Resin molding method and resin molding die for battery cases

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of manufacturing plural types of battery cases with different sizes while suppressing steep rise in cost.SOLUTION: A method of molding a resin of a battery case uses a mold provided with: a cavity having a plurality of molding regions for molding a case portion, consisting of a first molding region 31, a second molding region 32 being another one of the molding regions, and a communication region 33 for communicating the first molding region and the second molding region; and a block slide core capable of advancing to / retracting from the communication region. In a large-size molding mode, the block slide core is retracted from the communication region, and a fluid resin material is injected to the first molding region, the communication region, and the second molding region. In a small-size molding mode, the block slide core is advanced to the communication region, and the fluid resin material is injected to the first molding region, and is not injected to the communication region and the second molding region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for resin-molding a battery case for housing a battery, and a resin molding die for resin-molding the battery case. [Background technology]

[0002] Battery cases for housing batteries can be made in various sizes depending on the size and number of batteries to be housed. However, manufacturing battery cases of various sizes requires separate molds for each battery case size, which is cost-intensive. For this reason, efforts have been made to reduce the cost required for molds for battery cases (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 introduces a method for manufacturing a battery case in which the upper member 111 and the lower member 112 of battery cases 1 of various sizes are made common in order to reduce the cost required for molding dies for the battery case.

[0004] More specifically, in the battery case manufacturing method introduced in Patent Document 1, an upper member 111 and a lower member 112 (first region 11) that are large and have a uniform cross-sectional shape along their longitudinal direction (direction X) are separately molded, along with partition plates (second region 22 and third region 23) that correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the first region 11. Then, the first region 11 is cut at a position according to the size of the battery case 1 to be manufactured, and the second region 22 and the third region 23 are respectively attached to the end faces (openings at both ends) of the resulting cut product of the first region 11, thereby manufacturing battery cases of various sizes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-126775 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the first region 11, the second region 22, and the third region 23 can be made common for battery cases 1 of various sizes, thereby making it possible to use a common molding die for molding these regions. Therefore, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is advantageous in terms of the cost required for the molding die.

[0007] However, even with the technology of Patent Document 1, if the size of the battery case to be manufactured is smaller than the size of the first portion described above, the unused area of ​​the first component, i.e., the remainder resulting from cutting the first component, will be wasted. In this case, therefore, the cost of the material for the battery case rises more than necessary, and the problem of sufficient reduction in the cost required for manufacturing the battery case remains.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can manufacture a plurality of types of battery cases with different sizes while suppressing a rise in costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The resin molding method for a battery case of the present invention, which solves the above problems, comprises: A method for molding a battery case having a case portion for accommodating a battery, comprising: As a molding die, a cavity having a plurality of molding regions for molding the case portion, and having a communication region between a first molding region which is one of the molding regions and is connected to a gate, and a second molding region which is another of the molding regions and is adjacent to the first molding region, the communication region connecting the first molding region and the second molding region; a blocking slide core that can enter the communication area and exit from the communication area, In a large molding mode, the blocking slide core is withdrawn from the communication region, and a fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region, the communication region, and the second molding region; In the small molding mode, the blocking slide core is inserted into the communication area, and the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding area while the fluid resin material is not injected into the communication area and the second molding area.

[0010] Further, the resin molding die of the present invention that solves the above problems comprises: A molding die for molding a battery case having a case portion for accommodating a battery, a cavity having a plurality of molding regions for molding the case portion, and having a communication region between a first molding region which is one of the molding regions and is connected to a gate, and a second molding region which is another of the molding regions and is adjacent to the first molding region, the communication region connecting the first molding region and the second molding region; and a blocking slide core that can enter the communication region and can exit the communication region.

[0011] The resin molding method and resin molding die for battery cases of the present invention make it possible to manufacture a variety of battery cases of different sizes while suppressing increases in costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 2A to 2C are explanatory views for schematically explaining a battery case manufactured using the manufacturing method and molding die of Example 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining the molding die of Example 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for schematically explaining the molding die of Example 1. [Figure 4] 1A to 1C are explanatory views for schematically explaining the manufacturing method and molding die of Example 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In this specification, the resin molding method for battery cases of the present invention may be referred to as the manufacturing method of the present invention, the manufacturing method of the examples, etc., as needed. Similarly, the resin molding die of the present invention may be referred to as the molding die of the present invention, the molding die of the examples, etc., as needed. Furthermore, the cavity in the molding die of the present invention may be referred to as the cavity of the present invention, the cavity of the examples, etc., as needed.

[0014] In this specification, when referring to elements common to the manufacturing method and mold of the present invention, such as the mold and cavity, it is assumed that the manufacturing method of the present invention and the mold of the present invention are being described at the same time.

[0015] In the manufacturing method and molding die of the present invention, the cavity of the molding die has a plurality of molding regions for molding the case portion, and has a connecting region between a first molding region, which is one of the molding regions and is connected to the gate, and a second molding region, which is another of the molding regions and is adjacent to the first molding region, that connects the first molding region and the second molding region.

[0016] Hereinafter, the communication area connecting the first molding area and the second molding area may be referred to as the "first communication area" as needed. Also, the blocking slide core that can enter the first communication area and exit the first communication area may be referred to as the "first blocking slide core" as needed. Furthermore, the gate that the first molding area communicates with may be referred to as the "first gate" as needed.

[0017] In the manufacturing method of the present invention, the large-size molding mode or the small-size molding mode is performed by switching the position of the first blocking slide core.

[0018] In the large-size molding mode, the first blocking slide core of the mold is removed from the first communication region provided in the cavity of the mold. This connects the first molding region and the second molding region through the first communication region. In this state, when a fluid resin material is injected into the cavity from the gate, the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region, the first communication region, and the second molding region. This makes it possible to manufacture a large battery case corresponding to the first molding region, the first communication region, and the second molding region in the large-size molding mode.

[0019] On the other hand, in the compact molding mode, the first blocking slide core of the mold is inserted into the first connecting region provided in the cavity of the mold. This separates the first molding region from the second molding region. In this state, when fluid resin material is injected into the cavity through the gate, the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region but not into the first connecting region or the second molding region. This makes it possible to manufacture a compact battery case corresponding to the first molding region in the compact molding mode.

[0020] According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the same mold can be used to manufacture large and small battery cases, thereby reducing the cost required for molds to manufacture battery cases of various sizes. The mold of the present invention, like the manufacturing method of the present invention described above, makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of battery cases.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the amount of fluid resin material injected into the cavity can be appropriately adjusted by switching the position of the first shutoff slide core in the mold between the large-size molding mode and the small-size molding mode. As a result, almost the entire molded product is used as a battery case, and the unused area of ​​the molded product (i.e., the remaining portion described above) is minimized. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the rise in costs required for battery case materials, which also makes it possible to reduce the costs required for manufacturing battery cases. The mold of the present invention, like the manufacturing method of the present invention described above, makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of battery cases.

[0022] The resin molding method for a battery case and the resin molding die of the present invention will be described below for each of their components. Unless otherwise specified, the numerical ranges "x to y" described in this specification include the lower limit x and the upper limit y. These upper and lower limit values, as well as the numerical values ​​listed in the examples, can be arbitrarily combined to form new numerical ranges. Furthermore, any numerical value selected from any of the above numerical ranges can be used as the upper and lower limit values ​​of a new numerical range.

[0023] The molding die of the present invention is a resin molding die for molding a battery case having a case portion for accommodating a battery.

[0024] The battery housed in the battery case may be a secondary battery, i.e., a storage battery, or a primary battery, but it means that the battery components such as electrodes and electrolyte are housed inside a battery container such as a can or a laminate film.

[0025] For reference, the counterpart device to which the battery is connected is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, electrical equipment installed in various facilities such as industrial facilities and commercial facilities, homes, etc. Also, for example, various electrical and electronic devices such as an electric motor for a vehicle may be used as the counterpart device. In these cases, the battery is preferably a storage battery, and it is expected that the battery will supply power to various electrical and electronic devices through the various electrical equipment as the counterpart device, or will supply power directly to the various electrical and electronic devices. The battery case may be capable of accommodating only one battery, or may be capable of accommodating multiple batteries.

[0026] The cavity of the present invention has a plurality of molding regions for molding the case portion of the battery case.

[0027] The battery case to be manufactured using the manufacturing method and mold of the present invention may have only one case part or multiple case parts, and the shapes of the case parts may be the same or different. Similarly, the multiple molding regions of the cavity of the present invention may have the same shape or different shapes.

[0028] The cavity of the present invention has a first molding region that is one of the molding regions and is connected to the gate, and a second molding region that is another of the molding regions and is adjacent to the first molding region. As described above, the first molding region and the second molding region may have the same shape or different shapes.

[0029] The cavity of the present invention further has a first connecting region that connects the first molding region and the second molding region. The shape of the first connecting region is not particularly limited as long as it connects the first molding region and the second molding region, but it is preferable that the first molding region smoothly connects the first molding region and the second molding region. As described above, when the large-scale molding mode is performed in the manufacturing method of the present invention, the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region, the first connecting region, and the second molding region, and the obtained molded product is used as a large-scale battery case. In consideration of this, it is preferable to arrange the first molding region, the first connecting region, and the second molding region in series with each other.

[0030] The cavity of the present invention may have other molding regions, i.e., molding regions other than the first molding region and the second molding region. The other molding regions may have the same shape as the first molding region and the second molding region, or may have a different shape. Furthermore, the cavity of the present invention may have only one other molding region or multiple other molding regions.

[0031] It is preferable that the other molding region is connected to an adjacent molding region (i.e., the first molding region, the second molding region, or another other molding region) via another communication region. It can also be said that the cavity of the present invention preferably has other communication regions in a number corresponding to the number of other molding regions. It is also preferable that the molding die of the present invention has other blocking slide cores in a number corresponding to the number of other communication regions. The above other molding regions, other communication regions, other blocking slide cores, etc. will be explained later.

[0032] The manufacturing method of the present invention is a resin molding method for molding a battery case having a case portion for accommodating a battery, using the above-described molding die of the present invention. The mold used in the production method of the present invention is as described above.

[0033] The manufacturing method of the present invention is a method in which the large molding mode and the small molding mode are carried out, but the large molding mode and the small molding mode are carried out at different timings.

[0034] In the large molding mode, the first blocking slide core is withdrawn from the first connecting region of the cavity, and the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region, the first connecting region, and the second molding region of the cavity. As described above, in the large molding mode, a large battery case having a shape corresponding to the first molding region, the first connecting region, and the second molding region of the cavity can be manufactured.

[0035] On the other hand, in the compact molding mode, the first shutoff slide core is inserted into the first connecting region of the cavity, and the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region of the cavity, but the fluid resin material is not injected into the second molding region. As described above, in the compact mode, a compact battery case having a shape corresponding to the first molding region of the cavity can be manufactured.

[0036] Here, as already described, it is preferable that the cavity of the present invention in the molding die of the present invention has other molding regions (i.e., molding regions other than the first molding region and the second molding region), other communication regions (i.e., communication regions other than the above-mentioned first communication region), and other blocking slide cores in a number corresponding to the number of the other communication regions.

[0037] For example, if the other molding area is a third molding area, and the other connecting area is a second connecting area connecting the first molding area and the third molding area, the molding die of the present invention may be provided with a second blocking slide core that can enter the second connecting area and exit the second connecting area.

[0038] In this case, for example, by moving the first blocking slide core into the first communication region and the second blocking slide core out of the second communication region, the third molding region, the second communication region, and the first molding region are connected to the first gate, and the first communication region and the second molding region are blocked from each other. If fluid resin material is injected into the cavity in this state through the first gate, the fluid resin material is injected into the third molding region, the second communication region, and the first molding region, but not into the first communication region and the second molding region, so that a large battery case corresponding to the shapes of the third molding region, the second communication region, and the first molding region can be manufactured.

[0039] In this case, for example, by retracting the first shutoff slide core from the first communication region and retracting the second shutoff slide core from the second communication region, the third molding region, the second communication region, the first molding region, the first communication region, and the second molding region are connected to the first gate, and if fluid resin material is injected into the cavity in this state from the first gate, the fluid resin material is injected into the third molding region, the second communication region, the first molding region, the first communication region, and the second molding region. Therefore, in this case, it is also possible to manufacture an even larger battery case corresponding to the shapes of the third molding region, the second communication region, the first molding region, the first communication region, and the second molding region.

[0040] Furthermore, in this case, for example, a second gate may be provided in the molding die, and the second molding region may be connected to the second gate. In this case, when the first blocking slide core is advanced into the first communication area and the second blocking slide core is advanced out of the second communication area, the third molding area, the second communication area and the first molding area are connected to the first gate, the first communication area and the second molding area are isolated from here, and the second molding area is connected to the second gate. By injecting fluid resin material into the cavity in this state from the first gate and the second gate, respectively, a large battery case corresponding to the shapes of the third molding region, the second connecting region, and the first molding region, and a small battery case corresponding to the shape of the second molding region can be manufactured simultaneously.

[0041] When the molding die of the present invention has multiple gates, for example, when the molding die has a first gate communicating with the first molding region and a second gate communicating with the second molding region as described above, it is preferable to provide gate valves for opening and closing each gate as necessary. It is preferable that the gate valves operate independently to open and close each gate.

[0042] The function of the gate opening / closing valve will be explained using as an example a case where the molding die of the present invention has a first gate communicating with the first molding area and a second gate communicating with the second molding area.

[0043] In the above case, the first gate may be opened by the first gate opening / closing valve, which is one of the two gate opening / closing valves, and the second gate may be opened by the second gate opening / closing valve, which is the other of the two gate opening / closing valves, and the first shutoff slide core may be caused to enter the first communication region and the second shutoff slide core to exit from the second communication region. In this case, the fluid resin material is injected from the first gate into the third molding region, the second communication region, and the first molding region, and the fluid resin material is injected from the second gate into the second molding region. Therefore, in this case, a large battery case corresponding to the shapes of the third molding region, the second connecting region, and the first molding region, and a small battery case corresponding to the shape of the second molding region are obtained.

[0044] On the other hand, in the above case, the first gate may be opened by the first gate opening / closing valve and the second gate may be closed by the second gate opening / closing valve, and the first blocking slide core may be caused to enter the first communication region and the second blocking slide core may be caused to exit from the second communication region. In this case, the fluid resin material is injected from the first gate into the third molding region, the second communication region, and the first molding region, but the fluid resin material is not injected into the second molding region. Therefore, in this case, only a large battery case corresponding to the shapes of the third molding region, the second connecting region, and the first molding region is obtained.

[0045] Furthermore, in the above case, the first shutoff slide core may be advanced into the first communication region and the second shutoff slide core may be retracted from the second communication region with the first gate closed by the first gate opening / closing valve and the second gate opened by the second gate opening / closing valve. In this case, the fluid resin material is injected into the second molding region from the second gate, but is not injected into the third molding region, the second communication region, and the first molding region. Therefore, in this case, only a small battery case that follows the shape of the second molding region is obtained.

[0046] The manufacturing method and molding die of the present invention are not limited to the various aspects described above, and various molding regions, communication regions, gates, shutoff slide cores, and gate opening / closing valves can be appropriately combined, and by using these to inject a flowable resin material into an appropriate molding region or communication region, it is possible to manufacture battery cases of various sizes.

[0047] Furthermore, the manufacturing method and molding die of the present invention may be used to manufacture a battery case having a three-dimensional structure that protrudes in the thickness direction of the battery case. Specifically, the three-dimensional structure refers to a partition plate, an outer wall, or the like that protrudes in the thickness direction of the battery case from the inside or end of the battery case.

[0048] The mold of the present invention for producing a battery case having the above-described three-dimensional structure has a three-dimensional structure-forming region in its cavity for forming the three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure-forming region protrudes in the thickness direction of the cavity.

[0049] Incidentally, the above-mentioned three-dimensional structure may or may not be necessary depending on the shape of the battery to be housed in the battery case, the size of the battery case, etc. Therefore, in order to reduce the material cost required for manufacturing the battery case, it is preferable to form the three-dimensional structure only when necessary and not form the three-dimensional structure when unnecessary.

[0050] In order to mold the above-mentioned three-dimensional structure only when necessary and not mold the three-dimensional structure when not necessary, the molding die of the present invention having a three-dimensional structure molding region in the cavity preferably has a sub-blocking slide core for preventing the flowing resin material from being injected into the three-dimensional structure molding region.The manufacturing method of the present invention preferably performs a three-dimensional structure molding mode in which the three-dimensional structure is molded and a three-dimensional structure non-molding mode in which the three-dimensional structure is not molded.

[0051] Specifically, the sub-blocking slide core only needs to be able to enter the three-dimensional structure molding region and exit the three-dimensional structure molding region. When the sub-blocking slide core enters the three-dimensional structure molding region, the three-dimensional structure molding region is blocked from the flow path of the fluid resin material in the cavity (i.e., the first gate, the first molding region, the second molding region, etc.), resulting in the production of a battery case without a three-dimensional structure. When the sub-blocking slide core exits the three-dimensional structure molding region, the three-dimensional structure molding region is connected to the flow path of the fluid resin material, and the fluid resin material is injected into the three-dimensional structure molding region, resulting in the production of a battery case with a three-dimensional structure.

[0052] The shape and number of the three-dimensional structure molding regions may be appropriately set depending on the shape of the battery case to be manufactured, and the shape and number of the sub-blocking slide cores may be set depending on the shape and number of the three-dimensional structure molding regions. For example, the three-dimensional structure forming region may be continuous with a connecting region such as the first connecting region, or may be located at a different position from the connecting region.

[0053] The molding die of the present invention may or may not have a drive device for changing the position of the first shutoff slide core. That is, the molding die of the present invention may automatically move the first shutoff slide core into and out of the first communication region of the cavity by the driving force of the drive device, or may manually move the first shutoff slide core into and out of the first communication region of the cavity. This also applies to other shutoff slide cores, gate opening / closing valves, sub-shutoff slide cores, etc.

[0054] The manufacturing method of the present invention and the molding die of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples.

[0055] Example 1 Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram that schematically illustrates the manufacturing method and the battery case to be manufactured using the mold of Example 1. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram that schematically illustrates the mold of Example 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams that schematically illustrate the manufacturing method and the mold of Example 1. Fig. 3 shows the large-size molding mode in operation, and Fig. 4 shows the small-size molding mode in operation. Hereinafter, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" refer to the upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear shown in each drawing.

[0056] In the manufacturing method of Example 1, a large molding mode for manufacturing a large battery case and a small molding mode for manufacturing a small battery case are carried out.

[0057] A large battery case 90 manufactured in the large-scale molding mode is box-shaped with upright walls on the front, back, left, and right sides and an opening at the top, as shown in Fig. 1. The battery case 90 has a storage section 92 inside the box for storing a battery 91.

[0058] The battery case 90 shown in Fig. 1 has two case parts. Of the two case parts, the one on the rear side in Fig. 1 is referred to as a first case part 93, and the one on the front side in Fig. 1 is referred to as a second case part 94. The first case portion 93 and the second case portion 94 are arranged in series in the front-rear direction and are smoothly continuous.

[0059] The first case portion 93 and the second case portion 94 have approximately the same size in the left-right and up-down directions. The size of the first case portion 93 is smaller than the size of the second case portion 94 in the front-rear direction.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, the molding die 1 of Example 1 includes a fixed die 10, a movable die 20, a first blocking slide core 50, and a sub-blocking slide core 60.

[0061] The fixed mold 10 has a fixed-side mold surface 11 for defining and forming the cavity 3. The movable mold 20 has a movable-side mold surface 21 for defining and forming the cavity 3. When the fixed mold 10 and the movable mold 20 are combined, the fixed-side mold surface 11 of the fixed mold 10 and the movable-side mold surface 21 of the movable mold 20 define and form the cavity 3. It can also be said that the outer surface of the battery case 90 is formed by the fixed side mold surface 11 of the fixed mold 10 , and the inner surface of the battery case 90 is formed by the movable side mold surface 21 of the movable mold 20 .

[0062] The fixed mold 10 is literally fixed. A drive unit (not shown) is connected to the movable mold 20. The drive force of the drive unit causes the movable mold 20 to slide between a mold clamping position (FIG. 3) where it approaches the fixed mold 10 and a mold open position (not shown) where it moves away from the fixed mold 10.

[0063] The fixed side mold surface 11 of the fixed mold 10 has a fixed side first mold surface 12 that defines the first molding area 31 of the cavity 3 described below, a fixed side second mold surface 13 that defines the second molding area 32 of the cavity 3, and a connecting mold surface 14 that defines the connecting area 33 of the cavity 3.

[0064] The fixed mold 10 is also provided with a plurality of gates connected to an injection molding device (not shown). One of the gates, a first gate 15, communicates with the first fixed mold surface 12, and thereby communicates with a first molding region 31 of the cavity 3, which will be described later. The second gate 16, which is another one of the plurality of gates, communicates with the fixed second molding surface 13, and thereby communicates with the second molding region 32 of the cavity 3, which will be described later. Another one of the gates, a third gate 17, also communicates with the fixed second molding surface 13, and thereby with a second molding region 32 of the cavity 3, which will be described later.

[0065] The movable side mold surface 21 of the movable mold 20 has a movable side first molding mold surface 22 that defines the first molding area 31 of the cavity 3 described below, a movable side second molding mold surface 23 that defines the second molding area 32 of the cavity 3, and a three-dimensional structure molding mold surface 24 that defines the three-dimensional structure molding area 34 of the cavity 3.

[0066] The first blocking slide core 50 is attached to the fixed mold 10 and a drive device (not shown), and slides relative to the fixed mold 10. This allows the first blocking slide core 50 to enter and exit a communication region 33 of the cavity 3, which will be described later.

[0067] The sub-blocking slide core 60 is attached to the movable mold 20 and a drive device (not shown), and slides along with the movable mold 20 which slides between a mold clamping position and a mold opening position, and also slides relative to the movable mold 20. This allows the sub-blocking slide core 60 to enter and exit a three-dimensional structure molding region 34 of the cavity 3, which will be described later.

[0068] When the movable mold 20 is slid to the mold clamping position as described above, a cavity 3 is formed between the fixed mold 10 and the movable mold 20, as shown in Fig. 3. The cavity 3 has a first molding region 31, a second molding region 32, a connecting region 33, and a three-dimensional structure molding region 34.

[0069] The first molding region 31, the second molding region 32, and the communication region 33 are arranged in series from the rear side to the front side in the order of first molding region 31, communication region 33, and second molding region 32. The three-dimensional structure molding region 34 is continuous with the first molding region 31 slightly behind the connecting region 33 and protrudes downward from the connecting region 33 .

[0070] The first molding region 31 is a region for molding the first case portion 93 of the large battery case 90 shown in FIG. 1 and is generally box-shaped. The second molding region 32 is a region for molding the second case portion 94 of the battery case 90 and is generally box-shaped. The connecting region 33 is a region that connects the first molding region 31 and the second molding region 32 and is generally plate-shaped extending in the front-rear and left-right directions. The three-dimensional structure molding region 34 is a region for molding the front peripheral wall of the small battery case as a three-dimensional structure and is generally plate-shaped extending in the up-down and left-right directions.

[0071] The first molding region 31 is approximately the same size as the second molding region 32 in the up-down and left-right directions, and is smaller than the second molding region 32 in the front-rear direction. The three-dimensional structure molding region 34 is approximately the same size in the left-right direction as the first molding region 31 and the second molding region 32, and is even smaller in the front-rear direction than the first molding region 31. The left-right sizes of the connection region 33 and the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 are approximately the same as the left-right sizes of the first molding region 31 and the second molding region 32.

[0072] The fixed mold 10 is provided with a slide groove portion 18 that is continuous with the communicating mold surface 14 and opens upward. It can also be said that the slide groove portion 18 is continuous with the communicating region 33. The first blocking slide core 50 is disposed above the communicating region 33 and enters and exits the slide groove portion 18 from above.

[0073] The movable mold 20 is provided with a sub-slide groove 26 that is continuous with the three-dimensional structure molding mold surface 24 and opens downward. It can also be said that the sub-slide groove 26 is continuous with the three-dimensional structure molding region 34. The sub-blocking slide core 60 is disposed below the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 and enters and exits the sub-slide groove 26 from below.

[0074] The fixed mold 10 further has a first opening / closing valve 71 for opening and closing the first gate 15, a second opening / closing valve 72 for opening and closing the second gate 16, and a third opening / closing valve 73 for opening and closing the third gate 17.

[0075] In the molding die 1 of Example 1, when the first opening / closing valve 71 is opened, the first gate 15 is connected to the first molding region 31, and when the first opening / closing valve 71 is closed, the first gate 15 is disconnected from the first molding region 31. When the second opening / closing valve 72 is opened, the second gate 16 is connected to the second molding region 32, and when the second opening / closing valve 72 is closed, the second gate 16 is disconnected from the second molding region 32. When the third opening / closing valve 73 is opened, the third gate 17 is connected to the second molding region 32, and when the third opening / closing valve 73 is closed, the third gate 17 is disconnected from the second molding region 32.

[0076] [Large molding mode] As shown in FIG. 3, in the large molding mode, the first blocking slide core 50 is slid upwardly to the upper side of the slide groove portion 18 and withdrawn from the communication region 33.

[0077] Here, a three-dimensional structure is not necessary for the large battery case 90 manufactured in the large molding mode of the manufacturing method of Example 1. Therefore, in the manufacturing method of Example 1, the large molding mode and the three-dimensional structure non-molding mode are carried out simultaneously.

[0078] Therefore, at this time, the sub-blocking slide core 60 is slid upward in the sub-slide groove portion 26 and is caused to enter the three-dimensional structure forming region 34 . In this state, a fluid resin material is injected into the cavity 3 from an injection molding device (not shown).

[0079] At this time, the first on-off valve 71, the second on-off valve 72, and the third on-off valve 73 are all open, so that the first molding region 31 of the cavity 3 is connected to the first gate 15, and the second molding region 32 is connected to the second gate 16 and the third gate 17.

[0080] The fluid resin material injected from the injection molding device toward the cavity 3 is injected into the first molding area 31 through the first gate 15, and into the second molding area 32 through the second gate 16 and the third gate 17.

[0081] As described above, since the first blocking slide core 50 is retracted from the communication region 33, the communication region 33 connects the first molding region 31 and the second molding region 32. Therefore, the fluid resin material injected into the first molding region 31 and the second molding region 32 is also injected into the communication region 33.

[0082] Furthermore, since the sub-blocking slide core 60 has entered the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 as described above, the fluid resin material is not injected into the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 .

[0083] Therefore, in the large molding mode, a fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region 31, the connecting region 33 and the second molding region 32 of the cavity 3, and a large battery case 90 having a shape corresponding to the shapes of the first molding region 31, the connecting region 33 and the second molding region 32 is manufactured.

[0084] [Small molding mode] As shown in FIG. 4, in the compact molding mode, the first blocking slide core 50 is slid downward in the slide groove portion 18 and enters the communication region 33.

[0085] A three-dimensional structure is required for the small battery case manufactured by the large molding mode of the manufacturing method of Example 1. Therefore, in the manufacturing method of Example 1, the small molding mode and the three-dimensional structure molding mode are carried out simultaneously.

[0086] At this time, therefore, the sub-blocking slide core 60 is slid downwardly to the sub-slide groove portion 26 and withdrawn from the three-dimensional structure forming region 34 . In this state, a fluid resin material is injected into the cavity 3 from the injection molding device.

[0087] At this time, the first on-off valve 71 is open, and the second on-off valve 72 and the third on-off valve 73 are closed. Therefore, the first molding area 31 of the cavity 3 is connected to the first gate 15, and the second molding area 32 is isolated from the second gate 16 and the third gate 17.

[0088] Therefore, the fluid resin material injected from the injection molding device toward the cavity 3 passes through the first gate 15 and is injected into the first molding region 31 , but is not injected into the second molding region 32 .

[0089] Furthermore, since the blocking slide core has entered the communication region 33 as described above, the communication region 33 and the second molding region 32 are also blocked from the first molding region 31. Therefore, the fluid resin material injected into the first molding region 31 is not injected into the communication region 33 and the second molding region 32.

[0090] Furthermore, as described above, the sub-blocking slide core 60 is retracted from the three-dimensional structure molding region 34, and the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 is connected to the first molding region 31. Therefore, the fluid resin material injected into the first molding region 31 is also injected into the three-dimensional structure molding region 34.

[0091] Therefore, in the small molding mode, a fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region 31 and the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 of the cavity 3, and a small battery case having a shape corresponding to the shapes of the first molding region 31 and the three-dimensional structure molding region 34 is manufactured.

[0092] According to the manufacturing method and molding die 1 of Example 1, the same molding die 1 can be used to manufacture large battery cases 90 and small battery cases, which makes it possible to reduce the cost required for the molding die 1.

[0093] Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method of Example 1, by switching the position of the first shutoff slide core 50 in the mold 1 between the large molding mode and the small molding mode, it is possible to appropriately adjust the region of the cavity 3 into which the fluid resin material is injected, and therefore the amount of fluid resin material injected into the cavity 3. As a result, the molded product, i.e., the molded large battery case 90 and the molded small battery case are almost entirely used as battery cases, and the unused region of the molded product is minimized. This reduces unnecessary costs for the resin material, and further reduces the costs required for manufacturing battery cases.

[0094] Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method of Example 1, by switching the position of the sub-blocking slide core 60 in the mold 1 between the three-dimensional structure molding mode and the three-dimensional structure non-molding mode, it is possible to appropriately adjust the region of the cavity 3 into which the fluid resin material is injected, and therefore the amount of fluid resin material injected into the cavity 3. This makes it possible to mold a three-dimensional structure into a battery case that requires one, while eliminating the need to mold a three-dimensional structure into a battery case that does not require one. This also makes it possible to further reduce unnecessary costs for resin materials and further reduce the costs required for manufacturing battery cases.

[0095] Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, etc., and it is possible to implement the present invention by appropriately extracting and combining elements described in the embodiments, etc., and to make various modifications within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the specification of the present invention discloses not only the citation relationships of the claims at the time of filing but also the technical idea of ​​appropriately combining the matters described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1: Molding mold 15: First Gate (Gate) 3: Cavity 31: 1st molding area (molding area) 32:Second molding area (molding area) 33: Contact area 34: Three-dimensional structure molding area 50: First shutoff slide core (shutoff slide core) 60: Sub-blocking slide core 90: Large battery case (battery case) 91:Battery 93: First case part (case part) 94: Second case part (case part)

Claims

1. A method for molding a battery case having a case portion for accommodating a battery, comprising: As a molding die, a cavity having a plurality of molding regions for molding the case portion, and having a communication region between a first molding region which is one of the molding regions and is connected to a gate, and a second molding region which is another of the molding regions and is adjacent to the first molding region, the communication region connecting the first molding region and the second molding region; a blocking slide core that can enter the communication area and exit from the communication area, In a large molding mode, the blocking slide core is withdrawn from the communication region, and a fluid resin material is injected into the first molding region, the communication region, and the second molding region; A resin molding method for a battery case, in which, in a small molding mode, the blocking slide core is inserted into the communication area, and the fluid resin material is injected into the first molding area while the fluid resin material is not injected into the communication area and the second molding area.

2. the molding die has a three-dimensional structure molding region in the cavity for molding a three-dimensional structure that protrudes in a thickness direction of the battery case, and has a sub-blocking slide core that can enter the three-dimensional structure molding region and can retract from the three-dimensional structure molding region; In the three-dimensional structure molding mode, the sub-blocking slide core is withdrawn from the three-dimensional structure molding area, and the fluid resin material is injected into the three-dimensional structure molding area; 2. The resin molding method for a battery case according to claim 1, wherein in a three-dimensional structure non-molding mode, the sub-blocking slide core is not inserted into the three-dimensional structure molding region, and the fluid resin material is not injected into the three-dimensional structure molding region.

3. A molding die for molding a battery case having a case portion for accommodating a battery, a cavity having a plurality of molding regions for molding the case portion, and having a communication region between a first molding region which is one of the molding regions and is connected to a gate, and a second molding region which is another of the molding regions and is adjacent to the first molding region, the communication region connecting the first molding region and the second molding region; a blocking slide core that is capable of entering the communication region and retracting from the communication region.

4. 4. The resin molding die according to claim 3, wherein the molding die has a three-dimensional structure molding region in the cavity for molding a three-dimensional structure that protrudes in the thickness direction of the battery case, and has a sub-blocking slide core that can enter the three-dimensional structure molding region and can exit the three-dimensional structure molding region.

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