JP2961869B2 - Apparatus and method for injecting gel negative electrode into battery container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for injecting a highly viscous gel electrolyte (hereinafter, referred to as a gel) containing a metal powder as an active material into a battery container in a predetermined amount with high efficiency. It is about the method.

2. Description of the Related Art In the past, a gel injection apparatus using a sliding type switching valve for switching between suction of gel and injection into a can or the like forming a battery container is provided in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-5865. ing.

This gel injection device includes a piston 3 mounted on a cylinder 2 connected to a gel storage tank 1 as shown in FIG.
Slides upward, so that the gel in the gel storage tank 1 is sucked into the cylinder via the sliding type switching valve 4.

At this time, the gel path of the switching valve 4 is
And the cylinder hole 5. Next, the switching valve 4 slides in the cylinder 2 to create a path connecting the cylinder hole 5 and the discharge nozzle 6, and then the piston 3 mounted on the cylinder 2 slides downward, thereby causing the cylinder 2 to slide. The gel in the hole 5 is injected into the battery container 7.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the gel is discharged while maintaining an appropriate distance between the upper surface of the gel poured into the battery container and the tip of the nozzle, and a predetermined amount of the gel is poured into the battery container 7. It is.

Also, a method of injecting gel into the battery case 7 using a rotary switching valve instead of the sliding type has been partially performed. The flow of sucking the gel from the gel storage tank 1 into the cylinder by the swing of the piston 3 in the cylinder and then pouring the sucked gel from the cylinder into the battery container uses a sliding type switching valve. Is the same as

However, the switching of the gel path for suction and injection at that time is changed to a rotary switching valve instead of a sliding valve.
(Hereinafter referred to as a rotary valve 4).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, problems in this conventional gel injection device are as follows. First, the rotary valve 4 is easily worn, the clearance between the bearing and the rotary valve is increased, and there is a gel leak path there.
At the time of suction, the remaining gel is sucked from the nozzle 6 side, and at the time of discharge, the gel is pushed back to the storage tank 1, which causes variation in the quantitative suction and discharge of the gel.

Second, in the case of high-viscosity fluid such as gel, when the gel is sucked into the cylinder at a high speed by the piston, the response until the gel enters the cylinder is delayed, and the device cannot cope with the high speed. . Alternatively, a certain amount of suction cannot be reliably performed.

Third, the metal powder in the gel, for example, zinc powder is deposited and solidified at the tip of the discharge nozzle to reduce the substantial diameter of the nozzle or to block the discharge path of the gel.

Fourth, at the end of pouring the gel into a can, for example, a battery container, there is a problem in that the gel is in a state of pulling a string and the cut is poor. Furthermore, if the apparatus is stopped in that state for some reason after cutting the gel, there is a problem that the gel drips from the tip of the nozzle.

In the present invention, measures are taken to prevent such wear of the rotary valve, quantitatively stabilize the suction of gel into the cylinder, detect gel clogging in the nozzle portion, and prevent stringing and dripping of the gel. As a result, it is intended to stabilize the battery performance and improve the yield.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a partition between a rotary valve and a bearing inserted into a cylinder to keep a constant clearance. Further, as a specific configuration thereof, a plurality of grooves are provided on the cylindrical surface of the rotary valve, and a key-shaped partition body provided with elasticity is provided so as to be pressed toward the bearing side with an appropriate pressure. It is. Or, between the partition body and the bearing,
It has a very small clearance. Further, the amount of protrusion of the partition body, that is, the so-called protrusion is determined so that the clearance between the bearing and the rotary valve can maintain a liquid-tight state.

In addition, in order to improve the variation of the quantitative amount due to the delay in the response of the gel suction when sucking the gel, a larger amount of suction than the predetermined amount is sucked during the suction operation of the piston, and then an extra amount of gel is returned to the storage tank. And

Furthermore, in the detection of the clogging of the nozzle portion by the gel, the clogging of the nozzle is detected by detecting an increase in the rotation load of the rotary valve by detecting a phenomenon that the rotation load of the rotary valve increases when the gel path is blocked. Is what you do.

Furthermore, at the end of the fixed amount injection, the stringing of the gel from the tip of the nozzle to the upper surface of the gel in the battery container is performed by repeating the operation of once separating the nozzle and the gel surface relatively, approaching again and separating again several times. The gel in the stringing portion is gradually thinned, and the gel is finally cut. Further, the dripping of the gel was solved by sucking up the gel slightly from the nozzle tip to the cylinder side after the completion of the gel injection and the cutting of the stringing.

With such a device and method, a partition that can maintain the clearance between the rotary valve and the bearing in a liquid-tight state can block a leak path that is conventionally caused by wear of the rotary valve. Can be.

In addition, a large amount of gel is once sucked into the cylinder, and then the gel is returned to the gel storage tank in order to secure a fixed amount, so that the discharge amount to the can side can be kept constant.

In addition, the increase in the rotational load of the rotary valve is transmitted to the air cylinder of the drive source holding the cam via the transmission mechanism, so the gel at the tip of the nozzle is detected by detecting the movement of the air cylinder. Further, the thread string cutting of the gel can be reliably and easily achieved by repeating the procedure of bringing the upper surface of the gel in the battery container close to the tip of the nozzle and pulling it apart several times.

Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples.

In the apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the points common to the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 7 will not be described, and only different points will be described.

This gel injection device is a rotary gel injection device in which a plurality of the injection blocks shown in FIG. 1 are equally arranged around a cylindrical gel storage tank 1. The overall mechanism is the sixth
Shown in the figure. Therefore, the gel can be injected continuously and endlessly. Further, the switching valve 4 in each injection block is constituted by a rotary valve.

The sliding of the piston 3 for the suction and discharge of the gel, the rotation of the rotary valve 4, and the lifting and lowering of the battery container 7
Each is done by a different cam.

The operation of the rotary valve 4 and its configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. A cylindrical rotary valve 4 made of an abrasion-resistant resin, for example, a high-molecular-weight polyethylene, has a through hole 9 crossing the central axis of the valve 4,
It is perpendicular to this, and has two holes 10 which connect the elongated hole portion starting from the side surface of the cylinder on the same circumference to the central axis, and which pass through the central axis to one end surface of the rotary valve 4 and do not cross each other. . The rotary valve 4 is swingably held by a ceramic bearing 11 having high alkali resistance provided inside the cylinder 2.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the hole 10 connects the gel storage tank 1 and the cylinder hole 5. Here, when the piston 3 slides upward for gel suction, the gel in the gel storage tank 1 is sucked into the cylinder 2 by the suction force.

When the suction of the gel into the cylinder hole 5 is completed, the rotary valve 4 rotates 90 degrees, and the state shown in FIG. 3 changes to the state shown in FIG. Here, the through hole 9 connects the cylinder hole 5 and the hole 12 communicating with the nozzle 6 coaxially therewith. Here, when the piston 3 slides downward, the gel is pushed out from the cylinder hole 5 and poured into the battery container 7 through the nozzle 6. When the injection of the gel into the battery container 7 is completed, the rotary valve 4 rotates 90 degrees in the reverse direction and returns to the state shown in FIG.

The rotary valve 4 here has a cushion 13 having a high alkali resistance, for example, a strip-shaped partition member resiliently applied with nitrile rubber. This partition 14
Is composed of a ceramic having high alkali resistance.
By pressing the partition body 14 against the inner surface of the bearing with the cushion 13 at a constant pressure, the interval between the rotary valve 4 and the bearing 11 is maintained in a liquid-tight state. In addition, since the gel that plays the role of the abrasive is interrupted by the partition member 14, the flow of the valve is hardly promoted, and even if a groove is dug due to the wear, the leak path is blocked by the partition member. Therefore, it is possible to perform a certain amount of gel suction and gel injection into the battery container 7.

Furthermore, when a gel is sucked at a high speed, the highly viscous gel cannot follow the movement of the piston 3 in the cylinder 2,
The response to the suction is delayed due to the expansion of the gas contained in the gel, and the amount of suction varies. Therefore, the extra gel is sucked in more than a fixed amount by sliding the piston 3 excessively upward, and then the excess gel is returned to the storage tank 1 by sliding the piston 3 downward, and the predetermined amount of gel is returned. We are securing.

In addition, when discharging into the battery container 7, particularly in the case of a thin container, the actual discharge diameter of the gel at the tip of the nozzle 6 is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder hole 5, so that it increases at the nozzle tip. Due to the applied pressure, the zinc powder contained in the gel is concentrated, and gradually accumulates and solidifies at the nozzle tip, causing clogging, and may eventually block the gel path. Therefore, it is necessary to detect this before the solidification of zinc proceeds and to perform maintenance.

As a method of the present invention, when the path is narrowed due to solidification of zinc, a gel having a high zinc concentration remains in the cylinder 2, and the rotational load of the rotary valve 4 increases.
Maintenance inspection can be performed by detecting this increase in load. Here, the rotation power of the rotary valve 4 is controlled by the cam 15 and its follower roller 1 as shown in FIG.
6, conveyed via gear 17, gear 18. The cam 15 is supported by an air cylinder 19. However, when the load is increased to some extent, the air cylinder 19 cannot withstand the load and escapes the cam 15, so by actually detecting the movement, it is possible to detect the solidification of zinc deposits in the nozzle portion.

Next, suppression of stringing of the gel will be described with reference to FIG. Even after the gel is discharged into the battery container 7 in a fixed amount, the gel is highly viscous, so that the gel is poorly cut as shown in FIG. A method of knowing the threading state and preventing the gel from dripping from the tip of the nozzle 6 after cutting will be described. While maintaining the distance between the tip of the nozzle 6 and the upper surface of the gel in the battery case 7 in proportion to the gel injection amount from the start of the injection of the gel into the battery container 7 to the state shown in FIG. The battery container 6 and the battery container 7 are relatively separated in the vertical direction. However, in the state of (c) in FIG. 5, the gel is in a state where the thread is pulled. Therefore, in order to cut this stringing, the tip of the nozzle 6 is separated from the gel surface, brought close to the gel surface again, and separated from the gel surface again, whereby the gel is cut as shown in FIG. Dripping can also be prevented. If the equipment is stopped for some reason, if the stop time is long, a phenomenon occurs in which the gel drips from the tip of the nozzle 6, and in this case, the piston 3 is slid slightly upward. By
This phenomenon can be prevented because the gel is sucked up a little inside the nozzle. By preventing the gel from dripping in this way, it is possible to prevent an internal short circuit or the like due to the adhesion of the gel to the inner surface of the battery container 7.

As described above, according to the present invention, by installing a partition member that can always maintain a liquid-tight state between the rotary valve and the bearing on the rotary valve, the leakage path of the gel caused by the wear of the rotary valve is reduced. Since the gel is blocked by the partition body, the fixed amount suction and the fixed amount injection of the gel can be smoothly performed.

In addition, the method of sucking a large amount of gel into the cylinder and then returning the excess gel to the storage tank can compensate for the delay in response during gel suction, so that the gel can be used at high speed. Can be performed.

Furthermore, when the zinc powder concentration in the cylinder increases due to the clogging of the gel path in the nozzle portion, the rotational load of the rotary valve increases, and this is detected in the process of clogging, thereby stabilizing the gel component and stabilizing the gel component. Can be prevented and the device can be prevented from being damaged.

Furthermore, since the stringing of the gel can be cut to prevent dripping of the gel, the contamination of the device by the gel or the contamination of the battery container can be prevented, so that the internal short-circuit due to the adhesion of the gel to the battery container can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a gel injection block of a gel injection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of the gel injection block and a switching cam portion of a rotary valve, and FIGS.
The figure shows a cross section of the gel injection device at the time of gel suction and the gel discharge, respectively, and also shows a partial cross-sectional view of the valve portion. FIG. 5 shows the transition of the gel injection into the battery container. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the gel injection device, FIG.
The figure is an explanatory view of a conventional gel injection. 1 ... gel negative electrode storage tank, 2 ... cylinder, 3 ... piston, 4 ... rotary valve (rotary switching valve),
5 ... Cylinder hole, 6 ... Nozzle, 7 ... Battery container,
8: Gel negative electrode, 14: Partition body, 20: O-ring, 21
...... Battery container support base.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Ichiro Murata 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-56-126267 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01M 6/02 H01M 6/08 H01M 2/36 101

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cylinder, a rotary switching valve slidably provided inside the cylinder, and a storage tank for a gel negative electrode connected to the switching valve, wherein the cylinder has a predetermined amount of the gel negative electrode. A cylinder hole for suction and a nozzle for discharging the gel negative electrode are provided, and the switching valve includes:
A first path connecting the storage tank and the cylinder hole and a second path connecting the cylinder hole and the nozzle are provided independently of each other, and the valve itself and a cylinder-side valve insertion are provided on side surfaces thereof. A device for injecting a gel negative electrode into a battery container, in which a plurality of partition bodies made of a wear-resistant material for keeping a clearance with a hole constant are always urged so that their tips are in contact with the valve insertion holes. . 2. An apparatus for injecting a gel negative electrode into a battery container according to claim 1, wherein the wear-resistant material forming the partition is ceramic. 3. An apparatus for injecting a gel negative electrode into a battery container according to claim 1, wherein the partition is urged by an elastic body. 4. An apparatus for injecting a gel negative electrode into a battery container according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the valve insertion hole of the cylinder is made of ceramic. 5. The rotary switching valve according to claim 1,
A substantially L-shaped first path connecting the storage tank for the gel negative electrode and the cylinder hole of the cylinder, and a linear second path that is perpendicular to the first path and connects the cylinder hole and the nozzle are mutually connected. A device for injecting a gel negative electrode into a battery, provided without intersecting the battery. 6. A cylinder, a rotary switching valve swingably provided inside the cylinder, a gel negative electrode storage tank connected to the switching valve, and a battery into which a predetermined amount of gel negative electrode is injected. A container, wherein the cylinder is provided with a cylinder hole for sucking a predetermined amount of the gel negative electrode and a nozzle for discharging the gel negative electrode, and the switching valve has a first connection between the storage tank and the cylinder hole. And a second path connecting the cylinder hole and the nozzle are provided independently of each other, and the side surface thereof has a withstand resistance for maintaining a constant clearance between the valve itself and the valve insertion hole on the cylinder side. A plurality of partition bodies made of an abradable material are always urged so that their tips are in contact with the valve insertion holes, and the battery container is a container for the gel negative electrode discharged from the nozzle into the container. Injection Depending on the state and is supported by the support table moves in the vertical direction, a device for injecting a gel negative electrode in the battery container. 7. A cylinder, a switching valve slidably provided inside the cylinder, a storage tank containing a gel negative electrode, and a battery container. The cylinder has a gel negative electrode made of a gel-like substance and metal powder. It has a cylinder hole for quantitative suction, a piston reciprocating in the hole, and a discharge nozzle. The switching valve has a first path connecting the storage tank and the cylinder hole, a cylinder hole and a discharge nozzle. And a partition body for maintaining a constant clearance between the valve itself and the valve insertion hole on the cylinder side, and a piston in the cylinder hole connects the first path of the switching valve from the storage tank of the gel negative electrode. When the gel negative electrode is sucked through, a larger amount of the gel negative electrode than the predetermined amount is sucked, and then the excess gel negative electrode is discharged and returned to the storage tank. Wherein said secured a second path connecting the cylinder bore to the discharge nozzle discharges the gel negative electrode of the cylinder from the discharge nozzle into the battery container, injecting gel negative electrode into the battery container by. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein an increase in the rotational load of the switching valve slidably provided in the valve insertion hole of the cylinder is performed.
A method of injecting a gel negative electrode into a battery container, wherein the gel negative electrode is detected by detecting a change in pressure applied to a swing source of the switching valve to detect solidification of metal powder in the gel negative electrode at a discharge nozzle portion of a cylinder. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the final stage of the injection of the gel negative electrode from the discharge nozzle into the battery container, the operation of relatively bringing the nozzle and the upper surface of the gel negative electrode in the battery container into close proximity and separating them as one process. Is repeated several times to inject the gel negative electrode into the battery container. 10. The gel negative electrode according to claim 9, wherein after injecting the gel negative electrode into the battery container, the piston in the cylinder is pulled up to suck up the gel negative electrode remaining at the tip of the nozzle into the nozzle. how to.