoated surface 14a. The first uncoated surface 14a is a region of the first main surface 14 to which the first active material layer 16 is not bonded. The first uncoated surface 14a includes a first peripheral edge 14b that is the peripheral edge of the first main surface 14.

[0021] <Second active material layer 17> The second active material layer 17 as an active material layer includes a negative electrode active material. The negative electrode active material can absorb and release charge carriers such as lithium ions. Examples of the negative electrode active material include graphite, carbon, metal compounds, elements or compounds thereof that can be alloyed with lithium, and boron-added carbon. The second active material layer 17 may contain a conductive assistant, a binder, and other components as necessary. The second active material layer 17 has a thickness of, for example, 2 to 150 μm. The second active material layer 17 is integrally bonded to the second main surface 15. The second active material layer 17 has a thickness of, for example, 2 to 150 μm. The method for bonding the second active material layer 17 to the second main surface 15 includes a known method such as a roll coating method.

[0022] The second main surface 15 includes a second uncoated surface 15a. The second uncoated surface 15a is a region of the second main surface 15 to which the second active material layer 17 is not bonded. The second uncoated surface 15a includes a second peripheral edge 15b that is the peripheral edge of the second main surface 15.

[0023] <First resin portion 20> The first resin part 20 serving as a resin part is formed in a frame shape. The first resin part 20 is a rectangular frame body. The first resin part 20 includes four first resin side parts 21. The first resin side parts 21 are formed in a quadrangular prism shape. Ends of the first resin side parts 21 are connected to each other. Each first resin side part 21 faces one of the other first resin side parts 21.

[0024] The first resin portion 20 is welded to the first main surface 14. In detail, the first resin portion 20 is welded to the first uncoated surface 14a. The first resin portion 20 is welded along the first peripheral edge 14b. Therefore, the first resin side portion 21 is welded along the side portion 12a of the electrode plate 11. It can also be said that the first resin portion 20 is welded to the first main surface 14 so as to surround the first active material layer 16. A part of the first resin portion 20 protrudes from the first peripheral edge 14b around the entire periphery of the first peripheral edge 14b in a direction away from the region where the first active material layer 16 is adhered.

[0025] The portion of the first resin portion 20 that protrudes from the first peripheral edge 14b and the portion of the second resin portion 30 that protrudes from the second peripheral edge 15b may be welded to each other. <Second resin portion 30> The second resin part 30 as a resin part is formed in a frame shape. The second resin part 30 is a rectangular frame body. The second resin part 30 includes four second resin side parts 31. The second resin side parts 31 are formed in a quadrangular prism shape. Ends of the second resin side parts 31 are connected to each other. Each second resin side part 31 faces one of the other second resin side parts 31.

[0026] The second resin portion 30 is welded to the second main surface 15. In detail, the second resin portion 30 is welded to the second uncoated surface 15a. The second resin portion 30 is welded along the second periphery 15b. Therefore, the second resin side portion 31 is welded along the side portion 12a of the electrode plate 11. It can also be said that the second resin portion 30 is welded to the second main surface 15 so as to surround the second active material layer 17. A part of the second resin portion 30 protrudes from the second periphery 15b around the entire periphery of the second periphery 15b in a direction away from the region where the second active material layer 17 is adhered.

[0027] The first resin part 20 and the second resin part 30 are made of insulating resin. As the material of the first resin part 20 and the second resin part 30, various resin materials such as polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), ABS resin, and AS resin, or modified ones of these resin materials can be used.

[0028] <Energy storage module B> The electrode units 10 thus configured are stacked via the resin parts 20, 30 to form a storage module B. The first resin part 20 of one electrode unit 10 and the second resin part 30 of the other electrode unit 10 adjacent to each other among the stacked electrode units 10, the parts protruding from the peripheries 14b, 15b are integrated with each other. The parts protruding from the peripheries 14b, 15b can be integrated with each other by welding the protruding parts to each other or by bonding with an adhesive member. For example, the resin material exemplified for the resin parts 20, 30 is used as the adhesive member. The storage module B of this embodiment is a bipolar type lithium ion storage battery. The storage module B is used in batteries for various vehicles such as forklifts, hybrid cars, and electric cars.

[0029] <Welding device 40> Next, an example of the welding device 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6. The welding device 40 manufactures the electrode unit 10 by pressing and welding the resin parts 20, 30 onto the electrode plate 11 as a workpiece. In other words, the welding device 40 is an electrode unit manufacturing device. For ease of explanation, the direction in which the welding device 40 presses the workpiece will be referred to as the pressing direction Z below. In the manufacturing method of the electrode unit 10 of this embodiment, two welding devices 40 are used. Here, the configuration of one of the welding devices 40 will be described.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the welding device 40 includes a plate-shaped lower base 41, two legs 42, a plate-shaped upper base 43, two supports 44, and a cylinder unit 45. Each leg 42 supports the lower base 41 against the ground.

[0031] The upper pedestal 43 is separated from the lower pedestal 41 in the thickness direction of the lower pedestal 41. The thickness direction of the upper pedestal 43 is parallel to the thickness direction of the lower pedestal 41. The thickness direction of the lower pedestal 41 is parallel to the vertical direction. The vertical direction is the direction in which gravity acts on an object. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the vertical direction may be referred to as the up-down direction. In this embodiment, both the up-down direction and the vertical direction are parallel to the pressing direction Z.

[0032] Each support pillar 44 supports the upper pedestal 43 relative to the lower pedestal 41. Each support pillar 44 extends in the pressing direction Z. <Cylinder unit 45> The cylinder unit 45 includes a cylinder body 46 and a cylinder rod 47 .

[0033] The cylinder body 46 is fixed to the upper pedestal 43. A servo motor (not shown) is housed inside the cylinder body 46. The cylinder rod 47 penetrates the upper pedestal 43 in the pressing direction Z. The cylinder rod 47 is configured to be able to protrude and retract in the pressing direction Z relative to the cylinder body 46. The cylinder rod 47 protrudes and retracts relative to the cylinder body 46 by being driven by a servo motor, for example.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the welding apparatus 40 includes a first pressing assembly 50a, a second pressing assembly 50b, and a control circuit 90. The first pressing assembly 50a is a first pressing assembly, and the second pressing assembly 50b is a second pressing assembly. <Pressing assemblies 50a, 50b> The two pressing assemblies 50a, 50b are each disposed between the lower pedestal 41 and the upper pedestal 43. The first pressing assembly 50a is supported on the upper pedestal 43 by a cylinder unit 45. The first pressing assembly 50a is connected to a cylinder rod 47. The first pressing assembly 50a is configured to be movable in the pressing direction Z by operating the cylinder unit 45, for example, by extending and retracting the cylinder rod 47.

[0035] The second pressing assembly 50b is supported by the lower pedestal 41. In this embodiment, the second pressing assembly 50b is fixed to the lower pedestal 41. The first pressing assembly 50a and the second pressing assembly 50b face each other in a pressing direction Z. The pressing direction Z can also be said to be the direction in which the two pressing assemblies 50a, 50b face each other. The welding device 40 of this embodiment is a so-called servo press in which the first pressing assembly 50a is moved by driving a servo motor. Note that the welding device 40 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a so-called hydraulic press using a hydraulic pump.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, each of the pressing assemblies 50a, 50b includes a pressing section 51, an insulating section 52, a buffer section 53, a heating section 54, and a welding prevention mechanism TF. The components of the pressing assemblies 50a and 50b are described in detail below. The components of the pressing assemblies 50a and 50b used below are treated as the components of the first pressing assembly 50a unless otherwise specified. The components of the second pressing assembly 50b are the same as those of the first pressing assembly 50a. Therefore, the components of the second pressing assembly 50b are given the same component numbers as those of the first pressing assembly 50a, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0037] <Pressing portion 51> The pressing portion 51 is a seal bar that presses the resin portions 20, 30 in a pressing direction Z. The pressing portion 51 in this embodiment is in the shape of a quadrangular prism. A long side direction X of the pressing portion 51 is perpendicular to the pressing direction Z. A short side direction Y of the pressing portion 51 is perpendicular to both the pressing direction Z and the long side direction X. The pressing portion 51 includes a connection surface 51a, a pressing surface 51b, two end surfaces 51c, and two guide portions 51d.

[0038] <Connection surface 51a> The connection surface 51a is one of two planes perpendicular to the pressing direction Z to which the tip of the cylinder rod 47 is connected. In this embodiment, the connection surface 51a is a rectangle perpendicular to the pressing direction Z. The long sides of the connection surface 51a extend in the long side direction X. The short sides of the connection surface 51a extend in the short side direction Y.

[0039] <Pressing surface 51b> The pressing surface 51b is a surface that is located opposite the connecting surface 51a in the pressing direction Z among planes perpendicular to the pressing direction Z. The pressing surface 51b in this embodiment is rectangular. The long sides of the pressing surface 51b extend in the long side direction X. The short sides of the pressing surface 51b extend in the short side direction Y. The long side direction X can also be said to be the direction in which the long sides of the pressing surface 51b extend. Furthermore, the short side direction Y can also be said to be the direction in which the short sides of the pressing surface 51b extend.

[0040] <End face 51c> The two end faces 51c are located at the ends of the long side direction X of the pressing portion 51. The two end faces 51c extend in the pressing direction Z from the two short sides of the pressing surface 51b, respectively.

[0041] <Guide part 51d> The guide portion 51d is a columnar member extending in the pressing direction Z. In this embodiment, the guide portion 51d is cylindrical. The guide portion 51d is connected to the connection surface 51a of the pressing portion 51.

[0042] The guide portion 51d is inserted into the upper pedestal 43. When the cylinder rod 47 appears and disappears from the cylinder body 46, the pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a moves in the pressing direction Z with the guide portion 51d inserted into the upper pedestal 43. At this time, if the pressing portion 51 tries to move in a direction different from the pressing direction Z, interference occurs between the guide portion 51d and the upper pedestal 43. This interference restricts the pressing portion 51 from moving in a direction different from the pressing direction Z. This prevents the direction in which the first pressing assembly 50a moves from deviating from the pressing direction Z. Note that the second pressing assembly 50b is fixed to the lower pedestal 41, so it does not need to include the guide portion 51d. The second pressing assembly 50b of this embodiment does not include the guide portion 51d.

[0043] <Insulating part 52> The insulating portion 52 is an insulating layer that maintains the insulation of the pressing surface 51b. The insulating portion 52 covers the pressing surface 51b. The insulating portion 52 in this embodiment is in a sheet shape. The material of the insulating portion 52 is arbitrary, for example, glass fiber, ceramics, etc. Note that the insulating portion 52 may further cover the end surface 51c in order to increase the insulation of the pressing portion 51.

[0044] <Buffer section 53> The buffer portion 53 is an elastic body that is more easily elastically deformed than the pressing portion 51. The buffer portion 53 covers the pressing surface 51b. In detail, the buffer portion 53 covers the pressing surface 51b via the insulating portion 52. When the pressing portion 51 presses the resin portions 20 and 30, the buffer portion 53 elastically deforms, thereby suppressing the variation in the pressure that the pressing portion 51 applies to the resin portions 20 and 30. The material of the buffer portion 53 is any material, such as natural rubber, fluororubber, or urethane rubber. In particular, when silicone rubber is used as the material of the buffer portion 53, the insulation property of the pressing portion 51 is improved. Furthermore, when silicone rubber is used as the material of the buffer portion 53, the buffer portion 53 also functions as a slip prevention for adjacent members such as the insulating portion 52.

[0045] <Heating section 54> The heating section 54 heats the resin sections 20 and 30. The heating section 54 in this embodiment is provided integrally with the pressing section 51. The heating section 54 includes an electric heating sheet 55 and two heating electrodes 56.

[0046] <Electric heating sheet 55> The electric heating sheet 55 is a sheet-like resistor. The electric heating sheet 55 is formed in a U-shape. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the electric heating sheet 55 is higher than that of the buffer section 53. The electric heating sheet 55 covers the pressing surface 51b via the insulating section 52 and the buffer section 53. The electric heating sheet 55 covers the two end faces 51c. Note that the end faces 51c and the electric heating sheet 55 are insulated from each other by an insulating member (not shown) or the like.

[0047] <Heating electrode 56> The heating electrodes 56 are electrodes for passing a current through the electric heating sheet 55. The two heating electrodes 56 are disposed on each of the two end faces 51c via the electric heating sheet 55. The heating electrodes 56 are connected to a power supply device (not shown). Electric power from the power supply device flows into the electric heating sheet 55 via the heating electrodes 56. This causes the electric heating sheet 55 to generate heat by resistance. The heating unit 54 uses the resistance heat of the electric heating sheet 55 to heat the resin parts 20, 30.

[0048] The heating unit 54 in this embodiment heats the resin parts 20, 30, which are the objects to be welded, while pressing the resin parts 20, 30 toward the electrode plate 11 with the pressing unit 51. The heating unit 54 in this embodiment is a so-called impulse heater. When heating is being performed by the heating unit 54, the buffer part 53 suppresses the thermal expansion and thermal contraction of the electric heating sheet 55. From the viewpoint of suppressing the thermal expansion and thermal contraction of the electric heating sheet 55, silicone rubber is preferable as the material for the buffer part 53.

[0049] <Welding suppression mechanism TF> The adhesion prevention mechanism TF is a mechanism for preventing the resin parts 20, 30 from welding to the pressing part 51 and the members arranged on the pressing surface 51b. The members arranged on the pressing part 51 and the pressing surface 51b are, for example, the insulating part 52, the buffer part 53, and the heating part 54. The adhesion prevention mechanism TF includes a sheet material 60 and a moving mechanism 70.

[0050] <Sheet material 60> The sheet material 60 is more easily peeled off from the resin parts 20, 30 than the electrode plate 11. The peel strength of the sheet material 60 against the resin parts 20, 30 is smaller than the peel strength of the electrode plate 11 against the resin parts 20, 30. For example, the peel strength of the sheet material 60 against the resin parts 20, 30 is 0.5 times or less, preferably 0.1 times or less, more preferably 0.01 times or less than the peel strength of the electrode plate 11 against the resin parts 20, 30. The sheet material 60 may contain a fluorine-based compound such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The sheet material 60 of this embodiment is a glass cloth impregnated with a fluorine-based compound. The glass cloth is made of glass fibers having a higher thermal conductivity than the fluorine-based compound. Therefore, by making the sheet material 60 a glass cloth, the heat can be suitably transferred from the heating unit 54 to the resin parts 20, 30. The sheet material 60 is not limited to a glass cloth, and may be, for example, a resin sheet formed from the above-mentioned fluorine-based compound into a sheet shape.

[0051] The sheet material 60 in this embodiment is formed in a band shape extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet material 60. The width W1 of the sheet material 60 is equal to or greater than the length Wy of the short side of the pressing surface 51b. In this embodiment, the width W1 of the sheet material 60 is equal to the length Wy of the short side of the pressing surface 51b.

[0052] <Moving mechanism 70> The movement mechanism 70 includes an unwinding section 71, an unwinding adjustment section 72, a pair of support sections 73a and 73b, a winding adjustment section 74, and a winding section 75. The movement mechanism 70 supports the sheet material 60 to form a sheet movement path L1 along which the sheet material 60 moves. The sheet movement path L1 is a path followed by the sheet material 60 supplied from the unwinding section 71. The sheet material 60 supplied from the unwinding section 71 follows the sheet movement path L1 in the order of the unwinding adjustment section 72 → the support sections 73a and 73b → the winding adjustment section 74 → the winding section 75.

[0053] <Section 71> The unwinding unit 71 is a reel that can rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the short side direction Y. The sheet material 60 is wound around the unwinding unit 71. As a result, the unwinding unit 71 supports one of the longitudinal ends of the sheet material 60. The unwinding unit 71 is a supply source of the sheet material 60 to the sheet movement path L1. The unwinding unit 71 is located at the most upstream position in the sheet movement path L1.

[0054] The unwinding portion 71 is disposed away from the pressing portion 51 in the pressing direction Z. The unwinding portion 71 is disposed parallel to the pressing direction Z and away from the pressing surface 51b toward the connecting surface 51a. In particular, the upper seat 43 is interposed between the unwinding portion 71 and the pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a. The lower seat 41 is interposed between the unwinding portion 71 and the pressing portion 51 of the second pressing assembly 50b.

[0055] <Unwinding adjustment section 72> The unwinding adjustment unit 72 adjusts the conveyance amount of the sheet material 60 supplied from the unwinding unit 71. The conveyance amount of the sheet material 60 can be expressed, for example, by the longitudinal length, volume, movement distance, etc. of the sheet material 60. For convenience of explanation, the longitudinal length of the sheet material 60 is simply referred to as the length of the sheet material 60. The unwinding adjustment unit 72 includes a first unwinding guide roller 72a, a second unwinding guide roller 72b, and an unwinding dancer roller 72c. The first unwinding guide roller 72a, the second unwinding guide roller 72b, and the unwinding dancer roller 72c are each rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the short side direction Y.

[0056] <Unwinding guide rollers 72a, 72b> The first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b are both disposed away from the unwinding section 71 in the long side direction X. The first unwinding guide roller 72a is located between the second unwinding guide roller 72b and the unwinding section 71.

[0057] <Roller Dancer Roller 72c> The unwinding dancer roller 72c is disposed away from the midpoint between the first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b in the long side direction X in the pressing direction Z. The unwinding dancer roller 72c is closer to the pressing section 51 in the pressing direction Z than the first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b. The unwinding dancer roller 72c is configured to be movable at least in the pressing direction Z. In this embodiment, the unwinding dancer roller 72c is configured to be movable in the pressing direction Z. This allows the unwinding dancer roller 72c to adjust the distance in the pressing direction Z from the first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b. The unwinding dancer roller 72c can adjust the tension of the sheet material 60 in a state supported by the support sections 73a and 73b described later.

[0058] The sheet material 60 supplied from the unwinding section 71 is transported in the order of the first unwinding guide roller 72a, the unwinding dancer roller 72c, and the second unwinding guide roller 72b in the unwinding adjustment section 72. By the unwinding dancer roller 72c moving in the pressing direction Z, the length of the sheet material 60 interposed between the unwinding dancer roller 72c and each of the unwinding guide rollers 72a, 72b and the transport amount of the sheet material 60 transported from the unwinding adjustment section 72 are adjusted.

[0059] <Support parts 73a, 73b> The support parts 73a and 73b are arranged apart from each other in the long side direction X. The support parts 73a and 73b bridge the sheet material 60 in the long side direction X. As a result, the sheet material 60 is supported by the support parts 73a and 73b so as to be positioned between the pressing part 51 and the resin parts 20 and 30. In other words, the support parts 73a and 73b support the sheet material 60 so that the sheet material 60 is positioned between the pressing part 51 and the resin parts 20 and 30. In this embodiment, the support parts 73a and 73b support the sheet material 60 so that the sheet material 60 is in contact with the pressing surface 51b. Note that the state in which the sheet material 60 is in contact with the pressing surface 51b is not limited to the state in which the sheet material 60 is in direct contact with the pressing surface 51b, but includes a state in which the sheet material 60 is in indirect contact with the pressing surface 51b via members such as the insulating part 52, the buffer part 53, and the heating part 54. Even when the sheet material 60 and the pressing surface 51b are in contact with each other, the sheet material 60 is not fixed to the pressing surface 51b. In other words, the sheet material 60 is configured to be movable relative to the pressing surface 51b.

[0060] Each of the support parts 73a, 73b in this embodiment is a guide roller. The support parts 73a, 73b are rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the short side direction Y. The support parts 73a, 73b of the first pressing assembly 50a are configured to be movable in the pressing direction Z by operating the cylinder unit 45, for example, by extending and retracting the cylinder rod 47. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the support parts 73a, 73b are referred to as the first support part 73a and the second support part 73b, respectively.

[0061] <First support part 73a> The first support portion 73a is disposed away from the second unwinding guide roller 72b in the pressing direction Z. The first support portion 73a is disposed away from the pressing portion 51 in the long side direction X. At least a part of the first support portion 73a faces one of the end faces 51c in the long side direction X.

[0062] <Second support part 73b> The second support portion 73b is disposed away from the first support portion 73a in the long side direction X. In a plan view from the pressing direction Z, the pressing portion 51, specifically the pressing surface 51b, is located between the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b. At least a part of the second support portion 73b faces one of the end faces 51c in the long side direction X. The end face 51c facing the second support portion 73b is located opposite in the long side direction X from the end face 51c facing the first support portion 73a.

[0063] The sheet material 60 from the second unwinding guide roller 72b is conveyed in this order by the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b. At this time, the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b support the sheet material 60 on the pressing surface 51b. In other words, the pressing surface 51b is covered from the pressing direction Z by the sheet material 60 supported by the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b. As a result, the pressing surface 51b faces the resin parts 20 and 30 in the pressing direction Z via the sheet material 60 supported by the supports 73a and 73b. As a result, the pressing portion 51 can press the resin parts 20 and 30 via the sheet material 60 supported by the supports 73a and 73b.

[0064] <Winding adjustment unit 74> The winding adjustment unit 74 adjusts the transport amount of the sheet material 60 downstream of the support units 73a and 73b in the sheet movement path L1. The winding adjustment unit 74 includes a first winding guide roller 74a, a second winding guide roller 74b, and a winding dancer roller 74c. The first winding guide roller 74a, the second winding guide roller 74b, and the winding dancer roller 74c are each rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the short side direction Y.

[0065] <Winding guide rollers 74a, 74b> The first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b are both disposed away from the winding section 75 in the long side direction X. The second winding guide roller 74b is located between the first winding guide roller 74a and the winding section 75.

[0066] <Winding dancer roller 74c> The winding dancer roller 74c is spaced in the pressing direction Z from the midpoint between the first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b in the long side direction X. The winding dancer roller 74c is located closer to the pressing portion 51 in the pressing direction Z than the first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b. The winding dancer roller 74c is configured to be movable at least in the pressing direction Z. In this embodiment, the winding dancer roller 74c is configured to be movable in the pressing direction Z. This allows the winding dancer roller 74c to adjust the distance in the pressing direction Z from the first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b. This allows the winding dancer roller 74c to adjust the tension of the sheet material 60 supported by the supports 73a and 73b.

[0067] The sheet material 60 from the second support portion 73b is transported in the order of the first winding guide roller 74a, the winding dancer roller 74c, and the second winding guide roller 74b in the winding adjustment portion 74. By the winding dancer roller 74c moving in the pressing direction Z, the length of the sheet material 60 interposed between the winding dancer roller 74c and each of the winding guide rollers 74a and 74b and the transport amount of the sheet material 60 transported from the winding adjustment portion 74 are adjusted.

[0068] <Winding section 75> The winding unit 75 is a reel that can rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the short side direction Y. The winding unit 75 winds up the sheet material 60 supplied from the unwinding unit 71 along the sheet movement path L1. In detail, the winding unit 75 winds up the sheet material 60 supplied from the winding adjustment unit 74. The winding unit 75 supports one of the longitudinal ends of the sheet material 60 by winding up the sheet material 60. The winding unit 75 is the discharge destination of the sheet material 60 from the sheet movement path L1. The winding unit 75 is located at the most downstream position on the sheet movement path L1.

[0069] The winding portion 75 is disposed away from the pressing portion 51 in the pressing direction Z. The winding portion 75 is disposed parallel to the pressing direction Z and away from the pressing surface 51b toward the connecting surface 51a. In particular, an upper base 43 is interposed between the winding portion 75 and the pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a. A lower base 41 is interposed between the winding portion 75 and the pressing portion 51 of the second pressing assembly 50b. The winding portion 75 is separated from the unwinding portion 71 in the long side direction X.

[0070] <Movement direction T of sheet material 60> In the adhesion suppression mechanism TF configured in this manner, the sheet material 60 supplied from the unwinding section 71 is transported to the winding section 75 via the unwinding adjustment section 72, the first support section 73a, the second support section 73b, and the winding adjustment section 74 in this order. At this time, the movement mechanism 70 slides the sheet material 60 supported by the supports 73a and 73b in a movement direction T. The movement direction T is the direction in which the sheet material 60 supported by the supports 73a and 73b slides. Specifically, the movement direction T is the direction from the first support section 73a to the second support section 73b.

[0071] "Sliding" refers to moving the sheet material 60 supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b in a direction intersecting the pressing direction Z relative to the pressing surface 51b while still supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b. Sliding the sheet material 60 includes causing the sheet material 60 to slide against the pressing surface 51b. In addition, when the supporting portions 73a and 73b support the sheet material 60 at a position spaced apart from the pressing surface 51b in the pressing direction Z, sliding the sheet material 60 includes moving the sheet material 60 in the movement direction T while still supported away from the pressing surface 51b.

[0072] As described above, the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b are spaced apart in the long side direction X. Therefore, the movement direction T in this embodiment is parallel to the long side direction X. In other words, the pair of support portions 73a, 73b are disposed spaced apart in the movement direction T. Since the long side direction X is perpendicular to the pressing direction Z, the movement direction T intersects with the pressing direction Z.

[0073] The distance between the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b in the moving direction T is longer than the length of the pressing surface 51b in the moving direction T (in this embodiment, the length Wx of the long side of the pressing surface 51b). Therefore, the length of the sheet material 60 in the moving direction T in the state supported by the support portions 73a and 73b is longer than the length of the pressing surface 51b in the moving direction T. The length of the pressing surface 51b in the moving direction T is longer than the length of the resin side portions 21 and 31 in the moving direction T. Therefore, the length of the sheet material 60 in the moving direction T in the state supported by the support portions 73a and 73b is longer than the length of the pressing surface 51b in the moving direction T. That is, the sheet material 60 is formed in a so-called elongated shape that is longer than the resin portions 20 and 30 in the moving direction T.

[0074] <Positional Relationship between Pressing Assemblies 50a and 50b> The pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a and the pressing portion 51 of the second pressing assembly 50b thus configured face each other in the pressing direction Z via the respective sheet materials 60 supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b. The region of the sheet material 60 of the first pressing assembly 50a supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b and the region of the sheet material 60 of the second pressing assembly 50b supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b face each other apart in the pressing direction Z. An electrode plate 11 on which the resin portions 20 and 30 are arranged can be arranged between the region of the sheet material 60 of the first pressing assembly 50a supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b and the region of the sheet material 60 of the second pressing assembly 50b supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b.

[0075] <Control circuit 90> The control circuit 90 includes a processor and a storage unit. The processor may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a digital signal processor (DSP). The storage unit includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). The storage unit stores program codes or instructions configured to cause the processor to execute processes. The storage unit, i.e., the computer readable medium, includes any available medium accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. The control circuit 90 may be configured by a hardware circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The control circuit 90, which is a processing circuit, may include one or more processors operating according to a computer program, one or more hardware circuits such as an ASIC or an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0076] The control circuit 90 controls the projection and retraction of the cylinder rod 47 relative to the cylinder body 46. In conjunction with the projection and retraction of the cylinder rod 47, the pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a moves in the pressing direction Z. Accordingly, the distance between the pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a and the pressing portion 51 of the second pressing assembly 50b in the pressing direction Z changes. When the electrode plate 11 and the resin portions 20 and 30 are disposed between the pressing portion 51 of the first pressing assembly 50a and the pressing portion 51 of the second pressing assembly 50b, the pressing portions 51 of the pressing assemblies 50a and 50b press the resin portions 20 and 30 toward the electrode plate 11.

[0077] The control circuit 90 controls the power provided from the power supply device to the heating section 54, thereby causing the heating section 54 to generate heat. The control circuit 90 uses the heating section 54 to heat the resin sections 20, 30.

[0078] The control circuit 90 acquires the pressure with which the pressing portion 51 presses the resin portions 20, 30. The pressure may be acquired, for example, by a measurement value of a pressure sensor (not shown). The control circuit 90 also acquires the temperature of the heating portion 54. The temperature of the heating portion 54 may be acquired, for example, by a measurement value of a temperature sensor (not shown). The control circuit 90 controls the cylinder unit 45 and the power supply device so that the acquired pressure and temperature become predetermined target values.

[0079] The control circuit 90 controls the moving mechanism 70 to slide the sheet material 60 in the moving direction T. In this embodiment, the control circuit 90 controls the unwinding section 71, the unwinding adjustment section 72, the winding adjustment section 74, and the winding section 75. The control circuit 90 controls the rotation amount of the unwinding section 71 to control the conveyance amount of the sheet material 60 from the unwinding section 71 to the unwinding adjustment section 72. The control circuit 90 adjusts the conveyance amount of the sheet material 60 to the support sections 73a and 73b by controlling the unwinding adjustment section 72, specifically the position of the unwinding dancer roller 72c in the pressing direction Z. The control circuit 90 adjusts the conveyance amount of the sheet material 60 to the winding section 75 by controlling the winding adjustment section 74, specifically the position of the winding dancer roller 74c in the pressing direction Z. The control circuit 90 controls the adhesion suppression mechanism TF in this way to slide the sheet material 60 supported by the support sections 73a and 73b in the moving direction T (long side direction X in this embodiment). In this way, the unwinding section 71, unwinding adjustment section 72, support sections 73a, 73b, winding adjustment section 74, and winding section 75 included in the moving mechanism 70 have the function of sliding the sheet material 60 supported by the support sections 73a, 73b in the moving direction T.

[0080] <Method of manufacturing the electrode unit 10> Next, a manufacturing method of the electrode unit 10 as a resin welded workpiece using the above welding device 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. In this embodiment, the electrode unit 10 is manufactured using two welding devices 40. The long side directions X of the two welding devices 40 are parallel to each other. The short side directions Y of the two welding devices 40 are parallel to each other. The pressing directions Z of the two welding devices 40 are parallel to each other. The two welding devices 40 are disposed apart from each other in the short side direction Y.

[0081] <Initialization process S1> 7, in an initialization step S1, the control circuit 90 sets a variable k to 0. The variable k is an integer equal to or greater than 0.

[0082] <Placement process S2> Next, the process proceeds to the arrangement step S2. In the arrangement step S2, the electrode plate 11 and the resin parts 20, 30 are arranged between the first pressing assembly 50a and the second pressing assembly 50b. In this embodiment, the resin side parts 21, 31 are arranged along the side part 12a. The arrangement of the resin parts 20, 30 on the electrode plate 11 may be realized in advance, for example, by crimping, or a part of the resin parts 20, 30 may be welded to the electrode plate 11 in a welding step S3 described later. The part of the resin parts 20, 30 is, for example, two opposing first resin side parts 21 and two opposing second resin side parts 31. At this time, the two opposing first resin side parts 21 face the pressing parts 51 of the first pressing assemblies 50a in the different welding devices 40 in the pressing direction Z. Similarly, the two second resin side portions 31 facing each other face the pressing portions 51 of the second pressing assemblies 50b in the different welding devices 40 in the pressing direction Z. The electrode plate 11 is disposed between the first pressing assembly 50a and the second pressing assembly 50b by, for example, a robot hand (not shown) or the like.

[0083] <Welding process S3> Next, the process proceeds to a welding step S3. In the welding step S3, the control circuit 90 uses the two welding devices 40 to weld the resin parts 20, 30 to the electrode plate 11, thereby manufacturing the electrode unit 10. In this embodiment, the resin side parts 21, 31 arranged between the pressing assemblies 50a, 50b in the arrangement step S2 are welded to the electrode plate 11.

[0084] Here, an example of the process of the control circuit 90 in the welding step S3 will be described. First, the control circuit 90 brings the pressing part 51 into contact with the resin parts 20, 30 via the sheet material 60. Specifically, the control circuit 90 moves the pressing part 51 in the pressing direction Z by causing the cylinder rod 47 of the cylinder unit 45 to protrude in the pressing direction Z from the cylinder body 46. The movement of the pressing part 51 in the pressing direction Z brings the pressing surface 51b of the first pressing assembly 50a and the pressing surface 51b of the second pressing assembly 50b into contact with the resin side parts 21, 31.

[0085] Next, the control circuit 90 uses the heating unit 54 to heat the resin side portions 21, 31 pressed by the pressing unit 51. The heating causes the resin side portions 21, 31 to melt. Next, the control circuit 90 uses the pressing portion 51 to press the molten resin portions 20, 30 through the sheet material 60. Specifically, the control circuit 90 causes the cylinder rod 47 to protrude further from the cylinder body 46 in the pressing direction Z, thereby causing the pressing surface 51b to press the resin side portions 21, 31 through the sheet material 60.

[0086] At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressing surface 51b presses the resin pressing region R1 in the resin parts 20, 30 via the sheet material 60. The resin pressing region R1 is a region in the resin parts 20, 30 that is pressed by the pressing surface 51b via the sheet material 60. In this embodiment, the resin pressing region R1 is rectangular. The resin pressing region R1 includes an edge E1 along the long side of the resin pressing region R1. The edge E1 is part of the outer edge of the resin pressing region R1. The edge E1 is also an edge extending in the long side direction X of the resin side parts 21, 31. The extending direction of the edge E1 is parallel to the long side direction X. Therefore, the extending direction of the edge E1 is also the long side direction X.

[0087] When the pressing unit 51 presses the sheet material 60, a sheet pressing region R2 is generated in the sheet material 60. The sheet pressing region R2 is a region in the sheet material 60 that is pressed by the pressing unit 51 in the welding step S3. In a plan view from the pressing direction Z, the sheet pressing region R2 overlaps with the pressing surface 51b. Therefore, the sheet pressing region R2 in this embodiment is rectangular. In addition, in a plan view from the pressing direction Z, the sheet pressing region R2 includes the resin pressing region R1. The sheet pressing region R2 is also a region of the sheet material 60 that is located between two pressing surfaces 51b facing each other in the pressing direction Z, i.e., the pressing surface 51b of the first pressing assembly 50a and the pressing surface 51b of the second pressing assembly 50b.

[0088] Next, the control circuit 90 stops the heating by the heating unit 54 and cools the resin side portions 21, 31. The cooling solidifies the resin portions 20, 30. This causes the resin portions 20, 30 to be welded to the electrode plate 11. At this time, there is a possibility that a part of the resin side portions 21, 31, particularly the resin pressing region R1, will be welded to the region of the sheet material 60 supported by the supporting portions 73a, 73b, particularly the region included in the sheet pressing region R2.

[0089] Next, the control circuit 90 stops the pressing of the resin parts 20, 30 by the pressing part 51. Specifically, the control circuit 90 accommodates the cylinder rod 47 in the cylinder body 46. As a result, the pressing part 51 moves away from the resin parts 20, 30 in the pressing direction Z, and the pressing of the resin parts 20, 30 stops. At this time, the areas of the sheet material 60 supported by the support parts 73a, 73b are peeled off from the resin side parts 21, 31.

[0090] If there are any resin side parts 21, 31 that are not welded at this stage, the control circuit 90 may weld the resin side parts 21, 31 by performing the same processing on the unwelded resin side parts 21, 31. The control circuit 90 may also weld the unwelded resin side parts 21, 31 by having two welding devices 40 prepared separately from the two welding devices 40 that performed the welding step S3 perform the same processing on the electrode plate 11 to which parts of the resin parts 20, 30 are welded. In this way, the electrode unit 10 is manufactured by welding all the resin side parts 21, 31 to the electrode plate 11. In other words, the electrode unit 10 is manufactured by welding the resin parts 20, 30 to the electrode plate 11. The manufactured electrode unit 10 is removed from the welding device 40 by a robot hand or the like.

[0091] When the electrode units 10 manufactured in the welding process S3 reach a predetermined number, a stacking process (not shown) is performed. In the stacking process, the electrode units 10 manufactured in the welding process S3 are stacked in the thickness direction of the electrode plate 11 to manufacture the electricity storage module B.

[0092] <Counting process S4> 7, after the welding step S3 is completed, the process proceeds to the counting step S4. In the counting step S4, the control circuit 90 increments the value of the variable k by one.

[0093] <Movement determination step S5> Next, the process proceeds to the movement determination step S5. In the movement determination step S5, the control circuit 90 determines whether the welding step S3 has been performed a predetermined number of times. In this embodiment, the control circuit 90 determines whether the variable k matches the determination value N. That is, the predetermined number of times in the movement determination step S5 is the number of times represented by the determination value N. The determination value N is any integer equal to or greater than 1. The determination value N is any integer equal to or greater than the number of times the sheet material 60 can be used, for example. The number of times the sheet material 60 can be used is defined as the number of times that the sheet material 60 can be peeled off from the resin parts 20 and 30 after the welding step S3. The determination value N is, for example, within a range of 0.001 to 1 times the number of times the sheet material can be used, preferably 0.005 to 0.5 times, and more preferably 0.01 to 0.1 times.

[0094] Note that the determination method of the movement determination step S5 is not limited to this, and any method may be used. For example, whether or not to slide the sheet material 60 can be determined based on the degree of deterioration of the sheet material 60. One of the causes of deterioration of the sheet material 60 is thought to be that processing marks of the electrode plate 11, for example, burrs on the side portion 12a, interfere with the sheet material 60 when the resin portions 20 and 30 are pressed. The burrs on the side portion 12a are generated, for example, when the electrode plate 11 is manufactured by cutting the base material of the electrode plate 11 with a die cutter or the like. Such deterioration due to processing marks of the electrode plate 11 occurs in the long side direction X along which the resin side portions 21 and 31 pressed by the pressing portion 51 extend.

[0095] Another possible cause of deterioration of the sheet material 60 is that parts of the molten resin parts 20, 30 remain on the sheet material 60. When parts of the molten resin parts 20, 30 remain on the sheet material 60, the peel strength of the sheet material 60 against the resin parts 20, 30 increases. In other words, the sheet material 60 becomes more likely to be welded to the resin parts 20, 30. In particular, the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that comes into contact with the edge E1 of the resin pressing area R1 during welding is more likely to deteriorate than other areas of the sheet material 60.

[0096] Such deterioration of the sheet material 60 progresses each time the welding step S3 is performed. The degree of deterioration of the sheet material 60 may be determined based on, for example, the ratio of the area of ​​the region where the resin parts 20, 30 are welded to the total area of ​​the sheet material 60 in a state where it is supported by the supporting parts 73a, 73b. The degree of deterioration of the sheet material 60 may also be determined based on fluffing of glass fibers in the pressing direction Z from the sheet material 60 in a state where it is supported by the supporting parts 73a, 73b. Such a determination may be performed, for example, by visual inspection or image recognition. Based on the degree of deterioration of the sheet material 60 determined by these methods, a determination value N may be set. The determination value N may be a variable value set according to the degree of deterioration of the sheet material 60.

[0097] <Movement process S6> On the other hand, if the determination result of the movement determination step S5 is positive, that is, if the variable k has reached the determination value N, the process proceeds to the movement step S6. If the determination result of the movement determination step S5 is positive, this means that the welding step S3 has been performed a predetermined number of times. Therefore, the movement step S6 is performed when the welding step S3 has been performed one or more times. The movement step S6 can also be said to be a step performed after the welding step S3.

[0098] In the moving step S6, the control circuit 90 controls the unwinding section 71 to supply the sheet material 60 from the unwinding section 71 toward the unwinding adjustment section 72. As the sheet material 60 is supplied from the unwinding section 71, the control circuit 90 controls the unwinding adjustment section 72 and the winding adjustment section 74 to slide the sheet material 60 supported by the support sections 73a and 73b in the moving direction T (long side direction X in this embodiment). Specifically, the control circuit 90 supplies the sheet material 60 from the unwinding section 71 and moves the unwinding dancer roller 72c closer to the first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b. As a result, the sheet material 60 is supplied from the unwinding section 71 and the unwinding adjustment section 72 toward the support sections 73a and 73b. Accordingly, at least a part of the sheet material 60 supported by the support sections 73a and 73b is supplied toward the winding adjustment section 74. As a result, the sheet material 60 supported by the support portions 73a and 73b slides in the moving direction T (long side direction X). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a first point P1 of the sheet material 60 slides to a second point P2. The first point P1 indicates a portion of the sheet material 60 that comes into contact with the resin pressing region R1 of the resin parts 20 and 30, particularly the edge E1, in the welding step S3 before the moving step S6 is performed. The first point P1 faces the resin parts 20 and 30 in the pressing direction Z. That is, the first point P1 is included in the sheet pressing region R2. The second point P2 indicates the first point P1 after sliding by the moving step S6. The second point P2 does not face the resin parts 20 and 30 in the pressing direction Z. That is, the second point P2 is not included in the sheet pressing region R2. Therefore, a part of the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that was in contact with the edge E1 of the resin pressing region R1 in the previous welding step S3 will not be in contact with the resin parts 20, 30 in the next welding step S3. This also causes a part of the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that was not in contact with the edge E1 of the resin pressing region R1 in the previous welding step S3 to come into contact with the resin parts 20, 30 in the next welding step S3. In this way, in the moving step S6, at least a part of the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that was in contact with the resin parts 20, 30 in the welding step S3 is replaced. The moving distance of the sheet material 60 in the moving step S6 is, for example, equal to or greater than the length of the moving direction T of the resin side parts 21, 31 multiplied by a predetermined coefficient. The coefficient is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1.The coefficient is, for example, a value obtained by dividing the judgment value N by the number of times of service. This reduces the moving distance of the sheet material 60 in one movement step S6, while suppressing the occurrence of an area of ​​the sheet material 60 where the welding step S3 is performed more than the number of times of service. By reducing the moving distance of the sheet material 60 in one movement step S6, the time required for one movement step S6 is shortened.

[0099] In the movement step S6, the control circuit 90 moves the winding dancer roller 74c away from the first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b in accordance with the movement amount of the unwinding dancer roller 72c. As a result, the sheet material 60 supplied to the winding adjustment unit 74 from the support units 73a and 73b is stored in the winding adjustment unit 74. Therefore, the sheet material 60 can be slid while maintaining the tension of the sheet material 60 supported by the support units 73a and 73b. The control circuit 90 appropriately winds up the sheet material 60 stored in the winding adjustment unit 74 by the winding unit 75.

[0100] After the moving step S6 is performed, the manufacture of the subsequent electrode units 10 is performed again from the initialization step S1. Therefore, in the manufacture of the subsequent electrode units 10, the sheet material 60 is sent out from the unwinding section 71 toward the winding section 75 every time the moving step S6 is performed. As a result, the sheet material 60 is appropriately slid in the moving direction T in the moving step S6. As a result, the moving mechanism 70 slides an area of ​​the sheet material 60, which is different in the moving direction T from the sheet pressing area R2 in the welding step S3 before the moving step S6, to a position where it can be pressed in the welding step S3 after the moving step S6.

[0101] The moving distance of the sheet material 60 may be appropriately set depending on the material and shape of the resin parts 20, 30, the material and shape of the sheet material 60, and the specific mode of the welding step S3. <Operation of the First Embodiment> The operation of this embodiment will now be described.

[0102] The pressing unit 51 presses the resin parts 20, 30 melted in the welding step S3 toward the electrode plate 11, so that the resin parts 20, 30 are welded to the electrode plate 11. At this time, the pressing unit 51 presses the resin parts 20, 30 against the electrode plate 11 via the sheet material 60.

[0103] Here, in the moving step S6, the control circuit 90 controls the unwinding unit 71, the unwinding adjustment unit 72, the winding adjustment unit 74, and the winding unit 75 included in the moving mechanism 70, thereby moving the sheet material 60 in the moving direction T. As a result, at least a part of an area of ​​the sheet material 60 different from the area that was in contact with the resin parts 20, 30 pressed in the previous welding step S3 is disposed between the pressing unit 51 and the resin parts 20, 30.

[0104] After the moving step S6 is performed, the manufacturing method of the electrode unit 10 is performed again from the initialization step S1. <Advantages of the First Embodiment> The effects of this embodiment will be described below.

[0105] (1-1) The welding device 40 welds the resin parts 20, 30 to the electrode plate 11 as a workpiece. The welding device 40 includes a pressing part 51, a pair of support parts 73a, 73b, and a moving mechanism 70. The support parts 73a, 73b are arranged apart from each other in the moving direction T. The support parts 73a, 73b support the sheet material 60 such that the sheet material 60 covers the pressing surface 51b from the pressing direction Z. The moving mechanism 70 slides the sheet material 60 supported by the support parts 73a, 73b in the moving direction T.

[0106] According to this, the pressing portion 51 presses the molten resin parts 20, 30 toward the workpiece. As a result, the resin parts 20, 30 are welded to the electrode plate 11. At this time, the pressing portion 51 presses the resin parts 20, 30 against the electrode plate 11 via the sheet material 60. The sheet material 60 comes into contact with the resin parts 20, 30 instead of the pressing surface 51b, thereby suppressing the welding of the resin parts 20, 30 to the pressing surface 51b.

[0107] In this configuration, when deterioration of the sheet material 60 progresses, the moving mechanism 70 slides the sheet material 60 in the moving direction T while the sheet material 60 is supported by the support parts 73a and 73b. By sliding the sheet material 60, a region of the sheet material 60 different from the region that contacted the resin parts 20 and 30 by the previous pressing by the pressing part 51 can be arranged between the pressing surface 51b and the resin parts 20 and 30. In other words, it is possible to save the effort of releasing the fixing between the sheet material 60 and the pressing part 51 in order to replace the deteriorated region of the sheet material 60, as in the case where the sheet material 60 is fixed to the pressing part 51. As a result, it becomes easier to replace the sheet material 60 arranged between the pressing part 51 and the resin parts 20 and 30 in a shorter time. Therefore, the operation efficiency of the welding device 40 can be improved.

[0108] (1-2) The manufacturing method for manufacturing the electrode unit 10 as a resin welded workpiece includes a moving step S6. In the moving step S6, the sheet material 60 is slid in the moving direction T (long side direction X) when the welding step S3 has been performed one or more times.

[0109] In this configuration, in the moving step S6, an area of ​​the sheet material 60 that is different in the moving direction T from the sheet pressing area R2 in the welding step S3 before the moving step S6 is slid to a position where it can be pressed in the welding step S3 after the moving step S6.

[0110] The sheet material 60 slides in the moving step S6, so that the sheet pressing area R2 of the sheet material 60, that is, the area different from the area that contacted the resin parts 20 and 30 in the welding step S3 before the moving step S6, comes into contact with the resin parts 20 and 30 in the welding step S3 after the moving step S6. Therefore, for example, as in the case where the sheet material 60 is fixed to the pressing part 51 that presses the electrode plate 11, it is possible to save the effort of releasing the fixing between the sheet material 60 and the pressing part 51, which is necessary to replace the deteriorated area of ​​the sheet material 60. As a result, the sheet material 60 can be replaced in a shorter time. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency of the electrode unit 10 can be improved.

[0111] <Configuration of the second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the welding device and the manufacturing method of the electrode unit using the welding device will be described. For convenience of explanation, among the configurations of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same component numbers and explanations are omitted, and different configurations will be described.

[0112] First, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the first embodiment and the second embodiment differ in the moving direction T of the sheet material 60. In the first embodiment, the moving direction T of the sheet material 60 supported by the supporting portions 73a and 73b coincides with the long side direction X. In contrast, the moving direction T of the sheet material 60 in the second embodiment coincides with the short side direction Y.

[0113] Also, the width W1 of the sheet material 60 is different between the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The width W1 of the sheet material 60 in the first embodiment is equal to the length Wy of the short side of the pressing surface 51b. The length Wy of the short side of the pressing surface 51b is greater than the length of the long side of the resin side portions 21 and 31. Therefore, the width W1 of the sheet material 60 is greater than the length of the long side of the resin side portions 21 and 31. In contrast, the width W1 of the sheet material 60 in the second embodiment is equal to or greater than the length Wx of the long side of the pressing surface 51b. In detail, the width W1 of the sheet material 60 is equal to the length Wx of the long side of the pressing surface 51b. Therefore, the width W1 of the sheet material 60 in the second embodiment is wider than the width W1 of the sheet material 60 in the first embodiment.

[0114] Accordingly, the dimensions and directions of the members 71, 72, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 constituting the moving mechanism 70 change. Regarding the positional relationship between the members 71, 72, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 of the moving mechanism 70 in the second embodiment, the long side direction X in the first embodiment should be read as the short side direction Y, and the short side direction Y in the first embodiment should be read as the long side direction X.

[0115] The configuration of the moving mechanism 70 in the second embodiment will be described in detail below. <Section 71> The unwinding section 71 is a reel that can rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the long side direction X. The position of the unwinding section 71 relative to the lower base 41 and the upper base 43 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0116] <Unwinding adjustment section 72> The first unwinding guide roller 72a, the second unwinding guide roller 72b, and the unwinding dancer roller 72c are each rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the long side direction X.

[0117] <Unwinding guide rollers 72a, 72b> The first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b are both disposed away from the unwinding section 71 in the short side direction Y.

[0118] <Roller Dancer Roller 72c> The unwinding dancer roller 72c is disposed away in the pressing direction Z from the midpoint between the first unwinding guide roller 72a and the second unwinding guide roller 72b in the short side direction Y.

[0119] <Support parts 73a, 73b> The first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b are rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the long side direction X.

[0120] The first support portion 73a is disposed away from the pressing portion 51 in the short side direction Y. A part of the first support portion 73a faces in the short side direction Y one of the faces extending in the pressing direction Z from the long side of the pressing surface 51b.

[0121] The second support portion 73b is disposed away from the first support portion 73a in the short side direction Y. A part of the second support portion 73b faces one of the faces extending in the pressing direction Z from the long side of the pressing surface 51b in the short side direction Y. The face of the pressing portion 51 that faces the second support portion 73b is located opposite in the short side direction Y to the face of the pressing portion 51 that faces the first support portion 73a.

[0122] <Unwinding guide rollers 74a, 74b> The first winding guide roller 74a, the second winding guide roller 74b, and the winding dancer roller 74c are each rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the long side direction X.

[0123] The first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b are both located in the short side direction Y from the unwinding section 71. <Winding dancer roller 74c> The winding dancer roller 74c is spaced in the pressing direction Z from the midpoint between the first winding guide roller 74a and the second winding guide roller 74b in the short side direction Y.

[0124] <Winding section 75> The winding unit 75 is a reel that can rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the long side direction X. The winding unit 75 is disposed apart from the unwinding unit 71 in the short side direction Y.

[0125] <Movement direction T of sheet material 60> The first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b are disposed apart in the short side direction Y. Therefore, the movement direction T in this embodiment is parallel to the short side direction Y. Since the short side direction Y is perpendicular to the pressing direction Z, the movement direction T in this embodiment intersects with the pressing direction Z.

[0126] <Method of manufacturing the electrode unit 10> In the method for manufacturing the electrode unit 10 using the welding apparatus 40 of the second embodiment, steps S1 to S7 similar to those of the first embodiment are performed. Note that while the moving direction T is the long side direction X in the method for manufacturing the electrode unit 10 of the first embodiment, the moving direction T is the short side direction Y in the second embodiment.

[0127] <Operation of the Second Embodiment> Deterioration of the sheet material 60 tends to progress in the resin pressing region R1, particularly in the region that comes into contact with the edge E1. In other words, deterioration of the sheet material 60 tends to progress in the sheet pressing region R2, which overlaps with the edge E1 in a plan view from the pressing direction Z. The edge E1 extends in the long side direction X. Therefore, the regions of the sheet material 60 where deterioration tends to progress tend to be distributed along the long side direction X.

[0128] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the moving direction T intersects with the long side direction X. In the moving step S6, the sheet material 60 is slid in the moving direction T, so that at least a part of the region of the sheet material 60 that was in contact with the edge E1 in the welding step S3 before the moving step S6 is positioned outside the sheet pressing region R2. Specifically, the sheet material 60 is slid in the moving direction T, so that the first point P1 slides to the second point P2. Here, the length Wy of the short side of the pressing surface 51b is shorter than the length Wx of the long side of the pressing surface 51b. Therefore, the moving mechanism 70 can move the region that was in contact with the edge E1 in the welding step S3 before the moving step S6 to the outside of the sheet pressing region R2 by a moving distance that is smaller than the moving distance when the moving direction T is parallel to the long side direction X.

[0129] <Effects of the second embodiment> (2-1) The long side direction X is the direction in which the long side of the pressing surface 51b extends. The moving direction T intersects with the long side direction X.

[0130] According to this, since the moving direction T intersects with the long side direction X, the moving distance of the sheet material 60 when sliding the sheet material 60 covering the pressing surface 51b is shorter than when the moving direction T is parallel to the long side direction X. Accordingly, the time required to replace the sheet material 60 can be shortened compared to when the moving direction T is parallel to the long side direction X. Therefore, the operating efficiency of the welding device 40 can be further improved.

[0131] In addition, since the moving direction T intersects with the long side direction X, the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that slides increases according to the moving distance of the sheet material 60 compared to when the moving direction T is parallel to the long side direction X. Therefore, a larger amount of the sheet material 60 can be slid from the pressing surface 51b in a short moving distance. Therefore, the operating efficiency of the welding device 40 can be further improved.

[0132] Particularly, in this embodiment, the moving direction T is along the short side direction Y. More specifically, the moving direction T is parallel to the short side direction Y. As a result, the moving distance of the sheet material 60 when sliding the sheet material 60 covering the pressing surface 51b is further shortened compared to the case where the moving direction T intersects with the long side direction X and is along the long side direction X. Therefore, the operating efficiency of the welding device 40 can be further improved.

[0133] (2-2) The pressing surface 51b is rectangular. The resin pressing region R1 is also rectangular and includes an edge E1 along the long side of the resin pressing region R1. In this configuration, if the direction in which the end edge E1 extends is the long side direction X, the movement direction T intersects with the long side direction X.

[0134] When the pressing surface 51b presses the resin parts 20, 30 via the sheet material 60, a larger load is applied to the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that is in contact with the edge E1 of the resin pressing area R1 than to the area that is in contact with the surface of the resin pressing area R1. Therefore, the area of ​​the sheet material 60 that is in contact with the edge E1 is more susceptible to deterioration than the area that is in contact with the surface of the resin pressing area R1.

[0135] Therefore, in this configuration, the movement direction T intersects with the long side direction X. This reduces the overlap of the above-mentioned areas that are prone to deterioration before and after the movement mechanism 70 slides the sheet material 60. This makes it possible to suppress local deterioration of the sheet material 60.

[0136] <Modification> The embodiment can be modified as follows: The embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

[0137] The manufacturing method of the electrode unit 10 of the first and second embodiments does not have to include the arrangement step S2. For example, the welding step S3 may be performed using the electrode plate 11 on which the resin parts 20, 30 are arranged in advance.

[0138] In the first and second embodiments, the specific aspect of the moving mechanism 70 is arbitrary as long as the sheet material 60 is supported by the support portions 73a and 73b. For example, the moving mechanism 70 does not need to include the unwinding adjustment portion 72 and the winding adjustment portion 74.

[0139] In the first and second embodiments, the support portions 73a, 73b do not have to be configured by the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b. For example, the support portions 73a, 73b may be configured by the unwinding portion 71 and the winding portion 75. For example, the first support portion 73a may be replaced by the unwinding portion 71, and the second support portion 73b may be replaced by the winding portion 75. In this case, the unwinding portion 71 and the winding portion 75 support the sheet material 60 as the support portions 73a, 73b.

[0140] In short, the support portions 73a and 73b do not have to be configured as part of the movement mechanism 70, and the support portions 73a and 73b themselves may be configured as the movement mechanism 70. In the first and second embodiments, the movement mechanism 70 only needs to include the unwinding unit 71 and the winding unit 75, and may not, for example, include the unwinding adjustment unit 72, the first support unit 73a, the second support unit 73b, and the winding adjustment unit 74. In this case, the support units 73a and 73b may be realized using the pressing unit 51.

[0141] For example, in the first embodiment, when the moving mechanism 70 does not include the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b, the sheet material 60 moves from the unwinding portion 71 to the winding portion 75 via the two short sides of the pressing surface 51b. In this case, the sheet material 60 is supported by the two short sides of the pressing surface 51b. The moving mechanism 70 slides the sheet material 60 supported by the two short sides of the pressing surface 51b against the pressing portion 51. Therefore, the two short sides of the pressing surface 51b function as the support portions 73a and 73b. In this case, the sheet material 60 may be configured to be slidable against the pressing portion 51.

[0142] As in the first embodiment, when the moving mechanism 70 in the second embodiment does not include the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b, the two long sides of the pressing surface 51b function as the support portions 73a and 73b.

[0143] That is, the support portions 73a and 73b may not be configured by rollers like the first support portion 73a and the second support portion 73b, but may be configured by a member that allows the sheet material 60 to slide relative to the pressing portion 51. Therefore, the support portions 73a and 73b may be included in the moving mechanism 70 or may be separate from the moving mechanism 70.

[0144] In the first and second embodiments, the movement direction T of the sheet material 60 supported by the support portions 73a and 73b is not limited to the long side direction X and the short side direction Y, but may be any direction intersecting with the pressing direction Z. For example, the movement direction T may be any direction perpendicular to the pressing direction Z.

[0145] 11 and 12, in the second embodiment, the support portions 73a and 73b may support the sheet material 60 so as to bridge the pressing portions 51 of the first pressing assemblies 50a and the pressing portions 51 of the second pressing assemblies 50b, respectively. In this case, for example, the second support portion 73b of one of the support portions 73a and 73b and the first support portion 73a of the other support portion 73a and 73b may be omitted.

[0146] In the first and second embodiments, the heating unit 54 does not have to be integral with the pressing unit 51, and may be separate from the pressing unit 51. In this case, the heating unit 54 may heat the resin parts 20, 30 by heat radiation from, for example, a resistance heater or a heater coil.

[0147] In the first and second embodiments, the welding device 40 does not necessarily have to include the insulating section 52 and the buffer section 53. In the first and second embodiments, the shape of the pressing surface 51b is not limited to a rectangle, and may be any shape as long as the pressing surface 51b can press the resin parts 20, 30. The pressing surface 51b may be configured so that the pressing surface 51b includes the entire resin parts 20, 30 in a plan view from the pressing direction Z. In this case, the pressing part 51 may press the entire resin parts 20, 30 at once. Note that the supporting parts 73a, 73b may support the sheet material 60 such that the sheet material 60 includes the entire resin parts 20, 30 in a plan view from the pressing direction Z.

[0148] Similarly to the pressing surface 51b, the shape of the resin pressing region R1 is not limited to a rectangle and may be any shape. In the first and second embodiments, the resin parts 20, 30 are not limited to rectangular frames, and any shape may be used to match the shape of the electrode plate 11, for example.

[0149] In the first and second embodiments, as long as the resin parts 20, 30 can be welded to the current collector 12, the positions of the resin parts 20, 30 relative to the electrode plate 11 are arbitrary. For example, each of the resin side parts 21, 31 does not have to be disposed along the side part 12a, and may be disposed on the first uncoated surface 14a or the second uncoated surface 15a.

[0150] In the first and second embodiments, only one of the resin parts 20 and 30 may be disposed on the main surface 13 . In the first and second embodiments, the electrode plate 11 does not have to be a so-called bipolar electrode in which the first active material layer 16 and the second active material layer 17 are disposed on both the first main surface 14 and the second main surface 15. The electrode plate 11 may be a so-called monopolar electrode in which the active material layers 16, 17 are provided on only one of the first main surface 14 and the second main surface 15, for example.

[0151] In the first and second embodiments, the electrode plate 11 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be of any shape, such as a polygon or a circle. In the first and second embodiments, the welding device 40 may be configured such that only one of the two pressing assemblies 50a, 50b is provided with the heating unit 54. Such a welding device 40 can be used, for example, when welding only one of the resin parts 20, 30 to the electrode plate 11.

[0152] The workpiece to which the resin parts 20, 30 are welded using the welding device 40 is not limited to the electrode plate 11, but may be any material such as metal foil, ceramics, wood, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0153] 10...electrode unit, 11...electrode plate, 12a...side portion, 20, 30...resin portion, 21, 31...resin side portion, 40...welding device, 51...pressing portion, 51b...pressing surface, 54...heating portion, 60...sheet material, 70...moving mechanism, 73a, 73b...support portion, R2...sheet pressing area, S3...welding process, S7...moving process, T...moving direction, X...long side direction, Z...pressing direction.

Claims

1. A welding device that welds a resin part to a workpiece, a heating unit that heats the resin portion disposed on the workpiece to melt the resin portion; A pressing unit that moves toward the resin part arranged on the workpiece, thereby pressing the molten resin part in a pressing direction via a sheet material and welding the resin part to the workpiece, the pressing unit having a pressing surface that presses the sheet material; a pair of support parts that are spaced apart in a movement direction intersecting the pressing direction, the pair of support parts supporting the sheet material such that the sheet material covers the pressing surface from the pressing direction; a moving mechanism that slides the sheet material in the moving direction while being supported by the support portion; a control circuit that determines whether or not to slide the sheet material, and, if a result of the determination is positive, controls the moving mechanism to slide the sheet material.

2. The pressing surface is rectangular, If the direction in which the long side of the pressing surface extends is defined as the long side direction, The welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movement direction intersects with the long side direction.

3. A method for manufacturing a resin-welded workpiece in which a resin part is welded to a workpiece, comprising: a welding process in which the resin part arranged on the workpiece is melted, and the melted resin part is pressed against the workpiece by a pressing part via a sheet material, thereby welding the resin part to the workpiece, thereby manufacturing the resin-welded workpiece; a moving step of sliding the sheet material in a moving direction intersecting the pressing direction when the welding step is performed one or more times, where the direction in which the resin part is pressed against the workpiece in the welding step is defined as a pressing direction; a movement determination step of determining whether or not to slide the sheet material, The moving step is executed when the result of the determination in the movement determination step is positive, If the area of ​​the sheet material that is pressed by the pressing portion in the welding process is defined as a sheet pressing area, A method for manufacturing a resin welded workpiece, in which, in the moving process, an area of ​​the sheet material that is different in the moving direction from the sheet pressing area in the welding process before the moving process is slid to a position where it can be pressed in the welding process after the moving process.

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