Laser irradiation system

Abstract

To provide a laser irradiation system capable of contributing energy saving in manufacturing electrode sheets.SOLUTION: A laser irradiation system to be used in manufacturing electrode sheets comprises: a laser device including a laser head for radiating laser light and a laser cover attached to the laser head; a cooling water circulation device connected to the laser device using a first flow path; and a heat pump connected to the laser device using a second flow path. Material of the laser cover is any one of silver, copper, and aluminum. Through the first flow path, cooling water is supplied from the cooling water circulation device to the laser device. Through the second flow path, the cooling water heated by heat evolution of the laser device is supplied from the laser device to the heat pump.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laser irradiation system used for manufacturing an electrode sheet.

Background Art

[0002] As a technique related to a method for manufacturing an electrode sheet used in manufacturing a battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery, there is known a method in which an electrode material is applied to a conveyed current collector sheet to form a coating portion, and the coating portion is dried to obtain an electrode layer.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, an application step of applying an active material mixture to a conveyed long metal foil to form a coating portion of the active material mixture, and a first irradiation step of irradiating a laser to an irradiation position of the long metal foil located upstream in the conveyance direction of the long metal foil from both end portions of the mixture application position along the short side direction of the long metal foil, which is performed before the application step, and a second irradiation step of irradiating a laser to both edge portions in the short side direction in the coating portion formed by the application step, which is performed after the first irradiation step, and a drying step of drying the coating portion with warm air or the like, which is performed after the second irradiation step, are disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In manufacturing an electrode sheet, energy saving is required from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the main object thereof is to provide a laser irradiation system that can contribute to energy saving in manufacturing an electrode sheet.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] [1] A laser irradiation system used for manufacturing an electrode sheet, comprising a laser device having a laser head for irradiating laser light and a laser cover attached to the laser head, a cooling water circulation device connected to the laser device by a first flow path, and a heat pump connected to the laser device by a second flow path, wherein the member of the laser cover is any one of silver, copper, and aluminum, and cooling water is supplied from the cooling water circulation device to the laser device through the first flow path, and the cooling water heated by the heat generation of the laser device is supplied from the laser device to the heat pump through the second flow path.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] In the present disclosure, there is an effect that it can contribute to energy saving in the manufacture of the electrode sheet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, the laser irradiation system in the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0011] The laser irradiation system in the present disclosure is used for manufacturing an electrode sheet, which will be described later. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the laser irradiation system in the present disclosure. The laser irradiation system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a laser device 10 having a laser head 11 that irradiates laser light and a laser cover 12 attached to the laser head 11, a cooling water circulation device 20 connected to the laser device 10 by a first flow path P1, and a heat pump 30 connected to the laser device 10 by a second flow path P2. Further, the member of the laser cover 12 is any one of silver, copper, and aluminum. Furthermore, in the laser irradiation system 100, cooling water is supplied from the cooling water circulation device 20 to the laser device 10 through the first flow path P1, and the cooling water heated by the heat generation of the laser device 10 is supplied from the laser device 10 to the heat pump 30 through the second flow path P2.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, since the cooling water (warm water) heated by the heat generation of the laser device is supplied to the heat pump, it can contribute to energy saving in the manufacture of the electrode sheet.

[0013] From the perspective of carbon neutrality, in order to reduce the CO2 emissions, it is considered to use laser light for drying the electrode layer. Also, as described above, it is assumed that the composite layer containing the active material coated on the metal foil (current collector sheet) is dried by laser and warm air. In this regard, energy is usually required for each of laser irradiation and warm air blowing. On the other hand, in the laser irradiation system in the present disclosure, warm air can be generated from the heat pump by utilizing the heat generation of the laser device. Therefore, energy saving in the drying process can be achieved, and the electrode sheet can be efficiently manufactured.

[0014] 1. Laser Device The laser device in the present disclosure has a laser head that irradiates laser light and a laser cover attached to the laser head.

[0015] The laser head usually incorporates an optical lens having a predetermined curvature. The laser head oscillates from a laser oscillator and irradiates laser light through the optical lens.

[0016] The laser cover is a member attached to the laser head. Specifically, it is a member attached to the laser irradiation side (laser irradiation port) of the laser head.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the laser cover 12 usually has a frame portion 12a and an opening portion 12b. The opening portion 12b can be regarded as a region surrounded by the inner edge of the frame portion 12a. Usually, in the thickness direction, the opening portion 12b penetrates the frame portion 12a. The laser light irradiated from the laser head passes through the opening portion and irradiates the object to be irradiated. On the other hand, the frame portion is a portion that does not transmit laser light, and the laser cover (frame portion) generates heat when the laser light irradiated from the laser head is absorbed by the frame portion.

[0018] The member of the laser cover in the present disclosure is any one of silver, copper, and aluminum. This is because silver, copper, and aluminum have high thermal conductivity, and the laser cover generates heat due to the irradiated laser light, and can efficiently heat the cooling water described later. Also, the surface of the laser cover is preferably coated black. This is because it can suppress the reflection of laser light to the laser head and can make the laser cover generate heat more easily. Note that the "member of the laser cover" and the "surface of the laser cover" mean the member of the above frame portion and the surface of the above frame portion.

[0019] Here, in the laser device of the present disclosure, by using laser covers with different sizes of the opening, the irradiation range of the laser light irradiated from the laser head can be adjusted. Generally, the laser irradiation range (focal length) is adjusted according to the size of the electrode sheet to be manufactured. When changing the focal length by adjusting the distance from the laser head to the object to be irradiated, it is necessary to adjust the equipment itself such as the laser device. In contrast, by using a laser cover, the irradiation range can be changed simply by replacing the laser cover with a different size of the opening, which has the advantage of enabling simpler adjustment.

[0020] The laser device may have one set or a plurality of sets of a laser head and a laser cover.

[0021] The irradiation conditions of the laser light irradiated by the laser device are not particularly limited. The energy density of the laser light is, for example, 0.1 W / cm 2 or more and 2.0 W / cm 2 or less.

[0022] 2. Cooling water circulation device The cooling water circulation device in the present disclosure is connected to the laser device by a first flow path. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, usually, the cooling water circulation device 20 is connected to the tank 40 by a third flow path P3, and the cooling water stored in the tank 40 is supplied to the cooling water circulation device 20 through the third flow path P3.

[0023] The cooling water circulation device is not particularly limited and can be a conventionally known device.

[0024] The first flow path is a flow path through which cooling water is supplied from the cooling water circulation device toward the laser device. The first flow path may supply the cooling water to the laser head of the laser device, may supply it to the laser cover, or may supply it to both the laser head and the laser cover. Note that if the first flow path is in contact with the laser device, it can be regarded that "the cooling water is supplied to the laser device". The first flow path may be provided so as to penetrate the inside of the laser device, or may be provided so as to run along the outer surface of the laser device.

[0025] The member of the first flow path is not particularly limited and can be a general member used for piping.

[0026] 3. Heat pump The heat pump in the present disclosure is connected to the laser device by the second flow path. The heat pump is a device that generates warm air using the cooling water (warm water) heated by the heat generation of the warm water laser device. In other words, the heat pump is a device that generates warm air using the thermal energy of the warm water.

[0027] The structure of the heat pump can be the same as that of a conventionally known heat pump except for using the above-described warm water.

[0028] The second flow path may be a flow path communicating with the first flow path described above. Also, the member of the second flow path is not particularly limited and can be a general member used for piping.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the warm water supplied to the heat pump 30 and used for generating warm air is supplied to the tank 40 through the third flow path P3.

[0030] 4. Others As shown in FIG. 1, the laser irradiation system 100 in the present disclosure may have a tank 40 that stores the cooling water supplied to the cooling water circulation device 20 and the warm water (the heated cooling water) supplied from the heat pump 30. The tank 40 is connected to the cooling water circulation device 20 and the heat pump 30 through the third flow path P3.

[0031] 5. Laser Irradiation System The laser irradiation system in the present disclosure is used for manufacturing the electrode sheet. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the electrode sheet in the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrode sheet 200 has a current collector sheet 201 and an electrode layer 202 formed on one surface of the current collector sheet 201. In FIG. 3, the electrode layer is formed intermittently. Although not shown, the electrode layer may be formed on both surfaces of the current collector sheet. Also, the electrode sheet may be cut for each electrode layer.

[0032] Such an electrode sheet is used for manufacturing a battery and may be an electrode sheet on the positive electrode side or an electrode sheet on the negative electrode side. That is, the current collector sheet and the electrode layer may be a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer, or a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. When the electrode sheet in the present disclosure is an electrode sheet on the positive electrode side, it is combined with the electrode sheet on the negative electrode side and the separator to form an electrode body. Similarly, when the electrode sheet in the present disclosure is an electrode sheet on the negative electrode side, it is combined with the electrode sheet on the positive electrode side and the separator to form an electrode body.

[0033] The type of battery for which the electrode sheet is used is not particularly limited, and examples include lithium-ion secondary batteries. Examples of the uses of the battery include power sources for vehicles such as hybrid vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), electric vehicles (BEV), gasoline vehicles, and diesel vehicles. In particular, it is preferably used as a driving power source for hybrid vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), or electric vehicles (BEV). Also, the battery may be used as a power source for moving bodies other than vehicles (e.g., railways, ships, airplanes), or as a power source for electrical products such as information processing devices.

[0034] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments are examples, and any configuration that has substantially the same configuration as the technical idea described in the claims of the present disclosure and exhibits the same operational effects is included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0035] 11 … Laser head 12 … Laser cover 10 … Laser device 20 … Cooling water circulation device 30 … Heat pump 40 … Tank 100 … Laser irradiation system P1 … First flow path P2 … Second flow path P3 … Third flow path

Claims

【Claim 1】 A laser irradiation system used for manufacturing an electrode sheet, comprising: a laser device having a laser head for irradiating laser light and a laser cover attached to the laser head; a cooling water circulation device connected to the laser device by a first flow path; a heat pump connected to the laser device by a second flow path, wherein the member of the laser cover is any one of silver, copper, and aluminum; cooling water is supplied from the cooling water circulation device to the laser device through the first flow path; a laser irradiation system in which the cooling water heated by heat generation of the laser device is supplied from the laser device to the heat pump through the second flow path.

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