Manufacturing apparatus and method for power storage device

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing apparatus capable of enabling mass-production of a power storage device in which a resin layer is stably formed on an accurate position on a side surface of a lamination electrode body.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus provided by the present invention, comprises a resin filling mold that includes an internal space in which a lamination electrode body 80 is housed, and can supply a light hardening resin material 92 for forming a resin layer on a side surface of at least long side of the electrode body. The mold includes: an upper mold and a lower mold; and two side surface molds 40 on the long side. Also, the manufacturing apparatus comprises a light irradiation device 2 that irradiates a light for hardening the resin material supplied into the internal space of the resin filling mold. When a tip end part 94 floating along a side surface of the electrode body of the resin material supplied into the internal space reaches a predetermined position of the side surface, the floating tip end part is hardened by irradiating a light from the light irradiation device to the floating tip end part, and the floating along the side surface of the floating tip end part is stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a manufacturing technology for an electricity storage device, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for manufacturing an electricity storage device having a resin layer made of a cured photocurable resin on the side surface of a laminated electrode body in which a plurality of rectangular positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked with separators interposed therebetween. [Background technology]

[0002] Power storage devices, such as secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries, sodium-ion secondary batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries, or physical batteries such as lithium-ion capacitors and other electric double-layer capacitors, are not only used as so-called portable power sources for personal computers, mobile terminals, etc., but are also favorably used in recent years as power sources for driving vehicles. In particular, lithium-ion secondary batteries, which are lightweight and can provide high energy density, are favorable as high-output power sources for driving vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), and hybrid vehicles (HVs), and demand for them is expected to continue to expand.

[0003] One form of this type of electricity storage device is one that includes a stacked electrode body in which a plurality of positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked with separators interposed therebetween. A typical example of a power storage device equipped with such a laminated electrode assembly is a secondary battery, also known as an all-solid-state battery, that uses a powdered solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte (electrolytic solution). Because all-solid-state batteries do not use a liquid electrolyte (particularly a nonaqueous electrolyte), they can easily construct a laminated electrode assembly with a laminated structure consisting of positive and negative electrodes and a solid electrolyte layer without the need for the complicated processes required for handling organic solvents such as nonaqueous electrolytes. Furthermore, the absence of an electrolyte solution simplifies the structure of the electrode assembly, which can contribute to improving the battery capacity per unit volume. For this reason, they are expected to be used as high-output power sources for driving vehicles that require even higher capacity. A typical shape of all-solid-state batteries includes a laminated electrode assembly, i.e., a laminated electrode assembly in which multiple rectangular positive and negative electrodes are stacked with a solid electrolyte layer (separator) interposed therebetween.

[0004] Known all-solid-state batteries equipped with such a laminated electrode assembly include a known all-solid-state battery characterized in that a resin layer made of a cured resin is formed on at least one of the long and short sides of the upper and lower surfaces of the two rectangular wide surfaces located at both ends of the laminated electrode assembly in the stacking direction of the positive and negative electrodes. Forming a resin layer made of a cured resin on the side surfaces of the laminated electrode assembly can improve the rigidity of this type of all-solid-state battery. Furthermore, because the edges (peripheral portions) of the positive and negative electrodes and the solid electrolyte layer are exposed on the side surfaces of the laminated electrode assembly, providing a resin layer on the side surfaces can function as a barrier layer that prevents moisture and foreign matter from penetrating into the interior of the laminated electrode assembly through the edges. The following Patent Documents 1 to 4 describe conventional examples of hexahedral all-solid-state batteries in which a resin layer is formed on the side surfaces of the laminated electrode assembly. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-193006 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-220447 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-197652 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-200863 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, one method for forming the resin layer on the side surface of the laminated electrode body is to use a mold (hereinafter referred to as a "resin-filled mold") that can accommodate the laminated electrode body and that supplies (fills) a flowable resin material for forming the resin layer between the side surface of the laminated electrode body accommodated in the mold and the mold inner wall. By using such a mold, a predetermined amount of resin material is supplied to the side surface of the laminated electrode body placed in the mold, and the supplied resin material is cured in the mold (a typical curing method is photocuring), thereby making it possible to stably produce a relatively large amount of laminated electrode bodies (electricity storage devices) with the desired resin layer formed on the side surface.

[0007] However, when a resin layer is formed on the side surface of a laminated electrode body using a conventional resin filling mold, it is difficult to accurately distinguish between the portions of the side surface on which the resin layer is formed and the portions on which the resin layer is not formed. For example, in a configuration in which a resin layer is formed on the side surface of a long side of a hexahedral laminated electrode body whose wide surfaces (i.e., both end surfaces in the positive and negative electrode stacking direction) are rectangular, and tab-shaped current collecting terminals of either the positive or negative electrode are connected to the short side, it is desirable not to form a resin layer on the current collecting terminal portion on the side surface of the short side. To ensure this, it is important to control the flow of the resin material supplied into the mold. That is, when the uncured resin material is supplied into the mold, the resin material flows along the side surfaces of the long sides of the laminated electrode body, and it has been difficult to reliably stop this flow at a predetermined position. If the flow of the resin material in the mold is not accurately controlled, it is not easy to prevent the resin material from flowing to areas other than those where the resin layer is to be formed.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention was created to solve the conventional problems that arise when forming a resin layer on the side surface of a laminated electrode body using such a resin-filled mold, and its purpose is to provide a manufacturing apparatus and method that can accurately distinguish between areas on the side surface of a laminated electrode body where a resin layer is to be formed and areas where it is not to be formed, and that can mass-produce energy storage devices in which a resin layer is stably formed in a precise position on the side surface of the laminated electrode body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage device, which is an apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage device having a laminated electrode body in which a plurality of rectangular positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked with separators interposed therebetween, and a resin layer made of a cured product of a photocurable resin formed on at least two side surfaces on the long sides of the laminated electrode body when the two rectangular wide surfaces at both ends in the positive and negative electrode stacking direction are defined as the upper and lower surfaces. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus disclosed herein comprises: The resin-filled mold has an internal space in which the electrode body is housed, and is configured so that a photocurable resin material for forming the resin layer can be supplied to at least the long side surfaces of the housed electrode body, the resin-filled mold comprising an upper mold and a lower mold facing the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and a first side mold and a second side mold facing the two long side surfaces, respectively, and a light irradiator that irradiates light to photocure the resin material supplied to the internal space of the resin-filled mold. Furthermore, the manufacturing apparatus disclosed herein is configured such that when the tip portion of the resin material supplied into the internal space that flows along the side surface of the electrode body reaches a predetermined position on the side surface, light is irradiated from the light irradiator to the flowing tip portion to harden the flowing tip portion and stop the flow of the flowing tip portion along the side surface.

[0010] In a manufacturing apparatus configured as described above, the resin material before photocuring is supplied into the resin-filled mold, and when the resin material flows along the side surface of the laminated electrode body placed in the mold, the tip of the flowing resin material is irradiated with light from a light irradiator to photocur the tip when the resin material reaches a predetermined position on the side surface, thereby stably stopping the flow of the flowing tip along the side surface at a predetermined position. Therefore, with the manufacturing apparatus of this configuration, it is possible to accurately distinguish between the areas on the side of the laminated electrode body where the resin layer is formed and the areas where it is not formed, and it is possible to mass-produce energy storage devices in which the resin layer is stably formed in the correct position on the side of the laminated electrode body.

[0011] Preferably, the light irradiator is configured to be able to irradiate light to the vicinity of each of both ends in the long side direction of the two side surfaces of the electrode body housed in the resin-filled mold. This configuration allows the flow front of the resin material to be accurately hardened at each of four predetermined positions set near both ends of the long sides of the two side surfaces, thereby allowing resin layers to be efficiently and accurately formed at the predetermined positions on the two side surfaces of the laminated electrode body.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment, at least the first side surface mold and the second side surface mold near the predetermined position are formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the resin material. This configuration allows light to be irradiated from a light irradiator located outside the mold toward the inside of the mold, which simplifies the configuration of the light irradiator and the resin-filled mold, allowing for stable formation of a resin layer with a simple configuration.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, a light shield is provided in the vicinity of the predetermined position on the first side face type and the second side face type to prevent the light irradiated from the light irradiator from scattering in a direction away from the predetermined position. This configuration prevents light from being irradiated to positions other than the specified position, and prevents the resin material from inadvertently hardening prematurely at positions other than the specified position on the side of the laminated electrode body (other than the flow tip portion).

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the resin-filled mold includes a short-side facing portion that faces a side surface on a short side of the electrode body. With this configuration, the resin layer can be formed on the side surface on the short side of the electrode body.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode current collector terminal and a negative electrode current collector terminal connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode assembly, respectively. The positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged to protrude outward from at least one of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode assembly. Here, the light irradiator is configured to irradiate light onto a tip portion of the resin material flowing along the side surface of the electrode assembly facing the short side. With this configuration, the flow of the resin material can be stopped at the short side of the electrode body. The resin material fills the gap between the side mold and the electrode body from the stopped portion. After the resin material is filled, light is irradiated through a light-transmitting side mold (described below) to harden the resin material, forming a solid resin layer on the side of the electrode body.

[0016] In another aspect, the positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged so as to protrude outward from one and the other of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode body. With this configuration, it is possible to form a resin layer even when the current collecting terminals protrude from both of the two side surfaces on the shorter sides of the electrode body.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, a portion of the short-side facing portion near the position where the light is irradiated is formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the resin material. With this configuration, light can be irradiated from a light irradiator provided outside the mold toward the inside of the mold, which simplifies the configuration of the light irradiator and the resin-filled mold, allowing for stable formation of a resin layer with a simple configuration.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment, the resin filling mold has a resin material discharge section that discharges the resin material supplied into the internal space of the resin filling mold to the outside. With this configuration, excess resin material can be discharged outside the mold. Also, since there is no need to provide a sensor or the like to stop the flow of resin material, a simple configuration of the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus can be provided.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment, the resin filling mold is provided so that the gap between the upper mold and the lower mold can be adjusted according to the thickness of the laminated electrode body in the positive and negative electrode lamination direction. With this configuration, even when the thickness in the stacking direction of the laminated electrode body to be used (in other words, the thickness of the stacked positive and negative electrodes or the separator itself, or the number of stacked positive and negative electrodes) is different, it is possible to use a single resin filling mold by appropriately adjusting the gap between the upper mold and the lower mold.

[0020] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an electricity storage device. This is a method for producing an electricity storage device having a laminated electrode body in which a plurality of rectangular positive electrodes and negative electrodes are stacked with separators interposed therebetween, and a resin layer made of a cured product of a photocurable resin formed on at least two side surfaces on the long sides of the laminated electrode body when the two rectangular wide surfaces at both ends in the positive and negative electrode stacking direction are defined as the upper and lower surfaces. providing the laminated electrode body; and forming the resin layer on each of the two side surfaces of the laminated electrode body; In the manufacturing method disclosed herein, the formation of the resin layer includes: a resin-filled mold having an internal space for accommodating the electrode body, the resin-filled mold including an upper mold and a lower mold facing the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, and a first side surface mold and a second side surface mold facing the two side surfaces of the long side, respectively; The electrode body is placed in the resin-filled mold, supplying a photocurable resin material into the internal space of the resin-filled mold to form the resin layer on at least two long side surfaces of the accommodated electrode body; The supplied resin material is irradiated with light for photo-curing. The manufacturing method disclosed herein includes, when a leading end portion of the supplied resin material flowing along a side surface of the electrode body reaches a predetermined position on the side surface, irradiating the leading end portion with light to harden the leading end portion and stop the flow of the leading end portion along the side surface. Preferably, the manufacturing method disclosed herein can be suitably performed by any of the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatuses disclosed herein. According to this manufacturing method, it is possible to accurately distinguish between the areas on the side of the laminated electrode body where the resin layer is formed and the areas where it is not formed, and it is possible to mass-produce energy storage devices in which the resin layer is stably formed in the correct position on the side of the laminated electrode body.

[0021] Preferably, when irradiating the electrode body with light, the light is irradiated to the vicinity of each of both ends in the long side direction of the two side surfaces of the electrode body housed in the resin-filled mold. By irradiating light in this manner, the flow front of the resin material can be accurately hardened at each of four predetermined positions set near both ends of the long sides of the two side surfaces, thereby efficiently and accurately forming resin layers at the predetermined positions on the two side surfaces of the laminated electrode body.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment, at least the first side surface mold and the second side surface mold near the predetermined position are formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the resin material. By adopting a resin-filled mold having such a configuration, it is possible to irradiate the interior of the mold with light from a light irradiator provided outside the mold, which simplifies the configuration of the light irradiator and the resin-filled mold and enables stable formation of a resin layer with a simple configuration.

[0023] In another preferred embodiment, at least when the light is irradiated, a light shield is attached to a portion of the first side surface mold and the second side surface mold near the predetermined position to prevent the irradiated light from scattering in a direction away from the predetermined position. According to this manufacturing method, light irradiation to positions other than the specified position is suppressed, and the resin material can be prevented from inadvertently hardening prematurely at positions other than the specified position on the side of the laminated electrode body (other than the flow tip portion).

[0024] In another preferred embodiment, the resin-filled mold includes a short-side facing portion that faces a side surface on a short side of the electrode body. According to the manufacturing method having such a configuration, the resin layer can be formed on the side surface of the short side of the electrode body.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode current collector terminal and a negative electrode current collector terminal connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode assembly, respectively. The positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged to protrude outward from at least one of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode assembly. Here, the light irradiator is configured to irradiate light onto a tip portion of the resin material flowing along the side surface of the electrode assembly facing the short side. According to this manufacturing method, the flow of the resin material can be stopped at the short side of the electrode body. The resin material fills the gap between the side mold and the electrode body from the stopped portion. After the resin material is filled, the resin material is cured by irradiating light through a light-transmitting side mold (described below), forming a solid resin layer on the side of the electrode body.

[0026] In another aspect, the positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged so as to protrude outward from one and the other of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode body. According to the manufacturing method having such a configuration, it is possible to form the resin layer even when the current collecting terminals protrude from both of the two side surfaces on the shorter sides of the electrode body.

[0027] In another preferred embodiment, a portion of the short-side facing portion near the position where the light is irradiated is formed to be able to transmit light capable of photocuring the resin material. According to this manufacturing method, light can be irradiated from a light irradiator provided outside the mold toward the inside of the mold, which simplifies the configuration of the light irradiator and the resin-filled mold, and allows for stable formation of a resin layer with a simple configuration.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment, the resin filling mold has a resin material discharge section that discharges the resin material supplied into the internal space of the resin filling mold to the outside. According to this manufacturing method, the excess resin material can be discharged outside the mold. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide a sensor or the like to stop the flow of the resin material, a simple configuration of the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus can be provided.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment, the resin filling mold is provided so that the gap between the upper mold and the lower mold can be adjusted according to the thickness of the laminated electrode body in the lamination direction. By adopting a resin-filled mold having such a configuration, the distance between the upper mold and the lower mold can be adjusted appropriately even when the thickness of the laminated electrode body in the stacking direction (in other words, the thickness of the stacked positive and negative electrodes or the separator itself, or the number of stacked positive and negative electrodes) is different. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of an all-solid-state battery including a laminated electrode body according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus disclosed herein. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a resin-filled mold according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the resin-filled mold according to the first embodiment, with a laminated electrode body housed therein. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the resin-filled mold according to the first embodiment in a state in which a laminated electrode body is housed. [Figure 5A]1 is a cross-sectional view that schematically illustrates main components of an electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part of the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 5A. [Figure 5C] 5B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an upper mold and an upper plate in the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. [Figure 6A] 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the arrangement of a side mold and a light irradiator in the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment, and the flow of a resin material. FIG. [Figure 6B] 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the arrangement of a side mold and a light irradiator in the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment, and the flow and hardening of a resin material. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a light irradiator provided in the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a light irradiator provided in the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 9A] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a resin-filled mold according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9B] FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a resin-filled mold according to a second embodiment, in a state in which a laminated electrode body is housed therein. [Figure 10] 9C is a view taken along the arrow A in the frame in FIG. 9B. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of an all-solid-state battery including a laminated electrode body according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a part of the configuration of a resin-filled mold according to a modified example of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In this specification, the term "electricity storage device" refers to a repeatedly rechargeable device typified by secondary batteries, capacitors (also called condensers), and the like. Typically, it encompasses secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries, sodium ion secondary batteries, and nickel-metal hydride batteries, as well as capacitors such as lithium ion capacitors and electric double layer capacitors. In this specification, the term "lithium ion secondary battery" includes so-called nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries in which the electrolyte is based on an organic solvent, all-solid-state lithium ion secondary batteries in which the electrolyte is made of a solid, and lithium ion polymer secondary batteries in which the electrolyte is made of a quasi-solid polymer. In this specification, the "active material" of the positive and negative electrodes refers to an electrode material that can constitute the positive and negative electrodes in an electricity storage device. For example, in a secondary battery, the active material refers to a material that can reversibly absorb and release chemical species that serve as charge carriers (e.g., lithium ions in a lithium ion secondary battery). For example, in a capacitor, the active material refers to a material that can adsorb and desorb electrolyte ions (cations and anions). The type and shape of the active material do not characterize the electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus and electricity storage device manufacturing method disclosed herein, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] Matters necessary for carrying out the present invention other than those specifically mentioned in this specification can be understood as design matters for a person skilled in the art based on the prior art in the relevant field. The present invention can be carried out based on the contents disclosed in this specification and the technical common sense in the relevant field. In this specification, "A to B" means a numerical range of not less than A and not more than B, and includes a range greater than A and smaller than B. An embodiment of the technology disclosed herein will be described in detail below, taking as an example an all-solid-state lithium-ion secondary battery (hereinafter also referred to as an "all-solid-state battery") having a solid electrolyte as an example of an electricity storage device to which the technology is applied. Dimensional relationships (length, width, thickness, etc.) in each drawing do not reflect actual dimensional relationships. Furthermore, members and parts that perform the same function are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified. Furthermore, in each drawing, arrow X indicates the long side direction of the wide surface of the electrode body, arrow Y indicates the short side direction of the wide surface of the electrode body, and arrow Z indicates the stacking direction of the electrode body.

[0033] <<First Embodiment>> 1 shows an all-solid-state battery 100 according to this embodiment. In this figure, the exterior body is omitted and only the laminated electrode body 80 housed therein is shown. The exterior body is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, an exterior body made of a laminate film or a rectangular parallelepiped (including a substantially rectangular parallelepiped) battery case.

[0034] The laminated electrode body 80 includes a rectangular positive electrode, a rectangular negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte layer that also functions as a separator separating the positive and negative electrodes. The laminated electrode body 80 is configured by stacking multiple positive and negative electrodes with separators interposed between them. The laminated electrode body 80 has a hexahedral shape with rectangular broad faces (i.e., both end faces in the stacking direction Z of the positive and negative electrodes). When these rectangular broad faces of the laminated electrode body 80 are defined as an upper face 81 and a lower face 82, the laminated electrode body 80 has four side faces. Two of the four side faces are side faces 83 and 84 on the long sides of the laminated electrode body 80, and the other two are side faces 85 and 86 on the short sides of the laminated electrode body 80. Hereinafter, the two side faces 83 and 84 on the long sides of the laminated electrode body 80 are also referred to as a first side face 83 and a second side face 84. In the following description, the "laminated electrode body" may be simply referred to as the "electrode body."

[0035] The electrode body 80 includes a resin layer 90 made of a cured product of a photocurable resin. The resin layer 90 is formed on at least a first side surface 83 and a second side surface 84 of the electrode body 80. The resin layer 90 is formed in regions of the first side surface 83 and the second side surface 84 excluding both ends in the long side direction X of the wide surface of the electrode body 80. In this embodiment, the positive and negative electrode current collecting terminals 88a, 88b are provided on the short side surface 85 of the electrode body 80, and no resin layer 90 is formed on the short side surface. However, if the positive and negative electrode current collecting terminals 88a, 88b are not provided, a resin layer may be formed on the short side surface.

[0036] Because the edges (peripheral portions) of the positive and negative electrodes and the solid electrolyte layer are exposed on the side surfaces of the electrode body 80, these edges can be protected by providing the electrode body 80 with the resin layer 90. In an all-solid-state battery 100 including the electrode body 80, the expansion of the active material during charge and discharge (particularly the initial charge of the battery assembly) can be prevented from causing misalignment, gaps, or cracks in the solid electrolyte layer or adjacent positive and negative electrode active material layers that could affect battery performance, thereby preventing a decrease in battery performance due to such gaps or cracks.

[0037] The electrode body 80 includes a positive electrode current collector terminal 88a and a negative electrode current collector terminal 88b. The positive and negative electrode current collector terminals are tab-shaped and protrude outward from the short side surfaces 85 of the electrode body 80. One current collector terminal may be disposed on each of the two side surfaces 85, 86.

[0038] The positive electrode typically comprises a rectangular sheet-shaped positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer formed on one or both surfaces (both surfaces in this example) of the current collector.The negative electrode typically comprises a rectangular sheet-shaped negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on one or both surfaces (both surfaces in this example) of the current collector.

[0039] The materials constituting the positive electrode, negative electrode, and solid electrolyte layer may be the same as those used in conventional all-solid-state lithium ion secondary batteries, and are not particularly limited. The positive electrode current collector is preferably a conductive member made of a metal with good conductivity. A foil material (e.g., aluminum foil) made of a metal such as aluminum (Al) can be used. The positive electrode active material layer is made of a positive electrode active material (e.g., LiNi 1 / 3 Co 1 / 3 Mn 1 / 3 O, etc.) and a solid electrolyte, and may contain various additives such as a binder and a conductive aid as necessary. The negative electrode current collector is preferably a conductive material made of a metal with good conductivity. For example, a foil material made of a metal such as copper (Cu) can be used. The negative electrode active material layer contains a negative electrode active material (e.g., graphite (C)) and a solid electrolyte, and may contain various additives such as a binder, a conductive aid, and a thickener as needed. As the solid electrolyte, various oxide-based solid electrolytes (e.g., Li3PO4, etc.) or sulfide-based solid electrolytes (e.g., Li2S-P2S5, etc.) may be used. As the conductive material, a carbon material such as acetylene black (AB) may be preferably used. As the binder, a fluorine-based binder such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or a rubber-based binder such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) may be preferably used.

[0040] 2, the manufacturing apparatus 1 disclosed herein broadly includes a resin filling mold 10, a resin material supplier 4, a light irradiator 2, and a control unit 8. The manufacturing apparatus 1 is an apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage device by supplying a photocurable resin material to the side surface of the long side of the electrode body and curing the resin material to form a resin layer. A series of operations of the manufacturing apparatus 1 (for example, turning on and off the switch of the resin material supply device, determining the amount and speed of resin material supply, turning on and off the switch of the light irradiator, determining the intensity of light to be irradiated, the time of light irradiation, etc.) are controlled by the control unit 8. The control unit 8 includes a CPU that executes a processing program, a ROM that stores the processing program, a RAM that temporarily stores data, an input / output port, and a communication port. The basic configuration of the control unit 8 may be the same as that of conventional control units of this type, and is not a feature of the present invention, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. It should be noted that the control unit 8 is not an essential component of the manufacturing apparatus 1, and as will be described later, a series of operations can also be performed manually by an operator.

[0041] The resin filling mold 10 has an internal space, and is configured so that the electrode body can be accommodated therein and a photocurable resin material for forming a resin layer can be supplied to the electrode body. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the resin-filled mold 10 generally includes an upper mold 20, a lower mold 30, and side molds 40 (first side mold 42 and second side mold 46), which form an internal space for accommodating the electrode assembly 80. In the following description of the present embodiment, the side molds may be simply referred to as "side molds" unless a distinction is made between the first and second side molds. When the electrode assembly 80 is accommodated in the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10, the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30 face the upper surface 81 and the lower surface 82 of the electrode assembly 80, respectively. The first side mold 42 and the second side mold 46 face the first side surface 83 and the second side surface 84 of the electrode assembly 80, respectively. The illustrated first side mold 42 and second side mold 46 are composed of long-side facing portions that face the long-side surfaces (i.e., the first side surface 83 and the second side surface 84) of the electrode assembly 80.

[0042] The resin-filled mold 10 includes an upper mold 20, a lower mold 30, a first side mold 42, and a second side mold 46, all of which are independent parts. This configuration is preferable because it allows the distance between the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30 to be adjusted according to the thickness of the electrode body 80 in the stacking direction Z. Furthermore, when the electrode body 80 is placed in the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10, both ends of the wide surface of the electrode body 80 in the long side direction X can be opened. This allows air to escape from the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10 when the resin material is filled, thereby improving the fluidity of the resin material.

[0043] The materials constituting the resin-filled mold 10 for the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30 are not particularly limited as long as they do not impede their functions, and may be made of, for example, wood, metal, resin, glass, ceramics, etc. On the other hand, the side mold 40 includes a portion formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the photocurable resin material, and the material constituting this portion is a material that is transmissive to light for curing the photocurable resin material. From the viewpoint of photocuring the resin material, it is preferable that the entire side mold 40 is made of a light-transmissive material. Examples of such light (e.g., ultraviolet)-transmissive materials include acrylic resin, polycarbonate, polyolefin, and glass. Alternatively, for example, when the light is ultraviolet, the side mold 40 may be made of an ultraviolet-transmissive material only in the vicinity of both ends of the wide surface of the electrode body 80 in the long side direction X, and the remaining portion excluding these portions may be made of a material that is ultraviolet-opaque but visible light-transmissive.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 3A, the first side mold 42 and the second side mold 46 are provided with resin injection holes 45 for injecting a photocurable resin material from a resin material supplier 4 into the internal space of the resin filling mold 10. The resin injection holes 45 are connected to the resin material supplier 4 shown in Fig. 5A, which will be described later. This allows the resin material to be supplied to at least the side surfaces 83 and 84 on the long sides of the electrode body 80 housed in the internal space, and allows a resin layer to be formed on the side surfaces. As long as the photocurable resin material can be stably supplied from the resin material supply device, the number, shape, size, etc. of the resin injection holes 45 are not particularly limited.

[0045] The electrode body 80 is sandwiched between the lower mold 30 and the upper mold 20 in the vertical direction, and between the two side molds 40 in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 4, both ends of the gap 15 are open and are sealed only when the resin material (not shown) at the ends is hardened, allowing the resin material to flow smoothly.

[0046] Furthermore, gaps 15 are formed between the two long side surfaces of the electrode body 80 and the first side surface mold 42 and the second side surface mold 46. The width Ld of the gaps 15 in the short side direction Y of the wide surface of the electrode body can be set appropriately depending on the location of the side surface mold 40.

[0047] When the electrode body 80 is produced by stacking positive and negative electrodes, the length of the short side of the electrode body 80 may vary due to dimensional variations in the positive and negative electrodes and the stacking of the positive and negative electrodes (see the electrode designated by reference numeral 87 in FIG. 4). Therefore, the width Ld of the gap 15 may vary depending on the individual electrode bodies 80 housed in the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10. On the other hand, when the resin layer is formed using the manufacturing apparatus 1, the length Le of the short side of the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30 is a fixed size, so that variation in the length of the short side of the electrode body 80 including the resin layer is suppressed. The width Ld of the gap 15 is set to a width that allows the effect of forming the resin layer to be sufficiently obtained in all electrode bodies 80 even if the lengths of the short sides of the individual electrode bodies 80 vary.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5A , the electrode assembly 80 is sandwiched vertically between a lower mold 30 and an upper mold 20 placed on a base (not shown) and pressed by restraining jigs 11 and 12. The restraining jig 11 applies pressure to a portion of the wide surface of the electrode assembly 80, including the peripheral edge portion. The restraining jig 12 applies pressure to a portion of the wide surface, including the central portion. These two restraining jigs can apply different pressures to the wide surface of the electrode assembly 80. The pressure applied by the restraining jig 11 is preferably relatively strong. This can prevent the supplied resin material from seeping between the positive and negative electrodes during resin layer formation. On the other hand, the pressure applied by the restraining jig 12 is preferably relatively weak. The distance between the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30 can be adjusted depending on the thickness of the electrode assembly 80 in the stacking direction. The restraining jig 11 is not particularly limited, but may be a bolt, etc. The restraining jig 12 is not particularly limited, but is preferably one that allows relatively easy adjustment of the pressing force, and may be, for example, a clamp, etc.

[0049] The upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30 are configured so that different pressures are applied to the broad surfaces of the electrode body 80 by the restraining jigs 11 and 12 . As shown in the figure, the upper mold 20 includes an upper frame 22 and an upper plate 26. The upper frame 22 is a frame-shaped member in which a recessed space 23 is formed. The upper plate 26 is disposed in the recessed space 23. On the other hand, the lower mold 30 includes a lower frame 32 and a lower plate 36. The lower frame 32 is a frame-shaped member in which a recessed space 33 is formed. The lower plate 36 is disposed in the recessed space 33. In addition, a protrusion 35 is formed on the lower frame 32, and the protrusion 35 is fitted into a recess 37 formed in the lower plate 36. In the electrode body 80, pressure is applied by a restraining jig 11 to a portion 89a sandwiched between the upper frame 22 and the lower frame 32, and pressure is applied by a restraining jig 12 to a portion 89b sandwiched between the upper plate 26 and the lower plate 36. The width L1 (horizontal length) of the frame portions of the upper frame 22 and the lower frame 32 (see FIG. 5B) can be 5 mm to 20 mm. The length L2 shown in FIG. 5B can be set to 0.05 mm to 5 mm (preferably 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm).

[0050] 5B and 5C, the thickness of the upper plate 26 of the upper mold 20 is smaller than the height of the recessed space 23 of the upper frame 22. Therefore, when the upper plate 26 is placed in the recessed space 23, the upper frame 22 protrudes vertically from the upper plate 26 by a length L3. Similarly to the upper mold 20, the thickness of the lower plate 36 of the lower mold 30 is smaller than the height of the recessed space 33 of the lower frame 32. Therefore, when the lower plate 36 is placed in the recessed space 33, the lower frame 32 protrudes vertically from the lower plate 36 by a length L3. Therefore, when the electrode body 80 is placed between the lower mold 30 and the upper mold 20, a gap 33a is formed between the lower frame 32 and the lower plate 36, and a gap 23a is formed between the upper frame 22 and the upper plate 26 (see FIG. 5B). L3 can be approximately 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm (for example, approximately 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm).

[0051] 5A and 5B, the resin-filled mold 10 is provided with mounting members 16 for mounting the side mold 40 to the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30. The mounting members 16 are provided with an upper mounting member 16a for mounting the side mold 40 to the upper mold and a lower mounting member 16b for mounting the side mold 40 to the lower mold 30. The upper mounting member 16a is provided with a mounting bolt 17. The lower mounting member 16b is provided with a mounting protrusion 18. The mounting bolt 17 is fitted into a mounting hole 47 provided in the side mold 40, and the mounting protrusion 18 is inserted into a mounting hole 38 provided in the lower mold 30 (lower frame 32), whereby the side mold 40 is positioned in a predetermined position.

[0052] A resin material supplier 4 is connected to the resin injection hole 45 of the side mold 40 . Here, as shown in FIG. 5B , the resin material supplier 4 is configured to be able to supply photocurable resin material to the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10. The configuration of the resin material supplier 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform its function, but it at least includes a supply source that holds resin material, a pump for supplying the resin material from the supply source to the resin-filled mold 10, and piping 5. The resin material supplier 4 is able to supply photocurable resin material from the resin material supply source to the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10 via piping 5. The piping 5 is configured to prevent light from hitting the resin material passing therethrough; for example, a light shield is arranged around the periphery of the piping 5. The resin material supply source may be, for example, a tank that holds the resin material therein. The outlet of the pipe 5 may be provided with, for example, a nozzle (such as a commercially available dispenser nozzle) as an injection part 6. The photocurable resin material supplied from the resin material supplier 4 is not particularly limited as long as it has an appropriate viscosity (for example, 500 mPa·s to 50,000 mPa·s, preferably 1,000 mPa·s to 20,000 mPa·s) to ensure flow when supplied from the resin material supplier 4 to the resin filled mold 10 and can be cured by light having a predetermined wavelength. Examples of such resin materials include photocurable acrylic resins. Furthermore, a colorant may be added to such resin materials as needed.

[0053] The light irradiator 2 is a light source that irradiates light to photo-cure the resin material supplied into the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10. 6A and 6B, the light irradiator 2 is disposed at a position where, when a leading end portion 94 of the resin material 92 supplied into the internal space (gap 15) of the resin-filled mold 10, which flows in the direction of the arrow along the side surface of the electrode body 80, reaches a predetermined position on the side surface (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure), the light irradiator 2 irradiates the leading end portion 94 with light to harden the resin material 92. This light irradiation stops the flow of the leading end portion 94 of the resin material 92 along the side surface of the electrode body 80. The light irradiator 2 is preferably disposed near both ends in the long side direction X of the two side surfaces of the electrode body 80 housed in the resin-filled mold 10, and is configured to be able to irradiate light to each of these positions. The light irradiator 2 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, any of various light irradiators capable of irradiating light capable of curing the photocurable resin material, such as a 365 nm LED, a 385 nm LED, a 405 nm LED, a high-pressure mercury lamp, a mercury-xenon lamp, etc. The light irradiated by the light irradiator 2 can be appropriately set depending on the type of photocurable resin material used, and may be, for example, ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light.

[0054] As shown in the figure, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a light shield 50. The light shield 50 is disposed in the vicinity of the predetermined position on the first side mold 42 and the second side mold 46. This makes it possible to prevent the light irradiated from the light irradiator 2 from scattering in a direction deviated from the predetermined position. The light shield 50 is not disposed near both ends of the first side mold 42 and the second side mold 46 in the long side direction X of the wide surface of the electrode body 80. This makes it possible to irradiate light onto the flow front portion 94 of the resin material 92 at the predetermined position. As the light shielding body 50, a conventionally known light shielding body configured to prevent the light irradiated from the light irradiator 2 from passing through can be used, such as a light shielding tape or light shielding plate containing a black resin material, or a metal foil (such as aluminum foil) with light-shielding properties.

[0055] A method for manufacturing an electricity storage device using the manufacturing apparatus disclosed herein generally includes preparing a laminated electrode body and forming a resin layer on the laminated electrode body. First, a laminate of positive and negative electrodes and a solid electrolyte layer is produced. The above-mentioned materials and a conventionally known method for producing this type of laminated electrode assembly can be used to produce such a laminate, and detailed description thereof is omitted since it does not characterize the present invention. The number of stacked electrodes in the laminate is not particularly limited.

[0056] The electrode assembly is then housed in a resin-filled mold. 5A, one, two, three, or more positive and negative electrode laminates (including solid electrolyte layers) are stacked on a lower plate 36 to form an electrode assembly 80, which is then vertically overlaid with an upper plate 26. Next, the lower plate 36, electrode assembly 80, and upper plate 26 are pressed vertically using a restraining jig 12 (e.g., a clamp, etc.). Although not particularly limited, an auxiliary member may be used to improve workability during this stacking and pressing process.

[0057] Next, the lower plate 36 and the upper plate 26 are attached to the lower frame 32 and the upper frame 22, respectively. Specifically, the lower plate 36 is placed in the recessed space 33 of the lower frame 32, the upper plate 26 is placed in the recessed space 23 of the upper frame 22, and they are pressed vertically using a restraining jig 11 (for example, a bolt, etc.). The pressing force at this time is not particularly limited as it differs depending on the thickness of the electrode body 80 in the stacking direction, but it is a pressing force of a magnitude that can minimize the gap between the positive and negative electrodes without damaging the electrode body 80.

[0058] Next, the side mold 40 is attached. The first side mold and the second side mold are respectively placed on the first side and the second side of the electrode body 80. Next, the mounting projections 18 are inserted into the mounting holes 38 to mount the lower mounting member 16b, and the mounting bolts 17 are fitted into the mounting holes 47 to mount the upper mounting member 16a, thereby fixing the side mold 40 in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 5B , resin sheets 60 are preferably disposed between the electrode body 80 and the side mold 40, between the upper mold 20 (upper frame 22) and the side mold 40, and between the lower mold 30 (lower frame 32). The resin sheet 60 is preferably attached to the side mold 40 with a pressure-sensitive adhesive or adhesive to integrate them. By disposing the resin sheet 60, the side mold 40 can be more easily removed. The resin sheet 60 is preferably transparent to light that hardens the photocurable resin material and has low adhesive strength (excellent mold releasability) with the hardened photocurable resin material. For example, the resin sheet 60 may be made of silicone, a fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Furthermore, if the resin sheet 60 is made of a flexible material such as silicone resin, the sealing between the side mold 40 and the upper frame 22 and the lower frame 32 can be improved, thereby preventing leakage of the resin material.

[0059] To improve mold releasability, release oil such as silicone oil may be applied to the surface of the resin sheet 60 (or to the surface of the side mold 40 if the resin sheet 60 is not present). When the resin sheet 60 is used, it is not necessary to use release oil. When the resin sheet 60 is not present, it is preferable to apply release oil to the surface of the side mold 40.

[0060] Formation of the resin layer 90 roughly involves supplying a resin material to the resin-filled mold 10 and irradiating the resin material with light. Prior to forming the resin layer 90, the light irradiator 2 and the light shielding body 50 are placed in predetermined positions. When supplying the resin material to the resin-filled mold 10, the injection portion 6 of the resin material supplier 4 is inserted into the resin injection hole 45 formed in the side mold 40. The positions of the light irradiator and the light shielding body are as described above. Next, the entire manufacturing apparatus 1 is switched on, allowing the control unit 8 to control the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1. When the control unit 8 switches on the resin material supplier 4, the photocurable resin material is supplied from the resin material supply source through the piping 5 and from the injection unit 6 to the internal space (gap 15) of the resin-filled mold 10. The amount and speed of the resin material to be supplied are not particularly limited, and can be designed as appropriate depending on the size of the electrode body that forms the resin layer, etc.

[0061] The resin material 92 supplied to the internal space (void 15) of the resin-filled mold 10 through the resin injection hole 45 flows along the long side surface of the electrode body 80 toward both ends of the side surface (see FIG. 6A). When a predetermined amount of resin material 92 has been supplied, the control unit 8 turns off the switch of the resin material supplier 4 to stop the supply of the resin material 92. Meanwhile, the control unit 8 turns on the switch of the light irradiator 2 to irradiate the flowing tip portion 94 with light and harden the flowing tip portion 94 (see FIG. 6B). This stops the flow of the flowing tip portion 94 along the side surface of the electrode body 80. Then, the light irradiator used to harden the flowing tip portion 94 is switched to another light irradiator different from the light irradiator 2, and light irradiation of the resin material 92 is continued to form a resin layer. As the other light irradiator, a light irradiator capable of irradiating light over a wide area can be used. Furthermore, when the light irradiator 2 is an ultraviolet irradiator such as a 365 nm LED, and the side mold 40 is made of a material that is opaque to ultraviolet light but transmissive to visible light except for the areas near both ends, such other light irradiator is preferably a visible light irradiator such as a 405 nm LED.

[0062] Alternatively, the timing for the control unit 8 to stop the supply of resin material may be when it detects that the flow front end 94 of the resin material 92 has reached a predetermined location on the long side surface of the electrode body 80. If a sensor is placed near the predetermined location, the sensor can detect that the flow front end 94 has reached the predetermined location. Here, using a colored resin material as the resin material 92 and a color sensor as the sensor is preferable because this improves work efficiency. However, if the supply of resin material 92 to form a resin layer is insufficient even when the flow front end 94 has reached the predetermined location, the supply speed may be appropriately adjusted to prevent leakage of resin material 92 while the supply is continued. When a sufficient amount of resin material 92 has been supplied, the resin material supply device 4 may be switched off.

[0063] After the resin layer 90 is formed, the electrode body 80 is removed from the resin-filled mold 10, housed in an outer casing (for example, an outer casing made of a laminate film or a square battery case), sealed, and subjected to activation and aging treatment under predetermined conditions, thereby manufacturing a usable electricity storage device (here, an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery).

[0064] The presently disclosed apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage device and a method for manufacturing an electricity storage device using the apparatus have been described above as a first embodiment with reference to the drawings. However, the first embodiment may include, for example, the following modifications. In the above embodiment, a light blocking body is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, as long as it can suppress scattering of light in a direction away from the desired position. For example, when the light irradiator 2 is one that can irradiate a beam of light that converges to one point to photocure the resin material 92 (see Figure 7), or when the light irradiator 2 is embedded inside the side mold 40 (see Figure 8), it is not necessarily necessary to attach a light shield.

[0065] In the above embodiment, when hardening the entire supplied resin material to form a resin layer, a light irradiator other than the light irradiator that hardens the leading edge of the flowing resin material is used, but this is not limited to this. For example, after irradiating the leading edge of the flowing resin material with light, the light shield can be removed and the resin material can be continued to be irradiated with light, thereby hardening the entire supplied resin material and forming a resin layer.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the supply of resin material and the irradiation of light are automatically performed by the control unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. The supply of resin material and light irradiation can be performed manually by an operator. For example, the operator can use a syringe holding resin material as the resin material supply device and a light source (e.g., ultraviolet LED) capable of irradiating a predetermined light (e.g., ultraviolet light) as the light irradiator. Referring to Figures 5B, 6A, and 6B, the operator inserts the tip of the syringe (as the injection unit 6) into the resin injection hole 45 and presses the plunger to inject the resin material into the internal space of the resin-filled mold 10. Then, the resin material 92 flows along the long side of the electrode body 80 toward both ends in the same direction. Next, after visually confirming that the flowing front end 94 of the supplied resin material 92 has reached a predetermined position, the operator stops supplying the resin material, turns on the light source (e.g., ultraviolet LED), and irradiates the flowing front end 94 with light (e.g., ultraviolet light) emitted from the light source (e.g., ultraviolet LED). The light shield 50 is then removed and the entire supplied resin material 92 is irradiated with light (e.g., ultraviolet light). This allows the resin layer 90 to be formed.

[0067] <<Second embodiment>> 9A and 9B, in the second embodiment, the first side surface mold 42 and the second side surface mold 46 of the resin-filled mold 210 have long side facing portions 242 and 246 that face the side surfaces 83 and 84 on the long sides of the electrode assembly 80. At least one of the first side surface mold 42 and the second side surface mold 46 has short side facing portions 241 and 243 that face the side surfaces 85 and 86 on the short sides of the electrode assembly 80, adjacent to the side surfaces 83 and 84. The short side facing portion 241 is disposed adjacent to the long side facing portion 242 and the positive electrode current collector terminal 88a, and the long side facing portion 246 and the negative electrode current collector terminal 88b, respectively. The short side facing portion 243 is disposed adjacent to the side surface 86 of the electrode assembly.

[0068] A resin injection hole 245 is provided in the long side opposing portions 242, 246. The resin injection hole 245 is provided near the end of the long side of the long side opposing portion that is closer to the short side opposing portion 241. The resin injection hole 245 is connected to the pipe 205 and the resin material supplier 4 (see FIG. 2, etc.). The connection between the resin injection hole 245 and the resin material supplier 4 is similar to the connection between the resin injection hole 45 and the resin material supplier 4 in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5B, etc.), so a description thereof will be omitted here. The pipe 205 is configured to prevent light from hitting the resin material passing therethrough, and for example, a light shield is arranged around the pipe 205.

[0069] A resin discharge portion 248 is provided in the short side facing portion 243. The resin discharge portion 248 is provided to discharge the resin material supplied to the internal space of the resin-filled mold 210 to the outside. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the resin discharge portion 248 is a through-hole, and is connected to the pipe 220. The resin material passes through the resin discharge portion 248 and the pipe 220 and is discharged from the inside of the resin-filled mold 210 to the outside. The pipe 220 is configured to prevent light from hitting the resin material passing therethrough; for example, a light shield is arranged around the pipe 220. By providing the resin discharge section 248, excess resin material supplied can be discharged to the outside. This can prevent delays in stopping the supply of resin material in the resin-filled mold 210, which can prevent an increase in internal pressure. Furthermore, the number of sensors and light irradiators installed to stop the flow of resin material can be reduced. It is also possible to eliminate the number of sensors installed to stop the flow of resin material.

[0070] In this embodiment, the light irradiator (not shown) is arranged so as to irradiate light (e.g., ultraviolet light) onto the leading end portion of the resin material flowing along the side surface 85 of the electrode body 80 facing the short side facing portion 241. Therefore, the portion of the short side facing portion 241 near the position where light is irradiated is formed so as to be light-transmittable. For example, the short side facing portion 241 is preferably made of a material that is light-transmittable (e.g., ultraviolet light). As such a material, the same materials as those described in the first embodiment above can be used.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 10 , the light irradiator is disposed at a position where, when a tip portion 294 of a resin material 292 flowing along a side surface 85 reaches a predetermined position on the side surface (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure), the flow tip portion 294 can be irradiated with light to harden the resin material 292. The light irradiator irradiates the flow tip portion 294 with light before the flow tip portion 294 reaches the positive electrode current collector terminal 88a (see FIG. 9B ). The same applies to the negative electrode current collector terminal 88b (see FIG. 9B ). From the viewpoint of reliably stopping the flow of the resin material 292 at a desired position, it is preferable to dispose a line lens at the position where the light irradiator is disposed and collect the irradiated light (e.g., ultraviolet light) to irradiate the flow tip portion 294. The light irradiator itself is similar to the light irradiator 2 in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0072] In the method for manufacturing the electricity storage device of this embodiment (see FIGS. 2, 9A, 9B, 10, and 11), first, an electrode body 80 is prepared, and the electrode body is sandwiched vertically between an upper mold 20 and a lower mold 30 and restrained in the same direction. The materials and procedures used at this time are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described here. Next, the side molds are attached. The arrangement of the long side opposing portions 242, 246 is the same as the procedure explained for the arrangement of the first side mold 42 and the second side mold 46 in the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted here. The arrangement of the short side opposing portions 241, 243 can be attached to the upper mold 20, the lower mold 30, and the side mold 42 (46) using mounting parts such as bolts. However, attachment parts are not necessarily required. For example, on a production line, a set of the upper mold 20, the lower mold 30, and the laminated electrode body 80 is transported by a conveyor or the like to a position opposite the side mold 42 (46) (initially positioned away from both ends of the conveyor) and stops. Next, the side mold 42 (46) is moved by an arm or the like and pressed against the upper mold 20 and the lower mold 30. Similarly, the short side opposing portions 241, 243 are pressed to the position shown in FIG. 9B by another arm (for example, by moving in an arc from the side direction of the conveyor). In such a case, attachment parts are not required.

[0073] Next, a resin layer 290 is formed on the electrode body 80. Prior to forming the resin layer 290, the light irradiator 2 is placed in a predetermined position. When supplying resin material to the resin filling mold 210, the injection portion of the resin material supplier 4 is inserted into the resin injection hole 245 formed in the long side opposing portions 242, 246. The position of the light irradiator 2 is as described above. Next, the entire manufacturing apparatus 1 is switched on, enabling the control unit 8 to control the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1. When the control unit 8 switches on the resin material supplier 4, the photocurable resin material 292 passes from the resin material supply source through the piping 205 and is supplied from the injection unit into the internal space of the resin-filled mold 210. The amount and speed of the resin material to be supplied are not particularly limited, and can be designed as appropriate depending on the size of the electrode body that forms the resin layer, etc. If necessary, a light shield may be disposed to prevent light from scattering from the predetermined position.

[0074] Resin material 292 supplied into the internal space of resin filling mold 210 through resin injection hole 245 flows in directions toward side surfaces 85 and 86 along side surfaces 83 and 84 on the long sides of electrode body 80 (X1 and X2 directions in FIG. 9B ). Resin material 292 flowing in the X1 direction passes through the boundary between side surfaces 83 and 84 and side surface 85, and flows along side surface 85. When tip portion 294 of resin material 292 reaches a predetermined position (the portion indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10 ), light from light irradiator 2 hardens flowing tip portion 294. After resin material 292 is filled, light is irradiated through the light-transmitting side surface mold to harden resin material 292, and a solid resin layer 290 is formed on the side surface of electrode body 80. The light from the light irradiator 2 may be continuously irradiated so that the resin material 292 is cured when the flow front end portion 294 of the resin material 292 reaches a predetermined position. In such a case, it is possible to omit the installation of a sensor that detects the arrival of the flow front end portion 294. It is also possible to omit the switching of the light irradiator 2. Note that, if necessary, an appropriate sensor may be installed, or the light irradiator 2 may be configured to be switched.

[0075] On the other hand, when the flow of the resin material 292 is stopped at the side surface 85 as described above, the resin material 292 flows only in the X2 direction at the side surfaces 83 and 84. The resin material 292 flows along the boundary between the side surfaces 83 and 84 and the side surface 86. The resin material 292 then reaches the resin discharge portion 248 and is discharged to the outside of the resin-filled mold 210 through the resin discharge portion 248. As described above, after the resin discharge unit 248 starts discharging the resin material 292, the control unit 8 stops the supply of the resin material 292. For example, a constant-rate pump may be used to set the supply amount of the resin material 292 to a value greater than the amount necessary to form the resin layer 290, and the supply of the resin material may be stopped when that amount of resin material has been supplied. In this case, the installation of a sensor for stopping the supply of the resin material is not essential. Furthermore, the resin discharge unit 248 can suppress an increase in the internal pressure of the resin-filled mold 210 and prevent the resin material from leaking to the outside through gaps in the mold. Alternatively, the control unit 8 may stop the supply of the resin material 292 after a predetermined period has elapsed since the resin began flowing into the piping 220. In this case, a sensor (e.g., a weight sensor) capable of detecting the passage of the resin material 292 may be provided in the piping 220. After this, the resin is hardened by irradiating the entire surface with light, and then the side molds (portions facing the short sides and the long sides) are removed, followed by the upper and lower molds.

[0076] When the above manufacturing method is carried out, a resin layer 290 is formed on the side surfaces of the electrode body 80, as shown in Fig. 11. The resin layer 290 is formed on side surfaces 83 and 84 on the long sides and side surfaces 85 and 86 on the short sides of the electrode body 80. By forming the resin layer 290, the edges (peripheral portions) of the electrode body 80 can be protected. Furthermore, in an all-solid-state battery 200 including the electrode body 80, the expansion of the active material during charge and discharge (particularly the initial charge of the battery assembly) can be prevented from causing misalignment, gaps, or cracks in the solid electrolyte layer or adjacent positive and negative electrode active material layers that could affect battery performance, and deterioration of battery performance due to such gaps and cracks can be prevented. In FIG. 11, the exterior body is not shown.

[0077] In the above embodiment, both the positive electrode current collector terminal 88a and the negative electrode current collector terminal 88b protrude outward from the side surface 85 on the short side of the electrode body 80, but this is not particularly limited. That is, the positive electrode current collector terminal 88a may be disposed so as to protrude outward from one side surface 85 on the short side of the electrode body 80, and the negative electrode current collector terminal 88b may be disposed so as to protrude outward from the other side surface 86. In this case, the configurations of the short side facing portion 241 facing the side surface 85 and the short side facing portion 243 facing the side surface 86 are similar. That is, both the short side facing portion 241 and the short side facing portion 243 are configured so that the long side facing portion 242 and the current collector terminal (positive electrode current collector terminal 88a or negative electrode current collector terminal 88b) are adjacent to the long side facing portion 246 and the current collector terminal (positive electrode current collector terminal 88a or negative electrode current collector terminal 88b). The short side facing portion 241 is disposed adjacent to the long side facing portion 242 and the positive electrode current collector terminal 88a, and the long side facing portion 246 and the positive electrode current collector terminal 88a, respectively. The short side facing portion 243 is disposed adjacent to the long side facing portion 242 and the negative electrode current collector terminal 88b, and the long side facing portion 246 and the negative electrode current collector terminal 88b, respectively. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12 , the resin discharge section 248 is provided in the center of the long side facing section 246. Furthermore, resin injection holes 245 are provided at both ends of the long side facing section 246. When the resin material is supplied to the resin-filled mold through the resin injection hole 245, it flows along the side surfaces of the long and short sides of the electrode body (not shown). The resin material flowing along the long side is discharged to the outside of the resin-filled mold through the resin discharge section 248. The resin material flowing along the short side of the electrode body is cured by light from the light irradiator when its flowing tip reaches a predetermined position on the short side facing sections 241 and 243. The arrows in FIG. 12 indicate the direction in which light from the light irradiator is irradiated. Although not shown, the same applies to the long side facing section 242. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1. Energy storage device manufacturing equipment 2 light irradiator 4 Resin material supply device 5 Piping 6 Injection part 8 Control Unit 10 Resin-filled mold 11 Restraint jig 12 Restraint jig 16 Mounting material 20 Upper mold 22 Upper frame 26 Upper Plate 30 Lower mold 32 Bottom frame 36 Lower plate 40 Side type 42 1st side type 45 Resin injection hole 46 Second side type 50 Shading body 60 Resin Sheet 80 laminated electrode body 81 Top surface 82 Bottom surface 83 Side (1st side) 84 Side (second side) 85 Side 86 Side 88a Positive current collecting terminal 88b Negative electrode current collecting terminal 90 Resin layer 92 Resin materials 94 Flow tip part 100 solid state battery 200 Solid state battery 205 Piping 210 Resin-filled type 220 Piping 241, 243 Short side facing part 242, 246 Long side facing part 245 Resin injection hole 248 Resin discharge section 290 Resin layer 292 Resin Materials 294 Tip part

Claims

1. a laminated electrode body in which a plurality of rectangular positive electrodes and negative electrodes are laminated with separators interposed therebetween; a resin layer made of a cured product of a photocurable resin material formed on at least two side surfaces on the long sides of the laminated electrode body when the two rectangular wide surfaces at both ends in the positive and negative electrode lamination direction are defined as the upper and lower surfaces; An apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage device having a resin filling mold having an internal space in which the electrode body is accommodated, and configured to be capable of supplying the photocurable resin material for forming the resin layer on at least the long side surfaces of the accommodated electrode body, the resin filling mold comprising an upper mold and a lower mold facing the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, and a first side surface mold and a second side surface mold facing the two long side surfaces, respectively; a light irradiator that irradiates light to photo-cure the photo-curable resin material supplied to the internal space of the resin-filled mold; It is equipped with the light irradiator irradiates the flowing tip portion with light to harden the flowing tip portion and stop the flow of the flowing tip portion along the side surface when the flowing tip portion of the photocurable resin material supplied to the internal space reaches a predetermined position on the side surface.

2. 2. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiator is configured to irradiate light to the vicinity of each of both ends in the long side direction of the two side surfaces of the electrode body housed in the resin filling mold.

3. 3. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least portions of the first side mold and the second side mold near the predetermined position are formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the photocurable resin material.

4. 4. The energy storage device manufacturing apparatus of claim 3, wherein a light shield is attached to a portion of the first side face mold and the second side face mold near the predetermined position, the light shield preventing light irradiated from the light irradiator from scattering in a direction away from the predetermined position.

5. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the resin-filled mold has a short-side facing portion that faces a side surface on a short side of the electrode body.

6. the electrode body includes a positive electrode current collecting terminal and a negative electrode current collecting terminal connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode body, respectively; the positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged so as to protrude outward from at least one of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode body, 6. The energy storage device manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light irradiator is configured to irradiate light onto a flow leading end portion of the photocurable resin material flowing along a side surface of the electrode body that faces the short side opposing portion.

7. 7. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged so as to protrude outward from one and the other of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode body.

8. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a portion of the short side facing portion near the position where the light is irradiated is formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the photocurable resin material.

9. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the resin filling mold has a resin material discharge section that discharges the photocurable resin material supplied to the internal space of the resin filling mold to the outside.

10. The electricity storage device manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the resin filling mold is configured so that a gap between the upper mold and the lower mold can be adjusted according to a thickness of the laminated electrode body in a positive and negative electrode stacking direction.

11. a laminated electrode body in which a plurality of rectangular positive electrodes and negative electrodes are laminated with separators interposed therebetween; a resin layer made of a cured product of a photocurable resin material formed on at least two side surfaces on the long sides of the laminated electrode body when the two rectangular wide surfaces at both ends in the positive and negative electrode lamination direction are defined as the upper and lower surfaces; A method for manufacturing an electricity storage device having the following: providing the laminated electrode body; and forming the resin layer on each of the two side surfaces of the laminated electrode body; It encompasses The formation of the resin layer is a resin-filled mold having an internal space for accommodating the electrode body, the resin-filled mold including an upper mold and a lower mold facing the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, and a first side surface mold and a second side surface mold facing the two side surfaces of the long side, respectively; a light irradiator that irradiates light to photocure the photocurable resin material; Prepare The electrode body is accommodated in the resin-filled mold; supplying a photocurable resin material into the internal space of the resin-filled mold to form the resin layer on at least two long side surfaces of the accommodated electrode body; The photocuring is performed by irradiating the supplied photocurable resin material with light from the light irradiator, wherein: a flow front portion of the supplied photocurable resin material flowing along a side surface of the electrode body reaching a predetermined position on the side surface, the flow front portion being irradiated with light to harden the flow front portion and stop the flow of the flow front portion along the side surface.

12. The method for manufacturing an electricity storage device according to claim 11 , wherein the light is irradiated to the vicinity of each of both ends in a long side direction of the two side surfaces of the electrode body housed in the resin filling mold.

13. 13. The method for manufacturing an electric storage device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein at least portions of the first side mold and the second side mold near the predetermined position are formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the photocurable resin material.

14. 14. The method for manufacturing an electric storage device according to claim 13, wherein at least when the light is irradiated, a light shield is attached to a portion of the first side face mold and the second side face mold near the predetermined position to prevent the irradiated light from scattering in a direction away from the predetermined position.

15. The method for manufacturing an electricity storage device according to claim 11 , wherein the resin-filled mold has a short-side facing portion that faces a side surface on a short side of the electrode body.

16. the electrode body includes a positive electrode current collecting terminal and a negative electrode current collecting terminal connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode body, respectively; the positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged so as to protrude outward from at least one of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode body, The method for manufacturing an electric storage device according to claim 15, wherein the light irradiator is configured to irradiate light onto a flow leading end portion of the photocurable resin material flowing along a side surface of the electrode body that faces the short side opposing portion.

17. 17. The method for manufacturing an electricity storage device according to claim 16, wherein the positive electrode current collector terminal and the negative electrode current collector terminal are arranged so as to protrude outward from one and the other of the two side surfaces on the short side of the electrode body.

18. 18. The method for manufacturing an electric storage device according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the short side facing portion near the position where the light is irradiated is formed to be transmissive to light capable of photocuring the photocurable resin material.

19. The method for manufacturing an electricity storage device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the resin-filled mold has a resin material discharge section that discharges the photocurable resin material supplied to the internal space of the resin-filled mold to the outside.

20. The method for manufacturing an electricity storage device according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the resin filling mold is configured so that a gap between the upper mold and the lower mold can be adjusted according to a thickness of the laminated electrode body in a positive and negative electrode lamination direction.

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