Electrode body manufacturing apparatus and electrode body manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a manufacturing apparatus of an electrode body, capable of suppressing the generation of cracks, and provide a manufacturing method of the electrode body.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus 10 of an electrode body, comprises: a foil conveyance machine 2 that continuously conveys electrode foil FF; a coating machine 3 that continuously forms a coating region FC coated with an electrode material FA by intermittently coating a main surface FS of the electrode foil FF with the electrode material FA and an uncoated region FU not coated with the electrode material FA; an acquisition part that acquires a position of the uncoated region FU; a laser irradiation device 1 that irradiates the electrode foil FF with a laser beam LL; and an output control part 6. The output control part 6 controls an output of the laser irradiation device 1 so as to irradiate the coating region FC with the laser beam LL at a first output strength by the laser irradiation device 1 in a period where the uncoated region FU is included in an irradiation range of the laser beam LL, while irradiating the uncoated region FU with the laser beam L1 at a second output strength. The second output strength is lower than the first output strength.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus and an electrode assembly manufacturing method. [Background technology]

[0002] The electrode sheet drying device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured so that a rolled electrode sheet is unwound, an infrared irradiation unit irradiates infrared rays from outside a chamber to heat and dry the electrode sheet, and the electrode sheet can then be wound up inside the chamber. Either the output of the infrared irradiation unit or the feed speed of the electrode sheet, or both, are adjusted so that the temperature of the electrode sheet reaches a predetermined set temperature. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-107237 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors of the present application have discovered the following problems. When such an electrode sheet drying device is used to heat an electrode sheet having a coated area where an electrode material is coated and a non-coated area where no electrode material is coated, the coated area and the non-coated area are heated in the same manner, which may cause cracks.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus and an electrode assembly manufacturing method that can suppress the occurrence of cracks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises: a foil conveyor that continuously conveys the electrode foil; a coater that intermittently coats a main surface of the electrode foil that is continuously conveyed with an electrode material to intermittently form coated regions where the electrode material is coated and uncoated regions where the electrode material is not coated; an acquisition unit that acquires the position of the uncoated region; a laser irradiator that irradiates the electrode foil with laser light; an output control unit; the output control unit controls an output of the laser irradiator so that, during a period in which the uncoated region is included in the irradiation range of the laser light, the laser irradiator irradiates the coated region with the laser light at a first output intensity and irradiates the uncoated region with the laser light at a second output intensity; The second output intensity is lower than the first output intensity.

[0007] In the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus described above, the second output intensity may be 0 (zero).

[0008] The method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the present disclosure includes: continuously conveying the electrode foil; intermittently applying an electrode material to a main surface of the continuously transported electrode foil, thereby intermittently forming a coated region where the electrode material is applied and an uncoated region where the electrode material is not applied; obtaining the location of the uncoated area; irradiating the electrode foil with laser light from a laser irradiator; The method includes a step of irradiating the uncoated area with the laser light at a second output intensity while irradiating the coated area with the laser light at a first output intensity during a period in which the uncoated area is included in the irradiation range of the laser light.

[0009] In the above-described method for manufacturing an electrode body, in the step of irradiating the uncoated region with the laser light at the second output intensity, irradiation of the laser light onto the uncoated region may be stopped. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, the occurrence of cracks can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an experiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation.

[0013] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] Naturally, the right-handed XYZ coordinate system shown in FIG. 1 and other drawings is for the convenience of explaining the positional relationships of the components. Normally, the positive Z-axis direction is vertically upward, and the XY plane is a horizontal plane, which is common to all drawings. The positive X-axis direction is the feed direction of the electrode foil FF, which will be described later. The Y-axis direction is the width direction of the electrode foil FF.

[0015] <Manufacturing equipment> As shown in FIG. 1, an electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a laser irradiator 1, a foil conveyor 2, a coater 3, a sensor 4, a control device 5, and an output control unit 6.

[0016] The electrode foil roll FR is formed into a roll shape by winding the electrode foil FF around it. The electrode foil roll FR is rotatably arranged at a predetermined position. By rotating, the electrode foil roll FR can feed the electrode foil FF in the feeding direction (here, the positive direction of the X-axis). A winding roll (not shown) may be arranged in the feeding direction. This winding roll (not shown) winds up the electrode foil FF fed by the electrode foil roll FR. The electrode foil FF is made of, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, iron, titanium, or carbon.

[0017] The foil conveyor 2 continuously conveys the electrode foil FF in the delivery direction. The foil conveyor 2 may convey the electrode foil FF using a roll-to-roll system. The foil conveyor 2 may, for example, include multiple rolls 2A. The multiple rolls 2A may be arranged between the electrode foil roll FR and the winding roll side FW on which the above-mentioned winding roll is arranged. Furthermore, the multiple rolls 2A may be arranged at predetermined intervals below the electrode foil FF. A drive source (not shown) applies a rotational drive force to the multiple rolls 2A, causing the multiple rolls 2A to rotate. This allows the electrode foil FF to be conveyed in the delivery direction.

[0018] The coater 3 intermittently coats the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF, which is continuously conveyed by the foil conveyor 2, with the electrode material FA. This intermittently forms coated regions FC and uncoated regions FU on the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF. The lengths of the coated regions FC in the feed direction and the lengths of the uncoated regions FU in the feed direction are preferably set in advance. On the main surface FS, the coated regions FC and the uncoated regions FU are arranged alternately in the feed direction. The coated regions FC are coated with the electrode material FA. In the coated regions FC, the electrode material FA covers the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF. The uncoated regions FU are not coated with the electrode material FA. In the uncoated regions FU, the electrode material FA does not cover the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF, and the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF is exposed.

[0019] The electrode material FA includes an electrode active material. The electrode active material is a positive electrode active material or a negative electrode active material.

[0020] The electrode material FA containing the positive electrode active material constitutes the positive electrode. The positive electrode active material is, for example, lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), LiCo 1 / 3 Ni 1 / 3 Mn 1 / 3 O2, Li 1+x Mn 2-x-y M y Examples of such spinels include Li-Mn spinels substituted with different elements and having a composition represented by O4 (M is one or more metal elements selected from Al, Mg, Co, Fe, Ni, and Zn).

[0021] The electrode material FA containing the negative electrode active material constitutes a negative electrode. The negative electrode active material is, for example, a material capable of absorbing and releasing metal ions such as metallic lithium or lithium ions. The material capable of absorbing and releasing metal ions such as lithium ions is, for example, an alloy-based negative electrode active material or a carbon material. The alloy-based negative electrode active material is, for example, a Si alloy-based negative electrode active material or a Sn alloy-based negative electrode active material. The Si alloy-based negative electrode active material may be silicon, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, or a solid solution thereof. The Si alloy-based negative electrode active material may contain elements other than silicon, such as Fe, Co, Sb, Bi, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, In, Sn, or Ti. The Sn alloy-based negative electrode active material is tin, tin oxide, tin nitride, or a solid solution thereof. The Sn alloy-based negative electrode active material may also contain elements other than tin, such as Fe, Co, Sb, Bi, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, In, Ti, Si, etc. The carbon material is, for example, hard carbon, soft carbon, graphite, or the like.

[0022] The electrode material FA may contain optional components such as a conductive additive, a binder, and a solid electrolyte. The conductive additive may be, for example, a carbon material such as vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF) or carbon nanofiber, or a metal material. The binder may be, for example, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), butadiene rubber (BR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), or a combination thereof.

[0023] The sensor 4 detects the uncoated region FU. Specifically, the sensor 4 detects the position, size, etc. of the uncoated region FU. The sensor 4 is preferably provided at a distance from the coater 3 in the feeding direction. The sensor 4 is preferably disposed, for example, above the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF. For example, a line scan camera may be used as the sensor 4.

[0024] The laser irradiator 1 irradiates a predetermined irradiation area with laser light LL. Specifically, it is preferable that the output intensity of the laser light LL from the laser irradiator 1 can be changed depending on the location of the irradiation area. More specifically, when the irradiation area includes a first region and a second region, the output intensity of the laser light LL irradiated to the first region is different from the output intensity of the laser light LL irradiated to the second region. The laser irradiator 1 is, for example, a surface-emitting laser. Such a surface-emitting laser is, for example, a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). The laser irradiator 1 is disposed above a main surface FS of the electrode foil FF. The laser irradiator 1 irradiates the electrode foil FF with laser light LL. Note that, although the example of the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes two laser irradiators 1, the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 may include one or three or more laser irradiators 1.

[0025] The control device 5 can be configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In other words, the control device 5 can have the functions of a computer. The control device 5 can execute programs stored in a storage device (not shown) and perform various processes.

[0026] Furthermore, by executing this program, the control device 5 appropriately realizes the functions of the components required for the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 to perform the necessary operations. For example, the control device 5 acquires various information from each component of the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10, such as the coater 3 and the sensor 4. The control device 5 may store this acquired information in a storage device. The various information includes, for example, the completion of coating of the electrode material FA on the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF by the coater 3 and the uncoated area FU detected by the sensor 4. The control device 5 may store information such as the conveying speed of the electrode foil FF by the foil conveyer 2, the distance between the coater 3 and the irradiation range of the laser light LL, and the irradiation range of the laser light LL in the storage device. The control device 5 can calculate the position of the uncoated area FU based on this stored information. The control device 5 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires the position of the uncoated area FU. Furthermore, the control device 5 determines whether the uncoated area FU is included in the irradiation range of the laser light based on the acquired position of the uncoated area FU. The control device 5 sends a signal to the output control unit 6 to control the output of the laser irradiator 1 depending on whether or not the uncoated region FU is within the irradiation range of the laser light.

[0027] The output control unit 6 controls the output of the laser irradiator 1 in response to a signal from the control device 5. Specifically, the output control unit 6 controls the output of the laser irradiator 1 so that, during a period in which the uncoated area FU is included in the irradiation range of the laser light LL, the laser light LL is irradiated to the coated area FC at a first output intensity while the laser light LL is irradiated to the uncoated area FU at a second output intensity. The second output intensity is lower than the first output intensity. The output control unit 6 controls the output of the laser irradiator 1 so that the laser light LL is irradiated to the coated area FC at the first output intensity during a period in which the uncoated area FU is not included in the irradiation range of the laser light LL. In other words, the period in which the uncoated area FU is not included in the irradiation range of the laser light LL is a period in which the irradiation range of the laser light LL includes only the coated area FC but does not include the uncoated area FU at all. The second output intensity may be 0 (zero). In other words, the output control unit 6 may stop irradiating the uncoated area FU with the laser light LL while irradiating the coated area FC with the laser light LL at a first output intensity during a period in which the uncoated area FU is included in the irradiation range of the laser light LL.

[0028] <Manufacturing method> Next, a method for manufacturing an electrode body using the above-described electrode body manufacturing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. For ease of understanding, the illustration of each component such as the foil conveyor 2, coater 3, sensor 4, control device 5, and output control unit 6 has been omitted as appropriate in Figure 3.

[0029] A foil conveyor 2 continuously conveys the electrode foil FF (step ST1). A coater 3 intermittently coats a main surface FS of the continuously conveyed electrode foil FF with an electrode material FA (step ST2). As a result, coated regions FC coated with the electrode material FA and uncoated regions FU not coated with the electrode material FA are intermittently formed on the main surface FS of the electrode foil FF. Steps ST1 and ST2 may start substantially simultaneously, or may be performed simultaneously in parallel with the next step ST3.

[0030] Next, the control device 5 acquires the position of the uncoated region FU1 (step ST3). Specifically, the control device 5 calculates the position of the uncoated region FU based on the uncoated region FU1 detected by the sensor 4, the conveying speed of the electrode foil FF by the foil conveyor 2, etc.

[0031] Next, the control device 5 determines whether the uncoated area FU1 is included in the irradiation area of ​​the laser light LL (step ST4). The control device 5 makes such a determination based on the position of the uncoated area FU1, the irradiation area of ​​the laser light LL, etc.

[0032] When the control device 5 determines that the uncoated area FU is not included in the irradiation range of the laser light LL (step ST4: NO), the laser irradiator 1 is controlled by the output control unit 6 to irradiate the coated area FC1 with the laser light LL at the first output intensity (step ST52). The electrode material FA in the coated area FC1 is supplied with the necessary amount of heat and is sufficiently heated.

[0033] On the other hand, if the control device 5 determines that the irradiation range of the laser light LL includes the uncoated region FU (step ST4: YES), the laser irradiator 1, under the control of the output control unit 6, irradiates the coated regions FC1 and FC2 with the laser light LL at a first output intensity while irradiating the uncoated region FU with the laser light L1 at a second output intensity (step ST51). As described above, the second output intensity is lower than the first output intensity. The second output intensity may be 0 (zero). In other words, the laser light LL may be irradiated to the coated regions FC1 and FC2 at the first output intensity while the irradiation of the laser light L1 to the uncoated region FU may be stopped. Therefore, the amount of heat supplied to the electrode material FA in the uncoated region FU1 is lower than the amount of heat supplied to the electrode material FA in the coated regions FC1 and FC2. Therefore, the temperature of the uncoated region FU1 is less likely to rise than the temperatures of the coated regions FC1 and FC2.

[0034] The above-described steps ST4, ST51, and ST52 are repeated until the laser light irradiation is completed (step ST6: NO). After the uncoated region FU1 passes through the irradiation range of the laser light LL, the uncoated region FU1 of the electrode foil FF may be wound up on a winding roll (not shown). Various processes are performed on the electrode foil FF as needed.

[0035] In this manner, the electrode assembly can be manufactured.

[0036] According to the configuration of the electrode assembly manufacturing method described above, the laser irradiator 1 irradiates the coated region FC with the laser light LL at a first output intensity while irradiating the uncoated region FU with the laser light L1 at a second output intensity during a period when the uncoated region FU is included in the irradiation range of the laser light LL. Furthermore, the second output intensity is lower than the first output intensity. The temperature of the uncoated region FU1 is less likely to rise than the temperatures of the coated regions FC1 and FC2. Therefore, irradiation of the laser light onto the uncoated region FU1 can be suppressed while ensuring a sufficient irradiation dose of the laser light LL onto the coated regions FC1 and FC2. This suppresses heat transfer from the uncoated region FU1 to the edges of the coated regions FC1 and FC2 adjacent to the uncoated region FU1, thereby suppressing drying of the edges of the coated regions FC1 and FC2. As a result, the electrode material FA at the edges of the coated regions FC1 and FC2 is less likely to crack. Therefore, by changing the irradiation dose of the laser light depending on the coated regions FC1, FC2 and the uncoated region FU1, cracking can be suppressed. Furthermore, there is no need to extend the drying process or drying time in the entire process to prevent cracks from occurring, which makes it possible to shorten the length of the drying process line and reduce the number of laser irradiators 1.

[0037] Furthermore, when the second output intensity is 0 (zero), irradiation of the laser light onto the uncoated region FU can be further suppressed, thereby further suppressing the occurrence of cracks.

[0038] <Experiment> Next, an experiment using a specific example of the electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0039] A specific example of an electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a laser irradiator 1A shown in FIG. 4. The laser irradiator 1A is a specific example of the laser irradiator 1 and is a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser. The laser irradiator 1 includes a laser head 1a, and irradiates a main surface of the workpiece WW with a laser beam from the laser head 1a. The laser irradiator 1A irradiates a first region LA1 with a laser beam at a first output intensity and a second region LA2 with a laser beam at a second output intensity. The laser irradiator 1A also stops irradiating a third region LA3. In other words, the example of the laser irradiator 1 shown in FIG. 4 irradiates a third region LA3 with a laser beam at an output intensity of 0 (zero). Here, the electrode foil FF is transported so that the coated region FC1 in the electrode assembly manufacturing method shown in FIG. 3 is aligned with the first region LA1, the coated region FC2 is aligned with the second region LA2, and the uncoated region FU1 is aligned with the third region LA3, and the laser irradiator 1A is irradiated as described above. Then, the heating of the uncoated area FU1 is stopped while the coated areas FC1 and FC2 are heated. Therefore, by using the laser irradiator 1A shown in Fig. 4, the irradiation amount of the laser light can be changed according to the coated areas FC1, FC2 and the uncoated area FU1, and the occurrence of cracks can be suppressed.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented by appropriately combining the above-described embodiment and examples thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10. Electrode body manufacturing equipment 1. 1A laser irradiator 1a Laser head 2 Foil conveyor 2A Roll 3 Coating machine 4 sensors 5. Control device 6 Output control section LL, L1 laser light LA1 First Area LA2 Second Area LA3 The Third Region FF electrode foil FS, FS1 main surface FA, FA1, FA2 electrode materials FR electrode foil roll FW winding roll side FC, FC1, FC2 application area FU, FU1 Uncoated area WW Work

Claims

1. a foil conveyor that continuously conveys the electrode foil; a coater that intermittently coats a main surface of the electrode foil that is continuously conveyed with an electrode material to intermittently form coated regions where the electrode material is coated and uncoated regions where the electrode material is not coated; an acquisition unit that acquires the position of the uncoated region; a laser irradiator that irradiates the electrode foil with laser light; an output control unit; the output control unit controls an output of the laser irradiator so that, during a period in which the uncoated region is included in the irradiation range of the laser light, the laser irradiator irradiates the coated region with the laser light at a first output intensity and irradiates the uncoated region with the laser light at a second output intensity; the second output intensity is low compared to the first output intensity; Electrode body manufacturing equipment.

2. the second output intensity is 0 (zero); The electrode assembly manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. continuously conveying the electrode foil; intermittently applying an electrode material to a main surface of the continuously transported electrode foil, thereby intermittently forming a coated region where the electrode material is applied and an uncoated region where the electrode material is not applied; obtaining the location of the uncoated area; irradiating the electrode foil with laser light from a laser irradiator; and irradiating the uncoated area with the laser light at a second output intensity while irradiating the coated area with the laser light at a first output intensity during a period in which the uncoated area is included in the irradiation range of the laser light. A method for manufacturing an electrode body.

4. In the step of irradiating the uncoated region with the laser light at the second output intensity, irradiating the uncoated region with the laser light is stopped. The method for manufacturing the electrode assembly according to claim 3 .

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