Electrode body stacking device and electrode body manufacturing line

Abstract

To provide a stacking device and a manufacturing line that reduce a time required to stack a plurality of electrode bodies and reduce a time required to form insulating portions made of insulating material on the side surfaces of the plurality of stacked electrode bodies.SOLUTION: A stacking device 1 is arranged downstream of a conveying device that conveys a plurality of electrode bodies 30 and stacks the plurality of electrode bodies 30. The stacking device 1 includes a mounting plate 10 that is arranged at an angle to the electrode bodies 30 being conveyed by the conveying device and stacks the plurality of electrode bodies 30, a first wall portion 111 that is erected on the mounting plate 10 and extends along the conveying direction of the electrode bodies 30, and insulating portion forming means 17 that forms insulating portions made of an insulating material on the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies 30 stacked on the mounting plate 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode assembly lamination device and an electrode assembly manufacturing line. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, research and development into secondary batteries that contribute to energy efficiency has been conducted in order to ensure that more people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and advanced energy.

[0003] Laminate cells and stacked-type prismatic cells used as secondary batteries have a structure in which multiple electrode bodies are stacked and housed in a laminate film or a cell can, and therefore the process for manufacturing these battery cells includes a step of stacking multiple electrode bodies.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for stacking positive electrode sheets, negative electrode sheets, separators, and the like by the operation of a rotating unit having an arm. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 125219 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the conventional technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires an arm to hold and stack each electrode one by one, which can take a long time to complete, leaving room for improvement. Also, forming insulating parts made of insulating material on the side surfaces of multiple stacked electrode bodies is performed in a separate process, which takes a long time to complete the formation of the insulating parts, leaving room for improvement.

[0007] The present invention provides a lamination device and a production line that shorten the time required to laminate a plurality of electrode bodies and to form insulating parts made of an insulating material on the side surfaces of the laminated plurality of electrode bodies, thereby contributing to energy efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A stacking device that is disposed downstream of a conveying device that conveys a plurality of electrode bodies and stacks the plurality of electrode bodies, a mounting plate that is disposed at an angle with respect to the electrode assembly being transported by the transport device and that stacks the plurality of electrode assemblies; a first wall portion that is erected on the mounting plate and extends along a transport direction of the electrode assembly; and an insulating portion forming means for forming insulating portions made of an insulating material on side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies stacked on the mounting plate.

[0009] According to the stacking device of the present invention, stacking can be performed by utilizing the movement of the transported electrode bodies themselves, so the time required to complete stacking can be shortened. Also, since insulating parts made of an insulating material can be formed on the side surfaces of the multiple electrode bodies while they are still stacked on the mounting plate, the time required to form the insulating parts can be shortened.

[0010] [2] The lamination device described in [1], wherein the insulating portion forming means includes an unwinding means for unwinding a film member coated with an insulating material along the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies, and a winding means for winding up the film member after the insulating material has been transferred to the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies.

[0011] According to the stacking device of the present invention, insulating portions made of an insulating material can be formed on the side surfaces of multiple electrode bodies while they are still stacked on the mounting plate, thereby shortening the time required to form the insulating portions.

[0012] [3] The lamination device according to [1], further comprising a curing means for curing the insulating material.

[0013] According to the stacking device of the present invention, the insulating material applied to the side surfaces of multiple electrode bodies can be hardened in a short period of time while they are still stacked on the mounting plate, thereby shortening the time required to form the insulating portion.

[0014] [4] The electrode assembly includes a first negative electrode layer, a first solid electrolyte layer, a positive electrode layer, a second solid electrolyte layer, and a second negative electrode layer; The stacked device according to [1], wherein the electrode body has a current collector whose end in a stacking direction of the first negative electrode layer, the positive electrode layer, and the second negative electrode layer is made of copper.

[0015] According to the stacking device of the present invention, the electrode body includes a solid electrolyte layer rather than a liquid or gel, thereby reducing the possibility of the electrode body being damaged when colliding with the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

[0016] [5] A manufacturing line for an electrode body in which a plurality of electrode bodies are transported and stacked, comprising: a transport device for transporting the plurality of electrode bodies; The lamination device according to any one of [1] to [4], A plurality of the stacking devices are provided, The electrode body manufacturing line is an electrode body manufacturing line in which, when a predetermined number of the electrode bodies are stacked on one of the stacking devices, the electrode bodies are stacked on another of the stacking devices.

[0017] According to the electrode assembly manufacturing line of the present invention, the electrode assemblies can be stacked continuously, and the time required to complete the stacking can be shortened. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time required to stack a plurality of electrode assemblies, and also to reduce the time required to form insulating portions made of insulating material on the side surfaces of the plurality of stacked electrode assemblies. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a manufacturing line for an electrode body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a stacking device (stocker) according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a laminate cell manufactured in a manufacturing line for an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a method for forming an insulating portion by the lamination device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a method for forming an insulating portion by the lamination device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a method for forming an insulating portion by the lamination device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a method for forming an insulating portion by the lamination device according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0021] [Electrode body manufacturing line, stacking device] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a manufacturing line for an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing line 100 of this embodiment includes a conveying device 2 that conveys a plurality of electrode bodies 30, and a stacking device (stocker) 1 that is disposed downstream of the conveying device 2 and stacks the plurality of electrode bodies 30.

[0022] The conveying device 2 is provided with electrode rolls 81 and 83 around which a negative electrode member 21 is wound, and an electrode roll 82 around which a positive electrode member 22 is wound. The positive electrode member 22 includes a current collecting foil and a positive electrode active material applied to the current collecting foil. The negative electrode member 21 includes a current collecting foil and a negative electrode active material applied to the current collecting foil. The battery cell in this embodiment is a solid-state battery, and a positive electrode member 22 (positive electrode layer) is disposed between a pair of negative electrode members 21 (negative electrode layers). A solid electrolyte layer is disposed between the positive electrode member (positive electrode layer) and the negative electrode member (negative electrode layer). In the production line 100, the solid electrolyte layer may be provided on both sides of the positive electrode member 22, or on one side of the negative electrode member 21. In this specification, the positive electrode member 22 disposed between the negative electrode members 21 is referred to as an electrode body 30.

[0023] In a later process, the electrode assemblies 30 have tab leads joined to the positive and negative current collector foils, respectively, and are covered with a laminate film with the tab leads exposed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a laminate cell 40 using the electrode assemblies 30 manufactured on the manufacturing line 100.

[0024] The transport direction of the electrode assembly 30 in this embodiment coincides with the long axis direction of the electrode assembly 30. The electrode member 21 of the negative electrode roll 81 is guided by roll devices 71 and 72, and is superimposed on other electrode members by roll devices 61 and 62. The positive electrode roll 82 is guided by roll devices 61 and 62, and is superimposed on other electrode members. The electrode member 21 of the negative electrode roll 83 is guided by roll devices 73 and 74, and is superimposed on other electrode members by roll devices 61 and 62.

[0025] The three electrode members stacked by the roll devices 61, 62 are integrated by pressure from above and below by the roll presses 51, 52. Next, a laser cutter 4 installed above the transport path emits a laser to make cuts in the outer peripheral edge of the integrated electrode body 30. When the electrode body 30 is transported to a transport device 2, which is, for example, a belt conveyor, the cut edge is wound up by an edge winding device 3.

[0026] The conveying device 2 conveys the electrode body 30 at a predetermined speed (e.g., 100 meters per second). The electrode body 30 conveyed to the end of the conveying device 2 flies out of the conveying device 2 due to inertia and falls onto the stocker 1. The electrode bodies 30 sent from the conveying device 2 are stacked in order in the stocker 1. The stocker 1 is disposed downstream of the conveying device 2 at a position close to the conveying device 2 (i.e., a position capable of receiving the electrode body 30 sent from the conveying device 2).

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a stacking device (stocker) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stocker 1 has a mounting plate 10 on which a plurality of electrode bodies 30 are stacked. The mounting plate 10 has a first wall portion 111 and a second wall portion 112. The first wall portion 111 is erected on the mounting plate 10 along the conveying direction. The second wall portion 112 intersects with the first wall portion 111 and is erected on the mounting plate 10 at one end side of the first wall portion 111 in the conveying direction. The second wall portion 112 has a pair of walls 112A, 112B perpendicular to the conveying direction. The pair of walls 112A, 112B are disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween across the conveying path of the electrode bodies 30 on the mounting plate 10. The first wall portion 111 and the second wall portion 112 align the plurality of electrode bodies 30 stacked on the mounting plate 10 (i.e., prevent misalignment when viewed in the stacking direction).

[0028] The first wall portion 111 is a surface facing the conveying device 2 in the Y-axis direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0029] The second wall 112 is a surface facing the transport device 2 in the X-axis direction, which is the transport direction of the electrode body 30, and has a drop prevention section 13 that prevents the electrode body 30 from falling from the mounting plate 10. The second wall 112 has an opening 14 at the center of the drop prevention section 13 in the Y-axis direction. In the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the transport direction, the width of the opening 14 is larger than the width of the current collecting foil extending from the electrode body 30. Therefore, even when the electrode body 30 reaches the second wall 112 (i.e., the drop prevention section 13), the current collecting foil fits into the opening 14, so the second wall 112 does not interfere with the current collecting foil.

[0030] The mounting plate 10 of the stocker 1 inclines downward as it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction (X-axis direction), i.e., as it moves away from the transport device 2. Therefore, the electrode body 30 being transported to the stocker 1 moves downward toward the second wall 112 and stops by abutting against the second wall 112 (drop prevention portion 13). Furthermore, the mounting plate 10 of the stocker 1 inclines downward in the orthogonal direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the transport direction as it moves away from the transport device 2. Therefore, the electrode body 30 being transported to the stocker 1 moves downward toward the first wall 111 and stops by abutting against the first wall 111.

[0031] As a result, multiple electrode bodies 30 continuously transported from the transport device 2 are stacked in contact with the first wall portion 111 and the second wall portion 112 (fall prevention portion 13), and are aligned without the need for a mechanical mechanism for alignment.

[0032] The second wall portion 112 may be provided with a buffer member 16 on the surface that contacts the electrode body 30. The buffer member 16 can suppress the impact when the electrode body 30 collides with the second wall portion 112, thereby suppressing damage to the electrode body 30.

[0033] As described above, according to the stacking device 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of electrode bodies 30 can be stacked by utilizing the movement (e.g., dropping) of the electrode body 30 itself, thereby shortening the time required to complete stacking.

[0034] The stocker 1 also includes an insulating part forming means 17 that forms insulating parts made of an insulating material on the side surfaces of the multiple electrode bodies 30 stacked on the mounting plate 10. The insulating part forming means 17 has an unwinding means 17A that unwinds the film member 25 coated with the insulating material along the side surfaces of the multiple electrode bodies 30, and a winding means 17B that winds up the film member 25 after the insulating material has been transferred to the side surfaces of the multiple electrode bodies 30.

[0035] The insulating material may be an ultraviolet-curable resin.

[0036] Furthermore, the stocker 1 includes a curing means 18 for curing the insulating material. The curing means 18 may be an ultraviolet lamp that emits light of a wavelength that cures the insulating material.

[0037] A method of applying an insulating material to the side surfaces of a plurality of electrode bodies 30 stacked on a mounting plate 10 using the stocker 1 of this embodiment will be described. 4, the film member 25 coated with an insulating material is unwound from the unwinding means 17A along the first wall portion 111 before the electrode body 30 is laminated. At this time, the surface of the film member 25 coated with the insulating material is disposed on the opposite side to the first wall portion 111.

[0038] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of electrode assemblies 30 are stacked on the mounting plate 10 as described above.

[0039] 6, the mounting plate 10 is tilted in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the multiple electrode bodies 30 are brought into contact with the surface of the film member 25 on which the insulating material has been applied. As a result, the insulating material is transferred to the side surfaces of the multiple electrode bodies 30.

[0040] Next, the curing means 18 irradiates the insulating material on the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies 30 with ultraviolet light to cure the insulating material, thereby forming insulating portions on the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies 30 .

[0041] By repeating the same operation, insulating portions 31, 31 are formed on the side surfaces of a plurality of electrode bodies 30 as shown in FIG.

[0042] As described above, according to the stacking device 1 of this embodiment, insulating portions 31 made of an insulating material can be formed on the side surfaces of multiple electrode bodies 30 while they are still stacked on the mounting plate 10, thereby shortening the time required to form the insulating portions 31.

[0043] In addition, the process after stacking the electrode bodies 30 includes a process such as lamination. If the electrode bodies 30 are stacked in a misaligned state, the subsequent process cannot be performed, so it is important to align the electrode bodies 30 without misalignment. In the stacking device 1 of this embodiment, the mounting plate 10 inclines downward as it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and inclines downward as it moves away from the conveying device 2 in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Therefore, the electrode body 30 conveyed to the stocker 1 moves downward toward the first wall portion 111 and the second wall portion 112, and stops by abutting against the first wall portion 111 and the second wall portion 112.

[0044] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or altered examples within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the components in the above-mentioned embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 Stacking device (stocker) 2. Conveyor device 10. Placement plate 13 Fall prevention part 14 Opening (collecting foil housing) 16 Cushioning material 17 Insulation forming means 18 Curing means 25 Film materials 30 Electrode body 100 production lines 111 1st wall section 112 2nd wall section

Claims

1. A stacking device that is disposed downstream of a conveying device that conveys a plurality of electrode bodies and stacks the plurality of electrode bodies, a mounting plate that is disposed at an angle with respect to the electrode assembly being transported by the transport device and that stacks the plurality of electrode assemblies; a first wall portion that is erected on the mounting plate and extends along a transport direction of the electrode body; and an insulating portion forming means for forming insulating portions made of an insulating material on side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies stacked on the mounting plate.

2. 2. The stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating portion forming means comprises: an unwinding means for unwinding a film member coated with an insulating material along the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies; and a winding means for winding up the film member after the insulating material has been transferred to the side surfaces of the plurality of electrode bodies.

3. The lamination device according to claim 1 , further comprising a curing means for curing the insulating material.

4. the electrode body includes a first negative electrode layer, a first solid electrolyte layer, a positive electrode layer, a second solid electrolyte layer, and a second negative electrode layer; The stacked device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode body has a current collector whose end in a stacking direction of the first negative electrode layer, the positive electrode layer, and the second negative electrode layer is made of copper.

5. A manufacturing line for an electrode body in which a plurality of electrode bodies are transported and stacked, comprising: a transport device that transports the plurality of electrode bodies; The lamination device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A plurality of the stacking devices are provided, The electrode body manufacturing line is an electrode body manufacturing line in which, when a predetermined number of the electrode bodies are stacked on one of the stacking devices, the electrode bodies are stacked on another of the stacking devices.

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