Restraining fixture

Abstract

A restraining jig (J) comprises: a first unit (100) that applies a restraining load in the Z axis direction, to an electrode laminate (10) via a pair of restraining members (30, 30) that are disposed at both ends of the electrode laminate (10) in the Z axis direction; and a second unit (200) that has a flow path section (60), which is connected to a space (S) by connecting to an opening (20b), and a base (51) that supports the flow path section (60). The second unit (200) is detachably provided on the first unit (100) and the flow path section (60) is connected, in a liquid-tight manner, to the opening (20b) when the base (51) is fixed to at least one out of the pair of restraining members (30, 30) by fixing sections (35, 55) that restrict movement of the second unit (200) in the X axis direction relative to the first unit (100) and fix the second unit (200).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a restraint jig.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a power storage module including a laminate configured to include a plurality of electrodes laminated in one direction, a sealing portion that seals each space between the electrodes, and an opening formed in the sealing portion and communicating the inside and outside of the space, and an electrolytic solution accommodated in each space. In such a power storage module, it is necessary to supply an electrolytic solution to the space between the electrodes in the manufacturing process. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, by pressing a flow path portion for supplying the electrolytic solution against the side surface of the laminate, the flow path portion is connected to the opening, and the electrolytic solution is supplied from the flow path portion to the space inside the laminate while ensuring liquid tightness of the connection portion.

[0003] In order to supply the electrolytic solution to the space inside the laminate in such a method, not only is it necessary to press the flow path portion against the laminate to ensure liquid tightness of the connection portion between the flow path portion and the laminate, but also it is necessary to position the laminate and fix the laminate so that the laminate does not move when the flow path portion is pressed against the laminate. In Patent Document 1, a first jig for restraining the movement of the laminate and pressing the flow path portion against the laminate and a second jig for restraining the laminate in the lamination direction are prepared. The laminate is positioned by the second jig, and when the flow path portion is pressed against the laminate by the first jig, the laminate is prevented from moving in the pressing direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the method of restraining the laminate by the above two conventional jigs, when connecting the flow path portion of the second jig to the opening of the laminate restrained by the first jig, it is necessary to appropriately align the flow path portion with respect to the laminate, which is time-consuming and inferior in workability.

[0006] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a restraining jig capable of improving workability during manufacturing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A restraining jig according to one aspect of the present invention includes a laminate configured to include a plurality of electrodes laminated in a first direction, a plurality of electrodes laminated in the first direction, a sealing portion that seals a space between the electrodes, and an opening formed in the sealing portion and communicating the inside and outside of the space and opening in a second direction intersecting the first direction, an electrolytic solution housed in the space, and is a restraining jig used during the manufacture of a power storage module, and includes a first unit that applies a restraining load in the first direction to the laminate via a pair of restraining portions disposed at both ends of the laminate in the first direction, a flow path portion that communicates with the space by being connected to the opening, and a base portion that supports the flow path portion, and the second unit is detachably provided on the first unit, and when the base portion is fixed to at least one of the pair of restraining portions by a fixing portion that restricts and fixes the movement of the second unit in the second direction with respect to the first unit, the flow path portion is liquid-tightly connected to the opening.

[0008] In this configuration, the flow path portion of the second unit is liquid-tightly connected to the opening of the laminate by a simple operation of attaching the second unit to the first unit in a state where the laminate is restrained, via the fixing portion. This facilitates the alignment work when connecting the flow path portion to the opening of the laminate, and the workability during manufacturing can be improved by using the restraining jig of this configuration.

[0009] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the fixing portion is formed by a first concave portion provided on one of the restraint portion and the base portion, and a first convex portion provided on the other of the restraint portion and the base portion. The movement of the second unit in the second direction with respect to the first unit may be restricted and fixed by fitting the first concave portion and the first convex portion. In this configuration, the second unit can be fixed to the first unit by a simple operation of fitting the first concave portion and the first convex portion.

[0010] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the fixing portion may include a first hole formed in the restraint portion, a second hole formed in the base portion, and an insertion member inserted through the first hole and the second hole arranged to overlap in the first direction. In this configuration, the second unit can be fixed to the first unit by a simple operation of inserting the insertion member through the first hole and the second hole.

[0011] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the fixing portion may include one of a second concave portion and a second convex portion formed in the restraint portion, one of a second concave portion and a second convex portion formed in the base portion, and a connecting member that fits into the second concave portion or the second convex portion formed in the restraint portion and the second concave portion or the second convex portion formed in the base portion. In this configuration, the second unit can be fixed to the first unit by a simple operation of fitting the connecting member having the other of the second concave portion and the second convex portion into one of the second concave portion and the second convex portion formed in the base portion and the restraint portion.

[0012] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the second unit may have a pressing portion provided in the flow path portion and pressed against the laminate so as to surround the opening portion, and a biasing portion that presses the pressing portion against the laminate. In this configuration, the flow path portion and the opening portion can be connected more liquid-tightly.

[0013] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path portion may have a connecting portion to which the connected portion is connected in a communicable manner from vertically above. In this configuration, the connection operation of the connected portion to the connecting portion becomes easy.

[0014] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the connected part is a pipe for supplying electrolytic solution, and the electrolytic solution may be supplied to the space through the flow path part. With this configuration, the electrolytic solution can be easily supplied to the inside of the space.

[0015] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the base part has a first base part and a second base part, and the first base part and the second base part sandwich and support the flow path part in the first direction. The first base part may be fixed to one of the pair of restraint parts by a fixing part, and the second base part may be fixed to the other of the pair of restraint parts by a fixing part. With this configuration, the flow path part can be supported more stably.

[0016] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the base part is a member that supports the flow path part from below in the first direction, and the base part may be fixed to a restraint part disposed below in the first direction, which is one of the pair of restraint parts, by a fixing part.

[0017] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, one of the pair of restraint parts is longer in the second direction than the other of the pair of restraint parts and extends so as to protrude from the laminate in the second direction, and the base part may be fixed to one of the pair of restraint parts. With this configuration, since the base part is fixed to one of the protruding restraint parts, the attachment and detachment of the second unit to and from the first unit can be easily performed without interference between the other of the restraint parts and the flow path part.

[0018] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, a through window through which at least a part of the connection portion between the flow path part and the opening can be visually recognized may be formed in the base part. With this configuration, the connection state between the flow path part and the opening can be easily confirmed, so that problems due to poor connection can be avoided.

[0019] In the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, a through window capable of visually recognizing at least a part of the connection portion between the flow path portion and the opening portion may be formed in one of the pair of restraint portions. With this configuration, the connection state between the flow path portion and the opening portion can be easily confirmed, so that it is possible to avoid problems caused by poor connection.

[0020] The restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first clamping portion that clamps a plurality of electrodes constituting a laminate, and a second clamping portion that clamps a sealing portion constituting the laminate. The first clamping portion includes a power supply connection portion that electrically connects the laminate and an external power supply by contacting the electrodes. The first clamping portion is formed as a part of a pair of restraint portions, and the second clamping portion is formed as a part of a pair of restraint portions or a part of a pair of base portions. The thickness of the second clamping portion in the first direction may be smaller than the thickness of the first clamping portion in the first direction.

[0021] In the laminate restrained by the restraint jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the thickness in the first direction may be different between a laminate region in which a plurality of electrodes are laminated in the laminate and a second region in which a sealing portion is formed in the laminate. More specifically, the thickness of the second region in the first direction may be larger than the thickness of the laminate region in the first direction. Here, when the thickness of the first clamping portion in the first direction and the thickness of the second clamping portion in the first direction are the same, an excessive restraint load may be applied to the second region (particularly the region where the sealing portion with the opening is formed), or a sufficient restraint load may not be applied to the laminate region, so that it may not be possible to restrain the laminate in a state where an equal pressure is applied to the entire laminate. In this case, there is also a possibility that the power supply connection portion does not contact the electrode, and it may not be possible to stably supply power to the laminate in the manufacturing stage.

[0022] In the restraining jig according to one aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the second clamping portion in the first direction is formed to be smaller than the thickness of the first clamping portion in the first direction. Therefore, even when restraining a laminate in which the second region where the sealing portion is formed protrudes in the first direction more than the lamination region where a plurality of electrodes of the laminate are laminated, the first clamping portion contacts the lamination region in an appropriate state, and the second clamping portion contacts the second region in an appropriate state. As a result, it becomes possible to restrain the laminate while applying uniform pressure to the entire laminate, and it becomes possible to stably supply power to the laminate in the manufacturing stage.

Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to one aspect of the present invention, workability during manufacturing can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of one aspect of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0026] The power storage module 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a power storage module manufactured by the method for manufacturing a power storage module of the present embodiment. The power storage module 1 is used, for example, as a battery for various vehicles such as forklifts, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles. The power storage module 1 is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery. The power storage module 1 may be an electric double layer capacitor. In the present embodiment, the case where the power storage module 1 is a lithium-ion secondary battery is exemplified. The power storage module 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, a flat large-sized battery having a width of one side along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of 1000 mm or more and a thickness along the Z-axis direction of 100 mm or less.

[0027] The power storage module 1 includes an electrode laminate 10, a sealing portion 20, and an electrolytic solution 19. The electrode laminate 10 has a plurality of bipolar electrodes (electrodes) 11, a negative terminal electrode (electrode) 12, a positive terminal electrode (electrode) 13, and a plurality of separators 14.

[0028] Each bipolar electrode 11 has a current collector 15, a positive electrode active material layer 16, and a negative electrode active material layer 17. The current collector 15 is formed, for example, in a sheet shape. The current collector 15 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The positive electrode active material layer 16 is provided on the first surface 15a of the current collector 15. The positive electrode active material layer 16 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The negative electrode active material layer 17 is provided on the second surface 15b of the current collector 15. The negative electrode active material layer 17 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The first surface 15a of the current collector 15 is a surface facing one side in the Z-axis direction, and in the example of FIG. 1, it faces the positive side in the Z-axis direction. The second surface 15b of the current collector 15 is a surface facing the other side in the Z-axis direction, and in the example of FIG. 1, it faces the negative side in the Z-axis direction.

[0029] The negative electrode active material layer 17 is slightly larger than the positive electrode active material layer 16 when viewed from the Z-axis direction. That is, in a plan view when viewed from the Z-axis direction, the entire formation region of the positive electrode active material layer 16 is located within the formation region of the negative electrode active material layer 17. The plurality of bipolar electrodes 11 are stacked along the Z-axis direction such that the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17 face each other. That is, the stacking direction D of the plurality of bipolar electrodes 11 is stacked along the Z-axis direction.

[0030] The negative electrode terminal electrode 12 has a current collector 15 and a negative electrode active material layer 17. The negative electrode terminal electrode 12 does not have a positive electrode active material layer 16. That is, no active material layer is provided on the first surface 15a of the current collector 15 of the negative electrode terminal electrode 12. The first surface 15a of the current collector 15 of the negative electrode terminal electrode 12 is exposed. The negative electrode terminal electrode 12 is disposed at the first end in the Z-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10. The negative electrode active material layer 17 of the negative electrode terminal electrode 12 faces the positive electrode active material layer 16 of the bipolar electrode 11 located closer to the first end in the Z-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10. The first end in the Z-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10 is the positive-side end in the Z-axis direction in the example of FIG. 1.

[0031] The positive electrode terminal electrode 13 has a current collector 15 and a positive electrode active material layer 16. The positive electrode terminal electrode 13 does not have a negative electrode active material layer 17. That is, no active material layer is provided on the second surface 15b of the current collector 15 of the positive electrode terminal electrode 13. The second surface 15b of the current collector 15 of the positive electrode terminal electrode 13 is exposed. The positive electrode terminal electrode 13 is disposed at the second end in the Z-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10. The positive electrode active material layer 16 of the positive electrode terminal electrode 13 faces the negative electrode active material layer 17 of the bipolar electrode 11 located closer to the second end in the Z-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10. The second end in the Z-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10 is the negative-side end in the Z-axis direction in the example of FIG. 1.

[0032] The separator 14 is disposed between adjacent bipolar electrodes 11, 11, between the negative terminal electrode 12 and the bipolar electrode 11, and between the positive terminal electrode 13 and the bipolar electrode 11. The separator 14 is interposed between the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17. By isolating the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17, the separator 14 prevents short - circuits due to contact between adjacent electrodes while allowing charge carriers such as lithium ions to pass through.

[0033] The current collector 15 is a chemically inert electrical conductor for continuously passing an electric current through the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17 during discharge or charge of the lithium - ion secondary battery. The material of the current collector 15 is, for example, a metal material, a conductive resin material, or a conductive inorganic material, etc. Examples of the conductive resin material include a conductive polymer material or a resin obtained by adding a conductive filler to a non - conductive polymer material as necessary. The current collector 15 may comprise a plurality of layers. In this case, each layer of the current collector 15 may contain the above - mentioned metal material or conductive resin material.

[0034] A coating layer may be formed on the surface of the current collector 15. The coating layer may be formed by a known method such as plating or spray coating, etc. The current collector 15 may be formed, for example, in a plate shape, a foil shape (e.g., metal foil), a film shape, or a mesh shape, etc. Examples of the metal foil include aluminum foil, copper foil, nickel foil, titanium foil, or stainless - steel foil, etc. Examples of the stainless - steel foil include, for example, SUS304, SUS316, or SUS301 defined in JIS G 4305:2015, etc. The current collector 15 may be an alloy foil of the above - mentioned metals or a foil formed by integrating a plurality of the above - mentioned metal foils. When the current collector 15 is formed in a foil shape, the thickness of the current collector 15 may be, for example, 1 μm to 100 μm.

[0035] The positive electrode active material layer 16 contains a positive electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing charge carriers such as lithium ions. Examples of the positive electrode active material include lithium composite metal oxides having a layered rock salt structure, metal oxides having a spinel structure, polyanion-based compounds, and the like. The positive electrode active material may be any material that can be used in a lithium ion secondary battery. The positive electrode active material layer 16 may contain a plurality of positive electrode active materials. In the present embodiment, the positive electrode active material layer 16 contains olivine-type lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as a composite oxide.

[0036] The negative electrode active material layer 17 contains a negative electrode active material capable of occluding and releasing charge carriers such as lithium ions. The negative electrode active material may be any of a single substance, an alloy, or a compound. Examples of the negative electrode active material include lithium, carbon, metal compounds, and the like. The negative electrode active material may be an element capable of alloying with lithium or a compound thereof. Examples of carbon include natural graphite, artificial graphite, hard carbon (carbon with low graphitization ability), or soft carbon (carbon with high graphitization ability). Examples of artificial graphite include highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, and the like. Examples of elements capable of alloying with lithium include silicon or tin. In the present embodiment, the negative electrode active material layer 17 contains graphite as a carbon-based material.

[0037] Each of the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "active material layer") may further contain a conductive assistant, a binder, an electrolyte (polymer matrix, ion-conductive polymer, electrolyte solution 19, etc.), an electrolyte supporting salt (lithium salt, etc.) for enhancing ion conductivity, etc., as necessary. The conductive assistant is added to enhance the conductivity of each of the electrodes 11, 12, 13. The conductive assistant is, for example, acetylene black, carbon black, or graphite.

[0038] The components contained in the active material layer, the compounding ratio of the components, and the thickness of the active material layer are not particularly limited, and conventionally known knowledge about lithium-ion secondary batteries can be appropriately referred to. The thickness of the active material layer is, for example, 2 to 150 μm. The active material layer may be formed on the surface of the current collector 15 by a known method such as the roll coating method. A heat-resistant layer may be provided on the surface (one side or both sides) of the current collector 15 or the surface of the active material layer in order to improve the thermal stability of each of the electrodes 11, 12, and 13. The heat-resistant layer contains, for example, inorganic particles and a binder, and may also contain additives such as a thickener.

[0039] Examples of the binder include fluorine-containing resins such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and fluororubber, thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, imide resins such as polyimide and polyamideimide, alkoxysilyl group-containing resins, acrylic resins such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), carboxymethyl cellulose, alginates such as sodium alginate and ammonium alginate, water-soluble cellulose ester cross-linked products, starch-acrylic acid graft polymers, and the like. These binders can be used alone or in combination. Examples of the solvent include water, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and the like.

[0040] The separator 14 may be, for example, a porous sheet or nonwoven fabric containing a polymer that absorbs and retains an electrolyte. Examples of the material of the separator 14 include, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefin, polyester, and the like. The separator 14 may have a single-layer structure or a multilayer structure. The multilayer structure may have, for example, an adhesive layer or a ceramic layer as a heat-resistant layer. The separator 14 may be impregnated with an electrolyte. Examples of the electrolyte impregnated in the separator 14 include a liquid electrolyte (electrolyte solution 19) containing a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent.

[0041] When the separator 14 is impregnated with the electrolytic solution 19, known lithium salts such as LiClO4, LiAsF6, LiPF6, LiBF4, LiCF3SO3, LiN(FSO2)2, LiN(CF3SO2)2 may be used as the electrolyte salt. As the non-aqueous solvent, known solvents such as cyclic carbonates, cyclic esters, chain carbonates, chain esters, and ethers may be used. Note that two or more of these known solvent materials may be used in combination.

[0042] The sealing portion 20 is formed at the peripheral edge of the electrode laminate 10 so as to surround the electrode laminate 10. The sealing portion 20 is joined to each of the first surface 15a and the second surface 15b of each current collector 15 at the peripheral edge of each current collector 15. Note that the sealing portion 20 only needs to be joined to at least one of the first surface 15a and the second surface 15b of each current collector 15. The sealing portion 20 seals the spaces S between the current collectors 15, 15 of the adjacent bipolar electrodes 11, 11, between the current collector 15 of the negative terminal electrode 12 and the current collector 15 of the bipolar electrode 11, and between the current collector 15 of the positive terminal electrode 13 and the current collector 15 of the bipolar electrode 11. Hereinafter, the spaces between the current collectors 15, 15 of the adjacent bipolar electrodes 11, 11, between the current collector 15 of the negative terminal electrode 12 and the current collector 15 of the bipolar electrode 11, and between the current collector 15 of the positive terminal electrode 13 and the current collector 15 of the bipolar electrode 11 are simply referred to as "between adjacent electrodes 11, 12, 13".

[0043] The sealing portion 20 has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the stacking direction D of each of the electrodes 11, 12, 13. The sealing portion 20 has a portion located between adjacent electrodes 11, 12, 13 and a portion located outside the edge of the current collector 15. Between adjacent electrodes 11, 12, 13, the sealing portion 20 surrounds the periphery of the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17, and the space S is formed by the adjacent current collectors 15, 15 and the sealing portion 20.

[0044] The space S contains the electrolytic solution 19. The sealing portion 20 seals the electrolytic solution 19 in the space S. The sealing portion 20 can prevent moisture from entering the space S from the outside of the power storage module 1. Also, the sealing portion 20 prevents, for example, gas generated from each of the electrodes 11, 12, 13 due to charge and discharge reactions or the like from leaking to the outside of the power storage module 1. A part of the sealing portion 20 is disposed between the adjacent current collectors 15, 15 and also functions as a spacer for maintaining the interval between the pair of current collectors 15, 15. The sealing portion 20 is spaced apart from the positive electrode active material layer 16 and the negative electrode active material layer 17 when viewed from the stacking direction D. When viewed from the stacking direction D, the portion located outside the edge of the current collector 15 extends in the stacking direction D from the negative terminal electrode 12 disposed at one end of the electrode stack 10 in the stacking direction D to the positive terminal electrode 13 disposed at the other end of the stacking direction D, and connects each of the portions located between the current collectors 15, 15 of the adjacent electrodes 11, 12, 13.

[0045] The sealing portion 20 includes an insulating material and prevents a short circuit between the adjacent current collectors 15, 15 by insulating between the adjacent current collectors 15, 15. Examples of the material constituting the sealing portion 20 include resin materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, ABS resin, and AS resin, and those obtained by modifying these resin materials.

[0046] The sealing portion 20 includes a main body portion 21 that covers the sides of the electrode laminate 10 (both end portions in the X-axis direction and both end portions in the Y-axis direction of the electrode laminate 10), and a pair of protruding portions 22 that protrude from the main body portion 21 in the Z-axis direction. The protruding portions 22 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the portion of the main body portion 21 where the opening 20b is formed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of openings 20b for supplying the electrolytic solution 19 to each space S are formed in the sealing portion 20 in the manufacturing process of the power storage module 1. The openings 20b communicate the inside and outside of each space S and open in a direction (second direction) orthogonal to the stacking direction D. Specifically, the plurality of openings 20b open in the side surface 20a extending along the stacking direction D of the sealing portion 20. The openings 20b communicating with each space S are arranged so that the openings 20b, 20b formed in the spaces S adjacent to each other in the stacking direction D are separated from each other in the direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to both the stacking direction D and the X-axis direction so as not to overlap in the stacking direction D.

[0047] On the other hand, some of the openings 20b communicating with the spaces S that are not adjacent to each other in the stacking direction D are arranged so that their positions in the Y-axis direction coincide with each other so as to overlap in the stacking direction D. In the present embodiment, six spaces S are formed in the power storage module 1, and three openings 20b respectively communicating with three spaces S arranged at odd-numbered positions when counted from one end in the stacking direction D are arranged so as to overlap with each other in the stacking direction D. Then, three openings 20b respectively communicating with three spaces S arranged at even-numbered positions when counted from one end in the stacking direction D are arranged so as to overlap with each other in the stacking direction D, being spaced apart from the three openings 20b in the Y-axis direction.

[0048] On the side surface 20a of the sealing portion 20 provided with the openings 20b, a frame portion 20c protruding from the side surface 20a so as to surround each opening 20b is formed. Among the plurality of frame portions 20c, the frame portions 20c surrounding the openings 20b arranged so as to overlap in the stacking direction D are connected to each other to form a frame portion connecting body 20d. In the sealing portion 20 of the present embodiment, a frame portion connecting body 20d in which three frame portions 20c surrounding the three openings 20b that are odd-numbered when counted from one end in the stacking direction D are connected to each other, and a frame portion connecting body 20d in which three frame portions 20c surrounding the three openings 20b that are even-numbered when counted from one end in the stacking direction D are connected to each other are configured. In addition, in FIG. 2, the frame portion 20c and the frame portion connecting body 20d are shown emphasized by cross hatching.

[0049] A sealing sheet 25 is provided at the tip of each frame portion 20c (frame portion connecting body 20d) in the protruding direction (X-axis direction). The sealing sheet 25 is joined over the entire circumference of the tip of each frame portion 20c to cover and seal the opening 20b surrounded by each frame portion 20c. In addition, FIG. 2 shows the power storage module 1 in a state where the sealing sheet 25 is omitted.

[0050] Next, an example of the manufacturing method of the power storage module 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 3. First, by laminating each of the electrodes 11, 12, and 13, an electrode laminate 10 (laminate) before the openings 20b of the power storage module 1 shown in FIG. 1 are sealed is prepared (laminating step S1). At this point, the sealing sheet 25 is not provided at the tip of each frame portion 20c, and each opening 20b is open and exposed on the side surface 20a. In the following description, for convenience, the electrode laminate 10 before the openings 20b are sealed may be simply referred to as the electrode laminate 10.

[0051] Subsequently, the electrode laminate 10 is placed on one of the pair of restraining members (restraining portions) 30, 30 that constitute the first unit 100 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) described in detail in the subsequent stage so that the stacking direction D of the electrodes is along the Z-axis direction (vertical direction) (placing step S2). In particular, when the power storage module 1 is flat and large in the stacking direction D of the electrodes as described above, it is desirable to place the electrode laminate 10 so that the stacking direction D of the electrodes is along the Z-axis direction for stability. Hereinafter, the direction along the vertical direction will be described as the Z-axis direction (first direction), the direction along the horizontal direction and orthogonal to the Z-axis direction will be described as the X-axis direction (second direction), and the direction along the horizontal direction and orthogonal to both the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction will be described as the Y-axis direction.

[0052] Subsequently, the first unit 100 that restrains the electrode laminate 10 with a predetermined pressure in the Z-axis direction is attached to the electrode laminate 10 (restraining step S3). More specifically, first, the other restraining member 30 of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 is placed on the electrode laminate 10 placed on one of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 to form a sandwiched body HB in which the electrode laminate 10 is sandwiched by the pair of restraining members 30, 30. Subsequently, the sandwiched body HB is compressed in the Z-axis direction, and the compressed sandwiched body HB is sandwiched by the pair of restricting members 40, 40. Note that the method of attaching the pair of restricting members 40, 40 to the sandwiched body HB will be described in detail in the subsequent stage.

[0053] The compressed sandwiched body HB attempts to expand in the Z-axis direction, and its expansion is restricted by the pair of restricting members 40, 40. That is, the sandwiched body HB is restrained in a state of being compressed in the stacking direction D by the pair of restricting members 40, 40. Further, in the restraining step S3, the pair of restraining members 30, 30 are attached to the electrode laminate 10 so that one side surfaces 30e, 30e of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 and the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10 where the opening 20b is formed are flush.

[0054] Subsequently, a second unit (flow path unit) 200 is prepared, which includes a first connection portion 63, a second connection portion 72, and flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a, 71 that communicate the first connection portion 63 and the second connection portion 72 as shown in FIG. 8. Then, the flow path portion 60 is connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 placed in the placement step S2 such that the connection portion of the second connection portion 72 to the connected portion 110 is located above the connection portion to the opening 20b in the first connection portion 63 in the Z-axis direction (connection step S4). In the connection step S4, the first connection portion 63 is pressed against the electrode laminate 10, whereby the first connection portion 63 is connected to the opening 20b. In the connection step S4, the second unit 200 is attached to the first unit 100, whereby the flow path portion 60 (first connection portion 63) is connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. The attachment procedure of the second unit 200 to the first unit 100 will be described in detail later.

[0055] Subsequently, the tip portion 113 (connected portion 110) of the supply pipe 120 for the electrolytic solution 19 is connected to the second connection portion 72, and the electrolytic solution 19 is supplied to the space S of the electrode laminate 10 via the second unit 200 (supply step S5). When the supply of the electrolytic solution 19 to the space S is completed, the tip portion 113 of the supply pipe 120 is removed from the second connection portion 72. Next, the electrode laminate 10 placed on one of the restraining members 30 such that the lamination direction D is along the Z-axis direction is transported to the location where the next process is to be performed (transport step S6). The electrode laminate 10 is transported with the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 attached, that is, with the first connection portion 63 of the second unit 200 connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10.

[0056] Incidentally, when a valve for opening and closing the communication between the outside and the flow path 71 is provided in the second connection portion 72 (not shown), the valve may be closed when the tip portion 113 of the supply pipe 120 is removed from the second connection portion 72. As such a valve, a one-touch coupling that is in an open state when the connected portion 110 is connected and is in a closed state when the connected portion 110 is removed can be used. Further, the second connection portion 72 may be provided with a check valve. With these configurations, it is possible to reliably prevent the electrolytic solution 19 from leaking from the second connection portion 72 and to prevent foreign matter and the like from entering the flow path 71 and thus the electrode laminate 10 from the second connection portion 72.

[0057] Subsequently, at a predetermined location where the electrode laminate 10 in a state where the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are attached is conveyed in the conveying step S6, the electrode laminate 10 is accommodated in a charge and discharge device. The electrode laminate 10 accommodated in the charge and discharge device is charged and activated by an external power source via the restraining members 30, 30 (power connection portions 34, 34) (activation step S7). In the activation step S7, the gas generated in the space S of the electrode laminate 10 due to activation is discharged through the second connection portion 72. That is, the gas discharged from the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 is discharged from the second connection portion 72 via the first connection portion 63 and the flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a, 71. In the activation step S7 of the present embodiment, a connection portion (connected portion 110) of a gas bag for collecting gas is connected to the second connection portion 72. As the gas bag, for example, a bag made of resin is used.

[0058] Subsequently, after changing the posture of the electrode laminate 10 so that the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 faces vertically upward, the second unit 200 is removed from the first unit 100. That is, the first connection portion 63 is removed from the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. As a result, the side surface 20a and the opening 20b of the sealing portion 20 are exposed. Subsequently, the opening 20b is sealed (sealing step S8). The sealing of the opening 20b is performed, for example, by thermally welding a sealing sheet 25 to the tip of a frame portion 20c surrounding each opening 20b. Subsequently, the first unit 100 that restrains the electrode laminate 10 is removed from the electrode laminate 10 (release step S9).

[0059] Next, the restraining jig J used in a series of steps in the manufacturing method of the above-described power storage module 1 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the restraining jig J includes a first unit 100 and a second unit 200. The second unit 200 is detachably provided on the first unit 100.

[0060] The first unit 100 restrains the electrode laminate 10 in which a plurality of electrodes are laminated in the Z-axis direction (first direction) while applying a restraining load in the Z-axis direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first unit 100 includes a pair of restraining members 30, 30, a pair of regulating members 40, 40, and an insertion member 36. The pair of restraining members 30, 30 are arranged at both ends in the Z-axis direction (lamination direction) of the electrode laminate 10. Each of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 is formed of a material such as stainless steel, aluminum, or iron, for example. Each of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 has a main body portion 31, an elastic body 33, and a power supply connection portion 34.

[0061] The main body portion 31 has an inner surface 31a on the side of the electrode laminate 10 and an outer surface 31b on the side opposite to the inner surface 31a. The main body portion 31 has a protruding rib 32 that protrudes outward from the outer surface 31b toward the outside of the electrode laminate 10. The protruding rib 32 is provided to improve the strength of the restraining member 30. When the object to be clamped HB is clamped by the regulating member 40 described in detail later, the protruding rib 32 protrudes from the outer surface 31b so as to be at the same height as the contact portion 41 of the regulating member 40 or higher than the contact portion 41 in the Z-axis direction. The object to be clamped HB refers to a laminate composed of the electrode laminate 10 and a pair of restraining members 30, 30 arranged at both ends in the Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the protruding rib 32 and the contact portion 41 are formed to be flush. Thereby, the first unit 100 in a state where the object to be clamped HB is clamped can be placed on a flat surface portion in a stable state.

[0062] The elastic body 33 is fixed to the inner surface 31a of the main body 31. Examples of the elastic body 33 include an insulating rubber member or a disc spring. When fixing the rubber member, the size in plan view as viewed from the Z-axis direction is formed to be equal to the size of the main body 31 in plan view. When the disc spring has conductivity, an insulating sheet member is disposed between the disc spring and the main body 31, or the inner surface 31a of the main body 31 is coated with an insulating material. Further, a conductive power connection portion 34 used for charging and discharging in the activation step S7 may be fixed to the elastic body 33. That is, the power connection portion 34 is fixed to the surface of the elastic body 33 opposite to the main body 31. When the clamping member 30 clamps the object to be clamped HB, the elastic body 33 and the power connection portion 34 are provided between the main body 31 and the electrode laminate 10 in the Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, an example in which the elastic body 33 is provided on each of the pair of clamping members 30, 30 has been described, but it may be disposed on only one of the pair of clamping members 30, 30.

[0063] Each of the pair of clamping members 30, 30 is formed in a rectangular shape, and insertion holes 31c through which the insertion member 36 is inserted are formed at the four corners thereof. Notches 37 into which the reinforcing ribs 43 of the regulating member 40 described in detail later are inserted are formed on each of the two sides of the clamping member 30 that face each other in the Y-axis direction. That is, the notches 37 are provided corresponding to the number and formation positions of the reinforcing ribs 43 provided on the regulating member 40.

[0064] Fixing portions 35 for detachably attaching the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are formed on each of the pair of clamping members 30, 30. The fixing portion 35 includes overhanging portions 35a, 35a that protrude in the X-axis direction, which is the detachment direction, in the pair of clamping members 30, 30, and insertion holes (first holes) 35b, 35b formed in each of the overhanging portions 35a, 35a. The procedure for attaching and detaching the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 via the fixing portion 35 will be described in detail later.

[0065] The pair of restricting members 40, 40 sandwich both ends of the sandwiched body HB in the Y-axis direction orthogonal (intersecting) to the Z-axis direction in a state compressed in the Z-axis direction. Each of the pair of restricting members 40, 40 is formed of, for example, the same material as the restraining member 30. Each of the pair of restricting members 40, 40 has a pair of contact portions 41, 41, a connecting portion 42, and a reinforcing rib 43.

[0066] The pair of contact portions 41, 41 contact the respective pair of main body portions 31, 31 of the sandwiched body HB from the outside in the Z-axis direction and are formed in a plate shape orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. The size of the contact portion 41 in the X-axis direction is the same as or longer than the size of the electrode laminate 10 in the X-axis direction. Also, the size of the contact portion 41 in the X-axis direction is the same as the size of the restraining member 30 of the sandwiched body HB in the X-axis direction. The contact portion 41 has an inner surface 41a that contacts the outer surface 31b of the main body portion 31 and an outer surface 41b on the side opposite to the inner surface 41a. Further, the pair of contact portions 41, 41 has insertion holes 41c through which the insertion member 36 is inserted. Two insertion holes 41c are formed near the ends of the contact portion 41 in the X-axis direction.

[0067] The connecting portion 42 connects the pair of contact portions 41, 41 and is formed in a plate shape orthogonal to the Y-axis direction. The size of the connecting portion 42 in the X-axis direction is the same as or longer than the size of the electrode laminate 10 in the X-axis direction. Also, the size of the connecting portion 42 in the X-axis direction is the same as the sizes of the restraining member 30 and the contact portion 41 of the sandwiched body HB in the X-axis direction. The shape of the restricting member 40 composed of the pair of contact portions 41, 41 and the connecting portion 42 is U-shaped (U-shaped) when viewed from the X-axis direction.

[0068] The reinforcing rib 43 is a plate-shaped portion that connects the contact portion 41 and the connecting portion 42 and is formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the X-axis direction. The reinforcing rib 43 is provided to reinforce the strength of the restricting member 40. The reinforcing rib 43 is disposed (inserted) in the notch 37 formed in the restraining member 30 when the sandwiched body HB is sandwiched by the restricting member 40.

[0069] The insertion member 36 is a rod-shaped member inserted into the insertion hole 31c of the restraint member 30 and the insertion hole 41c of the regulation member 40. More specifically, in a state where the pair of regulation members 40, 40 sandwich the object to be held HB, a pair of through holes (that is, the insertion hole 31c and the insertion hole 41c) that penetrate both the pair of contact portions 41, 41 and the pair of restraint members 30, 30 in the Z-axis direction are formed at four locations (a plurality) in a plan view seen from the Z-axis direction. The insertion member 36 is inserted into each of the plurality of through holes in a state where the pair of regulation members 40, 40 sandwich the object to be held HB.

[0070] The insertion member 36 is formed of an engineering plastic such as polyacetal, polyetheretherketone, or polyamide. In a state where the pair of regulation members 40, 40 sandwich the object to be held HB, if the insertion member 36 is inserted into each of the plurality of through holes (that is, the insertion hole 31c and the insertion hole 41c), the relative positions of the pair of regulation members 40, 40 with respect to the pair of restraint members 30, 30 are fixed. In other words, in a state where the object to be held HB including the restraint member 30 is sandwiched by the pair of regulation members 40, 40, if the insertion member 36 is inserted into the insertion hole 31c of the restraint member 30 and the insertion hole 41c of the regulation member 40, the regulation member 40 is positioned with respect to the restraint member 30.

[0071] Here, in the restraining step S3, a procedure for restraining the electrode laminate 10 using the first unit 100 will be described. The above-described electrode laminate 10 is compressed through a pair of restraint members 30, 30 disposed at both ends in the Z-axis direction to form the object to be held HB. Note that the size of the height (thickness) of the object to be held HB in the Z-axis direction before compression is longer than the distance between the pair of contact portions 41, 41 of the regulation member 40 in the Z-axis direction. Also, the size of the height of the object to be held HB in the Z-axis direction after compression is shorter than the distance between the pair of contact portions 41, 41 of the regulation member 40 in the Z-axis direction. Next, the pair of regulation members 40, 40 described above are prepared.

[0072] Next, the sandwiched body HB in the compressed state is sandwiched by the pair of regulating members 40 described above. More specifically, the sandwiched body HB in the compressed state in the Z-axis direction is inserted between the pair of contact portions 41, 41 of the pair of regulating members 40 such that each of the reinforcing ribs 43 of the pair of regulating members 40 is inserted into the notch portions 37 of the pair of restraining members 30, 30. Then, the compression of the sandwiched body HB is released. Thereby, the extension of the sandwiched body HB in the Z-axis direction when the compression is released is regulated by the pair of regulating members 40. The sandwiched body HB is firmly sandwiched by the pair of regulating members 40 and maintained in a state of being restrained in the Z-axis direction.

[0073] In the first unit 100 of the present embodiment, the contact portions 41, 41 of each of the pair of regulating members 40, 40 are formed to be line-symmetrical with respect to the respective edges of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 with a line along the X-axis direction as the axis of symmetry so that a load is evenly applied to the entire sandwiched body HB. Further, the overall shape of each of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 is formed such that, for example, the outer dimensions, thickness, rib arrangement, rib shape, etc. are the same as each other. Thereby, a load can be evenly applied to the entire electrode laminate 10.

[0074] Next, the second unit 200 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the second unit 200 communicates the respective spaces S formed in the electrode laminate 10 with the connected portion 110 by being pressed against the frame portion connector 20d formed in the electrode laminate 10 and connected to each of the openings 20b. Examples of the connected portion 110 include the tip portion 113 of the supply pipe 120 of the electrolytic solution 19 connected in the supply step S5, the connection portion (not shown) of the exhaust pipe of the gas generated in the space S connected in the activation step S7, or the connection portion of the gas bag that collects the gas. The second unit 200 has a base portion 51 and a flow path portion 60.

[0075] The base portion 51 supports the flow path portion 60. The flow path portion 60 communicates with the space S by being connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. The flow path portion 60 is provided corresponding to the number of frame portion connectors 20d formed in the electrode laminate 10. In the present embodiment, an example in which two flow path portions 60 are provided in the second unit 200 will be described. For convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 11, 14(A), 21, 22, and 23, the illustration of the specific number of frame portion connectors 20d and the number of openings 20b is omitted, and in FIGS. 21, 22, and 23, the illustration of the number of flow path portions 60 is omitted.

[0076] The base portion 51 has a first base portion 52 and a second base portion 53. The first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53 sandwich the flow path portion 60 and detachably support the flow path portion 60. The flow path portion 60 has a main body pipe 61, a nozzle 62, a first connection portion 63, an elastic portion (biasing portion) 67, a mounting portion 68, and a connection member 70.

[0077] The main body pipe 61 is a pipe member extending in the X-axis direction and having a plurality of flow paths 61a through which a medium (for example, the electrolytic solution 19) exchanged between the space S of the electrode laminate 10 and the connected portion 110 flows when connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. The nozzle 62 is attached to the tip of the main body pipe 61, and a plurality of flow paths 62a communicating with the respective flow paths 61a of the main body pipe 61 are formed. A first connection portion 63 that liquid-tightly connects the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 and the flow path portion 60 (flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a, 71) is fixed to the tip of the nozzle 62 (the end on the side opposite to the side where the main body pipe 61 is attached in the X-axis direction).

[0078] The first connection part 63 is formed of a material having elasticity such as ethylene propylene rubber or fluororubber. As shown in FIG. 9(C), the first connection part 63 is attached to the nozzle 62 by the gripping part 62E. The first connection part 63 is formed in a shape that can be attached to the nozzle 62 by the gripping part 62E. Specifically, the first connection part 63 has a portion 63e that protrudes from the tip of the nozzle 62 and extends toward the base end (main body tube 61 side) of the nozzle 62 in the X-axis direction. The gripping part 62E grips the extending portion 63e of the first connection part 63 by screwing or clamping. By adopting the gripping part 62E having such a configuration, the first connection part 63 that is relatively thin in the X-axis direction can be attached to the nozzle 62. The first connection part 63 that is relatively thin in the X-axis direction has a small amount of deformation when pressed against the electrode laminate 10, and the durability of the first connection part 63 can be improved. The gripping part 62E is formed at a position separated from the tip of the nozzle 62 in the X-axis direction. In this configuration, when connecting the first connection part 63 to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10, it is possible to prevent the gripping part 62E from interfering with the electrode laminate 10.

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 9(A), 9(B), 9(C), and 10(A), the first connection part 63 is formed with a plurality of flow paths 63a communicating with the respective flow paths 62a. The plurality of flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a are provided corresponding to the number of openings 20b surrounded by the respective frame parts 20c of the frame part connector 20d. In the flow path part 60 of the present embodiment, three flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a are provided for each frame part connector 20d. The plurality of flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a are arranged along the Z-axis direction so as to correspond to the positions of the openings 20b in the frame part connector 20d.

[0080] Returning to FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the mounting portion 68 supports the main body pipe 61. More specifically, the main body pipe 61 is inserted through the through-hole of the mounting portion 68, and the mounting portion 68 supports the main body pipe 61 so as to be movable in the extending direction of the main body pipe 61. The mounting portion 68 is a quadrangular prism-shaped member and is detachably attached to the first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53. On the side surface of the mounting portion 68 facing the electrode laminate 10 in the X-axis direction, there is a spring-like elastic portion 67 provided from the side surface to the nozzle 62. In a state where the first connection portion 63 is not pressed against the electrode laminate 10, when viewed from the Z-axis direction, the elastic portion 67 supports the first connection portion 63 (nozzle 62) in a state of urging it so that the first connection portion 63 protrudes in the X-axis direction from the first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53. When the first connection portion 63 is pressed against the electrode laminate 10, the main body pipe 61 and the nozzle 62 move toward the mounting portion 68 side in the X-axis direction (the extending direction of the main body pipe 61). At this time, the elastic portion 67 is compressed between the nozzle 62 and the mounting portion 68, and urges the nozzle 62 and the first connection portion 63 against the electrode laminate 10. An insertion hole 52a is formed in the first base portion 52, an insertion hole 53a is formed in the second base portion 53, and a pair of insertion holes 68a, 68a are formed in the mounting portion 68.

[0081] By inserting the insertion member 69 inserted through the insertion hole 52a of the first base portion 52 into one insertion hole 68a of the mounting portion 68, the first base portion 52 and the mounting portion 68 are fixed. By pulling out the insertion member 69 inserted through the insertion hole 52a of the first base portion 52 from one insertion hole 68a of the mounting portion 68, the first base portion 52 and the mounting portion 68 are separated. Similarly, by inserting the insertion member 69 inserted through the insertion hole 53a of the second base portion 53 into the other insertion hole 68a of the mounting portion 68, the second base portion 53 and the mounting portion 68 are fixed. By pulling out the insertion member 69 inserted through the insertion hole 53a of the second base portion 53 from the other insertion hole 68a of the mounting portion 68, the second base portion 53 and the mounting portion 68 are separated.

[0082] The first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53 are formed with a fixing portion 55 for detachably attaching the first unit 100 and the second unit 200. The fixing portion 55 includes overhanging portions 55a, 55a that protrude in the X-axis direction, which is the detaching direction, in the first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53, and insertion holes (second holes) 55b, 55b formed in each of the overhanging portions 55a, 55a.

[0083] Here, the procedure for attaching the second unit 200 to the first unit 100 will be described. When the overhanging portion 55a of the first base portion 52 and the overhanging portion 35a of one of the restraining members 30 are overlapped and an insertion member 56 is inserted through the insertion hole 55b of the first base portion 52 and the insertion hole 35b of one of the restraining members 30, the first base portion 52 and one of the restraining members 30 are fixed. When the overhanging portion 55a of the second base portion 53 and the overhanging portion 35a of the other restraining member 30 are overlapped and the insertion member 56 is inserted through the insertion hole 55b of the second base portion 53 and the insertion hole 35b of the other restraining member 30, the second base portion 53 and the other restraining member 30 are fixed. Thereby, the second unit 200 is attached to the first unit 100.

[0084] When the first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53 are fixed to the pair of restraining members 30, 30 via the above-described fixing portion 55, the flow path portion 60 is liquid-tightly connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. In the present embodiment, when the second unit 200 is attached to the first unit 100, the first connection portion 63 is pressed against the electrode laminate 10 by the elastic portion 67, so that each flow path 63a of the first connection portion 63 and each opening 20b are liquid-tightly connected, and each opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 and each flow path 61a, 62a, 63a formed in the flow path portion 60 are communicated.

[0085] Note that the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are configured to be relatively movable to a mounting position of the second unit 200 on the first unit 100 (a position where the insertion member 56 can be inserted through both the insertion hole 55b of the first base portion 52 and the insertion hole 35b of one of the restraining members 30, and a position where the insertion member 56 can be inserted through both the insertion hole 55b of the second base portion 53 and the insertion hole 35b of the other restraining member 30).

[0086] Specifically, when the second unit 200 is attached to the first unit 100, the fixing portion 35 formed on one of the restraining members 30 and the fixing portion 35 formed on the other restraining member 30 are configured to be disposed between the fixing portion 55 formed on the first base portion 52 and the fixing portion 55 formed on the second base portion 53 in the Z-axis direction. The second unit 200 is provided to be slidable in the Y-axis direction to the mounting position on the first unit 100. In this embodiment, the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are also provided to be slidable in the X-axis direction.

[0087] Next, a procedure for removing the second unit 200 from the first unit 100 will be described. When the insertion member 56 is withdrawn from the insertion hole 55b of the first base portion 52 and the insertion hole 35b of one of the restraining members 30, and the insertion member 56 is withdrawn from the insertion hole 55b of the second base portion 53 and the insertion hole 35b of the other restraining member 30, the first base portion 52 and one of the restraining members 30 are separated, and the second base portion 53 and the other restraining member 30 are separated. As a result, the second unit 200 is separated from the first unit 100.

[0088] Returning to the description of the second unit 200, the connecting member 70 is a portion to which the connected portion 110 is connected from vertically above, as shown in FIG. 8. The connecting member 70 is provided at an end opposite to the end of the main body pipe 61 where the nozzle 62 is attached in the extending direction of the main body pipe 61. A plurality of flow paths 71 through which a medium flows in communication with each flow path 61a of the main body pipe 61 are formed in the connecting member 70. The flow path 71 has a bent portion 71a that bends from the extending direction (X-axis direction) of the flow path 61a vertically upward (positive side in the Z-axis direction) between one end communicating with the flow path 61a and the other end opposite to the one end.

[0089] Among the flow paths 71, the portion between the bent portion 71a and the other end extends vertically upward. A plurality of convex second connecting portions 72 formed in the connecting member 70 are provided at the other ends of the respective flow paths 71. The plurality of second connecting portions 72 are arranged along the X-axis direction. Each of the connection portions between the second connecting portion 72 and the connected portion 110 is located vertically above each opening 20b communicating through the flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a, 71. Further, each of the second connecting portions 72 is located vertically above each space S communicating through the flow paths 61a, 62a, 63a, 71 and the opening 20b.

[0090] An example of the connected portion 110 is the tip portion 113 of the supply pipe 120 to which the electrolytic solution 19 is supplied. For example, in the supply step S5, the supply pipe 120 is connected to the connecting member 70. The connection between the connecting member 70 and the supply pipe 120 is performed by fitting the second connecting portion 72 with a recess 112 formed in the tip portion 113 of the supply pipe 120. A guiding portion 114 for facilitating the connection between the second connecting portion 72 and the tip portion 113 is formed in the tip portion 113. The guiding portion 114 guides the second connecting portion 72 into the recess 112 of the tip portion 113.

[0091] The configuration for facilitating the connection between the tip portion 113 and the second connection portion 72 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 10(B), a configuration in which a rod-shaped guided portion 73 formed on the connection member 70 is guided by a guiding portion 114A formed on the tip portion 113A may be employed. Even with this configuration, by guiding the guided portion 73 to the guiding portion 114A, the second connection portion 72 can be indirectly guided to the recess 112 of the tip portion 113A.

[0092] As described above, by attaching the first unit 100 of the present embodiment to the electrode laminate 10, the electrode laminate 10 can be restrained in a state where a predetermined load is applied in the Z-axis direction. Further, by attaching the second unit 200 of the present embodiment to the first unit 100, the flow path portion 60 can be connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10.

[0093] Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the restraint jig J will be described. In the restraint jig J of the above embodiment, the flow path portion 60 of the second unit 200 is liquid-tightly connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 by a simple operation of attaching the second unit 200 to the first unit 100 in a state where the electrode laminate 10 is restrained, via the fixing portions 35 and 55. Thereby, the alignment work when connecting the flow path portion 60 to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 becomes easy, and the workability during manufacturing can be improved by using the restraint jig J of the present embodiment.

[0094] In the restraint jig J of the above embodiment, the second unit 200 can be fixed to the first unit 100 by a simple operation of inserting the insertion member 56 through the insertion holes 35b and 55b. Further, when fixing the first unit 100 and the second unit 200, the number of sliding portions is reduced compared to the case of fixing by fastening using bolts, nuts, etc., so that the generation of foreign matter due to the fixing portions 35 and 55 can be suppressed.

[0095] In the restraint jig J of the above-described embodiment, the flow path portion 60 of 200 of the second unit has a protruding portion (pressing portion) 63b that is pressed against the electrode laminate 10 so as to surround the opening portion 20b, and an elastic portion 67 that presses the protruding portion 63b against the electrode laminate 10. Therefore, the flow path portion 60 and the opening portion 20b can be connected in a more liquid-tight manner.

[0096] As described above, one embodiment has been described. However, one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0097] (Modification 1) Instead of the configuration of the fixing portion 35 of the first unit 100 of the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the fixing portion 135 shown in FIG. 11 may be adopted. Instead of the configuration of the fixing portion 55 of the second unit 200 of the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the fixing portion 155 shown in FIG. 11 may be adopted. Specifically, the fixing portion 135 of the first unit 100 includes overhanging portions 35a, 35a that protrude in the X-axis direction, which is the attachment / detachment direction, in the pair of restraint members 30, 30, insertion holes 35b, 35b formed in each of the overhanging portions 35a, 35a, and recesses (first recesses) 35c, 35c formed in each of the overhanging portions 35a, 35a. The fixing portion 155 of the second unit 200 includes overhanging portions 55a, 55a that protrude in the X-axis direction, which is the attachment / detachment direction, in the pair of base portions 51, 51, insertion holes 55b, 55b formed in each of the overhanging portions 55a, 55a, and convex portions (first convex portions) 55c, 55c formed in each of the overhanging portions 55a, 55a. The recesses 35c, 35c and the convex portions 55c, 55c extend along the Y-axis direction, respectively. The recesses 35c, 35c are formed from one end to the other end of the overhanging portions 35a, 35a in the Y-axis direction. The convex portions 55c, 55c are formed from one end to the other end of the overhanging portions 55a, 55a in the Y-axis direction.

[0098] In the configurations of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 according to Modification 1, by a simple operation of fitting the convex portion 55c formed on the fixing portion 155 of the second unit 200 into the concave portion 35c formed on the fixing portion 135 of the first unit 100, the movement of the second unit 200 in the X-axis direction with respect to the first unit 100 can be restricted. Different from the second unit 200 of the above-described embodiment, the second unit 200 of Modification 1 is detachably attached by sliding along the Y-axis direction to the attachment position on the first unit 100. When attaching and detaching the second unit 200 of Modification 1 to and from the first unit 100, when viewed from the Z-axis direction, with the first connection portion 63 (nozzle 62) compressed in the X-axis direction so that the first connection portion 63 does not protrude in the X-axis direction from the first base portion 52 and the second base portion 53, the second unit 200 is slid along the Y-axis direction. When the insertion member 56 is inserted into the insertion holes 35b and 55b, the movement of the second unit 200 in the Y-axis direction with respect to the first unit 100 is restricted.

[0099] In the restraining jig J of Modification 1 described above, the second unit 200 can be fixed to the first unit 100 by a simple operation of fitting the concave portion 35c and the convex portion 55c together.

[0100] (Modification 2) In the above-described embodiment and modification, an example has been described in which the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 are fixed to each other via the fixing portion 35 formed on the first unit 100 and the fixing portion 55 formed on the second unit 200. However, for example, they may be fixed to each other via a connection piece 80 as shown in FIG. 13(A). The connection piece (connection member) 80 has a pair of plate-like first portions 81, 81 facing each other, a plate-like second portion 82 connecting the first portions 81, 81, and a pair of protruding portions 83, 83 protruding from the first portions 81, 81 in the facing direction (Z-axis direction) of the first portions 81, 81. Hereinafter, the specific configurations of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 connected using such a connection piece 80 will be described.

[0101] In the first unit 100 shown in FIG. 12(A), for the sake of convenience of explanation, the description of the restricting member 40 is omitted. In each of a pair of restraining members 30, 30 constituting the first unit 100, a recess (second recess) 31d into which the protruding portion 83 of the connecting piece 80 can be fitted is formed. More specifically, the recess 31d is formed on the outer surface 31b of the main body portion 31 in each of the pair of restraining members 30, 30. Further, in each of a pair of base portions 51, 51 constituting the second unit 200, a recess (second recess) 51d into which the protruding portion 83 of the connecting piece 80 can be fitted is formed. More specifically, the recess 51d is formed on the outer surface 51a in each of the pair of base portions 51, 51. As shown in FIG. 12(B), the size L1 of the recesses 31d, 51d in the Y-axis direction is formed to be substantially equal to the size L1 of the protruding portion 83 in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 13(A).

[0102] As shown in FIG. 13(B), for the attachment of the second unit 200 to the first unit 100, after arranging the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 having the recesses 31d, 51d formed therein in the X-axis direction, the connecting piece 80 is attached from the Y-axis direction such that the protruding portions 83, 83 are inserted into the recesses 31d, 51d of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200. In the first unit 100 of the second modification, the size of the restricting member 40 in the X-axis direction is formed shorter than that in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the connecting piece 80 attached by the above-described method and the restricting member 40 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction without interfering with each other. At this time, it is preferable that the second portion 82 of the connecting piece 80 and the connecting portion 42 of the restricting member 40 are flush (in a state without a step) in the Y-axis direction.

[0103] In the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 according to the second modification, similar to the above-described embodiment and the first modification, insertion holes 35b and 55b may be provided in the fixing portions 35 and 55, and the insertion member 56 may be inserted into the insertion holes 35b and 55b, or the insertion holes 35b and 55b may not be provided in the fixing portions 35 and 55. Further, instead of the concave portions 31d formed in the restraining member 30, convex portions (second convex portions) may be formed, and instead of the concave portions 51d formed in the base portion 51, convex portions (second convex portions) may be formed. The second unit 200 may be fixed to the first unit 100 by using a connecting piece 80 in which a concave portion into which such a convex portion can be fitted is formed.

[0104] In the restraining jig J according to the second modification, the second unit 200 can be fixed to the first unit 100 by a simple operation of fitting the connecting piece 80 having the protruding portions 83 and 83 into the concave portions 31d formed in the restraining member 30 and the concave portions 51d formed in the base portion 51.

[0105] (Second Modification) Similar to the second modification described above, the second unit 200 may be attached to the first unit 100 by using a connecting piece (connecting member) 80A as shown in FIG. 14(B). The connecting piece 80A is different from the connecting piece 80 according to the second modification in that it includes a plate-shaped main body plate 85 and a pair of protruding portions 86 and 86 protruding from the main body plate 85.

[0106] Further, as shown in FIGS. 14(A) and 14(C), in addition to the configuration described in the above embodiment, the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 each have a concave portion (second concave portion) 31e extending in the Y-axis direction formed on the outer surface 31b of the main body portion 31 of each of the pair of restraining members 30 and 30, and a concave portion (second concave portion) 51e extending in the Y-axis direction formed on the outer surface 51a of each of the pair of base portions 51 and 51. These concave portions 31e and 51e are formed such that the protruding portions 86 of the connecting piece 80A can be fitted therein. More specifically, the depth of the concave portion 31e with respect to the outer surface 31b and the depth of the concave portion 51e with respect to the outer surface 51a are formed to be substantially equal to the height of the protruding portion 86 in the Z-axis direction.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 14(C), for the attachment of the second unit 200 to the first unit 100, after aligning the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 with recesses 31e and 51e formed therein in the X-axis direction, the connecting piece 80A is attached from the Z-axis direction such that the protruding portions 86, 86 are inserted into the recesses 31e, 51e of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200. In addition, in Modification 3, when the connecting piece 80A is attached to the first unit 100 and the second unit 200, the size of the restricting member 40 in the X-axis direction and the size of the connecting piece 80A in the X-axis direction are appropriately adjusted so that the connecting piece 80A and the restricting member 40 do not interfere with each other. Note that instead of forming the recess 31e formed in the restraining member 30, a convex portion (second convex portion) may be formed, and instead of the recess 51e formed in the base portion 51, a convex portion (second convex portion) may be formed, and the second unit 200 may be fixed to the first unit 100 using the connecting piece 80A having a recess into which such a convex portion can be fitted.

[0108] In the restraining jig J according to Modification 3, the second unit 200 can be fixed to the first unit 100 by a simple operation of fitting the connecting piece 80A having the protruding portions 86, 86 into the recess 31e formed in the restraining member 30 and the recess 51e formed in the base portion 51.

[0109] (Modification 4) In the above-described embodiments and modification examples, the tip surface 63c of the first connection portion 63 of the second unit 200 has been described by taking as an example the case where it is formed flat as shown in FIG. 9 and a frame portion 20c (frame portion connecting body 20d) is formed on the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in FIGS. 15(A), 15(B), 15(C), and 16(A), for example, a protruding portion 63b that protrudes so as to surround the flow path 63a is formed on the tip surface 63c of the first connection portion 63, and the frame portion 20c (frame portion connecting body 20d) may not be formed on the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the tip of the protruding portion 63b is formed in a semicircular shape. Thus, in a configuration in which the protruding portion 63b is formed on the first connection portion 63, the adhesion between the first connection portion 63 and the electrode laminate 10 can be enhanced even if the frame portion 20c (frame portion connecting body 20d) is not formed on the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10.

[0110] Further, the cross-sectional shape of the tip of the protruding portion 63b may be formed not only in a semicircular shape as shown in FIG. 16(A), but also in an angular shape as shown in FIG. 16(B), a tapered shape as shown in FIGS. 16(C) and 16(D), or an M-shaped shape as shown in FIG. 16(E).

[0111] (Modification Example 5) In the second unit 200 of the above-described embodiments and modification examples, the example in which the first connection portion 63 is attached to the nozzle 62 by the gripping portion 62E has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIGS. 17(A) to 17(C), by adopting a first connection portion 63 in which strip-shaped magnets 63M, 63M are embedded in the vicinity of both end portions in the Y-axis direction, it may be fixed to a nozzle 62 made of magnetic stainless steel. In this configuration, since it is not necessary to provide the gripping portion 62E on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle 62, the size of the flow path portion 60 can be reduced. Thereby, even when the number of openings 20b of the electrode laminate 10 increases and the flow path portions 60 are increased according to the number, it is possible to suppress the interference between the flow path portions 60.

[0112] Also, as shown in FIG. 18, even when the gripping portion 62E of the first connection portion 63 is provided as in the above-described embodiment, the electrode laminate 10 may be protruded from the tip of the nozzle 62 toward the side where the electrode laminate 10 is disposed, and both ends of the first connection portion 63 in the Z-axis direction may be gripped. In this case, the first unit 100 is attached to the electrode laminate 10 such that the side surfaces 30e on the second unit 200 side in the X-axis direction of the pair of restraining members 30, 30 are spaced further rearward than the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10 where the opening 20b is formed. That is, in the first unit 100, a relief portion of the gripping portion 62E when the first connection portion 63 is pressed against the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10 is formed. In this configuration, since it is not necessary to form the first connection portion 63 into a shape that can be attached to the nozzle 62 by the gripping portion 62E and a simple shape can be achieved, the processing cost of the first connection portion 63 can be reduced.

[0113] (Modification 6) In addition to the configuration of the first base portion 52 of the second unit 200 according to the above-described embodiment and modification, a confirmation window (through window) 52W as shown in FIG. 19(A) may be formed. The confirmation window 52W is an opening provided for visually recognizing the connection state between the first connection portion 63 of the electrode laminate 10 to which the second unit 200 is attached to the first unit 100 and the frame portion connecting body 20d (opening 20b) from the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the confirmation window 52W is formed corresponding to the number of the frame portion connecting bodies 20d. An operator can visually recognize the connection portion between the first connection portion 63 and the frame portion connecting body 20d by looking at the confirmation window 52W from the Z-axis direction.

[0114] The position where the confirmation window 52W is formed is determined according to how the first unit 100 (a pair of restraint members 30, 30) clamps the electrode laminate 10. More specifically, the formation position of the confirmation window 52W is set based on the positional relationship between the side surface 20a of the electrode laminate 10 in the X-axis direction (the side surface 20a where the opening 20b is formed) and the side surface 30e of the restraint member 30 in the X-axis direction. The position of the confirmation window 52W shown in FIG. 19(B) corresponds to an example on the premise that the first unit 100 clamps the electrode laminate 10 such that the frame portion connecting body 20d of the electrode laminate 10 protrudes from the side surface 30e of the restraint member 30 in the X-axis direction.

[0115] FIG. 20(A) shows that a notch-shaped confirmation window (through window) 30W is formed in one of the restraint members 30, and a notch-shaped confirmation window (through window) 52W is formed in the first base portion 52. The confirmation window 30W and the confirmation window 52W are combined with each other to form an open confirmation window. The positions of the confirmation window 30W and the confirmation window 52W shown in FIG. 20(A) correspond to an example on the premise that the first unit 100 clamps the electrode laminate 10 such that the frame portion connecting body 20d of the electrode laminate 10 protrudes slightly from the side surface 30e of the restraint member 30 in the X-axis direction, or on the premise that the first unit 100 clamps the electrode laminate 10 such that the frame portion connecting body 20d of the electrode laminate 10 and the side surface 30e of the restraint member 30 are flush in the X-axis direction.

[0116] FIG. 20(B) shows that a notch-shaped confirmation window (through window) 52W is formed in the first base portion 52. The position of the confirmation window 52W shown in FIG. 20(B) also corresponds to an example on the premise that the first unit 100 clamps the electrode laminate 10 such that the frame portion connecting body 20d of the electrode laminate 10 protrudes from the side surface 30e of the restraint member 30 in the X-axis direction. FIG. 20(C) shows that an opening as a confirmation window (through window) 30W is formed in the restraint member 30. The position of the confirmation window 30W shown in FIG. 20(C) corresponds to an example on the premise that the first unit 100 clamps the electrode laminate 10 such that the frame portion connecting body 20d of the electrode laminate 10 holds back from the side surface 30e of the restraint member 30 in the X-axis direction.

[0117] Incidentally, although an example has been described in which each of the confirmation windows 30W and 52W in FIGS. 19(A), 20(A), 20(B), and 20(C) is formed to have a size that allows all of the first connection portions 63 in the Y-axis direction to be visible when viewed from the Z-axis direction, for example, a confirmation window having a size that allows at least both end portions of the first connection portion 63 in the Y-axis direction to be visible may be provided. With such a configuration of the confirmation window, the restraint area of the restraint member 30 and / or the first base portion 52 with respect to the electrode laminate 10 can be increased.

[0118] (Modification Example 7) Instead of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 of the above-described embodiment, a first unit 100A and a second unit (flow path unit) 200A as shown in FIG. 21 may be used. The difference between the first unit 100A according to this modification example 7 and the first unit 100 according to the above-described embodiment and modification examples is that, as shown in FIG. 21, among the pair of restraint members 30, 30, the restraint member (restraint portion) 131A disposed downward in the Z-axis direction is longer in the X-axis direction than the restraint member 131B disposed upward in the Z-axis direction. More specifically, the restraint member 131A extends so as to protrude from the electrode laminate 10 in the X-axis direction compared to the restraint member 131B. Further, the difference between the second unit 200A according to modification example 7 and the second unit 200 according to the above-described embodiment and modification examples is that the second unit 200A does not have a pair of base portions 51. That is, in the second unit 200, the flow path portion 60 having the main body pipe 61, the nozzle 62, the first connection portion 63, the elastic portion 67, and the connection member 70 is attached to the restraint member 131A of the first unit 100 via the attachment portion 68.

[0119] The attachment part 68 is detachably attached to the restraining member 131A. For example, the attachment part 68 is attached to the restraining member 131A by inserting insertion members 69, 69 into insertion holes 68a, 68a formed in the attachment part 68 and an insertion hole (not shown) formed in the restraining member 131A. At this time, the flow path part 60 is liquid-tightly connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. Also, the attachment part 68 is removed from the restraining member 131A by pulling out the insertion members 69, 69 from the insertion holes 68a, 68a and the insertion hole formed in the restraining member 131A.

[0120] Basically, it is similar to the configurations of the first unit 100A and the second unit 200A according to Modification 7. However, as shown in FIG. 22, the connection member 70 may be arranged closer to the electrode laminate 10 side than the attachment part 68 in the X-axis direction. In this case, the elastic part 67 biases the main body pipe 61, the nozzle 62, the first connection part 63, and the connection member 70 in the X-axis direction.

[0121] Basically, it is similar to the configurations of the first unit 100A and the second unit 200A according to Modification 7. However, as shown in FIG. 23, the sizes of the restraining member 131C arranged above in the Z-axis direction and the restraining member 131A arranged below in the Z-axis direction may be the same in the X-axis direction. The attachment part 68 is attached to the restraining member 131C and the restraining member 131A by inserting insertion members 69, 69 into insertion holes 131Ca, 131Ca formed in the restraining member 131C, insertion holes 68a, 68a formed in the attachment part 68, and an insertion hole (not shown) formed in the restraining member 131A. At this time, the flow path part 60 is liquid-tightly connected to the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10. Also, the attachment part 68 is removed from the restraining member 131A by pulling out the insertion members 69, 69 from the insertion holes 131Ca, 131Ca, the insertion holes 68a, 68a, and the insertion hole formed in the restraining member 131A.

[0122] In FIGS. 21 to 23, illustration of the restricting members 40, 40 that restrict the pair of restraining members 30, 30 is omitted, but the restricting members 40, 40 sandwich the electrode laminate 10 in a compressed state and restrict the electrode laminate 10 from expanding, which is the same point.

[0123] (Modification Example 8) A modification example of the first unit 100 and the second unit 200 of the above-described embodiment will be described. Before explaining the first unit 100A according to Modification Example 8, the configuration of the electrode laminate 10 described above will be explained again. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 24(A), the electrode laminate 10 is joined to the peripheral edge portions of the current collectors 15, and spaces S are formed between the current collectors 15, 15 of adjacent bipolar electrodes 11, 11, between the current collector 15 of the negative terminal electrode 12 and the current collector 15 of the bipolar electrode 11, and between the current collector 15 of the positive terminal electrode 13 and the current collector 15 of the bipolar electrode 11, and the electrode laminate 10 is provided with sealing portions 20 that seal these spaces S, respectively.

[0124] The sealing portion 20 may be formed so as to protrude from the current collectors 15 disposed at both ends in the stacking direction (Z-axis direction). That is, the thickness of the sealing portion 20 in the stacking direction may be larger than the thickness of the electrode group 10A including the plurality of bipolar electrodes 11, the negative terminal electrode 12, the positive terminal electrode 13, and the plurality of separators 14 in the stacking direction. In particular, when the protruding portion 22 is formed on the sealing portion 20, the thickness in the stacking direction of the portion where the protruding portion 22 is formed (the thickness along the side surface 20a on the side where the opening 20b is formed) is larger than the thickness of the electrode laminate 10 in the stacking direction.

[0125] For example, when restraining the electrode laminate 10 as shown in Fig. 24(A) using a pair of restraining members 30, 30 to which an elastic body 33 with a uniform thickness (size in the Z-axis direction) and a power supply connection portion 34 are fixed to the main body portion 31, the power supply connection portion 34 contacts the protruding portion 22 formed along the side surface 20a on the side where the opening 20b of the electrode laminate 10 is formed, applying an excessive restraining load to this portion, or being unable to apply a sufficient restraining load to the electrode laminate 10, making it impossible to restrain the electrode laminate 10 in a state where an equal pressure is applied to the entire electrode laminate 10. Also, when using a pair of restraining members 30, 30 with a uniform thickness as described above, there is a possibility that the power supply connection portion 34 does not contact the current collector 15 of the negative terminal electrode 12 and the current collector 15 of the positive terminal electrode 13. In this case, there is a risk that the power supply connection portion 34 is not electrically connected to the electrode laminate 10.

[0126] As shown in Figs. 24(B) and 25, in the first unit 100A according to Modification 8, the lower restraining member (restraining portion) 230 in the Z-axis direction is longer in the X-axis direction than the upper restraining member (restraining portion) 230. The flow path unit 60A is fixed to the lower restraining member 230 in the Z-axis direction via the attachment portion 268 of the second unit 200A and is biased toward the electrode laminate 10 restrained by the first unit 100A. The attachment portion 268 is fixed to the restraining member 230 by an insertion member (not shown) or the like. The flow path unit 60A is a unit that injects the electrolytic solution 19 into the space S formed in the electrode laminate 10.

[0127] A pair of restraining members 230, 230 of the first unit 100A according to Modification 8 includes a plate-shaped main body portion 231, a first clamping portion 280 that clamps the electrode group 10A constituting the electrode laminate 10, and a second clamping portion 290 that clamps the sealing portion 20 of the electrode laminate 10. Note that although not shown and described in the first unit 100A according to Modification 8, there are provided regulating members 40, 40 (see Fig. 4) as described in the above embodiment that regulate the movement of the pair of restraining members 230, 230 in the Z-axis direction and regulate the expansion of the compressed electrode laminate 10.

[0128] The first clamping part 280 includes an elastic body 233 and a conductive power supply connection part 234 that electrically connects the electrode laminate 10 and an external power supply by contacting the electrode group 10A. A tab 234A may be formed on the power supply connection part 234 and drawn out to the outside of the restraining member 230 in a plan view for connection to an external power supply in the activation step S7 described above. The second clamping part 290 includes an elastic body 233 and a contact body 235 that contacts the sealing part 20. The contact body 235 is separated from the power supply connection part 234 and is not electrically connected to the electrode laminate 10. Therefore, the contact body 235 may or may not have conductivity. Note that the contact body 235 may not be provided, and the second clamping part 290 may be formed of only the elastic body 233. The first clamping part 280 and the second clamping part 290 are formed as part of a pair of restraining members 230, 230. The thickness (size) t2 of the second clamping part 290 in the Z-axis direction (first direction) is smaller than the thickness (size) t1 of the first clamping part 280 in the Z-axis direction.

[0129] In the restraining jig J according to Modification 8, since the thickness t2 of the second clamping part 290 in the Z-axis direction is formed to be smaller than the thickness t1 of the first clamping part 280 in the Z-axis direction, even when restraining the electrode laminate 10 in which the second region where the sealing part 20 is formed protrudes in the Z-axis direction more than the laminated region where the electrode group 10A is formed in the electrode laminate 10, the first clamping part 280 contacts the laminated region in an appropriate state, and the second clamping part 290 contacts the second region in an appropriate state. As a result, it becomes possible to restrain the electrode laminate 10 with uniform pressure applied to the entire electrode laminate 10, and stable power supply to the electrode laminate 10 in the manufacturing stage becomes possible.

[0130] (Modification 9) As shown in FIG. 26(A), in the first unit 100B according to the ninth modification, the lower restraint member (restraint portion) 230 and the upper restraint member (restraint portion) 230 are formed to have the same length in the X-axis direction in the Z-axis direction. In the second unit 200B according to the ninth modification, a pair of base portions 251, 251 are provided, and the lower base portion 251 and the upper base portion 251 are formed to have the same length in the X-axis direction. The flow path unit 60A is fixed to the lower base portion 251 in the Z-axis direction via the attachment portion 268 of the second unit 200B, and is biased toward the electrode laminate 10 restrained by the first unit 100B. The attachment portion 268 is fixed to the lower base portion 251 and the upper base portion 251 by an insertion member (not shown) or the like while being sandwiched between the lower base portion 251 and the upper base portion 251. The flow path unit 60A is a unit that injects the electrolytic solution 19 into the space S formed in the electrode laminate 10.

[0131] The connection between the first unit 100B and the second unit 200B can be performed, for example, using the connection piece 80 shown in FIG. 13(A) described in the second modification. More specifically, the protruding portions 83 of the connection piece 80 are inserted and fitted into the recesses (second recesses) 231d, 231d formed in the respective pair of restraint members 230, 230 and the recesses (second recesses) 251d, 251d formed in the respective pair of base portions 251, 251 from the Y-axis direction, thereby connecting the first unit 100B and the second unit 200B.

[0132] The pair of restraining members 230, 230 of the first unit 100B according to Modification 9 are based on the same technical idea as the pair of restraining members 230, 230 of the first unit 100A according to Modification 8, and include a first clamping portion 280 that clamps the electrode group 10A constituting the electrode laminate 10, and a second clamping portion 290 that clamps the sealing portion 20 of the electrode laminate 10. Note that, although illustration and description are omitted, the first unit 100B according to Modification 9 is provided with regulating members 40, 40 (see FIG. 4) as described in the above embodiment that regulate the movement of the pair of restraining members 230, 230 in the Z-axis direction and regulate the expansion of the compressed electrode laminate 10. Further, since the configurations of the first clamping portion 280 and the second clamping portion 290 are the same as those of the restraining members 230, 230 of Modification 8, detailed description thereof is omitted. Here, as shown in FIG. 26(A), a configuration in which the contact body 235 is not provided will be described as an example.

[0133] In the description of the first unit 100B and the second unit 200B according to Modification 9 above, an example in which the second clamping portion 290 that clamps the sealing portion 20 of the electrode laminate 10 is formed in the second unit 200B has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and it may be formed in the first unit 100B.

[0134] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 26(B), the second clamping portion 290 that clamps the sealing portion 20 in the electrode laminate 10 may be formed as a strip portion 300 separable from the first unit 100B or a strip portion 300 separable from the second unit 200B. The strip portion 300 is formed to include a pair of restraining members (restraining portions) 330, 330 and elastic bodies 333, 333. The connection between the pair of restraining members 230, 230 of the first unit 100B and the pair of restraining members 330, 330 of the strip portion 300 or the connection between the pair of base portions 251, 251 of the second unit 200B and the pair of restraining members 330, 330 of the strip portion 300 can be performed, for example, using the connection piece 80 shown in FIG. 13(A) described in Modification 2. More specifically, the protruding portion 83 of the connection piece 80 is inserted and fitted into the recesses 231d, 231d formed in each of the pair of restraining members 230, 230, the recesses (second recesses) 331d, 331d and recesses (second recesses) 332d, 332d formed in the pair of restraining members 330, 330, and the recesses 251d, 251d formed in each of the pair of base portions 251, 251 from the Y-axis direction to connect the first unit 100B and the second unit 200B.

[0135] In the restraining jig J according to Modification 9, since the thickness t2 of the second clamping portion 290 in the Z-axis direction is formed to be smaller than the thickness t1 of the first clamping portion 280 in the Z-axis direction, even when restraining the electrode laminate 10 in which the second region where the sealing portion 20 is formed protrudes in the Z-axis direction more than the laminated region where the electrode group 10A of the electrode laminate 10 is formed, the first clamping portion 280 contacts the laminated region in an appropriate state, and the second clamping portion 290 contacts the second region in an appropriate state. As a result, it becomes possible to restrain the entire electrode laminate 10 with uniform pressure applied, and it also becomes possible to stably supply power to the electrode laminate 10 in the manufacturing stage.

[0136] (Other Modifications) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the base portion 51 that supports the flow path portion 60 has been described by way of example as being configured to include a first base portion 52 and a second base portion 53 that sandwich and support the flow path portion 60 in the Z-axis direction, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the base portion 51 of the second unit 200 may be composed only of a member (hereinafter referred to as a base member 53) that supports the flow path portion 60 from below in the Z-axis direction. More specifically, the flow path portion 60 is supported by an attachment portion 68 that is attached to the base member 53 via an insertion member 69. And the base member 53 may be fixed to a restraint member 30 (hereinafter referred to as a "lower restraint member 30") that is disposed below in the Z-axis direction (first direction), which is one of the pair of restraint members 30, 30, by fixing portions 35, 55 including, for example, bolts 156.

[0137] More specifically, the fixing portion 35 includes an overhanging portion 35a that protrudes in the X-axis direction, which is the attachment / detachment direction, in the lower restraint member 30, and an insertion hole 35b formed in the overhanging portion 35a. A spiral groove into which the bolt 156 can be screwed is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 35b. The fixing portion 55 includes an overhanging portion 55a that protrudes in the X-axis direction, which is the attachment / detachment direction, in the base member 53, and an insertion hole 55b formed in the overhanging portion 55a. A spiral groove into which the bolt 156 can be screwed is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 55b. Then, when the bolt 156 is screwed into the insertion hole 35b and the insertion hole 55b with the insertion hole 55b of the overhanging portion 55a in the base member 53 and the insertion hole 35b of the overhanging portion 35a in the lower restraint member 30 being overlapped, the base member 53 and the lower restraint member 30 are fixed.

[0138] In the above-described embodiment and the modification, each of the plurality of flow path portions 60 has been described by way of example as being detachably attached to the base portion 51 or the restraint member 131A by attachment portions 68, 268 provided corresponding to each of the plurality of flow path portions 60, but the plurality of flow path portions 60 may be detachably attached to the base portions 51, 251 or the restraint member 131A by one attachment portion to which the plurality of flow path portions 60 are attached.

[0139] In the above-described embodiments and modifications, as shown in FIG. 1, a bipolar electrode 11 in which a positive electrode active material layer 16 is coated on a first surface 15a of a current collector 15 and a negative electrode active material layer 17 is coated on a second surface 15b of the current collector 15 is laminated via a separator 14. The power storage module 1 having such a configuration has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, the second surface 15Ab of the current collector 115A coated with the positive electrode active material layer 16 on the first surface 15Aa and the second surface 115Bb of the current collector 115B coated with the negative electrode active material layer 17 on the second surface 115Ba are brought into contact with each other, and a pseudo-bipolar electrode 11A in which the current collectors 115A and 115B in contact with each other are regarded as one current collector may be a power storage module 1A having a configuration laminated via a separator 14.

[0140] The technical subject of one aspect of the present invention can be described as follows. [1] A laminate including a plurality of electrodes laminated in a first direction, a sealing portion that seals a space between the electrodes, and an opening portion that is formed in the sealing portion and communicates the inside and outside of the space and opens in a second direction intersecting the first direction, An electrolytic solution accommodated in the space, and a restraining jig used in manufacturing a power storage module, A first unit that applies a restraining load in the first direction to the laminate via a pair of restraining portions disposed at both ends of the laminate in the first direction, A second unit having a flow path portion that communicates with the space by being connected to the opening portion and a base portion that supports the flow path portion, The second unit is detachably provided on the first unit, When the base portion is fixed to at least one of the pair of restraining portions by a fixing portion that restricts and fixes the movement of the second unit in the second direction with respect to the first unit, the flow path portion is liquid-tightly connected to the opening portion. Restraining jig. [2] The fixing part is formed by a first concave part provided on one of the restraining part and the base part, and a first convex part provided on the other of the restraining part and the base part. The fitting of the first concave part and the first convex part restricts and fixes the movement of the second unit in the second direction with respect to the first unit. The restraining jig according to [1]. [3] The fixing part a first hole formed in the restraining part, a second hole formed in the base part, and an insertion member inserted through the first hole and the second hole arranged to overlap in the first direction. The restraining jig according to [1] or [2], which is configured to include these. [4] The fixing part one of a second concave part and a second convex part formed in the restraining part, one of a second concave part and a second convex part formed in the base part, and a connecting member that fits into the second concave part or the second convex part formed in the restraining part and the second concave part or the second convex part formed in the base part. The restraining jig according to [1] or [2], which is configured to include these. [5] The second unit has a pressing part provided in the flow path part and pressed against the laminate so as to surround the opening, and a biasing part that presses the pressing part against the laminate. The restraining jig according to any one of [1] to [4], which has these. [6] The flow path part has a connecting part to which the part to be connected is connected in a communicable manner from vertically above. The restraining jig according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] The part to be connected is a pipe for supplying the electrolytic solution, and the electrolytic solution is supplied to the space through the flow path part. The restraining jig according to [6]. [8] The base part has a first base part and a second base part, and the first base part and the second base part sandwich and support the flow path part in the first direction. The first base part is fixed to one of the pair of restraint parts by the fixing part, and the second base part is fixed to the other of the pair of restraint parts by the fixing part. The restraint jig according to any one of [1] to [7]. [9] The base part is a member that supports the flow path part from below in the first direction. The base part is fixed to the restraint part disposed below in the first direction, which is one of the pair of restraint parts, by the fixing part. The restraint jig according to any one of [1] to [7].

[10] One of the pair of restraint parts is longer in the second direction than the other of the pair of restraint parts, and extends so as to protrude from the laminate in the second direction. The base part is fixed to one of the pair of restraint parts. The restraint jig according to any one of [1] to [7].

[11] A through window through which at least a part of the connection portion between the flow path part and the opening can be visually recognized is formed in the base part. The restraint jig according to any one of [1] to

[10] .

[12] A through window through which at least a part of the connection portion between the flow path part and the opening can be visually recognized is formed in one of the pair of restraint parts. The restraint jig according to any one of [1] to

[11] .

[13] A first clamping part that clamps a plurality of the electrodes constituting the laminate, A second clamping part that clamps the sealing part constituting the laminate, and has, The first clamping part includes a power supply connection part that electrically connects the laminate and an external power supply by contacting the electrode. The first clamping part is formed as a part of the pair of restraint parts. The second clamping part is formed as a part of the pair of restraint parts or a part of the pair of base parts. The thickness of the second clamping part in the first direction is smaller than the thickness of the first clamping part in the first direction. The restraint jig according to any one of [1] to

[12] .

Explanation of reference numerals

[0141] 1,1A... storage module, 10... electrode laminate (laminate), 10A... electrode group, 11,11A... bipolar electrode (electrode), 12... negative terminal electrode (electrode), 13... positive terminal electrode (electrode), 19... electrolyte, 20... sealing part, 20b... opening, 30, 230, 330... restraint member (restraint), 31d, 231d, 331d, 332d... recess (second recess), 31e... recess (second recess), 34, 234... power connection part, 35, 135... fixing part, 35b... insertion hole (first hole), 35c... recess (first recess), 51, 251... base part, 51d, 251d... recess (second recess), 51e... recess (second recess), 55, 155... fixing part, 55b... insertion hole (second hole), 55c... protrusion (first protrusion), 56... insertion member, 156... bolt, 60... flow path part, 63b... protrusion (pressing part), 67... elastic part (biasing part), 80, 80A... connection piece (connection member), 100, 100A, 100B... first unit, 200, 200A, 200B... second unit, 280... first clamping part, 290... second clamping part, 300... belt-like part, J... restraint jig, S... space.

Claims

1. A laminate comprising a plurality of electrodes laminated in a first direction, a sealing portion that seals the space between the electrodes, and an opening portion that is formed in the sealing portion, communicates between the inside and outside of the space, and opens in a second direction intersecting the first direction; An electrolytic solution accommodated in the space, and is a restraining jig used in the manufacture of a power storage module, A first unit that applies a restraining load in the first direction to the laminate via a pair of restraining portions disposed at both ends of the laminate in the first direction; A second unit having a flow path portion that communicates with the space by being connected to the opening portion, and a base portion that supports the flow path portion, The second unit is detachably provided on the first unit, When the base portion is fixed to at least one of the pair of restraining portions by a fixing portion that restricts and fixes the movement of the second unit in the second direction with respect to the first unit, the flow path portion is liquid-tightly connected to the opening portion. Restraining jig.

2. The fixing portion is formed by a first concave portion provided on one of the restraining portion and the base portion, and a first convex portion provided on the other of the restraining portion and the base portion, and the fitting of the first concave portion and the first convex portion restricts and fixes the movement of the second unit in the second direction with respect to the first unit. The restraining jig according to claim 1.

3. The fixing portion is A first hole formed in the restraining portion, A second hole formed in the base portion, An insertion member inserted through the first hole and the second hole arranged to overlap in the first direction, The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

4. The fixing portion is One of a second concave portion and a second convex portion formed in the restraining portion, One of a second concave portion and a second convex portion formed in the base portion, A connecting member that fits into the second concave portion or the second convex portion formed in the restraining portion and the second concave portion or the second convex portion formed in the base portion; The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the same.

5. The second unit includes: A pressing portion provided in the flow path portion and pressed against the laminate so as to surround the opening; A biasing portion that biases the pressing portion against the laminate; The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2, having the same.

6. The flow path portion has a connection portion to which the connected portion is connected so as to be communicable from vertically above. The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The connected portion is a pipe for supplying the electrolytic solution, and the electrolytic solution is supplied to the space through the flow path portion. The restraining jig according to claim 6.

8. The base portion has a first base portion and a second base portion. The first base portion and the second base portion sandwich and support the flow path portion in the first direction. The first base portion is fixed to one of the pair of restraining portions by the fixing portion, and the second base portion is fixed to the other of the pair of restraining portions by the fixing portion. The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The base portion is a member that supports the flow path portion from below in the first direction. The base portion is fixed to the restraining portion disposed below in the first direction, which is one of the pair of restraining portions, by the fixing portion. The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2.

10. One of the pair of restraining portions is longer in the second direction than the other of the pair of restraining portions, and extends so as to protrude from the laminate in the second direction. The base portion is fixed to one of the pair of restraining portions. The restraining jig according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The restraint jig according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a through window is formed in the base portion so as to be able to visually recognize at least a part of a connection portion between the flow path portion and the opening portion.

12. The restraint jig according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a through window is formed in one of the pair of restraint portions so as to be able to visually recognize at least a part of a connection portion between the flow path portion and the opening portion.

13. a first clamping portion that clamps a plurality of the electrodes constituting the laminate; a second clamping portion that clamps the sealing portion constituting the laminate, and the first clamping portion includes a power supply connection portion that electrically connects the laminate and an external power supply by contacting the electrode; the first clamping portion is formed as a part of the pair of restraint portions; the second clamping portion is formed as a part of the pair of restraint portions or a part of the pair of base portions, and the thickness of the second clamping portion in the first direction is smaller than the thickness of the first clamping portion in the first direction. The restraint jig according to claim 1 or 2.

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