Electrode plate manufacturing device and electrode plate manufacturing method
The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus addresses wrinkles and damage by applying tape with a gap on both sides of the active material, using press rollers to equalize elongation and facilitate easy tape removal, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and product integrity.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHIBAURA MASCH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
The use of peelable tapes in electrode manufacturing for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries can lead to wrinkles and damage to the active material due to differences in elongation between coated and uncoated areas, as well as potential peeling or cracking during tape removal.
An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus and method that applies a tape on both sides of the active material with a predetermined gap, using press rollers to minimize elongation differences and prevent adhesion, and employs UV light or heat to facilitate easy tape removal.
Suppresses wrinkles and prevents damage to the active material by maintaining equal elongation and reducing strain, while ensuring easy tape peeling without adhesive residue.
Smart Images
Figure JP2025035268_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Electrode Plate Manufacturing Apparatus and Electrode Plate Manufacturing Method
[0001] The present invention relates to an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus and an electrode plate manufacturing method.
[0002] In JP2005-216722A, there are steps of attaching a peelable tape having an adhesive layer on a substrate, forming a active material layer containing an active material and a binder on a current collector excluding the peelable tape portion by stripe coating, pressing the current collector and the peelable tape and the active material layer formed in stripes on the current collector, and peeling the peelable tape in the longitudinal direction in this order, and a method for manufacturing an electrode plate for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery for forming a striped non-coated portion on the current collector is disclosed.
[0003] In the above manufacturing method, since the peelable tape is used as a masking tape when applying the active material to the base material, a portion where the active material is applied overlapping the peelable tape occurs. Therefore, when the base material is pressed, a difference in the extension in the conveyance direction of the base material occurs between the portion where the masking tape and the active material overlap and the portion where they do not overlap, and wrinkles may occur in the base material. In addition, since the tape and the active material applied to the base material are in close contact, there is a risk that the active material may peel off or scratches and cracks may occur during tape peeling.
[0004] The present invention is made in view of the above technical problems, and aims to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material and prevent damage to the active material applied to the base material.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus that presses a long base material coated with an active material while conveying it to form an electrode plate, the apparatus including a tape attaching portion that attaches a long tape along the longitudinal direction of the base material to the base material, a pressing portion that presses the base material to which the tape is attached with a pair of pressing rollers, and a tape peeling portion that peels the tape from the base material, wherein the tape attaching portion attaches the tape to the base material at positions on both sides of the active material so that a predetermined gap is formed between the active material and the tape in the width direction of the base material.
[0006] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode plate by conveying and pressing a long substrate coated with an active material, the apparatus comprising a press section for pressing the substrate with a pair of press rollers, wherein a pair of tapes are attached around the entire circumference of the press roller that contacts the surface of the substrate coated with the active material, with a predetermined gap between the active material and the press roller in the width direction of the substrate.
[0007] Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is an electrode plate manufacturing method for forming an electrode plate by conveying and pressing a long substrate coated with an active material, comprising: a tape application step of applying a long tape to the substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a pressing step of pressing the substrate with the tape applied to it using a pair of press rollers; and a tape peeling step of peeling the tape from the substrate, wherein in the tape application step, the tape is applied to the substrate at positions on both sides of the active material such that a predetermined gap is formed between the active material and the tape in the width direction of the substrate.
[0008] Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is an electrode plate manufacturing method for forming an electrode plate by pressing a long substrate coated with an active material while conveying it, the method comprising a pressing step of pressing the substrate with a pair of press rollers, wherein in the pressing step, a pair of tapes attached to the entire circumference of the press roller that contacts the surface of the substrate coated with the active material are brought into contact with the substrate on both sides of the active material with the substrate in the width direction of the substrate, leaving a predetermined gap between the tapes and the active material.
[0009] According to these embodiments, since the tape is placed on both sides of the active material, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the substrate coated with the active material and the portion that is not coated can be reduced when the substrate is pressed. In addition, since a predetermined gap is formed between the active material and the tape, excessive strain on the substrate at the boundary between the active material and the tape can be suppressed. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the tape and the active material coated on the substrate do not adhere closely together, damage to the active material coated on the substrate can be prevented.
[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a view of the substrate from arrow II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating how the substrate is pressed by the press unit of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the active material is coated on both sides of the substrate. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example of the active material coating pattern. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the active material is coated on both sides of the substrate in the first modified example of the active material coating pattern. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example of the active material coating pattern. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a third modified example of the active material coating pattern. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the press unit of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating how the substrate is pressed by the press unit of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0011] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100. Figure 2 is a view of the substrate 201 from arrow II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2.
[0013] The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 is a device that forms an electrode plate 200 by pressing a long substrate 201 coated with an active material 202 while transporting it.
[0014] The base material 201 is formed from a metal foil. Examples of metals that make up the base material 201 include aluminum and copper. The thickness of the metal foil is, for example, about 10 [μm].
[0015] The active material 202 is composed of a mixture of materials such as conductive materials like lithium oxide and graphite, a binder, and a conductive additive.
[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a feed roller 101 that feeds out a long substrate 201 in the transport direction, a coating unit 102 which is a coating section that coats the substrate 201 fed out from the feed roller 101 with an active material 202, a tape application unit 103 which is a tape application section that applies a long tape 203 to the substrate 201 along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 201, a press unit 104 which is a press section that presses the substrate 201 with the tape 203 applied to it with a pair of press rollers 104a and 104b, a UV (ultraviolet) lamp unit 105 which is an ultraviolet light irradiation section that irradiates the tape 203 with ultraviolet light, a tape peeling unit 106 which is a tape peeling section that peels the tape 203 from the substrate 201, and a winding roller 107 which winds up the substrate 201 (electrode plate 200).
[0017] The feed roller 101 holds the base material 201 in a roll shape. The feed roller 101 works in conjunction with the winding roller 107 to feed out the long base material 201 in the conveying direction.
[0018] The coating unit 102 coats the active material 202 onto one surface of the substrate 201.
[0019] In this embodiment, the active material 202 is coated in a predetermined area in the central part of the substrate 201 in the width direction, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
[0020] The tape application unit 103 includes a tape dispensing roller 103a for dispensing a long tape 203, and a pair of tape application rollers 103b and 103c for bonding the tape 203 dispensed from the tape dispensing roller 103a to the base material 201.
[0021] The tape 203, which is dispensed from the tape dispensing roller 103a, is placed on the surface of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202, and is inserted between the tape application roller 103b and the tape application roller 103c to be bonded to the base material 201.
[0022] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tape 203 is attached to the base material 201 at positions on both sides of the active material 202 in the width direction of the base material 201. In other words, the tape application unit 103 of this embodiment is configured to attach two long tapes 203 to the base material 201 with the active material 202 in between. The tape 203 is attached to the base material 201 such that a predetermined gap G is formed between it and the active material 202. Also, as shown in Figure 3, the thickness of the tape 203 is the same as the thickness of the active material 202 coated on the base material 201.
[0023] The press unit 104 presses the base material 201, to which the active material 202 and two tapes 203 are attached, with a pair of press rollers 104a and 104b.
[0024] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the process of pressing the base material 201 with the press unit 104. In Figure 4, the shapes of the active material 202 and tape 203 before pressing are shown by dashed lines.
[0025] As shown in Figure 4, when the base material 201 on which the active material 202 and tape 203 are arranged is pressed by a pair of press rollers 104a and 104b while being transported in the transport direction, the active material 202 and tape 203 are compressed in the press direction and stretched in the width direction. The base material 201 also stretches in the transport direction.
[0026] If tape 203 is not provided on the base material 201, a difference in the elongation of the base material 201 in the transport direction may occur between the portion coated with the active material 202 and the portion not coated with the active material 202, which may cause wrinkles to form on the base material 201.
[0027] In contrast, in this embodiment, by arranging the tapes 203 on both sides of the active material 202, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the portion to which the tapes 203 are attached is reduced.
[0028] If the active material 202 and the tape 203 are compressed to the same extent, the elongation of the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the elongation of the portion of the base material 201 to which the tape 203 is attached will also be approximately the same. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, it is preferable that the thickness of the tape 203 and the thickness of the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 are equal. Note that the thickness of the tape 203 and the thickness of the base material 201 should be the same thickness (height) when pressed. Therefore, the respective thicknesses before pressing are set so that their respective thicknesses are the same when pressed.
[0029] The thickness of the tape 203 and the thickness of the active material 202 may be different during pressing. By providing the tape 203 on the base material 201, the difference in elongation between the coated portion and the uncoated portion of the base material 201 can be reduced compared to when the tape 203 is not provided. In other words, it can be said that the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 can be suppressed.
[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the tape 203 is attached to the base material 201 such that a predetermined gap G is formed between it and the active material 202. The predetermined gap G is set to be larger than the sum of the length that the active material 202 extends toward the tape 203 when the base material 201 is pressed and the length that the tape 203 extends toward the active material 202.
[0031] If the tape 203 and the active material 202 are arranged on the base material 201 without any gaps, when the base material 201 is pressed, there is no space for the active material 202 and the tape 203 to stretch in the width direction at the boundary between the active material 202 and the tape 203, which may cause excessive distortion and wrinkles in the base material 201. In addition, if the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 are in close contact, the active material 202 may peel off or be damaged or cracked when the tape 203 is removed.
[0032] In this embodiment, the predetermined gap G formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203 becomes the space in which the active material 202 and the tape 203 extend in the width direction. Therefore, excessive strain on the base material 201 can be suppressed. Thus, wrinkles on the base material 201 can be suppressed. In addition, since the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 do not adhere to each other, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or being scratched or cracked when the tape 203 is peeled off.
[0033] A pair of press rollers 104a and 104b are equipped with a heat source inside. Therefore, the active material 202 provided on the base material 201 can be heated while pressing. Since the active material 202 softens as the temperature rises, heating it can increase the compression ratio by pressing. In other words, the density of the active material 202 can be increased. The heat source can be, for example, high-temperature oil circulating through channels provided on the rotating shafts 104c and 104d. The tape 203 is an easy-peel tape. The base material of the tape 203 can be polyethylene, polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, polyamide, polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc., and it is preferable that it has heat resistance. The adhesive can be an acrylic adhesive, a silicone adhesive, a urethane adhesive, etc.
[0034] The UV lamp unit 105 is installed between the press unit 104 and the tape peeling unit 106, and irradiates the tape 203 with ultraviolet light. "Installed in between" refers to the order of the processes. In other words, the ultraviolet light irradiation process by the UV lamp unit 105 only needs to be performed after the pressing process by the press unit 104 and before the tape peeling process by the tape peeling unit 106.
[0035] The adhesive of tape 203 is an adhesive whose adhesive strength decreases when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Therefore, by irradiating tape 203 with ultraviolet light using the UV lamp unit 105, tape 203 can be easily peeled off from the substrate 201 using the tape peeling unit 106.
[0036] The adhesive of the tape 203 may be an adhesive whose adhesive strength decreases with heat. In this case, a dryer unit is provided instead of the UV lamp unit 105. The temperature at which the adhesive strength of the adhesive decreases is set to a temperature at which the adhesive strength does not decrease due to the heat applied when pressed by the pair of press rollers 104a and 104b.
[0037] Furthermore, the adhesive of tape 203 may be a low-tack adhesive. In this case, a device (process) to reduce the tackiness of the adhesive is unnecessary.
[0038] The tape peeling unit 106 includes a tape winding roller 106a for winding the tape 203, and a pair of tape peeling rollers 106b and 106c for changing the feeding direction of the tape 203.
[0039] The tape winding roller 106a is configured to wind the tape 203, which has passed through the pair of tape peeling rollers 106b and 106c, in a direction away from the base material 201 (upward in this embodiment). This changes the direction of travel of the tape 203 to a direction different from the transport direction of the base material 201. Since the base material 201 continues to be transported in the transport direction, the tape 203 can be peeled off from the base material 201.
[0040] The winding roller 107 winds the base material 201, i.e., the electrode plate 200, after the tape 203 has been peeled off, into a roll shape.
[0041] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the case where the active material 202 is coated on both sides of the substrate 201. Figure 5 shows a cross-section corresponding to the III-III section in Figure 2.
[0042] As shown in Figure 5, the active material 202 may be provided on both sides of the base material 201. In this case, the tape 203 is also provided on both sides of the base material 201. A predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203. This prevents wrinkles from forming on the base material 201 when pressed, even when the active material 202 is provided on both sides of the base material 201. It also prevents the active material 202 from peeling off or being damaged or cracked when the tape 203 is peeled off.
[0043] When providing the active material 202 on both sides of the base material 201, for example, it is conceivable to arrange the active material 202 and the tape 203 on one surface of the base material 201, invert the base material 201, and arrange the active material 202 and the tape 203 on the other surface, and then press the base material 201.
[0044] Also, coating units 102, tape sticking units 103, UV lamp units 105, and tape peeling units 106 are provided on both the one surface side and the other surface side of the base material 201, and it is conceivable to perform the processing of each step on the one surface and the other surface of the base material 201 simultaneously.
[0045] Further, all the processing from the coating of the active material 202 to the peeling of the tape 203 is performed on one surface of the base material 201 and wound up by the winding roller 107. Then, the base material 201 is fed out again from the feeding roller 101, and all the processing from the coating of the active material 202 to the peeling of the tape 203 is performed on the other surface.
[0046] Note that the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a coating section (coating unit 102) for coating the active material 202 on the base material 201. However, the base material 201 provided with the active material 202 in advance may be fed out from the feeding roller 101. That is, it is not essential for the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 to include a coating section.
[0047] Also, in the present embodiment, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a tape sticking unit 103 for sticking the long tape 203 on the base material 201. However, the base material 201 provided with the tape 203 in advance may be fed out from the feeding roller 101. That is, it is not essential for the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 to include a tape sticking unit 103.
[0048] Also, in the present embodiment, the active material 202 is coated on the base material 201 and then the tape 203 is stuck. However, the tape 203 may be stuck on the base material 201 and then the active material 202 may be coated.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a first modification example of the coating pattern of the active material 202. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the VII-VII line of FIG. 6.
[0050] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, multiple rows of the active material 202 may be provided on the base material 201. In this example, two rows of the active material 202 are provided on the base material 201. Therefore, a total of three tapes 203 are provided, positioned on both sides of each active material 202.
[0051] In the example in Figure 6, the middle tape 203 of the three tapes 203 constitutes one of the pair of tapes 203 located on either side of the left active material 202, and also constitutes one of the pair of tapes 203 located on either side of the right active material 202 in Figure 6.
[0052] In the example shown in Figure 6, a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203. Therefore, even when multiple rows of active material 202 are provided on the base material 201, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 when pressed. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or from being scratched or cracked when the tape 203 is peeled off.
[0053] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first modification of the coating pattern of the active material 202, in which the active material 202 is coated on both sides of the substrate 201. Figure 8 shows a cross-section corresponding to the VII-VII section in Figure 6.
[0054] As shown in Figure 8, multiple rows of active material 202 may be provided on both sides of the base material 201. In this example, two rows of active material 202 are provided on both sides of the base material 201. Therefore, a total of six tapes 203 are provided so as to be located on both sides of each active material 202 on one side and on both sides of each active material 202 on the other side. A predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tapes 203. Thus, even when multiple rows of active material 202 are provided on both sides of the base material 201, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 when pressed. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or being scratched or cracked when the tapes 203 are peeled off.
[0055] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example of the coating pattern of the active material 202.
[0056] As shown in Figure 9, the active material 202 may be repeatedly coated in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 201 at predetermined lengths and intervals.
[0057] In the transport direction of the substrate 201, even if there are areas on the substrate 201 coated with the active material 202 and areas that are not coated, no difference in elongation in the transport direction occurs between the two areas when pressed. Therefore, even with a coating pattern as shown in Figure 9, by providing the tape 203 on both sides of the active material 202 in the width direction such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate 201 when pressed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or from being scratched or cracked when the tape 203 is peeled off.
[0058] Although not shown in the figures, in a second modification of the coating pattern for the active material 202, the active material 202 may be coated on both sides of the substrate 201. In this case as well, by attaching the tape 203 to the substrate 201 at positions on both sides of the active material 202 such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203 in the width direction of the substrate 201, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate 201 when pressed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or from being scratched or cracked when the tape 203 is removed.
[0059] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a third modified example of the coating pattern of the active material 202.
[0060] As shown in Figure 10, multiple rows of active material 202, which are repeatedly coated in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 201 at predetermined lengths and intervals, may be provided on the substrate 201. In this example, two rows of active material 202 are provided on the substrate 201. Therefore, a total of three tapes 203 are provided, positioned on both sides of each active material 202.
[0061] In the example shown in Figure 10, a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203. Therefore, even when multiple rows of active material 202 are provided on the base material 201, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 when pressed. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or from being damaged or cracked when the tape 203 is peeled off.
[0062] Although not shown in the figures, in a third modification of the coating pattern for the active material 202, the active material 202 may be coated on both sides of the substrate 201. In this case as well, by attaching the tape 203 to the substrate 201 at positions on both sides of the active material 202 such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203 in the width direction of the substrate 201, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate 201 when pressed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the active material 202 from peeling off or from being scratched or cracked when the tape 203 is removed.
[0063] <Second Embodiment> Hereinafter, an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
[0064] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300.
[0065] The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 differs from the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 in the configuration of its press unit 304. Furthermore, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 does not include a tape application unit 103, a UV lamp unit 105, or a tape peeling unit 106. The following will primarily describe the differences from the first embodiment, and components similar to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted.
[0066] As shown in Figure 11, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 includes a feed roller 101 that feeds out a long substrate 201 in the transport direction, a coating unit 102 which serves as a coating section for coating the substrate 201 fed out from the feed roller 101 with an active material 202, a press unit 304 which serves as a press section for pressing the substrate 201 with a pair of press rollers 304a and 304b, and a winding roller 107 which winds up the substrate 201 (electrode plate 200).
[0067] The press unit 304 presses the substrate 201 coated with the active material 202 using a pair of press rollers 304a and 304b. The pair of press rollers 304a and 304b are equipped with a heat source inside. Therefore, the active material 202 on the substrate 201 can be heated while pressing. The heat source can be, for example, high-temperature oil circulating through channels provided on the rotating shafts 304c and 304d.
[0068] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the press unit 304 of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating how the base material 201 is pressed by the press unit 304 of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment.
[0069] As shown in Figure 12, a pair of tapes 203 are attached around the entire circumference of the press roller (in this embodiment, press roller 304a) of the pair of press rollers 304a and 304b that contacts the surface of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202, with a predetermined gap G between them in the width direction of the base material 201 and the base material 202.
[0070] As shown in Figure 13, when the base material 201 on which the active material 202 is placed is pressed by a pair of press rollers 304a and 304b while being transported in the transport direction, the active material 202 is compressed in the press direction and stretched in the width direction. The base material 201 also stretches in the transport direction.
[0071] If the tape 203 is not provided on the press roller 304a, a difference in the elongation of the substrate 201 in the transport direction may occur between the portion coated with the active material 202 and the portion not coated with the active material 202, which may cause wrinkles to form in the substrate 201.
[0072] In contrast, in this embodiment, by providing the tape 203 on the press roller 304a so as to be located on both sides of the active material 202, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the portion not coated with the active material 202 is reduced.
[0073] If the active material 202 and the tape 203 are compressed to the same extent, the elongation of the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 will be approximately the same as the elongation of the portion not coated with the active material 202. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the tape 203 and the thickness of the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 are equal. Note that the thickness of the tape 203 and the thickness of the base material 201 should be the same thickness (height) when pressed. Therefore, the respective thicknesses before pressing are set so that their respective thicknesses are the same when pressed.
[0074] The thickness of the tape 203 and the thickness of the active material 202 may be different during pressing. By providing the tape 203 on the press roller 304a, the difference in elongation between the coated portion and the uncoated portion of the substrate 201 can be reduced compared to when the tape 203 is not provided. In other words, it can be said that the occurrence of wrinkles in the substrate 201 can be suppressed.
[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the tape 203 is attached to the press roller 304a such that a predetermined gap G is formed between it and the active material 202 when pressed. The predetermined gap G formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203 becomes the space in which the active material 202 and the tape 203 extend in the width direction. Therefore, excessive distortion of the base material 201 can be suppressed. Thus, wrinkles in the base material 201 can be suppressed. In addition, since the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 do not adhere closely together, damage to the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 can be prevented.
[0076] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, when viewed from the radial direction of the press roller 304a, the joint 203a at the ends of the tape 203 attached to the press roller 304a intersects the central axis of the press roller 304a at an angle.
[0077] According to this, compared to the case where the joint 203a is parallel to the central axis of the press roller 304a, the length over which the joint 203a contacts the base material 201 at one time during pressing is shortened.
[0078] If the joint 203a is parallel to the central axis of the press roller 304a, there is a risk that variations in the amount of compression of the base material 201 may occur at the timing when the entire joint 203a comes into contact with the base material 201. In contrast, according to this embodiment, variations in the amount of compression of the base material 201 are less likely to occur.
[0079] Furthermore, when the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 manufactures an electrode plate 200 in which active material 202 is provided on both sides of a base material 201, tapes 203 are provided on both of the pair of press rollers 304a and 304b.
[0080] Furthermore, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300 can accommodate the first to third modifications of the coating pattern of the active material 202 described above, as well as double-sided arrangement patterns thereof, by appropriately changing the number and arrangement of the tapes 203.
[0081] The main effects and advantages of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100, 300 and electrode plate manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
[0082] An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 that forms an electrode plate 200 by pressing a long substrate 201 coated with an active material 202 while transporting it comprises a tape application unit 103 that applies a long tape 203 to the substrate 201 along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 201, a press unit 104 that presses the substrate 201 with the tape 203 applied to it using a pair of press rollers 104a and 104b, and a tape peeling unit 106 that peels the tape 203 from the substrate 201. The tape application unit 103 applies the tape 203 to the substrate 201 at positions on both sides of the active material 202 such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203 in the width direction of the substrate 201.
[0083] According to this, since the tape 203 is positioned on both sides of the active material 202, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the portion that is not coated can be reduced when the base material 201 is pressed. In addition, since a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203, excessive strain on the base material 201 at the boundary between the active material 202 and the tape 203 can be suppressed. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 do not adhere closely together, damage to the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 can be prevented.
[0084] An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 300, which forms an electrode plate 200 by conveying and pressing a long substrate 201 coated with an active material 202, includes a press unit 304 that presses the substrate 201 with a pair of press rollers 304a and 304b. Of the pair of press rollers 304a and 304b, the press roller that contacts the surface of the substrate 201 coated with the active material 202 (press roller 304a and / or press roller 304b) has a pair of tapes 203 attached around its entire circumference, contacting the substrate 201 on both sides of the active material 202 with a predetermined gap G between them in the width direction of the substrate 201.
[0085] According to this, since the tape 203 is positioned on both sides of the active material 202, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the portion that is not coated can be reduced when the base material 201 is pressed. In addition, since a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203, excessive strain on the base material 201 at the boundary between the active material 202 and the tape 203 can be suppressed. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 do not adhere closely together, damage to the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 can be prevented.
[0086] The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a UV lamp unit 105 between the press unit 104 and the tape peeling unit 106 for irradiating the tape 203 with ultraviolet light, and the adhesive of the tape 203 is an adhesive whose adhesive strength decreases when irradiated with ultraviolet light.
[0087] According to this, the tape 203 can be easily peeled off the base material 201 with the tape peeling unit 106. In addition, since the adhesive strength of the adhesive is reduced after pressing, it is possible to prevent the tape 203 from shifting or peeling off during pressing.
[0088] The predetermined gap G is greater than the sum of the length that the active material 202 extends toward the tape 203 when the base material 201 is pressed, and the length that the tape 203 extends toward the active material 202.
[0089] According to this, when the base material 201 is pressed, the predetermined gap G becomes the space in which the active material 202 and the tape 203 extend in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of excessive strain on the base material 201.
[0090] The thickness of the tape 203 is equal to the thickness of the active material 202 coated on the base material 201.
[0091] According to this, when the base material 201 is pressed, the active material 202 and the tape 203 are compressed to the same extent, so that the elongation of the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the elongation of the portion of the base material 201 to which the tape 203 is attached can be made to the same extent.
[0092] The active material 202 may be repeatedly coated on the substrate 201 in the longitudinal direction at predetermined lengths and intervals.
[0093] In the transport direction of the base material 201, even if there are parts of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and parts that are not coated, when the base material 201 is pressed, no difference in elongation in the transport direction occurs between the two parts. Therefore, even when the active material 202 is repeatedly coated at predetermined lengths and intervals, by providing the tape 203 on both sides of the active material 202 in the width direction such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 when pressed.
[0094] An electrode plate manufacturing method for forming an electrode plate 200 by pressing a long substrate 201 coated with an active material 202 while transporting it includes a tape application step of attaching a long tape 203 to the substrate 201 along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 201, a pressing step of pressing the substrate 201 with the tape 203 attached using a pair of press rollers 104a and 104b, and a tape peeling step of peeling the tape 203 from the substrate 201. In the tape application step, the tape 203 is attached to the substrate 201 at positions on both sides of the active material 202 such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203 in the width direction of the substrate 201.
[0095] According to this, since the tape 203 is positioned on both sides of the active material 202, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the portion that is not coated can be reduced when the base material 201 is pressed. In addition, since a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203, excessive strain on the base material 201 at the boundary between the active material 202 and the tape 203 can be suppressed. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 do not adhere closely together, damage to the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 can be prevented.
[0096] An electrode plate manufacturing method for forming an electrode plate 200 by conveying and pressing a long substrate 201 coated with an active material 202 includes a pressing step of pressing the substrate 201 with a pair of press rollers 304a and 304b, wherein a pair of tapes 203 attached to the entire circumference of the press roller (press roller 304a and / or press roller 304b) that contacts the surface of the substrate 201 coated with the active material 202 is brought into contact with the substrate 201 on both sides of the active material 202, leaving a predetermined gap G between the tapes 203 and the active material 202 in the width direction of the substrate 201.
[0097] According to this, since the tape 203 is positioned on both sides of the active material 202, the difference in elongation in the transport direction between the portion of the base material 201 coated with the active material 202 and the portion that is not coated can be reduced when the base material 201 is pressed. In addition, since a predetermined gap G is formed between the active material 202 and the tape 203, excessive strain on the base material 201 at the boundary between the active material 202 and the tape 203 can be suppressed. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the base material 201 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the tape 203 and the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 do not adhere closely together, damage to the active material 202 coated on the base material 201 can be prevented.
[0098] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments only represent a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.
[0099] This application claims priority under Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-216200, filed with the Japan Patent Office on 11 December 2024, and all contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
1. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode plate by conveying and pressing a long substrate coated with an active material, comprising: a tape application section for applying a long tape to the substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a pressing section for pressing the substrate with the tape applied using a pair of press rollers; and a tape peeling section for peeling the tape from the substrate, wherein the tape application section applies the tape to the substrate at positions on both sides of the active material such that a predetermined gap is formed between the active material and the tape in the width direction of the substrate.
2. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode plate by conveying and pressing a long substrate coated with an active material, comprising a press section for pressing the substrate with a pair of press rollers, wherein a pair of tapes are attached around the entire circumference of the press roller that contacts the surface of the substrate coated with the active material, with a predetermined gap between the tape and the active material in the width direction of the substrate.
3. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an ultraviolet light irradiation unit between the pressing unit and the tape peeling unit for irradiating the tape with ultraviolet light, wherein the adhesive of the tape is an adhesive whose adhesive strength decreases when irradiated with ultraviolet light.
4. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined gap is greater than the sum of the length by which the active material extends toward the tape when the substrate is pressed and the length by which the tape extends toward the active material.
5. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the tape is equal to the thickness of the active material coated on the substrate.
6. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the active material is repeatedly coated on the substrate in the longitudinal direction at predetermined lengths and intervals.
7. An electrode plate manufacturing method for forming an electrode plate by pressing a long substrate coated with an active material while transporting it, comprising: a tape application step of applying a long tape to the substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a pressing step of pressing the substrate with the tape applied to it using a pair of press rollers; and a tape peeling step of peeling the tape from the substrate, wherein in the tape application step, the tape is applied to the substrate at positions on both sides of the active material such that a predetermined gap is formed between the active material and the tape in the width direction of the substrate.
8. An electrode plate manufacturing method for forming an electrode plate by conveying and pressing a long substrate coated with an active material, comprising a pressing step of pressing the substrate with a pair of press rollers, wherein in the pressing step, a pair of tapes attached around the entire circumference of the press roller that contacts the surface of the substrate coated with the active material are brought into contact with the substrate on both sides of the active material, with a predetermined gap between the tapes and the active material in the width direction of the substrate.