Manufacturing apparatus for electric storage element and manufacturing method for electric storage element

Abstract

To inhibit a tab from being bent when a long electrode sheet with the tab is transferred by a conveyance roller.SOLUTION: An apparatus 100 for manufacturing a power storage element, which transfers a long electrode sheet 1 with a tab 2 protruding to the outside in a width direction, comprises a conveyance roller 10 for supporting the electrode sheet 1, and a tab holddown roller 20 for bringing down the tab 2 of the electrode sheet 1 to the side of the conveyance roller 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an electric storage element and a method for manufacturing an electric storage element. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus for manufacturing an electric storage device such as a battery, which performs various processes on a long electrode sheet while conveying the sheet along conveyor rollers.

[0003] As one such device, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrode pressing device that includes a press unit that compresses a long electrode sheet having a first region on the surface of which an active material layer is formed and a second region on which no active material layer is formed, and a stretch unit that applies tension to the second region of the compressed electrode sheet.This electrode pressing device is said to be able to correct distortion or warping that occurs in the electrode sheet during compression molding by applying tension to the second region with the stretch unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-73690 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, an electrode having a tab protruding outward is known as an electrode for an energy storage element. An active material layer is not formed on the tab. It has been found that when a long electrode sheet having such a tab is conveyed by a conveying roller, the tab bends with an arc-shaped crease when it passes a position where the conveying roller is provided. It has also been found that this bending of the tab occurs when the tab is positioned on the opposite side of the conveying roller relative to a state where the tab is parallel to the electrode sheet when it passes through the conveying roller.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an energy storage element manufacturing apparatus and an energy storage element manufacturing method that can prevent tabs from bending when a long electrode sheet having tabs is transported by a transport roller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The manufacturing apparatus for an energy storage element of the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing an energy storage element that conveys a long electrode sheet having tabs protruding outward in a width direction, a conveying roller for supporting the electrode sheet; a tab pressing roller for pressing the tab of the electrode sheet toward the conveying roller; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0008] The method for producing an energy storage element of the present invention includes a step of conveying a long electrode sheet having a tab protruding outward in a width direction along a conveying roller, The tab is tilted toward the transport roller while the electrode sheet is being transported. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the tab of the electrode sheet is pressed down toward the conveying roller by the tab pressing roller, thereby preventing the tab from bending when passing through the position where the conveying roller is located.

[0010] According to the manufacturing method of the storage element of the present invention, by tilting the tab of the electrode sheet toward the transport roller while the electrode sheet is being transported, bending of the tab when passing through the position where the transport roller is located can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of an energy storage element manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]2 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the direction of arrow K1. [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the direction of arrow K2. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the direction of arrow K3. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a long electrode sheet. [Figure 6] 10 is a plan view schematically showing an apparatus for manufacturing an energy storage element in which a tab pressing roller is configured to contact only the area of ​​the main body of the electrode sheet near the tab without contacting the tab. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a side view schematically illustrating an application example of an energy storage element manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The features of the present invention will be specifically described below by showing embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of an energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 in one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1 when viewed from the direction of arrow K1. Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1 when viewed from the direction of arrow K2. Fig. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1 when viewed from the direction of arrow K3.

[0014] The energy storage element manufactured by the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 in this embodiment has electrodes with tabs, and is, for example, a battery. The battery may be a primary battery or a secondary battery, and there are no particular restrictions on the type. Furthermore, the energy storage element is not limited to a battery, and may be an electric double layer capacitor, a lithium ion capacitor, or the like.

[0015] The energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 in one embodiment is an apparatus for conveying a long electrode sheet 1 having tabs 2 protruding outward in the width direction, and includes a conveying roller 10 and a tab pressing roller 20. The electrode sheet 1 is a sheet for producing electrodes of an energy storage element.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a long electrode sheet 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the electrode sheet 1 has multiple tabs 2 protruding outward in the width direction. The width direction is the longitudinal direction of the long electrode sheet 1, i.e., a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the electrode sheet 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the multiple tabs 2 may be provided on only one side of the electrode sheet 1 in the width direction, or on both sides. When tabs 2 are provided on both sides of the electrode sheet 1 in the width direction, the electrode sheet 1 can be cut at the center position in the width direction in a later process and used.

[0017] Here, the portion of the electrode sheet 1 other than the tab 2 is referred to as the main body 1a. The width dimension of the main body 1a of the electrode sheet 1 is, for example, 50 mm or more and 500 mm or less, and the longitudinal dimension is arbitrary. The shape of the tab 2 is arbitrary, for example, rectangular in plan view. The width dimension of the tab 2 is, for example, 5 μm or more and 50 mm or less, and the longitudinal dimension of the electrode sheet 1 is, for example, 50 μm or more and 50 mm or less. The thickness of the tab 2 is, for example, 50 μm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0018] The main body 1a of the electrode sheet 1 includes an electrode foil and an active material layer formed on the surface of the electrode foil. However, the electrode foil may include a region where no active material layer is formed.

[0019] When the electrode is a positive electrode, for example, an aluminum foil can be used as the electrode foil, and nickel-cobalt-aluminum can be used as the active material contained in the active material layer. The thickness of the positive electrode foil is, for example, 1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and the thickness of the positive electrode active material layer is, for example, 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less. The positive electrode active material layer may be formed on both sides of the electrode foil, or on only one side.

[0020] When the electrode is a negative electrode, for example, copper foil can be used as the electrode foil, and graphite can be used as the active material contained in the active material layer. The thickness of the electrode foil of the negative electrode is, for example, 1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and the thickness of the active material layer of the negative electrode is, for example, 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less. The active material layer of the negative electrode may be formed on both sides of the electrode foil, or may be formed on only one side.

[0021] The above-described active material layer is not formed on the tab 2 of the electrode sheet 1, but an active material layer may be formed in the region near the main body portion 1a. The tab 2 is made of the same material as the electrode foil that constitutes the main body portion 1a, but may also be made of a different material.

[0022] The shape, material, size, etc. of the main body 1a of the electrode sheet 1 and the tab 2 are not limited to those described above.

[0023] The transport roller 10 is a roller for supporting the long electrode sheet 1 and is made of, for example, aluminum. The surface of the transport roller 10 may be treated with hard anodizing or surface polishing. The diameter of the transport roller 10 is, for example, 10 mm or more and 500 mm or less. However, the diameter of the transport roller 10 may be adjusted appropriately depending on the shape of the electrode sheet 1, and may be 500 mm or more. The dimension of the transport roller 10 in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction, i.e., a direction parallel to the width direction of the electrode sheet 1 supported by the transport roller 10, is arbitrary, but is at least larger than the dimension of the electrode sheet 1 in the width direction.

[0024] 1 to 4 show an example in which the transport roller 10 is provided at a position where the transport direction of the electrode sheet 1 is changed by 90°, but the transport roller 10 may be provided at a position where the transport direction is changed by an angle other than 90°, or at a position where the transport direction does not change. The transport speed when the electrode sheet 1 is transported is, for example, 10 m / s or more and 20 m / s or less.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 7 , which will be described later, the electrode sheet 1 is unwound from an unwinding roll 31 and wound around a winding roll 32. When the electrode sheet 1 is transported, tension is applied to the electrode sheet 1 to prevent sagging. The magnitude of the tension applied may be changed depending on whether the electrode sheet 1 is a positive electrode or a negative electrode. For example, if the electrode sheet 1 is a positive electrode, the tension during unwinding may be 25 N and the tension during winding may be 15 N, and if the electrode sheet 1 is a negative electrode, the tension during unwinding may be 30 N and the tension during winding may be 25 N.

[0026] The tab pressing roller 20 is provided on the opposite side of the conveying roller 10 from the electrode sheet 1 being conveyed, and is a roller for tilting the tab 2 of the electrode sheet 1 toward the conveying roller 10. Because the tab 2 of the electrode sheet 1 is very thin, it may not remain parallel to the electrode sheet 1 during conveyance. If the electrode sheet 1 is conveyed along the conveying roller 10 with the tab 2 tilted away from the conveying roller 10 relative to the parallel state of the electrode sheet 1, the tab 2 will bend with an arc-shaped crease. To prevent this bending, the tab 2 must be parallel to the electrode sheet 1 or tilted toward the conveying roller 10. Therefore, the tab pressing roller 20 is provided to come into contact with the tab 2 tilted away from the conveying roller 10 and tilt it toward the conveying roller 10. As shown in FIG. 2 , the tab pressing roller 20 is provided on the opposite side of the conveying roller 10 from the electrode sheet 1 being conveyed.

[0027] The tab pressing roller 20 is made of a resin such as polyacetal. The diameter of the tab pressing roller 20 is preferably smaller than the diameter of the conveying roller 10. By making the diameter of the tab pressing roller 20 smaller than the diameter of the conveying roller 10, the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 can be made more compact. The diameter of the tab pressing roller 20 is, for example, 1 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The dimension of the tab pressing roller 20 in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction, i.e., in a direction parallel to the width direction of the electrode sheet 1, is, for example, 10 mm or more and 100 mm or less.

[0028] The tab pressing roller 20 is preferably provided at a position upstream of the contact start position where the electrode sheet 1 starts to contact the conveying roller 10 in the conveying direction of the electrode sheet 1. By providing the tab pressing roller 20 at a position upstream of the contact start position, the tab 2 can be tilted toward the conveying roller 10 before coming into contact with the conveying roller 10, and bending of the tab 2 can be more reliably prevented.

[0029] 3, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode sheet 1 at the contact start position, the distance L1 between the central axis R1 of the conveying roller 10 and the central axis R2 of the tab pressing roller 20 is preferably shorter than the dimension L2 of the tab 2 in the conveying direction of the electrode sheet 1. If the distance L1 between the central axis R1 of the conveying roller 10 and the central axis R2 of the tab pressing roller 20 is longer than the dimension L2 of the tab 2 in the conveying direction, the tab 2 that has been tilted toward the conveying roller 10 by the tab pressing roller 20 may tilt toward the opposite side from the conveying roller 10 before it separates from the tab pressing roller 20 and comes into contact with the conveying roller 10. In this case, as described above, the tab 2 is bent with an arc-shaped crease.

[0030] In contrast, by configuring the distance L1 between the central axis R1 of the conveying roller 10 and the central axis R2 of the tab holding roller 20 to be shorter than the dimension L2 of the tab 2 in the conveying direction, the tab 2 comes into contact with the conveying roller 10 in a state where it is tilted toward the conveying roller 10 by the tab holding roller 20, thereby more effectively suppressing bending of the tab 2.

[0031] As described above, the active material layer is not formed on the tab 2, or is formed only in the area near the main body 1a. Therefore, in a configuration in which the tab pressing roller 20 contacts only the tab 2, the tab 2 may fall to the side opposite the conveying roller 10 due to its elasticity before contacting the conveying roller 10.

[0032] For this reason, in the energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the tab pressing roller 20 is provided at a position on the electrode sheet 1 where it contacts the tab 2 and the main body portion 1a other than the tab 2. By having the tab pressing roller 20 press not only the tab 2 but also the vicinity of the tab 2 of the main body portion 1a on which the active material layer is formed, it is possible to more reliably maintain the state in which the tab 2 is tilted toward the conveying roller 10 until the tab 2 contacts the conveying roller 10, and it is possible to more effectively prevent bending of the tab 2. Furthermore, by having the tab pressing roller 20 also contact the main body portion 1a, it is possible to distribute the force applied to the tab 2, thereby reducing damage to the tab 2.

[0033] 6, the tab pressing roller 20 may be provided at a position where it does not come into contact with the tab 2, but only comes into contact with the area of ​​the main body 1a of the electrode sheet 1 near the tab 2. The tab pressing roller 20 does not directly press the tab 2, but can push the area near the tab 2, which is the base of the tab 2, to cause the tab 2 to fall toward the conveying roller 10. In this case, the tab pressing roller 20 does not come into direct contact with the tab 2, and therefore can prevent damage caused by contact with the tab 2.

[0034] 7 is a side view schematically showing an application example of an energy storage element manufacturing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. A long electrode sheet 1 is unwound from an unwinding roll 31 and wound around a winding roll 32. In the example shown in FIG. 7, four conveying rollers 10 are provided, and four tab pressing rollers 20 are provided corresponding to the four conveying rollers 10, respectively. However, the number of conveying rollers 10 and the number of tab pressing rollers 20 are not limited to four, and can be any number.

[0035] Various processes can be performed on the electrode sheet 1 between when it is unwound from the unwinding roll 31 and when it is wound around the winding roll 32. For example, it is possible to form a tab 2 by cutting a part of the electrode sheet 1 at a position between the unwinding roll 31 and the transport roller 10 located most upstream. It is also possible to perform inspections such as an appearance inspection and a dimensional inspection of the main body 1a of the electrode sheet 1 and the tab 2 at a position between the second transport roller 10 and the third transport roller 10 in the transport direction.

[0036] A method for manufacturing an energy storage element according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a step of conveying a long electrode sheet 1 having a tab 2 protruding outward in the width direction along conveying rollers 10, and tilting the tab 2 toward the conveying rollers 10 while the electrode sheet 1 is being conveyed. Any method can be used to tilt the tab 2 toward the conveying rollers 10. By tilting the tab 2 toward the conveying rollers 10 while the electrode sheet 1 is being conveyed, bending of the tab 2 when the tab 2 passes by the position where the conveying rollers 10 are provided can be suppressed. As described above, it is preferable to tilt the tab 2 toward the conveying rollers 10 at a position upstream of the contact start position where the electrode sheet 1 begins to contact the conveying rollers 10. By tilting the tab 2 toward the conveying rollers 10 before the electrode sheet 1 comes into contact with the conveying rollers 10, bending of the tab 2 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various applications and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] The manufacturing apparatus and method for an electric storage element according to the present application are as follows. <1> A manufacturing device for energy storage elements that conveys a long electrode sheet having tabs protruding outward in the width direction, a conveying roller for supporting the electrode sheet; a tab pressing roller for pressing the tab of the electrode sheet toward the conveying roller; An apparatus for manufacturing an energy storage element, comprising: <2> The tab pressing roller is provided at a position upstream of a contact start position where the electrode sheet starts to contact the transport roller in the transport direction of the electrode sheet. <1> The manufacturing apparatus for the energy storage element according to claim 1. <3> When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode sheet at the contact start position, the distance between the central axis of the conveying roller and the central axis of the tab pressing roller is shorter than the dimension of the tab in the conveying direction of the electrode sheet. <2> The manufacturing apparatus for the energy storage element according to claim 1. <4> The tab pressing roller is provided at a position on the electrode sheet where it comes into contact with the tab and the main body portion other than the tab. <1> ~ <3> 10. The manufacturing apparatus for an energy storage element according to claim 9, wherein <5> The tab pressing roller is provided at a position where it does not come into contact with the tab, but only comes into contact with the area of ​​the main body other than the tab near the tab. <1> ~ <3> 10. The manufacturing apparatus for an energy storage element according to claim 9, wherein <6> The diameter of the tab pressing roller is smaller than the diameter of the conveying roller. <1> ~ <5> 10. The manufacturing apparatus for an energy storage element according to claim 9, wherein <7> A process of conveying a long electrode sheet having a tab protruding outward in the width direction along a conveying roller, The method for manufacturing an energy storage element comprises tilting the tab toward the transport roller while the electrode sheet is being transported. <8> The tab is tilted toward the transport roller at a position upstream of a contact start position where the electrode sheet starts to contact the transport roller. <7> A method for manufacturing the energy storage element according to claim 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Electrode sheet 1a Main body of electrode sheet 2 Tabs 10 Conveyor roller 20 Tab holding roller 31 Unwinding roll 32 Winding roll 100 Energy storage element manufacturing equipment R1 Central axis of the transport roller R2 Central axis of tab pressing roller

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing an energy storage element that conveys a long electrode sheet having tabs protruding outward in a width direction, a conveying roller for supporting the electrode sheet; a tab pressing roller for pressing the tab of the electrode sheet toward the conveying roller; Equipped with The tab pressing roller is provided at a position upstream of a contact start position where the electrode sheet starts to contact the conveying roller in the conveying direction of the electrode sheet.

2. The manufacturing apparatus for a storage element according to claim 1, characterized in that, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the electrode sheet at the contact start position, the distance between the center axis of the conveying roller and the center axis of the tab pressing roller is shorter than the dimension of the tab in the conveying direction of the electrode sheet.

3. 2. The manufacturing apparatus for a storage element according to claim 1, wherein the tab pressing roller is provided at a position where it contacts the tab and a main body portion other than the tab of the electrode sheet.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing an energy storage element, which conveys a long electrode sheet having tabs protruding outward in the width direction, a conveying roller for supporting the electrode sheet; a tab pressing roller for pressing the tab of the electrode sheet toward the conveying roller; Equipped with The manufacturing apparatus for an energy storage element is characterized in that the tab pressing roller is positioned so as not to come into contact with the tab, but to come into contact only with the area of ​​the main body other than the tab near the tab.

5. 5. The energy storage element manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the tab pressing roller is smaller than the diameter of the transport roller.

6. conveying a long electrode sheet having a tab protruding outward in the width direction along a conveying roller; A method for manufacturing a storage element, characterized in that, during transport of the electrode sheet, the tab is tilted toward the transport roller at a position upstream of a contact start position where the electrode sheet begins to contact the transport roller.

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