Calendar device

Abstract

To provide a calendering device that can suppress wrinkles in the uncoated portion of an electrode sheet. [Solution] The strip-shaped sheet 100, which is transported in the longitudinal direction of the strip, has a coated portion 111 on both sides of the strip-shaped current collector 110 where an active material is coated, and an uncoated portion 112 located on both sides of the coated portion 111 in the width direction of the current collector 110 where no active material is coated, and is arranged on both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100 to apply pressure to the coated portion 111, and a brushing mechanism 20 arranged downstream of the calender rolls 15 in the transport direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100 and having a plurality of brush rows 25 in which a plurality of brush members 25a are arranged in a row, and the brushing mechanism 20 brushes the uncoated portion 112 with the brush rows 25 while rotating the plurality of brush rows 25.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a calender device, and particularly to a calender device used for manufacturing electrode sheets for lithium-ion batteries and the like. [[Background Art]]

[0002] A secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery is manufactured by calendering a precursor sheet, which is an active material-coated sheet obtained by adhering an active material to a metal strip-shaped current collector, through a pair of calender rolls to increase the density of the active material, so as to obtain an electrode sheet with the active material fixed to the current collector, and then cutting, laminating or winding the electrode sheet. Here, the front and back surfaces of the electrode sheet are divided into a coated portion at the central part in the width direction and uncoated portions at both end parts in the width direction. In the coated portion, the active material is coated on the current collector and compressed, forming a part where the active material is fixed to the current collector. In the uncoated portions, no active material is coated on the current collector, forming a part where the current collector is exposed.

[0003] Since the uncoated portions are thinner than the coated portion, when the precursor sheet is calendered, the uncoated portions are sent to the downstream side in the conveying direction without contacting or being pressed by the calender rolls. At that time, wrinkles may occur on the current collector located in the uncoated portion toward the outside in the width direction of the current collector from the boundary between the uncoated portion and the coated portion. That is, when the precursor sheet is calendered, the coated portion is pressed by the calender rolls while the uncoated portions are not pressed, so wrinkles are likely to occur at the boundary between the uncoated portion and the coated portion due to the pressure difference between the coated portion and the uncoated portion.

[0004] Some conventional calender devices aim to suppress wrinkles that occur in uncoated portions in this way. For example, the roll press described in Patent Document 1 is provided with an auxiliary rolling roll for rolling the uncoated portion on the upstream side of the rolling roll that rolls the coated portion of the continuous sheet-shaped base material. By pre-deforming the uncoated portion with the auxiliary rolling roll, the change between the coated portion and the uncoated portion is slowed down, thereby suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion adjacent to the coated portion.

[0005] Furthermore, in the electrode plate manufacturing method described in Patent Document 2, a straightening press step is performed to mitigate the difference in elongation between the coated and uncoated parts after the main pressing step, by pressing the uncoated part before or after the main pressing step in which the coated part is pressed. In the straightening press step, an elastic body is sandwiched between the current collector foil and the pressing member while pressing, thereby reliably pressing and stretching the current collector foil in the uncoated part, so that the elongation of the current collector foil in the coated and uncoated parts does not differ too greatly.

[0006] Furthermore, the electrode manufacturing method described in Patent Document 3 includes a first uncoated portion pressing step in which the uncoated portion is pressed before the coated portion pressing step in which the coated portion is pressed, and a second uncoated portion pressing step in which the uncoated portion is pressed after the coated portion pressing step. By pressing the uncoated portion a total of two times, before and after pressing the coated portion, the difference in the amount of stretching in the uncoated portion is reduced, thereby suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-084545 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-134279 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-100486 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, as described in Patent Document 1, when rolling the uncoated portion with an auxiliary rolling roll, even a slight misalignment of the auxiliary rolling roll will prevent the load from being applied properly. This makes it difficult to pre-deform the uncoated portion with the auxiliary rolling roll, potentially making it difficult to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion. Furthermore, as described in Patent Document 2, when pressing is performed with an elastic body sandwiched between the current collector foil and the press member, even if there is a misalignment of the press roll, it is possible to suppress the uneven distribution of the load. However, the elastic body itself may deform during pressing, potentially making it difficult to effectively suppress the occurrence of wrinkles.

[0009] Furthermore, as described in Patent Document 3, when the uncoated portion is pressed a total of two times, before and after pressing the coated portion, press rolls are required to press the uncoated portion both before and after the press roll that presses the coated portion. In this case, it is necessary to balance the action of the two press rolls that press the uncoated portion, and adjustment and optimization of the operating conditions are required, which may make the adjustments to suppress wrinkle generation complicated. For these reasons, there was room for improvement in suppressing wrinkles that occur in the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet when the coated portion of the precursor sheet is calendered to form an electrode sheet.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a calendering device that can suppress wrinkles in the uncoated portion of an electrode sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the calendar device according to the present invention comprises a pair of calendar rolls positioned on both sides in the thickness direction of a strip-shaped sheet that is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the strip, having a coated portion on both sides of the strip-shaped current collector on which an active material is coated, and an uncoated portion located on both sides of the coated portion in the width direction of the current collector where the active material is not coated, and which applies pressure to the coated portion; and a brushing mechanism positioned downstream of the calendar rolls in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped sheet and having a plurality of brush rows in which a plurality of brush members are arranged in a row, wherein the brushing mechanism brushes the uncoated portion with the brush rows while the plurality of brush rows are rotated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The calendering apparatus according to the present invention has the effect of suppressing wrinkles in the uncoated portion of the electrode sheet. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a calendar device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a view taken along arrow AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a detailed view of section B in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a view from the CC arrow in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a detailed view of the rotary brush shown in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 5 using the DD method. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic side view of a calendar device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a view from arrow EE in Figure 7. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic side view of a calendar device according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a view from the FF arrow in Figure 9. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a brushing mechanism included in the calender device according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a view taken along line G-G in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a brushing mechanism included in the calender device according to Embodiment 5 as viewed in the conveying direction Y of an electrode sheet. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the calender device according to Embodiment 6. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of Embodiments 1 to 4 and 5, illustrating a configuration in which brush rows are arranged inclined with respect to the axial direction of a brushing cylinder. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line H-H in FIG. 15. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the calender device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be replaced and easily conceived by a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

[0015] [Embodiment 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a view taken along arrow AA in Figure 1. In the following description, the vertical direction in the normal operating state of the calendar device 10 will be described as the vertical direction Z in the calendar device 10, the upper side in the normal operating state of the calendar device 10 will be described as the upper side in the calendar device 10, and the lower side in the normal operating state of the calendar device 10 will be described as the lower side in the calendar device 10. Furthermore, the horizontal direction in the normal operating state of the calendar device 10 will be described as the horizontal direction in the calendar device 10. In addition, within the horizontal direction, the direction in which the strip-shaped sheet 100 transported by the calendar device 10 moves will be described as the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100, and within the horizontal direction, the direction perpendicular to the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100 will be described as the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100, or the width direction X of the calendar device 10. Furthermore, within the conveying direction Y, the upstream side in the direction in which the strip-shaped sheet 100 advances will be referred to as the upstream side in the conveying direction Y, and the downstream side in the direction in which the strip-shaped sheet 100 advances will be referred to as the downstream side in the conveying direction Y.

[0016] <Calendar device 10> The calendering apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 is a device for manufacturing electrode sheets used in secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries. The calendering apparatus 10 has a pair of calendering rolls 15 arranged on both sides in the thickness direction of a strip-shaped sheet 100, and is a device that applies pressure to the strip-shaped sheet 100 from both sides in the thickness direction by the pair of calendering rolls 15. The strip-shaped sheet 100 to which pressure is applied by the calendering apparatus 10 is a sheet-like member for manufacturing electrode sheets, and has a coated portion 111 on both sides of a strip-shaped current collector 110 on which an active material is coated, and an uncoated portion 112 located on both sides of the coated portion 111 in the width direction of the current collector 110 and on which the active material is not coated.

[0017] The current collector 110 in the strip-shaped sheet 100 is a strip-shaped member made of a conductive material such as aluminum foil or copper foil. The coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 is formed by coating the current collector 110 with an active material, which is an electrode material, using either a wet process or a dry process.

[0018] The wet method described here is a process in which, in the upstream process of the calendering device 10 in the electrode sheet manufacturing process, a slurry of active material is applied to both sides of a continuously transported strip-shaped current collector 110, and then the active material is dried to adhere to both sides of the current collector 110, thereby forming coated portions 111 on both sides of the current collector 110.

[0019] Furthermore, the dry method involves coating both sides of a continuously transported strip-shaped current collector 110 with an active material in a dry state or a semi-dry state containing a small amount of solvent, thereby forming coated portions 111 on both sides of the current collector 110 by ensuring the active material adheres tightly to both sides of the current collector 110. Examples of methods for coating the current collector 110 with the active material in the dry method include the calender method, in which the active material is kneaded into a sheet and then pressed onto the current collector 110 by a roll; the extrusion method, in which the active material is pushed from a kneader towards the current collector 110 and adhered tightly to it; and the electrostatic coating method, in which the active material is attached to the current collector 110 using static electricity.

[0020] The coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in Embodiment 1 includes both coated portions 111 formed by coating the current collector 110 with active material using a wet method and coated portions 111 formed by coating the current collector 110 with active material using a dry method. The coated portion 111 is formed by coating the surface of the current collector 110 with active material, ensuring that the active material adheres tightly without any loss, and the surface of the current collector 110 is covered with active material. The coated portion 111 is located in the central part of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the width direction X and is formed along the extending direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0021] The uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 on which the coated portion 111 is formed is the portion on both sides of the coated portion 111 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100 where the active material is not coated onto the current collector 110. In other words, the active material coated on both sides of the strip-shaped sheet 100 is not coated near both ends in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100, and the current collector 110 is exposed near both ends in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100. The uncoated portion 112 is thus the portion on both ends of the coated portion 111 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100 where the active material is not coated and the current collector 110 is exposed. The uncoated portion 112 is formed on both sides of the coated portion 111 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100, along the extending direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0022] The calendering device 10 has a pair of calendering rolls 15 that apply pressure to the coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100, which has a coated portion 111 formed on the current collector 110 in the upstream process, making it possible to apply pressure to the coated portion 111 while conveying the strip-shaped sheet 100. In Embodiment 1, there is a feeder 50 and a winder 55, and the pair of calendering rolls 15 are arranged between the feeder 50 and the winder 55.

[0023] The feeder 50 is a device that feeds the strip-shaped sheet 100, which has a coated section 111 formed on it and has been wound into a roll shape in the upstream process of the calendering device 10, toward the calendering roll 15. For this reason, the feeder 50 has a drive device such as a motor (not shown) that rotates the roll-shaped strip-shaped sheet 100 in the direction of feeding it out.

[0024] The winding machine 55 is a device that winds the strip-shaped sheet 100, on which the coated portion 111 is formed, into a roll shape, which has been unwound from the dispensing machine 50. For this reason, the winding machine 55 has a drive device such as a motor (not shown) that rotates the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the winding direction.

[0025] Between the feeder 50 and the winder 55, the strip-shaped sheet 100 is conveyed horizontally from the feeder 50 to the winder 55 with its thickness direction being the vertical direction Z. The pair of calender rolls 15 are positioned on both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100 that is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the strip in the calendering device 10, making it possible to apply pressure to the coated portion 111.

[0026] More specifically, the pair of calender rolls 15 are both cylindrical roll members, and are positioned so that their axial direction is aligned with the width direction X of the strip sheet 100. The calender rolls 15 are rotatable about an axis extending in the width direction X. The length of the calender rolls 15 is longer than the width of the strip sheet 100. Of the pair of calender rolls 15, one calender roll 15 is positioned above the strip sheet 100, and the other calender roll 15 is positioned below the strip sheet 100. These calender rolls 15 are positioned at the same location relative to each other in the conveying direction Y of the strip sheet 100.

[0027] Furthermore, by adjusting the pair of calender rolls 15 to reduce the distance between them in the vertical Z direction, it is possible to apply pressure in the vertical Z direction to the coated portion 111 of the strip sheet 100. In Embodiment 1, the upper calender roll 15 of the pair of calender rolls 15 is movable in the vertical Z direction by a hydraulic cylinder (not shown), and by moving the upper calender roll 15 in the vertical Z direction, the distance between the calender rolls 15 in the vertical Z direction can be adjusted. As a result, by sliding the upper calender roll 15 downward, the pair of calender rolls 15 can sandwich the strip sheet 100 with the coated portion 111 formed on it from both sides in the vertical Z direction, and compress it in the vertical Z direction. This makes it possible for the pair of calender rolls 15 to apply pressure in the thickness direction of the strip sheet 100 to the coated portion 111 of the strip sheet 100 as it passes between the calender rolls 15 from upstream to downstream in the conveying direction Y of the strip sheet 100.

[0028] On the other hand, the thickness of the uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 is thinner than the thickness of the coated portion 111. Therefore, even when the coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 is compressed in the vertical direction Z by the pair of calender rolls 15, the calender rolls 15 do not come into contact with the uncoated portion 112. In other words, the pair of calender rolls 15 apply pressure to the coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 with a pressure that does not come into contact with the uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0029] A brushing mechanism 20 is positioned downstream of the calender roll 15 in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100. The brushing mechanism 20 has multiple circulating brush rows 25, and it is possible to brush the uncoated areas 112 with the brush rows 25 while the multiple brush rows 25 are circulating.

[0030] <Brushing mechanism 20> Figure 3 is a detailed view of section B in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a view taken along arrow CC in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a detailed view of the rotary brush 21 shown in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along DD in Figure 5. More specifically, the brushing mechanism 20 includes a rotary brush 21 and a motor 33 which is a drive device for rotating the rotary brush 21, and multiple brush rows 25 are arranged on the rotary brush 21. The rotary brush 21 has a brushing cylinder 22 that is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the brush rows 25 are attached to the brushing cylinder 22.

[0031] The cylindrical brushing cylinder 22 has a pair of side plates 23 made of circular plate-shaped members and a plurality of mounting plates 24 arranged between the pair of side plates 23. The pair of side plates 23 have the same diameter, their axes are aligned, and they are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the side plates 23. The radius of the side plates 23 is smaller than the width of the uncoated portion 112 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0032] Multiple mounting plates 24 are made of roughly rectangular plate-shaped members and are positioned between a pair of side plates 23, with both ends connected to the side plates 23. Each mounting plate 24 is connected to the side surface of the side plate 23 near the outer circumference. The mounting plates 24 are oriented such that the thickness direction of the mounting plate 24 is roughly in the circumferential direction of the side plate 23, the longitudinal direction of the mounting plate 24 is aligned with the thickness direction of the side plate 23, and the short direction of the mounting plate 24 is roughly in the radial direction of the side plate 23.

[0033] In these configurations, the mounting plates 24 positioned between the pair of side plates 23 are arranged at equal intervals around the side plates 23. In Embodiment 1, the mounting plates 24 of one brushing cylinder 22 consist of eight mounting plates 24 arranged at equal intervals around the side plates 23. As a result, the brushing cylinder 22, when the pair of side plates 23 and the multiple mounting plates 24 are combined, has a substantially cylindrical shape in which the spaces between adjacent mounting plates 24 form openings, creating multiple openings.

[0034] The brush row 25 attached to the brushing cylinder 22 is formed by arranging a plurality of brush members 25a in a row. Each brush member 25a is made of an elastic material such as rubber and is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape. The brush row 25 is formed by arranging the plurality of brush members 25a in this manner in the width direction of the rectangle which is the shape of the brush member 25a. In addition, the plurality of brush members 25a that make up the brush row 25 are spaced apart from each other. The brush row 25 is formed by attaching the plurality of brush members 25a, which are spaced apart from each other and arranged in a row, to the mounting plate 24.

[0035] The number of brush rows 25 is the same as the number of mounting plates 24, and each brush row 25 is attached to a mounting plate 24. That is, in Embodiment 1, eight brush rows 25 are provided for one brushing cylinder 22, and one brush row 25 is attached to one mounting plate 24. In Embodiment 1, the number of brush members 25a in each brush row 25 is the same for all brush rows 25 on one brushing cylinder 22, and the positions of the brush members 25a in the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22 are the same for all brush rows 25.

[0036] The brush rows 25 attached to the mounting plate 24 are positioned so that the brush members 25a protrude outward in the radial direction of the side plate 23 compared to the side plate 23. In other words, the multiple brush rows 25, which consist of multiple brush members 25a attached to multiple mounting plates 24 of the brushing cylinder 22, are arranged to protrude radially outward in the radial direction of the side plate 23 when the brushing cylinder 22 is viewed in the thickness direction of the side plate 23, that is, in the axial direction of the circular side plate 23.

[0037] Furthermore, the mounting plate 24 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the thickness direction of the side plate 23, that is, it is positioned along the axial direction of the cylindrical brushing cylinder 22. Therefore, the brush row 25 attached to the mounting plate 24 is also positioned along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22. In other words, the brush row 25 attached to the mounting plate 24 consists of multiple brush members 25a arranged in a single line along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22. Multiple brush rows 25, each consisting of multiple brush members 25a arranged in a line along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, are arranged in the circumferential direction of the brushing cylinder 22.

[0038] The rotary brush 21 is provided as a rotating brush by arranging multiple brush rows 25 in a circumferential direction. The rotary brush 21 is positioned above the uncoated portion 112 with the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22 aligned with the conveying direction Y of the calendar device 10. The rotary brush 21 is also positioned so that the brush rows 25 can contact the uncoated portion 112. In other words, the rotary brush 21 is positioned at the same location in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100 as the location of the uncoated portion 112 in the width direction X.

[0039] The motor 33 is positioned on the extension of the rotary brush 21 in the conveying direction Y of the calendar device 10, and its output shaft is connected to the brushing cylinder 22 of the rotary brush 21 via a connecting shaft 34. For example, the side plate 23 of the brushing cylinder 22 is provided with a shaft portion extending from the center of the circular side plate 23 in the width direction of the side plate 23, and the connecting shaft 34 is connected to the shaft portion extending from the side plate 23 of the brushing cylinder 22. This makes it possible for the motor 33 to rotate the cylindrical brushing cylinder 22 in the circumferential direction about the central axis of the brushing cylinder 22.

[0040] Furthermore, on the opposite side of the uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 from the portion where the rotary brush 21 is positioned above the uncoated portion 112, multiple receiving rolls 40 are arranged. Each receiving roll 40 is a cylindrical roll member, and is positioned with its axial direction aligned with the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100. Multiple receiving rolls 40 are arranged in a line in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. In addition, the length of each receiving roll 40 in the axial direction is shorter than the width of the uncoated portion 112 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0041] The multiple receiving rolls 40 formed in this manner are positioned in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100 at the same position as the uncoated portion 112 in the width direction X. Furthermore, the multiple receiving rolls 40 are positioned in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100 at the same position as any of the multiple brush members 25a that constitute the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21 and are arranged in the axial direction of the rotary brush 21, and are positioned below the uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0042] Preferably, the position of each receiving roll 40 in the transport direction Y is the same as the central position of either brush member 25a in the width direction, i.e., the same position as the central position of the brush member 25a in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0043] Furthermore, the multiple receiving rolls 40 positioned at these locations in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100 are positioned in the vertical direction Z such that they are below the uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 and in contact with the uncoated portion 112. These multiple receiving rolls 40 that are below the uncoated portion 112 and in contact with the uncoated portion 112 are provided as so-called free rolls that can rotate freely around the central axis of the receiving roll 40.

[0044] These rotary brushes 21 and receiving rolls 40 are supported by a frame 30. More specifically, the rotary brushes 21 are supported by support members 31 that support the shafts provided on each of the pair of side plates 23 of the brushing cylinder 22 of the rotary brushes 21, and the support members 31 are supported by the frame 30, thereby supporting the rotary brushes 21 via the support members 31. The support members 31 are formed across the shafts provided on each of the pair of side plates 23, and by rotatably supporting the shafts, they rotatably support the rotary brushes 21.

[0045] The frame 30 has an upper frame part 30a located above the rotating brush 21 in the vertical direction Z, a lower frame part 30b located below the receiving roll 40 in the vertical direction Z, a frame connecting part 30c extending in the vertical direction Z on the outside of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the width direction X of the calendering device 10 and connecting the upper frame part 30a and the lower frame part 30b, and a motor support part 30d that supports the motor 33 that rotates the rotating brush 21.

[0046] A hydraulic cylinder 32 is positioned on the upper surface of the upper frame 30a, and the rod 32a of the hydraulic cylinder 32 penetrates the upper frame 30a and extends toward the lower side of the upper frame 30a. A support member 31 that supports the rotary brush 21 is positioned on the lower side of the upper frame 30a, and the rod 32a of the hydraulic cylinder 32 is connected to the support member 31. As a result, the support member 31 and the rotary brush 21 supported by the support member 31 are movable in the vertical direction Z in accordance with the extension and retraction of the rod 32a of the hydraulic cylinder 32.

[0047] The motor 33, which is the drive device for the rotary brush 21, is located on a motor support portion 30d that extends downward from the end of the calendering device 10 in the transport direction Y on the upper part 30a of the frame. The motor support portion 30d of the frame 30 is located above the uncoated portion 112 and is formed to extend in the vertical direction Z from the upper part 30a of the frame to a position near the upper side of the uncoated portion 112. In Embodiment 1, the motor support portion 30d is formed to extend downward from the downstream end of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the transport direction on the upper part 30a of the frame. In addition, the outer end of the motor support portion 30d in the width direction X of the calendering device 10 is connected to the frame connecting portion 30c.

[0048] The motor 33 is mounted on the motor support portion 30d formed in this manner, on the side opposite to the side where the rotary brush 21 is located relative to the motor support portion 30d in the conveying direction Y. The motor 33 mounted on the motor support portion 30d has an output shaft connected to the rotary brush 21 via a connecting shaft 34. The connecting shaft 34, which connects the output shaft of the motor 33 to the rotary brush 21, extends in the conveying direction Y of the calendering device 10 across the space between the motor 33 and the rotary brush 21. The motor support portion 30d to which the motor 33 is mounted has a hole formed through the motor support portion 30d in the conveying direction Y of the calendering device 10, through which the connecting shaft 34 can pass. The connecting shaft 34 connects the output shaft of the motor 33 to the rotary brush 21 by passing through the hole formed in the motor support portion 30d.

[0049] Here, the connecting shaft 34 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 33 and the shaft of the rotary brush 21 by a so-called universal joint. Furthermore, the hole formed in the motor support portion 30d of the frame 30 through which the connecting shaft 34 passes is an elongated hole extending in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, even when the rotary brush 21 supported by the support member 31 moves vertically in Z together with the support member 31 due to the extension and retraction of the rod 32a of the hydraulic cylinder 32, the connecting shaft 34 can transmit the rotation of the motor 33 to the rotary brush 21 while tilting in the vertical direction Z with respect to the transport direction Y inside the elongated hole in accordance with the vertical movement of the rotary brush 21.

[0050] The lower part 30b of the frame 30 is provided with a receiving roll support portion 30ba on its upper surface. The receiving roll support portions 30ba are located at two locations on the lower part 30b of the frame, and the two receiving roll support portions 30ba extend upward from the lower part 30b of the frame. The two receiving roll support portions 30ba located on the lower part 30b of the frame are positioned on both sides in the axial direction of the receiving roll 40, and each supports the shaft portion extending from both sides in the axial direction of the receiving roll 40. Furthermore, the receiving roll support portions 30ba provided on the lower part 30b of the frame can support the shaft portions of multiple receiving rolls 40 arranged in the conveying direction Y by the two receiving roll support portions 30ba. As a result, the two receiving roll support portions 30ba located on the lower part 30b of the frame can each rotatably support multiple receiving rolls 40.

[0051] The brushing mechanisms 20 are arranged on both sides of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the width direction X. The brushing mechanisms 20 arranged on both sides of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the width direction X are positioned at the same location relative to each other in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100; that is, each brushing mechanism 20 is located downstream of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0052] <Operation of the calendar device 10> The calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 1 includes the configuration described above, and its operation will be explained below. In the following description, the strip-shaped sheet 100 in which a coated portion 111 is formed by coating the current collector 110 with an active material will be referred to as the precursor sheet 101 before the coated portion 111 is calendered by a pair of calendering rolls 15, and the sheet after calendering will be referred to as the electrode sheet 102.

[0053] In the manufacturing process of electrode sheets 102 used in secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, the calendering apparatus 10 increases the density of the active material by performing calendering on the coated areas 111 on both sides of the precursor sheet 101 manufactured in the preceding process of the calendering apparatus 10 using a pair of calendering rolls 15, thereby fixing the active material to the current collector 110 and manufacturing the electrode sheet 102.

[0054] In more detail, the precursor sheet 101, which is wound into a roll, is unwound from the unwound machine 50 and transported in the transport direction Y toward the winding machine 55. A pair of calender rolls 15 are positioned between the unwound machine 50 and the winding machine 55, and the precursor sheet 101, unwound from the unwound machine 50 and transported toward the winding machine 55, undergoes calendering by passing between the pair of calender rolls 15.

[0055] The pair of calender rolls 15 through which the precursor sheet 101 passes have the upper calender roll 15 movable in the vertical direction Z. By sliding the upper calender roll 15 downward, it is possible to contact the strip-shaped sheet 100 with the coated portion 111 formed on it from both sides in the vertical direction Z, thereby compressing the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the vertical direction Z. As a result, as the precursor sheet 101 passes between the pair of calender rolls 15, pressure in the thickness direction of the precursor sheet 101 is applied to the coated portion 111 from the calender rolls 15. Since the calender rolls 15 have a cylindrical shape with their axial direction aligned with the width direction X, the calender roll 15 that contacts the coated portion 111 rotates as the precursor sheet 101 moves in the transport direction Y, applying pressure to the coated portion 111.

[0056] In other words, pressure is applied to the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 from a pair of calender rolls 15 in a direction that reduces the thickness of the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101. The pair of calender rolls 15 apply pressure to the precursor sheet 101 by sandwiching it from both sides in the vertical Z direction, so the pressure applied to the coated portion 111 from the calender rolls 15 is applied to both coated portions 111 located on both sides of the precursor sheet 101. As a result, the density of the active material forming the coated portion 111 on both sides of the precursor sheet 101 is increased by the pressure applied to the coated portion 111 from the calender rolls 15, and the active material adheres to the current collector 110. The precursor sheet 101 is manufactured as an electrode sheet 102 by applying pressure to the coated portion 111 from the calender rolls 15 in this way and by calendering performed by the pair of calender rolls 15.

[0057] The electrode sheet 102 produced by calendering is conveyed in the transport direction Y from between the pair of calender rolls 15 toward the winding machine 55, and is wound up by the winding machine 55.

[0058] Here, the pair of calender rolls 15 are designed so that they do not come into contact with the uncoated portion 112 of the precursor sheet 101, even when the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 is compressed in the vertical Z direction. Therefore, even when the precursor sheet 101 passes over the pair of calender rolls 15, the calender rolls 15 do not come into contact with the uncoated portion 112 of the precursor sheet 101.

[0059] On the other hand, since pressure is applied to the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 from the pair of calender rolls 15 in a direction that reduces the thickness of the coated portion 111, wrinkles may occur in the portion of the uncoated portion 112 closer to the coated portion 111 due to the pressure difference between it and the coated portion 111.

[0060] The uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 after calendering the precursor sheet 101 is used as tabs for the positive and negative electrodes in a later process for manufacturing a secondary battery. Therefore, since wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 affect the performance of the secondary battery, it is preferable that no wrinkles are formed in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102. The calendering apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 is equipped with a brushing mechanism 20 that can disperse wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102. Next, the operation of the brushing mechanism 20 will be described.

[0061] The brushing mechanism 20, positioned downstream of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100, brushes the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 being transported downstream from the calender roll 15 using a rotary brush 21, thereby dispersing wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112.

[0062] More specifically, the brushing mechanism 20 performs brushing by rotating the rotary brush 21 in a state where the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21 can come into contact with the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102. To this end, the brushing mechanism 20 adjusts the position of the rotary brush 21 in the vertical direction Z by operating the hydraulic cylinder 32, so that the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21 can come into contact with the uncoated portion 112. The adjustment of the position of the rotary brush 21 in the vertical direction Z is, for example, adjusted to a preset position according to the conditions for performing calendering on the precursor sheet 101 by a control device (not shown) that controls each part of the calendering device 10.

[0063] When brushing is performed by the brushing mechanism 20, the motor 33 rotates the rotary brush 21 so that the multiple brush rows 25 provided in the brushing cylinder 22 can contact the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102. By rotating the rotary brush 21 so that the brush rows 25 can contact the uncoated portion 112, the multiple brush rows 25 of the rotary brush 21 sequentially rub the uncoated portion 112, thereby brushing the uncoated portion 112.

[0064] In Embodiment 1, the brushing mechanism 20 circulates multiple brush rows 25, each having multiple brush members 25a, such that the direction in which the brush rows 25 brush the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 is from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100. As a result, in Embodiment 1, the brushing mechanism 20 brushes the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 from the inside to the outside in the width direction X.

[0065] In other words, in Embodiment 1, the rotary brush 21 is rotated in a direction such that the brush row 25 that contacts the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 moves from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102. The brushing mechanism 20 rotates the rotary brush 21 in this way and brushes the uncoated portion 112 with the multiple brush rows 25 of the rotary brush 21, thereby stretching and flattening the uncoated portion 112. As a result, the brushing mechanism 20 can disperse the wrinkles generated in the uncoated portion 112 by pressing the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 with the pair of calender rolls 15 by stretching the uncoated portion 112 with the rotary brush 21 located downstream of the calender rolls 15.

[0066] On the other hand, the multiple support rolls 40 positioned below the uncoated portion 112 and contacting the uncoated portion 112 from below rotate while in contact with the uncoated portion 112. That is, each of the multiple support rolls 40 contacts the uncoated portion 112 from below, and rotates in accordance with the movement of the uncoated portion 112 as it moves from upstream to downstream in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, thereby supporting the uncoated portion 112.

[0067] The brushing mechanism 20 supports the uncoated portion 112 from below with multiple support rolls 40, and brushes the uncoated portion 112 from above with the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21. This allows the support rolls 40 to prevent the uncoated portion 112 from moving downwards while the brushing is performed.

[0068] In other words, the multiple receiving rolls 40 are positioned in the same location as one of the multiple brush members 25a that make up the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21, in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. Therefore, when brushing the uncoated portion 112 with the brush row 25 formed by the multiple brush members 25a arranged in a line, each receiving roll 40 can prevent the uncoated portion 112 from moving downwards by the brush members 25a rubbing against the uncoated portion 112 from above. As a result, the brushing mechanism 20 can effectively stretch and flatten the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 with the rotary brush 21 having multiple brush rows 25 in which multiple brush members 25a are arranged in a line, and effectively disperse wrinkles.

[0069] The brushing mechanism 20 may be switched ON and OFF according to the operation of the operator operating the calendar device 10. When the brushing mechanism 20 is switched OFF, the motor 33 that rotates the rotary brush 21 stops, and the rod 32a of the hydraulic cylinder 32 retracts. As a result, the rotary brush 21 rises, and the brush row 25 arranged on the rotary brush 21 moves upward away from the uncoated portion 112, so that the brush row 25 is no longer rubbed against the uncoated portion 112 moving in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102.

[0070] The electrode sheet 102, whose uncoated portion 112 is stretched and wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 are smoothed out by brushing in the brushing mechanism 20, is transported downstream in the transport direction Y from the position of the brushing mechanism 20 and wound up by the winding machine 55. The electrode sheet 102 wound up by the winding machine 55 is sent to a later process in the secondary battery manufacturing process and used in the assembly of the secondary battery.

[0071] <Effects of Embodiment 1> In the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 1 described above, a brushing mechanism 20 having multiple brush rows 25, each consisting of multiple brush members 25a arranged in a single line, is arranged downstream of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. When calendering the coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100, the brushing mechanism 20 brushes the uncoated portion 112 with the brush rows 25 while rotating the multiple brush rows 25. As a result, even if wrinkles occur in the uncoated portion 112 due to pressure being applied to the coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 by the calender roll 15, the brushing mechanism 20 can stretch the uncoated portion 112 and disperse the wrinkles. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be suppressed.

[0072] Furthermore, since the brushing mechanism 20 brushes the uncoated portion 112 from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100, the uncoated portion 112 being brushed by the brushing mechanism 20 can be stretched from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100. This makes it possible to more reliably disperse wrinkles that have occurred in the uncoated portion 112 due to caraging the coated portion 111 of the strip-shaped sheet 100. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0073] Furthermore, the brushing mechanism 20 has a brushing cylinder 22 formed in a cylindrical shape, and the multiple brush rows 25 are arranged such that multiple brush members 25a are aligned in the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, and the multiple brush rows 25 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the brushing cylinder 22. Therefore, the brushing mechanism 20 can easily brush the uncoated portion 112 with multiple brush rows 25 that circumferentially rotate the brushing cylinder 22 by rotating the brushing cylinder 22 with a motor 33, which is a drive device for rotating the brushing cylinder 22. As a result, the uncoated portion 112 can be effectively stretched and wrinkles dispersed by brushing the uncoated portion 112 with multiple brush rows 25, each consisting of multiple brush members 25a arranged in a line. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0074] [Embodiment 2] The calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 2 has substantially the same configuration as the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 1, but is characterized by the inclusion of a nip mechanism 60. The other components are the same as those in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used.

[0075] Figure 7 is a schematic side view of the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 2. Figure 8 is a view taken along the EE arrow in Figure 7. In the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 2, similar to the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 1, the brushing mechanism 20 is arranged downstream of the calendering roll 15 in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0076] Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, nip mechanisms 60 are arranged on both the upstream and downstream sides of the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100, to sandwich the uncoated portion 112 in the thickness direction of the current collector 110. The nip mechanisms 60 arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y are each positioned in the vicinity of the brushing mechanism 20.

[0077] The nip mechanism 60 has a pair of nip rolls 61 positioned on both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100, which sandwich the uncoated portion 112 from both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100. The nip rolls 61 constituting the nip mechanism 60 are cylindrical roll members, and are positioned with their axial direction aligned with the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100. In addition, the length of the nip rolls 61 in the axial direction is approximately the same as the width of the uncoated portion 112 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0078] The nip mechanism 60 is formed by a pair of nip rolls 61, each forming a single nip mechanism 60. The pair of nip rolls 61 in the nip mechanism 60 are positioned on both sides of the uncoated portion 112 in the thickness direction of the strip sheet 100, and are positioned at the same location in the transport direction Y of the strip sheet 100. Furthermore, the pair of nip rolls 61 in the nip mechanism 60 are in contact with the uncoated portion 112 while applying pressure in the thickness direction. As a result, the nip mechanism 60 sandwiches the uncoated portion 112 of the strip sheet 100 from both sides in the thickness direction with the pair of nip rolls 61.

[0079] The nip mechanism 60 configured in this way is positioned on both sides of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the width direction X. That is, the nip mechanism 60 is positioned in the vicinity of each of the brushing mechanisms 20 that are positioned on both sides of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the width direction X.

[0080] In the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 2, the nip mechanism 60 is arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. Therefore, when brushing the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 with the brush row 25 of the brushing mechanism 20, the uncoated portion 112 can be brushed while being taut by the nip mechanism 60. As a result, when brushing the uncoated portion 112 with the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21, the area near the part of the uncoated portion 112 that is in contact with the brush row 25 is suppressed from bending during brushing. Consequently, the uncoated portion 112 can be effectively stretched and flattened by the rotary brush 21, and wrinkles can be effectively dispersed. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0081] Furthermore, the nip mechanism 60 does not necessarily have to be positioned on both the upstream and downstream sides of the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. The nip mechanism 60 only needs to be positioned on at least one of the upstream or downstream sides of the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. By positioning the nip mechanism 60 on at least one of the upstream or downstream sides of the brushing mechanism 20, the uncoated portion 112 can be stretched by the nip mechanism 60 and then brushed by the brushing mechanism 20. This suppresses bending of the uncoated portion 112 when brushing it with the brushing mechanism 20, effectively stretching the uncoated portion 112 and dispersing wrinkles, thereby more reliably suppressing wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102.

[0082] [Embodiment 3] The calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 3 has substantially the same configuration as the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 1, but is characterized by the inclusion of a press mechanism 65. The other components are the same as those in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used.

[0083] Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 3. Figure 10 is a view taken along the FF arrow in Figure 9. In the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 3, similar to the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 1, a brushing mechanism 20 is arranged downstream of the calendering roll 15 in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. Furthermore, in Embodiment 3, a press mechanism 65 is arranged upstream of the calendering roll 15 in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100 to press the uncoated portion 112 of the current collector 110 in the thickness direction.

[0084] The press mechanism 65 has a pair of press rolls 66 positioned on both sides of the strip-shaped sheet 100 in the thickness direction, which sandwich the uncoated portion 112 from both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100 and press the uncoated portion 112. The press rolls 66 constituting the press mechanism 65 are roll members formed in a cylindrical shape, and are positioned so that their axial direction is along the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100. In addition, the length of the press rolls 66 in the axial direction is approximately the same as the width of the uncoated portion 112 in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0085] The press mechanism 65 is formed by a pair of press rolls 66, each forming a single press mechanism 65. The pair of press rolls 66 in the press mechanism 65 are positioned on both sides of the uncoated portion 112 in the thickness direction of the strip sheet 100, and are positioned at the same location in the transport direction Y of the strip sheet 100. Furthermore, the pair of press rolls 66 in the press mechanism 65 are in contact with the uncoated portion 112, applying pressure in the thickness direction. As a result, the press mechanism 65 uses the pair of press rolls 66 to press the uncoated portion 112 in the thickness direction of the strip sheet 100 from both sides.

[0086] The press mechanism 65 configured in this way is positioned on both sides of the strip sheet 100 in the width direction X. That is, the press mechanism 65 is positioned on both sides of the strip sheet 100 in the width direction X, on the upstream side of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip sheet 100. The press mechanism 65 positioned on the upstream side of the calender roll 15 is positioned relatively close to the calender roll 15 on the upstream side of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip sheet 100.

[0087] In the calendering apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 3, since the press mechanism 65 is positioned upstream of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100, the uncoated portion 112 of the precursor sheet 101 can be pressed in the thickness direction by the press mechanism 65 before the calender roll 15 calenders the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101. Therefore, by pressing the uncoated portion 112 of the precursor sheet 101 with the press mechanism 65 before calendering the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101, the uncoated portion 112 can be made to a certain extent flat.

[0088] This makes it possible to prevent wrinkles from forming in the uncoated portion 112 even when the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 is calendered by the calender roll 15. Therefore, after calendering the coated portion 111 of the electrode sheet 102 with the calender roll 15, the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102, which is less prone to wrinkle formation, can be brushed with the brushing mechanism 20, thereby dispersing any slight wrinkles that may have formed in the uncoated portion 112. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0089] [Embodiment 4] The calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 4 has substantially the same configuration as the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 1, but is characterized in that the brushing mechanism 20 has a slide 45 instead of a receiving roll 40. The other configurations are the same as in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted and the same reference numerals are used.

[0090] Figure 11 is a schematic side view of the brushing mechanism 20 of the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 4. Figure 12 is a view taken along the arrow GG in Figure 11. The brushing mechanism 20 of the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 4 has a rotary brush 21 that rotates by a driving force from a motor 33, similar to Embodiment 1, and the rotary brush 21 has a plurality of brush rows 25 in which a plurality of brush members 25a are arranged in a line. Similar to Embodiment 1, the rotary brush 21 is positioned above the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102, at a position where the brush rows 25 can contact the uncoated portion 112.

[0091] Furthermore, in the brushing mechanism 20 of the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 4, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, a slide 45 is used as a member to support the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 from below. The slide 45 is a platform-shaped member with a flat surface that contacts the underside of the uncoated portion 112, and is positioned on the lower frame 30b of the frame 30. Unlike the receiving roll 40 in Embodiment 1 (see Figures 3 and 4), the slide 45 supports the uncoated portion 112 by sliding against it without rotating. For this reason, it is preferable that the surface of the slide 45 that contacts the uncoated portion 112 is formed with a low coefficient of friction, for example, by plating.

[0092] In the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 4, the brushing mechanism 20 is used to brush the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 downstream of the calender roll 15 in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100. At that time, in the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 4, the brushing is performed while supporting the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 from below with a slide 45. Therefore, in the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 4, the portion of the uncoated portion 112 to be brushed can be supported with a simple configuration. As a result, the manufacturing cost when dispersing wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 by brushing with the brushing mechanism 20 can be reduced.

[0093] [Embodiment 5] The calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 5 has substantially the same configuration as the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 1, but is characterized in that the brush row 25 of the brushing mechanism 20 is arranged on an endlessly formed belt 28. The other configurations are the same as in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted and the same reference numerals are used.

[0094] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the brushing mechanism 20 of the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 5, viewed in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. As shown in Figure 13, the brushing mechanism 20 of the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 5 includes a drive roll 26, a driven roll 27, a belt 28, and a roll support member 29. The drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27 are each cylindrical roll members, with the drive roll 26 having a larger diameter than the driven roll 27. These drive roll 26 and driven roll 27 are arranged so that their axial direction is in line with the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100, and therefore the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27 are arranged parallel to each other.

[0095] The belt 28 is formed in an endless shape and is wrapped around both the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27. Therefore, the belt 28 is wrapped around the space between the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27.

[0096] The roll support member 29 supports the shaft portions of both the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27. In other words, both the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27 have shaft portions that protrude axially on both sides in the axial direction, and the roll support member 29 supports the shaft portions of both the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27. As a result, the roll support member 29 can rotatably support both the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27 while maintaining a predetermined distance between the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27, which are arranged parallel to each other.

[0097] Furthermore, a motor 33, as shown in Figure 3, is connected to the drive roll 26. This allows the drive roll 26 to rotate using the driving force transmitted from the motor 33. Also, a belt 28 is wrapped between the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27, so when the drive roll 26 rotates, the belt 28 circulates between the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27. For this reason, in Embodiment 5, the motor 33 (see Figure 3) that rotates the drive roll 26 also functions as a drive device that circulates the belt 28.

[0098] The brushing mechanism 20 has multiple rows of brushes 25 which are arranged on the belt 28. The rows of brushes 25 are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the belt 28 and are positioned upright on the belt 28 so as to protrude outward from the belt 28 in the thickness direction of the belt 28.

[0099] In this embodiment 5, where the brush row 25 is arranged on the belt 28, a slide 45 is used as a member to support the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 from below, similar to embodiment 4.

[0100] In the calendering apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 5, the electrode sheet 102 is manufactured from the precursor sheet 101 by calendering the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 with the calendering roll 15. Also in Embodiment 5, the uncoated portion 112 of the strip-shaped sheet 100 is brushed by the brushing mechanism 20 downstream of the calendering roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0101] In the brushing mechanism 20 of Embodiment 5, the multiple brush rows 25 are arranged on a belt 28 that is wrapped around a drive roll 26 and a driven roll 27. Therefore, when brushing is performed by the brushing mechanism 20, the belt 28 is made to circulate by rotating the drive roll 26. The direction in which the belt 28 circulates is, for example, such that the direction in which the brush row 25 that contacts the uncoated portion 112 brushes the uncoated portion 112 is from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the strip-shaped sheet 100.

[0102] As a result, in Embodiment 5 as well, the electrode sheet 102 can be stretched by brushing with the brush row 25, and even if wrinkles occur in the uncoated portion 112 due to calendering of the coated portion 111 by the calender roll 15, the uncoated portion 112 can be flattened and the wrinkles can be dispersed.

[0103] In the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 5, the brush rows 25 are arranged on an endlessly formed belt 28. Therefore, while providing multiple brush rows 25 for brushing the uncoated portion 112, the shape of the brushing mechanism 20 can be made suitable for the position where the brushing mechanism 20 is placed. For example, if it is desired to reduce the size of the brushing mechanism 20 in the vertical Z direction or to reduce the size of the brushing mechanism 20 in the width X direction of the strip-shaped sheet 100, the shape of the brushing mechanism 20 can be made into a desired shape by adjusting the size and placement of the drive roll 26 and the driven roll 27. Thus, the brushing mechanism 20 can be placed regardless of the shape of the area surrounding the position where the brushing mechanism 20 is placed, and wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 can be more reliably dispersed by brushing with the brushing mechanism 20. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0104] [Embodiment 6] The calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 6 has substantially the same configuration as the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 1, but is characterized by the inclusion of a detection device 70 for detecting the presence or absence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112. The other configurations are the same as in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted and the same reference numerals are used.

[0105] Figure 14 is a schematic side view of the calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 6. The calendering device 10 according to Embodiment 6 is equipped with a detection device 70 that detects the presence or absence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102. The detection device 70 is connected to a control device 75 that controls the operation of each part of the calendering device 10, and the control device 75 also controls the operation of the brushing mechanism 20. The control device 75 that controls the brushing mechanism 20 switches the operation of the brushing mechanism 20 depending on whether or not wrinkles are detected in the uncoated portion 112 by the detection device 70.

[0106] The detection device 70 is, for example, a camera that photographs the subject and converts it into image data. The detection device 70 is positioned downstream of the calender roll 15 and upstream of the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. In other words, the detection device 70 is positioned between the calender roll 15 and the brushing mechanism 20 in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. Based on the detection result from the detection device 70, i.e., the image data captured by the detection device 70, the control device 75 does not operate the brushing mechanism 20 if no wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated portion 112, and operates the brushing mechanism 20 if wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated portion 112.

[0107] In the calendering apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 6 configured as described above, when manufacturing the electrode sheet 102 by calendering the coated portion 111 of the precursor sheet 101 with the calendering roll 15, the detection device 70 is used to photograph the portion of the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 between the calendering roll 15 and the brushing mechanism 20.

[0108] The detection device 70 transmits image data of the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102, captured by the detection device 70, to the control device 75. The control device 75 determines, based on the image data sent from the detection device 70, whether or not wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated portion 112. If the control device 75 determines, based on the image data sent from the detection device 70, that no wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102, it does not operate the brushing mechanism 20 and does not allow the brushing mechanism 20 to perform brushing.

[0109] For example, if the control device 75 determines that no wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated area 112, it controls the hydraulic cylinder 32 (see Figures 3 and 4) of the brushing mechanism 20 to separate the rotary brush 21 from the uncoated area 112 and stops the motor 33, thereby stopping the rotation of the rotary brush 21. As a result, the control device 75 stops brushing the uncoated area 112 with the brushing mechanism 20.

[0110] In response to this, if the control device 75 determines, based on the image data sent from the detection device 70 to the control device 75, that wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102, it activates the brushing mechanism 20. That is, when the detection device 70 detects wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102, the control device 75 activates the brushing mechanism 20 to brush the uncoated portion 112.

[0111] For example, if the control device 75 determines that wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated area 112, it controls the hydraulic cylinder 32 of the brushing mechanism 20 to bring the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21 into contact with the uncoated area 112 and drives the motor 33. As a result, the control device 75 rotates the rotary brush 21 with the brush row 25 in contact with the uncoated area 112, causing the brushing mechanism 20 to brush the uncoated area 112.

[0112] In the calendar device 10 according to Embodiment 6, a detection device 70 is provided to detect the presence or absence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112. The control device 75 switches the operation of the brushing mechanism 20 according to whether or not wrinkles are detected in the uncoated portion 112 by the detection device 70, thereby preventing the brushing mechanism 20 from brushing the uncoated portion 112 more than necessary. In other words, since the current collector 110 (see Figure 4) that forms the uncoated portion 112 is very thin, there is a possibility that the uncoated portion 112 of the current collector 110 may be damaged, such as being torn, when brushed by the brushing mechanism 20. For this reason, brushing is not performed when there are no wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112, and brushing is performed by the brushing mechanism 20 only when wrinkles are present in the uncoated portion 112. This suppresses damage to the uncoated portion 112, while allowing the brushing mechanism 20 to disperse wrinkles when they occur in the uncoated portion 112. As a result, it is possible to suppress wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 while suppressing damage to the electrode sheet 102.

[0113] [Differentiation] In the embodiments 1 to 4 and 5 described above, the multiple brush rows 25 of the brushing mechanism 20 are arranged in a direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, but the brush rows 25 may be arranged in a direction other than along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22.

[0114] Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of embodiments 1 to 4 and 5, in which the brush rows 25 are arranged inclined with respect to the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 15 at HH. Figure 15 is a plan view of the brushing mechanism 20 as seen from above in the vertical direction Z. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the brushing mechanism 20 as seen from the upstream side in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, where the electrode sheet 102 is transported from the front to the back of the paper. The multiple brush rows 25 of the rotary brush 21 of the brushing mechanism 20, which are arranged in the circumferential direction of the brushing cylinder 22, may be arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, as shown in Figure 15.

[0115] Thus, when the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 are arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, it is preferable that the direction of brushing by the brush row 25 is inclined so that it is from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102, and from the downstream side to the upstream side in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. In other words, it is preferable that the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 are arranged in an inclined direction such that, of the ends on both sides of the brush row 25 in the transport direction Y, the front end in the rotation direction of the rotary brush 21 is located on the downstream side in the transport direction Y, and the rear end in the rotation direction of the rotary brush 21 is located on the upstream side in the transport direction Y.

[0116] More specifically, in the configurations shown in Figures 15 and 16, the rotating brush 21 rotates in a direction from the inside to the outside in the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102, with the portion of the brush row 25 that contacts the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 rotating. With respect to the rotating brush 21 that rotates in this manner, it is preferable that, when the rotating brush 21 is viewed from above as shown in Figure 15, the brush members 25a of the uppermost brush row 25 are arranged in a direction that is inclined from the outside to the inside in the width direction X as the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102 moves from the upstream to the downstream.

[0117] By arranging the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 in a direction inclined in the circumferential direction of the brushing cylinder 22 with respect to the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, the direction of brushing by the brushing mechanism 20 on the uncoated portion 112 can be made inclined with respect to the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102. As a result, the uncoated portion 112 can be stretched by brushing not only in the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102 but also in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, so that wrinkles generated in the uncoated portion 112 can be dispersed more reliably. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0118] Furthermore, by arranging the direction in which the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 are aligned such that the front end of the brush row 25 in the direction of rotation of the rotary brush 21 is located downstream in the transport direction Y, and the rear end of the brush row 25 in the direction of rotation of the rotary brush 21 is located upstream in the transport direction Y, the direction of brushing by the brush row 25 can be made to move from downstream to upstream in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. As a result, the uncoated portion 112 that is brushed by the brush row 25 can be stretched in a direction opposite to the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, so that wrinkles generated in the uncoated portion 112 can be more reliably dispersed. As a result, wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0119] Furthermore, when arranging the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 in a direction inclined in the circumferential direction of the brushing cylinder 22 with respect to the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, the direction of inclination may be opposite to the direction shown in Figures 15 and 16. In other words, the direction in which the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 are arranged may be such that the front end of the brush row 25 in the rotational direction of the rotary brush 21 is located on the upstream side in the conveying direction Y, and the rear end of the brush row 25 in the rotational direction of the rotary brush 21 is located on the downstream side in the conveying direction Y, with respect to the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22. The multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 are arranged in a direction that is inclined circumferentially with respect to the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder 22, regardless of the direction of inclination. This allows the brushing direction of the brush row 25 to be not only in the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102 but also in the transport direction Y. As a result, the uncoated portion 112 can be stretched by brushing, and wrinkles that have formed in the uncoated portion 112 can be dispersed.

[0120] Furthermore, the direction in which the brush row 25 of the rotary brush 21 brushes the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 may be different from the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102. The direction in which the brush row 25 brushes the uncoated portion 112 may be, for example, the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, or an oblique direction that intersects both the width direction X and the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. In other words, the brushing mechanism 20 may be arranged such that the rotation axis of the rotary brush 21 in embodiments 1 to 4 and 6, or the rotation axis of the drive roll 26 and driven roll 27 in embodiment 5, are aligned with the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102, or they may be arranged in an oblique direction that intersects both the transport direction Y and the width direction X.

[0121] Furthermore, when arranging the rotation axis of the rotary brush 21 in embodiments 1 to 4 and 6, or the rotation axis of the drive roll 26 and driven roll 27 in embodiment 5, in a direction along the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102, it is preferable to arrange multiple brushing mechanisms 20 in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, and to offset the brush members 25a of the brush row 25 in the width direction X among the brushing mechanisms 20 aligned in the transport direction Y. In other words, since the multiple brush members 25a of the brush row 25 are spaced apart from each other, when multiple brush members 25a are arranged in the width direction X, the parts between adjacent brush members 25a cannot be brushed on the uncoated portion 112. Therefore, when arranging the rotation axis of the rotary brush 21 and the rotation axes of the drive roll 26 and driven roll 27 in a direction along the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102, it is preferable to arrange multiple brushing mechanisms 20 in the transport direction Y, and to offset the brush members 25a of the brush row 25 in the width direction X among the brushing mechanisms 20 arranged in the transport direction Y. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of areas in the width direction X where brushing cannot be performed by the brush members 25a, and to disperse wrinkles in the uncoated area 112 by brushing.

[0122] Furthermore, although a camera is used for the detection device 70 in the above-described embodiment 6, the detection device 70 may be something other than a camera. For example, the detection device 70 may be an optical detection device 70. In other words, the detection device 70 may detect the presence or absence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 by irradiating a laser beam toward the uncoated portion 112 and measuring the distance to the uncoated portion 112 based on the laser beam reflected by the uncoated portion 112. The means and configuration of the detection device 70 are not limited as long as it can accurately detect whether or not wrinkles have occurred in the uncoated portion 112.

[0123] Furthermore, in embodiments 1 to 6 described above, the calendering device 10 has a feeder 50 and a winder 55, but the calendering device 10 does not have to have a feeder 50 or a winder 55. The calendering device 10 does not have to have a feeder 50 or a winder 55 if the manufacturing process of the electrode sheet 102 including the calendering device 10 is such that the precursor sheet 101 coated with the active material and the electrode sheet 102 that has undergone calendering of the coated portion 111 are not wound up once, but the strip-shaped sheet 100 is continuously conveyed during manufacturing.

[0124] Furthermore, in embodiments 1 to 6 described above, the brushing mechanisms 20 are arranged one on each side in the width direction X of the electrode sheet 102, downstream of the calender roll 15 in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. However, multiple brushing mechanisms 20 may be arranged side by side in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102. By arranging multiple brushing mechanisms 20 side by side in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, the uncoated portion 112 extending in the transport direction Y can be brushed by multiple brushing mechanisms 20. This allows the uncoated portion 112 to be effectively stretched and flattened by multiple brushing mechanisms 20, and wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0125] Furthermore, in embodiments 1 to 3 and 6 described above, the rotating brush 21 of the brushing mechanism 20 is positioned on the upper side of the uncoated portion 112 and the receiving roll 40 is positioned on the lower side of the uncoated portion 112. However, in the brushing mechanism 20, the rotating brush 21 may be positioned on the lower side of the uncoated portion 112 and the receiving roll 40 may be positioned on the upper side of the uncoated portion 112. Similarly, in embodiments 4 and 5, the rotating brush 21 and the belt 28 on which the brush row 25 is arranged are positioned on the upper side of the uncoated portion 112 and the slide 45 is positioned on the lower side of the uncoated portion 112. However, in the brushing mechanism 20, the rotating brush 21 and the belt 28 on which the brush row 25 is arranged are positioned on the lower side of the uncoated portion 112 and the slide 45 may be positioned on the upper side of the uncoated portion 112.

[0126] Furthermore, if multiple brushing mechanisms 20 are arranged in the transport direction Y of the electrode sheet 102, the rotary brushes 21 may be alternately arranged on the upper and lower sides of the uncoated portion 112, and the upper and lower positions of the rotary brushes 21 and receiving rolls 40, which are arranged on both sides of the uncoated portion 112, may be different for each brushing mechanism 20.

[0127] Furthermore, the embodiments 1 to 6 and their variations described above may be combined as appropriate. Regardless of the configuration of the calendering device 10 and the brushing mechanism 20, by arranging the brushing mechanism 20 downstream of the calendering roll 15 in the conveying direction Y of the strip-shaped sheet 100 and brushing the uncoated portion 112 with the brushing mechanism 20, the uncoated portion 112 can be stretched and wrinkles dispersed, thereby suppressing wrinkles in the uncoated portion 112 of the electrode sheet 102. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0128] 10 Calendar device 15 Calendar Roll 20 Brushing mechanism 21 Rotary Brushes 22 Brushing tube 23 Side panel 24 Mounting plate 25 brush rows 25a Brush member 26 Drive Rolls 27 Driven Roll 28 belts 29 Roll support member 30 frames 31 Support member 32 Hydraulic Cylinders 33 Motor 34 Connecting shaft 40 Receiving Roll 45 slides 50 feeding machine 55 Winding machine 60 Nip mechanism 61 Nip Roll 65 Press mechanism 66 Press Roll 70 Detection device 75 Control device 100 strip-shaped sheets 101 Precursor Sheet 102 Electrode Sheet 110 Current collector 111 Coating Section 112 Uncoated parts

Claims

1. A strip-shaped current collector has coated portions on both sides of the coated portion and uncoated portions located on both sides of the coated portion in the width direction of the current collector, and a pair of calender rolls are positioned on both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet that is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the strip and apply pressure to the coated portion. A brushing mechanism is positioned downstream of the calender roll in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped sheet and has multiple brush rows in which multiple brush members are arranged in a line, A support member that supports the uncoated portion, Equipped with, The brushing mechanism comprises a rotary brush having a brushing cylinder formed in a cylindrical shape and to which the brush row is attached, and a drive device for rotating the rotary brush. The brushing cylinder has a pair of circular side plates and a plurality of mounting plates arranged between the pair of side plates, The brush rows are arranged in a line around the brushing cylinder by mounting the mounting plate with multiple brush members spaced apart from each other, so that multiple brush rows are arranged in a line around the brushing cylinder. The brushing mechanism rotates the rotary brush, causing multiple rows of brushes to circulate, and brushes the uncoated portion of the strip-shaped sheet from the inside to the outside in the width direction with the rows of brushes. The calendar device is characterized in that the support member is a receiving roll formed in a cylindrical shape and arranged so that its axial direction is in line with the width direction of the strip-shaped sheet, and is positioned on the opposite side of the portion where the rotating brush is located, across the uncoated portion, and in contact with the uncoated portion.

2. A strip-shaped current collector has coated portions on both sides of the coated portion and uncoated portions located on both sides of the coated portion in the width direction of the current collector, and a pair of calender rolls are positioned on both sides in the thickness direction of the strip-shaped sheet that is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the strip and apply pressure to the coated portion. A brushing mechanism is positioned downstream of the calender roll in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped sheet and has multiple brush rows in which multiple brush members are arranged in a line, A support member that supports the uncoated portion, Equipped with, The brushing mechanism comprises a rotary brush having a brushing cylinder formed in a cylindrical shape and to which the brush row is attached, and a drive device for rotating the rotary brush. The brushing cylinder has a pair of circular side plates and a plurality of mounting plates arranged between the pair of side plates, The brush rows are arranged in a line around the brushing cylinder by mounting the mounting plate with multiple brush members spaced apart from each other, so that multiple brush rows are arranged in a line around the brushing cylinder. The brushing mechanism rotates the rotary brush, causing multiple rows of brushes to circulate, and brushes the uncoated portion of the strip-shaped sheet from the inside to the outside in the width direction with the rows of brushes. The calendar device is characterized in that the support member is a slide with a flat surface that contacts the uncoated portion, and is positioned on the opposite side of the portion where the rotating brush is arranged, across the uncoated portion, and in contact with the uncoated portion.

3. The mounting plate is arranged in a direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder. The calendar device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotating brush is arranged in a direction such that the axis of rotation of the rotating brush is in an oblique direction that intersects both the conveying direction and the width direction of the strip-shaped sheet.

4. The calendar device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting plate is arranged in a direction that is inclined in the circumferential direction of the brushing cylinder with respect to the direction along the axial direction of the brushing cylinder.

5. The calendering device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a nip mechanism positioned at least on either the upstream or downstream side of the brushing mechanism in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped sheet, which sandwiches the uncoated portion in the thickness direction of the current collector.

6. The calendering device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a press mechanism positioned upstream of the calender roll in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped sheet, which presses the uncoated portion in the thickness direction of the current collector.

7. A detection device for detecting the presence or absence of wrinkles in the uncoated portion, A control device that switches the operation of the brushing mechanism according to whether or not wrinkles are detected in the uncoated portion by the detection device, A calendar device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

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