Electrode plate processing device

Abstract

To provide an electrode plate machining device capable of drilling a hole on an electrode plate with the highest possible precision.SOLUTION: An electrode plate machining device is equipped with a plurality of machining rollers 32 each having width narrower than the width of an electrode plate 100 and forming a hole portion 103 on a machining surface of the electrode plate 100, and a plurality of supporting mechanisms 34 independently supporting each of machining rollers 32. Each machining roller 32 has a metallic plate 33 that is pasted on a surface of a cylindrical roller body 32a and is provided with a plurality of projections 33a for forming the hole portion 103. Only one metallic plate 33 is provided in each axial direction of each machining roller 32. When viewed from a circumferential direction of a back-up roller 40, the machining rollers 32 adjacent to each other in a width direction of the electrode plate 100 are disposed so as to deviate in the circumferential direction of the back-up roller 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed herein belongs to the technical field relating to electrode plate machining devices. [Background technology]

[0002] It has been proposed to form a large number of holes in an active material layer constituting an electrode in an electricity storage device such as a lithium ion battery, a lithium ion capacitor, or an all-solid-state battery, thereby facilitating the penetration of an electrolyte into the electrode. For this purpose, an apparatus for forming holes in an electrode has been developed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes forming holes by rolling a roller having protrusions on its outer periphery over an active material.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 proposes a method for forming a parallelogram-shaped recess (hole) in an electrode plate by using a flat press or roller with a predetermined protrusion formed on the surface to form the recess either after or during drying of the positive electrode composite layer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-130297 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-69428 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, if a roller is used as a processing device, holes can be processed efficiently. One method for manufacturing such a roller is to form protrusions corresponding to the shape of the holes on a metal plate and attach the metal plate to the surface of the roller. This method has the advantage that the protrusions can be easily processed into the desired shape.

[0007] Here, when making a wide roller corresponding to the width of the electrode plate, it is necessary to line up and attach multiple metal plates in the axial direction of the roller. In this case, there is a risk that the amount of adhesive applied when attaching each metal plate will be uneven, and the diameter of the roller will vary in the axial direction of the roller. Even if there is no unevenness in the amount of adhesive applied, there is a risk that the diameter of the roller will vary in the axial direction of the roller due to variations in the thickness of the metal plates.

[0008] When forming holes in an electrode plate, it is preferable to make the depth of the holes uniform in order to make the electrolyte penetrate uniformly. However, as described above, if the diameter of the roller varies in the axial direction of the roller, only a part of the roller (the part with the largest diameter) will be in proper contact with the electrode in the axial direction of the roller, and the other parts of the roller will be separated from the electrode. For this reason, it is difficult to process the holes to have a uniform depth in a processing device using such a roller.

[0009] The technology disclosed herein has been made in consideration of these points, and its purpose is to provide an electrode plate machining device that can improve the accuracy of drilling holes in electrode plates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the technology disclosed herein is directed to an electrode plate processing device for forming a bottomed hole in an electrode plate, and includes an unwinding roller around which the electrode plate before processing is wound and which feeds out the electrode plate, a plurality of processing rollers each having a width narrower than the width of the electrode plate and which form the hole in the processed surface of the electrode plate, a plurality of support mechanisms which independently support each of the processing rollers, a backup roller which holds the electrode plate together with each of the processing rollers, and a winding roller which winds up the electrode plate after processing, each of the processing rollers having a cylindrical roller body and a metal plate attached to the surface of the roller body and having a plurality of protrusions for forming the hole, each of the metal plates is provided in a single sheet in each axial direction of each of the processing rollers, and the processing rollers adjacent to each other in the width direction of the electrode plate when viewed in the circumferential direction of the backup roller are positioned so as to be shifted in position in the circumferential direction of the backup roller.

[0011] According to this configuration, in each processing roller, only one metal plate is attached to the roller body in the axial direction of the processing roller. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the diameter of each processing roller, including the metal plate, from varying in the axial direction. In addition, since each processing roller is independently supported by each support mechanism, even if the diameters of each processing roller are different, the position of each processing roller can be adjusted so that the metal plate of each processing roller appropriately contacts the processing surface of the electrode plate. This makes it possible to make the depth of the hole formed by the protrusion uniform.

[0012] In addition, since the processing rollers adjacent to each other in the width direction of the electrode plate are arranged with their positions shifted in the circumferential direction of the backup roller, the gap between the processing rollers in the width direction of the electrode plate can be made as small as possible even if the support mechanism for each processing roller is made large. This makes it possible to properly support the processing rollers and to prevent linear areas without holes from being generated on the processing surface of the electrode plate.

[0013] Therefore, the accuracy of drilling holes in the electrode plate can be improved.

[0014] In one embodiment of the electrode plate processing device, there is one backup roller, the electrode plate is hung on the backup roller so that the conveying direction changes along the surface of the backup roller, and each of the processing rollers is positioned so as to contact the portion of the electrode plate that is hung on the backup roller.

[0015] According to this configuration, the rollers can be positioned as close to each other as possible, so that the rollers can be accurately positioned in the width direction of the electrode plate, thereby improving the accuracy of drilling holes in the electrode plate.

[0016] Furthermore, the electrode plate processing device can be made compact in configuration.

[0017] In the one embodiment, the processing rollers may be free rollers that are not provided with a drive source, and the backup roller may be a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a drive source.

[0018] That is, there are two methods for feeding the electrode plate: driving each processing roller to rotate, and rotating the backup roller. When driving each processing roller to rotate, it is necessary to synchronize the rotation of each processing roller to keep the tension applied to the electrode plate constant. In this case, as described above, if the diameters of the processing rollers are different, it is necessary to set and control the rotation speed of each processing roller according to the diameter, which requires complex control. On the other hand, when the backup roller is rotated, it is possible to feed the electrode plate while keeping the tension applied to the electrode plate constant without such complex control.

[0019] In addition, when each processing roller is rotated, the protrusions push out the hole, so a load is applied from the protrusions to the sides of the hole. If this load varies, the shape of the hole may vary. When the backup roller is rotated, the load is less likely to be applied to the sides of the hole, so the shape of the hole is less likely to vary.

[0020] Therefore, with the above-described configuration, the accuracy of drilling holes in the electrode plate can be further improved.

[0021] The electrode plate processing apparatus may further include a plurality of pressing devices provided for each of the processing rollers, each pressing each of the processing rollers against the backup roller, and a controller for controlling the operation of each of the pressing devices, wherein the controller controls each of the pressing devices so that the pressing force of each of the processing rollers against the electrode plate is constant.

[0022] With this configuration, the pressing force of each processing roller against the electrode plate is constant, so that the insertion amount of the protrusion into the processing surface can be made substantially constant, thereby further improving the accuracy of hole processing in the electrode plate. Effect of the Invention

[0023] As described above, according to the technique disclosed herein, it is possible to provide an electrode plate machining device capable of improving the accuracy of drilling holes in an electrode plate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrode plate processed in an exemplary embodiment, where (a) is a plan view of the electrode plate and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut along a plane corresponding to line Ib-Ib in (a). [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrode plate processing device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of a die assembly including a processing roller. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the die assembly. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the processing roller. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the processing rollers. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the processing roller and the backup roller. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view showing a modified example of the arrangement of the processing rollers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0026] (Electrode Plate) FIG. 1 shows an electrode plate 100 processed by the electrode plate processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. This electrode plate 100 is an electrode plate used for at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the electrode plate 100 is configured by laminating an active material layer 101 on a current collector foil 102. In the case of a lithium ion battery, for the active material layer 101 of the positive electrode, a lithium-containing composite oxide containing lithium and at least one transition metal element such as manganese lithium composite oxide (LiMn2O4) or nickel-manganese-based LiNi x Mn 1-x O2 (0 <x <1) is used, and for the active material layer 101 of the negative electrode, a carbon material such as carbon particles is used. As the current collector foil 102, aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy can be used for the positive electrode, and copper or a copper-based alloy can be used for the negative electrode.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b), an active material layer 101 of an electrode plate 100 has a bottomed hole 103 formed therein. In other words, the surface of the electrode plate 100 on which the active material layer 101 is formed corresponds to the processed surface. This hole 103 is a hole for improving the permeation efficiency of an electrolyte into the active material layer 101. In this embodiment, the hole 103 has an inverted cone shape. The depth of the hole 103 is, for example, about 10 µm.

[0029] (Electrode plate processing equipment) Next, we will explain the electrode plate processing device 1 for forming the above-mentioned electrode plate 100. The electrode plate 100 is a wide thin plate when processed, but after processing, it is cut to an appropriate size according to the shape of the battery, and becomes the shape shown in Figure 1.

[0030] 2 shows a schematic configuration of the electrode plate processing device 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the processing device 1). The processing device 1 includes an unwinding roller 10 around which the electrode plate 100 before processing is wound and which feeds out the electrode plate 100, a first guide roller 11 which guides the electrode plate 100 fed from the unwinding roller 10, a first dancer section 12 for adjusting the tension applied to the electrode plate 100 before processing during transport, a second guide roller 13 which guides the electrode plate 100 fed from the first dancer section 12 to a downstream processing mechanism 30, a processing mechanism 30 which forms a hole 103 in the processing surface of the electrode plate 100 (the surface on which the active material layer 101 is formed), a second dancer section 14 for adjusting the tension applied to the processed electrode plate 100 during transport, third and fourth guide rollers 15 and 16 which guide the processed electrode plate 100 to the winding roller 20, and a winding roller 20 which winds up the processed electrode plate 100.

[0031] The unwinding roller 10 is configured as a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a first motor 10a. In the processing device 1 shown in Fig. 2, the electrode plate 100 is wound around the unwinding roller 10 so that the active material layer 101 of the electrode plate 100 faces back. Although not shown, a winding diameter sensor for detecting the winding diameter of the electrode plate 100 wound around the unwinding roller 10 is provided near the unwinding roller 10.

[0032] The first guide roller 11 guides the electrode plate 100 sent out from the unwinding roller 10 to the downstream first dancer section 12 so that the electrode plate 100 is in an appropriate transport direction. The first guide roller 11 is a free roller that does not have a drive source for rotation.

[0033] The first dancer section 12 includes a first support roller 12a whose position is fixed, a first dancing roller 12b whose position is movable and located downstream of the first support roller 12a, and a first dancer mechanism 12c that swings the first dancing roller 12b. The first dancer mechanism 12c includes a first connecting rod whose one end is connected to the first dancing roller 12b and whose other end is attached to a support shaft, and a first dancer cylinder that rotates the first connecting rod around the support shaft. The electrode plate 100 is wound around the first support roller 12a and then around the first dancing roller 12b. The first dancer section 12 adjusts the tension on the electrode plate 100 to be constant by the first dancer cylinder pushing and pulling the first connecting rod to move the first dancing roller 12b relative to the first support roller 12a. Both the first support roller 12a and the first dancing roller 12b are free rollers that do not have a drive source for rotation. The first dancer cylinder is an air cylinder. Although not shown, an EPC (Edge Position Control, registered trademark) sensor is provided between the first guide roller 11 and the first support roller 12a to detect the position of the edge of the electrode plate 100 in the width direction being transported, and the first support roller 12a is provided with a tension sensor to detect the tension of the electrode plate 100 being transported.

[0034] The second guide roller 13 guides the electrode plate 100 to the downstream processing mechanism 30 so that the electrode plate 100 is in an appropriate transport direction. The second guide roller 13 is disposed at a position where the electrode plate 100 can be wrapped around at least ⅓ of the circumference of the backup roller 40 of the processing mechanism 30. The second guide roller 13 is configured as a free roller that does not have a drive source for rotation.

[0035] The machining mechanism 30 has a plurality of die devices 31 each having a machining roller 32 for forming a hole 103 in the machining surface of the electrode plate 100, and a backup roller 40 for clamping the electrode plate 100 together with each machining roller 32. Each die device 31 has a die pressure cylinder 38 (see FIG. 3, etc.) for pressing the machining roller 32 against the backup roller 40. The backup roller 40 is configured as a drive motor that is rotationally driven by a third motor 42. Details of the machining mechanism 30 will be described later.

[0036] The second dancer section 14 includes a second support roller 14a whose position is fixed, a second dancing roller 14b whose position is movable and located upstream of the second support roller 14a, and a second dancer mechanism 14c that swings the second dancing roller 14b. The second dancer mechanism 14c includes a second connecting rod whose one end is connected to the second dancing roller 14b and whose other end is attached to a support shaft, and a second dancer cylinder that rotates the second connecting rod around the support shaft. The electrode plate 100 is wound around the second dancing roller 14b and then wound around the second support roller 14a. The second dancer section 14 adjusts the tension on the electrode plate 100 to be constant by the second dancer cylinder pushing and pulling the second connecting rod to move the second dancing roller 14b relative to the second support roller 14a. The second support roller 14a and the second dancing roller 14b are both free rollers that do not have a driving source for rotation. The second dancer cylinder is an air cylinder. Although not shown, the second support roller 14a is provided with a tension sensor that detects the tension of the electrode plate 100 during transportation.

[0037] The third and fourth guide rollers 15, 16 guide the processed electrode plate 100 to the take-up roller 20 so that the electrode plate 100 is in an appropriate transport direction. The third and fourth guide rollers 15, 16 are free rollers that do not have a drive source for rotation. Although not shown in the figure, an EPC (Edge Position Control, registered trademark) sensor is provided between the second support roller 14a and the third guide roller 15 to detect the position of the edge of the electrode plate 100 in the width direction being transported.

[0038] The winding roller 20 is configured as a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a second motor 20a. In the processing device 1 shown in Fig. 2, the electrode plate 100 is wound around the winding roller 20 so that the active material layer 101 of the electrode plate 100 faces outward. Although not shown, a winding diameter sensor is provided near the winding roller 20 to detect the winding diameter of the electrode plate 100 wound around the winding roller 20.

[0039] The processing device 1 is controlled by a controller 50. The controller 50 has a processor having a CPU, a memory in which a plurality of modules are stored, and the like. The controller 50 operates the first motor 10a, the second motor 20a, the third motor 42, the first dancer cylinder, the second dancer cylinder, and the die pressurizing cylinder 38 (see FIG. 3, etc.) based on the detection results of each winding diameter sensor, each tension sensor, and each EPC sensor. Specifically, the controller 50 synchronizes the first motor 10a, the second motor 20a, and the third motor 42 and adjusts the amount of air supplied to the first dancer cylinder and the second dancer cylinder based on the detection results of each sensor so that the electrode plate 100 does not bend or meander during transportation. In addition, the controller 50 controls the amount of air supplied to each die pressurizing cylinder 38 so that the pressing force of each processing roller 32 against the electrode plate 100 is constant, which will be described in detail later. Such functions are stored as software in a memory module. The number of processors and memories is not limited to one, and the controller 50 may have two or more processors and memories.

[0040] (Processing mechanism) 3 to 5 show a die device 31 provided in the processing mechanism 30. Although there are a plurality of die devices 31 (six in this embodiment), each die device 31 has the same configuration, so that only one die device 31 will be described in detail below.

[0041] 3 and 4, the die device 31 has a processing roller 32 as a die for forming a hole 103 in the processed surface of the electrode plate 100. The width of the processing roller 32 is narrower than the width of the electrode plate 100. Specifically, in this embodiment, the width of the processing roller 32 is about 1 / 6 of the width of the electrode plate 100 during processing.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, the processing roller 32 has a cylindrical roller body 32a. The processing roller 32 is formed by attaching only one metal plate 33 to the outer circumferential surface of the roller body 32a with an adhesive. The width of the metal plate 33 is the same as the width of the roller body 32a, and the length of the metal plate 33 is the same as the circumference of the roller body 32a. The through hole 32b of the roller body 32a is a portion into which the support shaft 35 described later is inserted. The roller body 32a can be made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.

[0043] The metal plate 33 has a plurality of protrusions 33a formed in a predetermined pattern on the processed surface 33b located on the opposite side to the roller body 32a. Each protrusion 33a has a cone shape corresponding to the shape of the hole 103. The height of the protrusions 33a from the processed surface 33b is set to about 10 μm depending on the depth of the hole 103. The protrusions 33a are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction of the metal plate 33. The intervals between the two protrusions 33a at both ends in the width direction of the metal plate 33 and the ends in the width direction of the metal plate 33 are set to half the intervals between the protrusions 33a adjacent to each other in the width direction of the metal plate 33. The protrusions 33a are formed of a metal harder than the active material layer 101.

[0044] The processing roller 32 is configured as a free roller that does not have a drive source for rotation.

[0045] The die device 31 has a support mechanism 34 that supports the processing roller 32. One support mechanism 34 is provided for each die device 31, and supports each processing roller 32 independently. The support mechanism 34 has a support shaft 35 fixed to the processing roller 32 and supporting the processing roller 32, and a holding portion 36 that holds the processing roller 32 together with the support shaft 35.

[0046] The support shaft 35 is attached and fixed to the processing roller 32 so as to be coaxial with the processing roller 32. Bearings 37 are attached to both axial ends of the support shaft 35. This allows the processing roller 32 to rotate together with the support shaft 35 around its central axis.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the holding portion 36 is U-shaped in front view. Specifically, the holding portion 36 has a first wall portion 36a located on one side in the axial direction of the support shaft 35 and shaped like a rectangular plate, a second wall portion 36b located on the other side in the axial direction so as to face the first wall portion 36a in the axial direction and shaped like a rectangular plate, and a connecting wall portion 36c connecting one end of the first wall portion 36a in the longitudinal direction to one end of the second wall portion 36b in the longitudinal direction in the axial direction. A recess for accommodating and fixing the bearing 37 is formed in the other longitudinal side portion of the first wall portion 36a and the second wall portion 36b (only the recess of the first wall portion 36a is shown in FIG. 4). A lid body 36d in the form of an elongated plate is disposed at the opening of the recess. The lid body 36d is fixed to the first wall portion 36a and the second wall portion 36b by bolts. The first wall portion 36a and the second wall portion 36b may be integral with the connecting wall portion 36c, or may be formed as separate bodies.

[0048] 3 and 4, the processing roller 32 is held by the holding portion 36 with the bearing 37 and the support shaft 35 housed in the recesses of the first and second wall portions 36a, 36b and the cover 36d fixed to the first and second wall portions 36a, 36b. The processing roller 32 is disposed in the region between the first wall portion 36a and the second wall portion 36b, with a part of the processing roller 32 protruding from the holding portion 36.

[0049] The die pressurizing cylinder 38 of the die device 31 has a tip of its cylinder rod 38a connected to the connecting wall portion 36c of the holding portion 36, and moves the processing roller 32 together with the holding portion 36 forward and backward in the axial direction of the cylinder rod 38a. The cylinder rod 38a of the die pressurizing cylinder 38 is disposed so that the central axis C1 of the processing roller 32 (which coincides with the center of the support shaft 35) is located on an extension line L of the axial center line.

[0050] The mold pressurizing cylinder 38 is composed of an air cylinder. The mold pressurizing cylinder 38 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via an air supply path 38b. The air supply path 38b is provided with a regulator 38c for adjusting the amount of air supplied to the mold pressurizing cylinder 38. The regulator 38c is controlled by a controller 50, which controls the regulator 38c to adjust the amount of air supplied to the mold pressurizing cylinder 38, thereby adjusting the pressing force of the processing roller 32 against the electrode plate 100 wrapped around the backup roller 40 to be constant. The mold pressurizing cylinder 38 has a load sensor for detecting the pressing force of the processing roller 32 against the electrode plate 100. The load sensor is built into, for example, the cylinder rod 38a, and detects the load applied to the cylinder rod 38a via the processing roller 32, the support shaft 35, and the holding portion 36. The controller 50 controls the regulator 38c based on the detection result of the load sensor. Thus, the mold pressurizing cylinder 38 and the regulator 38c constitute a pressing device. Incidentally, "keeping the pressing force constant" does not have to be strictly constant, and the pressing force may be increased or decreased slightly so long as it is a pressing force that presses the processing surface 33b of the metal plate 33 of the processing roller 32 against the active material layer 101 of the electrode plate 100 and does not compressively deform the active material layer 101 (excluding deformation due to hole processing).

[0051] The die device 31 has a rail 39 as a guide when the die pressurizing cylinder 38 moves the processing roller 32 forward and backward. The rail 39 extends parallel to the axis of the cylinder rod 38a. The rail 39 engages with the connecting wall portion 36c of the holding portion 36. This allows the processing roller 32 to move so that its central track is parallel to the rail 39.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 6, the backup roller 40 is composed of one roller having a width wider than that of the electrode plate 100. The backup roller 40 is fixed to the frame 2 of the processing device 1 via a support shaft 41. The support shaft 41 is connected to a third motor 42. The support shaft 41 is rotated by the third motor 42, whereby the backup roller 40 rotates around its central axis. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the electrode plate 100 is wound around the backup roller 40 by 1 / 3 or more of the circumferential direction thereof so that the conveying direction changes along the surface of the backup roller 40. The axial direction of the backup roller 40 coincides with the width direction of the wound electrode plate 100. The backup roller 40 is, for example, a metal roller.

[0053] 2, the processing mechanism 30 is provided with a cleaning roller 43 for cleaning the processing roller 32. The cleaning roller 43 has a weak adhesive roller and a strong adhesive roller, and is configured to collect processing debris and the like adhering to the processing roller 32 with the weak adhesive roller, and to collect processing debris and the like collected by the weak adhesive roller with the strong adhesive roller.

[0054] Next, the arrangement of each die device 31 and the backup roller 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. In Fig. 6, the support structure of each die device 31 with respect to the frame 2 is omitted in order to simplify the drawing.

[0055] 6, each die device 31 is arranged such that each processing roller 32 is aligned in the width direction of the electrode plate 100 when viewed from the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40, and such that processing rollers 32 adjacent to each other in the width direction are shifted in position in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40. Specifically, each die device 31 is arranged such that each processing roller 32 is arranged in a staggered manner in the width direction of the electrode plate 100 when viewed from the radial direction of the backup roller 40. More specifically, when the die units 31 are arranged in the order of a first die unit 311, a second die unit 312, a third die unit 313, a fourth die unit 314, a fifth die unit 315, and a sixth die unit 316 from one side (here, the side where the third motor 42 is arranged) of the axial direction of the backup roller 40 (hereinafter, referred to as the backup axial direction) to the other side, the first die unit 311, the third die unit 313, and the fifth die unit 315 are positioned at a first position in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40, and are arranged at equal intervals in the backup axial direction, while the second die unit 312, the fourth die unit 314, and the sixth die unit 316 are positioned at a second position different from the first position in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40, and are arranged at equal intervals in the backup axial direction. The second die unit 312 is positioned between the first die unit 311 and the third die unit 313 in the backup axial direction. The fourth die assembly 314 is located between the third die assembly 313 and the fifth die assembly 315 in the backup axial direction. The sixth die assembly 316 is located on the other side of the fifth die assembly 315 in the backup axial direction.

[0056] The first die device 311 and the second die device 312 are arranged so that the distance in the backup axis direction between the protrusion 33a on the other side of the processing roller 32 of the first die device 311 and the protrusion 33a on the one side of the backup axis direction of the processing roller 32 of the second die device 312 is the same as the distance between the protrusions 33a adjacent to each other in the width direction of each processing roller 32. In this embodiment, the distance between the two protrusions 33a at both ends of the width direction of the processing roller 32 among the protrusions 33a is half the distance between the protrusions 33a adjacent to each other in the width direction of the processing roller 32, so that the above-mentioned arrangement is achieved by arranging the other side surface in the backup axis direction of the processing roller 32 of the first die device 311 and the one side surface in the backup axis direction of the processing roller 32 of the second die device 312 so as to be located on the same plane. The second mold apparatus 312 and the third mold apparatus 313, the third mold apparatus 313 and the fourth mold apparatus 314, the fourth mold apparatus 314 and the fifth mold apparatus 315, and the fifth mold apparatus 315 and the sixth mold apparatus 316 are also arranged as described above.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, the first position and the second position are positions that are different by 90° in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40. Specifically, the first position is a position vertically above the backup roller 40, and the second position is a position on the upstream side in the horizontal direction in the conveying direction of the electrode plate 100. The first to sixth die devices 311 to 316 are arranged so that each processing roller 32 contacts the part of the electrode plate 100 that is hung on the backup roller 40. The first to sixth die devices 311 to 316 are arranged so that the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 is located on an extension line L of the axis of the cylinder rod 38a of each die pressure cylinder 38. As a result, the central axis C1 of each processing roller 32 of the first die device 311, the third die device 313, and the fifth die device 315 and the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 are located in the same vertical plane. Furthermore, the central axis C1 of each of the processing rollers 32 of the second die device 312, the fourth die device 314, and the sixth die device 316 and the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 are located in the same horizontal plane. As described above, by arranging the first to sixth die devices 311 to 316, the pressing force generated by each die pressurizing cylinder 38 can be transmitted from the processing rollers 32 to the electrode plate 100 with almost no reduction. Each processing roller 32 can be pressed against the electrode plate 100 wrapped around the backup roller 40 with a more appropriate pressing force.

[0058] The central axes C1 of the processing rollers 32 of the first die assembly 311, the third die assembly 313, and the fifth die assembly 315 are located in the same vertical plane, but are not necessarily parallel to each other. When the processing roller 32 is formed into a truncated cone shape due to the distribution of the thickness of the metal plate 33 or the distribution of the adhesive, the processing roller 32 is disposed so that its central axis C1 is slightly inclined with respect to the other central axes C1. The same applies to the central axes C1 of the processing rollers 32 of the second die assembly 312, the fourth die assembly 314, and the sixth die assembly 316.

[0059] Here, as described above, when performing hole processing on a wide electrode plate 100, a processing roller having a width equivalent to that of the backup roller 40 has been used in the past. Such processing rollers are constructed by arranging and attaching a plurality of metal plates in the axial direction of the processing roller. However, the conventional processing roller has a problem that the diameter of the processing roller varies in the axial direction of the processing roller due to variations in the thickness of the metal plate 33 and differences in the amount of adhesive applied. If the diameter of the processing roller varies in the axial direction of the processing roller, only a part of the processing roller contacts the electrode plate 100 in the axial direction of the processing roller, and the other part of the processing roller is separated from the electrode plate 100, so that the depth of the hole 103 formed by the processing roller varies.

[0060] In contrast, in this embodiment, holes are machined in the electrode plate 100 by a plurality of processing rollers 32 each having a width narrower than that of the electrode plate 100. Each processing roller 32 is configured by attaching only one metal plate having a width narrower than that of the electrode plate and forming a protrusion to a roller body 32a. That is, in each processing roller 32, only one metal plate 33 is provided in the axial direction of the processing roller 32. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the variation in the diameter of each processing roller 32 including the metal plate 33. In addition, since each processing roller 32 is independently supported by each support mechanism 34, even if the diameters of each processing roller 32 are different, the position of each processing roller 32 can be adjusted so that the processed surface 33b of the metal plate 33 of each processing roller 32 appropriately contacts the processing surface of the electrode plate 100 (the surface of the active material layer 101). This makes it possible to make the depth of the hole 103 formed by the protrusion 33a formed on the processed surface 33b uniform.

[0061] In addition, by arranging the processing rollers 32 in a staggered manner, even if the support mechanism 34 of each processing roller 32 is made large, the gap between the processing rollers 32 in the width direction of the electrode plate 100 can be made as small as possible. This makes it possible to properly support the processing rollers 32 and to prevent linear regions on the processing surface of the electrode plate 100 where holes are not machined.

[0062] Therefore, the accuracy of drilling holes in the electrode plate 100 can be improved.

[0063] Furthermore, since the configuration of this embodiment has a structure in which one metal plate 33 is attached to each processing roller 32, when the protrusions 33a of the metal plate 33 are deformed due to wear, it is necessary to replace only the metal plate 33 of the processing roller 32 whose protrusions 33a are deformed. Also, by arranging the processing rollers 32 in a staggered pattern, the gaps between the processing rollers 32 can be made as large as possible, making it easier to arrange tools and the like during maintenance. This also makes it easier to maintain the processing rollers 32.

[0064] In this embodiment, there is only one backup roller 40 that holds the electrode plate 100 together with each processing roller 32, the electrode plate 100 is hung on the backup roller 40 so that the conveying direction changes along the surface of the backup roller 40, and each processing roller 32 is disposed so as to contact the portion of the electrode plate 100 that is hung on the backup roller 40. This allows the processing rollers 32 to be disposed as close to each other as possible, so that the processing rollers 32 can be accurately positioned in the width direction of the electrode plate 100 (coincident with the backup axis direction). This allows the accuracy of hole processing in the electrode plate 100 to be further improved.

[0065] Furthermore, by arranging the processing rollers 32, and therefore the die devices 31, close to each other in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40, the electrode plate processing device 1 can be made compact in configuration.

[0066] In this embodiment, each processing roller 32 is a free roller that is not provided with a driving source, and the backup roller 40 is a drive roller that is rotationally driven by the third motor 42. This allows the controller 50 to feed the electrode plate 100 while keeping the tension applied to the electrode plate 100 constant, without complex control.

[0067] Furthermore, if each processing roller 32 is rotated, the protrusion 33a pushes out the hole 103, and a load is applied from the protrusion to the side of the hole 103. If this load varies, the shape of the hole 103 may vary. If the backup roller 40 is rotated, the load is less likely to be applied to the side of the hole 103, and the shape of the hole 103 is less likely to vary.

[0068] Therefore, the accuracy of drilling holes in the electrode plate 100 can be further improved.

[0069] In this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a plurality of die pressurizing cylinders 38, each of which is provided for each processing roller 32 and presses each processing roller 32 against the backup roller 40, and the controller 50 controls each die pressurizing cylinder 38 so that the pressing force of each processing roller 32 against the electrode plate 100 is constant. In this way, by making the pressing force of each processing roller 32 against the electrode plate 100 constant, the insertion amount of the protrusions 33a into the processing surface of the electrode plate 100 can be made approximately constant. This can further improve the accuracy of hole processing in the electrode plate 100.

[0070] In this embodiment, each die device 31 is disposed so that the central axis C1 of the processing roller 32 and the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 are located on the extension line L of the axis of the cylinder rod 38a of each die pressurizing cylinder 38. That is, when at least one of the central axis C1 of the processing roller 32 and the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 is not located on the extension line L of the axis of the cylinder rod 38a of each die pressurizing cylinder 38, the advancing and retreating direction of the die pressurizing cylinder deviates from the radial direction of the processing roller and the backup roller, so that only a part of the pressing force generated by the die pressurizing cylinder 38 is transmitted to the electrode plate 100. On the other hand, with the above-mentioned configuration, since the advancing and retreating direction of the die pressurizing cylinder is the radial direction of the processing roller and the backup roller, the pressing force generated by each die pressurizing cylinder 38 can be transmitted from the processing roller 32 to the electrode plate 100 with almost no reduction. As a result, each processing roller 32 can be pressed against the electrode plate 100 wrapped around the backup roller 40 with an appropriate pressing force. This allows the accuracy of drilling holes in the electrode plate 100 to be further improved.

[0071] In this embodiment, some of the multiple die devices 31 (first die device 311, third die device 313, and fifth die device 315) are disposed vertically above the backup roller 40, while the remaining die devices 31 (second die device 312, fourth die device 314, and sixth die device 316) are disposed horizontally upstream in the conveying direction of the electrode plate 100. This simplifies the support structure of the die devices 31, including the rails 39, relative to the frame 2 of the processing apparatus 1.

[0072] In particular, in this embodiment, the central axis C1 of each processing roller 32 of the part of the die devices 31 and the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 are located in the same vertical plane, and the central axis C1 of each processing roller 32 of the remaining die devices 31 and the central axis C2 of the backup roller 40 are located in the same horizontal plane. This makes the effect of gravity on each processing roller 32 approximately the same among the part of the die devices 31, and also makes the effect of gravity on each processing roller 32 approximately the same among the remaining die devices 31. As a result, it is possible to facilitate control when the controller 50 controls the regulator 38c taking into account the effect of gravity.

[0073] (Other embodiments) The technology disclosed herein is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0074] For example, in the above embodiment, the processing device 1 has been described for processing only one side of the electrode plate 100. However, this is not limiting, and another processing mechanism 30 may be provided to process both sides of the electrode plate 100 in which the active material layer 101 is formed on both sides of the current collecting foil 102.

[0075] In the above embodiment, an air cylinder is used as the pressing device of the die device 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a compression coil spring may be used as the pressing device.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the protrusion 33a is conical, and therefore the hole 103 is in an inverted-edge cone shape. However, the protrusion 33a may have any shape as long as it can form a bottomed hole, and may have, for example, a pyramidal shape, a truncated conical shape, or a truncated pyramidal shape.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the first position where the first mold device 311, the third mold device 313, and the fifth mold device 315 are arranged and the second position where the second mold device 312, the fourth mold device 314, and the sixth mold device 316 are arranged are different from each other by 90° in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40. However, the angle between the first position and the second position in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40 may be less than 90° as long as the support mechanisms 34 of the respective mold devices 31 do not interfere with each other. In addition, if the range in which the electrode plate 100 is wound around the backup roller 40 is widened, the angle between the first position and the second position in the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40 can be made larger than 90°.

[0078] Also, as long as the processing rollers 32 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction of the electrode plate 100 as viewed from the circumferential direction of the backup roller 40, some of the die devices 31 may be arranged at a third position between the first position and the second position (for example, at a position at 45° in the circumferential direction of the backup roller). For example, the first die device 311 and the fourth die device 314 may be arranged at the first position, the second die device 312 and the fifth die device 315 may be arranged at the second position, and the third die device 313 and the sixth die device 316 may be arranged at the third position. FIG. 8 is a view of the above-mentioned arrangement as viewed from the backup axis direction. The fourth to sixth die devices 314 to 316 have parts of the processing rollers 32 overlapping each other as viewed from the backup axis direction, but they do not actually interfere with each other because the positions in the backup axis direction are shifted as described above.

[0079] In the above embodiment, only one metal plate 33 is attached to the processing roller 32, but this is not limited thereto, and when creating a processing roller 32 with a large diameter, a plurality of metal plates 33 may be attached in the circumferential direction of the processing roller 32. Even in this case, there is only one metal plate 33 in the axial direction of the processing roller 32.

[0080] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, and all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0081] The technology disclosed herein is useful as an electrode plate machining device for forming a bottomed hole in an electrode plate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 Electrode plate processing equipment 10 Unwinding roller 20 Winding roller 32 Processing roller 32a Roller body 33 Metal plate 33a protrusion 34 Support mechanism 38 Mold pressure cylinder (pressing device) 38c Regulator (pressing device) 40 Backup roller 42 3rd motor (drive source) 50 Controller 100 electrode plate 103 Hole

Claims

1. An electrode plate processing device for forming a bottomed hole portion in an electrode plate, an unwinding roller around which the electrode plate before processing is wound and which feeds out the electrode plate; a plurality of processing rollers each having a width narrower than the width of the electrode plate and configured to form the hole in the processing surface of the electrode plate; A plurality of support mechanisms each independently supporting each of the processing rollers; a backup roller for holding the electrode plate together with each of the processing rollers; a take-up roller for taking up the electrode plate after processing, Each of the processing rollers is A cylindrical roller body; a metal plate attached to a surface of the roller body and having a plurality of protrusions for forming the hole; Each of them has Only one of the metal plates is provided in each axial direction of the processing roller, When viewed from the circumferential direction of the backup roller, the processing rollers adjacent to each other in the width direction of the electrode plate are arranged at positions shifted from each other in the circumferential direction of the backup roller, and 11. An electrode plate machining device, comprising: said machining rollers each arranged so that its axial position can be adjusted.

2. 2. The electrode plate machining apparatus according to claim 1, The backup roller is one. the electrode plate is hung on the backup roller so that the conveying direction changes along the surface of the backup roller, 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode plate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3. 3. The electrode plate machining apparatus according to claim 2, Each of the processing rollers is a free roller that is not provided with a driving source, The electrode plate machining device, wherein the backup roller is a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a drive source.

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