JP3821871B2 - Winding electrode manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing a cylindrical wound electrode with high yield.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A cylindrical wound electrode (electromotive unit) formed by winding a laminate of a positive electrode sheet, an interlayer insulating sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and an interlayer insulating sheet in a spiral shape is liquid-tight in a cylindrical outer container. Secondary batteries having a sealed configuration are widely used in practice. For this type of secondary battery, for example, there has been a demand for higher capacity of the battery along with demands for cordless, high performance, small size and light weight of electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable personal computers. . For example, as a secondary battery for a power source of an electronic device, a nickel hydride secondary battery capable of increasing the capacity has been put into practical use in place of a lead storage battery or a nickel cadmium secondary battery.
[0003]
By the way, the nickel metal hydride secondary battery has an interlayer insulating sheet (separator) sandwiched between a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet, and an electrode formed by winding or stacking is mounted in the battery can body, and required electrolytic The structure is sealed after the liquid is injected. In particular, when the electrode group is wound in a cylindrical spiral shape, it is expected because it is easy to increase the capacity.
[0004]
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main configuration of a manufacturing apparatus conventionally used for manufacturing a wound electrode. Here, 1 is a winding mechanism main body having a winding core 1a for winding the belt-like positive electrode sheet 2, the negative electrode sheet 3 and the interlayer insulating sheets 4 and 4 'in a spiral shape, and 5a and 5b are the winding mechanism main bodies. A sheet supply mechanism for supplying a positive electrode sheet 2, a first interlayer insulating sheet 4, a negative electrode sheet 3 and a second interlayer insulating sheet 4 'to each winding core 1a while separately guiding them; This is a fixed holding block that regulates and controls the outer periphery (outer shape) of the electrode group wound and formed on the winding core 1a of the winding mechanism body 1. In this configuration, the winding core 1a of the winding mechanism main body 1 is provided with a pair of semicircular cross-sections that form opposed flat surface portions or slits in the diametrical direction so that the interlayer insulating sheet can be sandwiched. It has a cylindrical shape. The opposing surfaces of the fixed holding blocks 6a and 6b have arcs that match the outer (outer) surface of the electrode group wound and formed on the core rod 1a.
[0005]
And the manufacture of the winding type electrode by this manufacturing apparatus is performed as follows. That is, an interlayer insulating sheet (separator) is sandwiched between opposing flat surfaces of the core rod 1a, the negative electrode sheet 3 is sandwiched between the interlayer insulating sheets 4, and the positive electrode sheet 2 is disposed between the interlayer insulating sheets 4 '. Each of the guides is supplied along with each other, and the positive electrode sheet 2 and the negative electrode sheet 3 are wound around the outer peripheral surface side of the core rod 1a to be rotated and driven to manufacture a wound electrode (electromotive part or electrode group).
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional wound electrode manufacturing apparatus has the following disadvantages. That is, as the capacity of nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries and the like increases, the winding of the positive electrode sheet 2, the negative electrode sheet 3, and the interlayer insulating sheets 4 and 4 'is made compact, the number of wound layers is increased, or the dense layers are made dense. However, in the case of the manufacturing apparatus, such a request cannot be met. For example, when the number of wound layers of the positive electrode sheet 2, the negative electrode sheet 3, and the interlayer insulating sheets 4, 4 'is increased to increase the capacity, the fixed core holding block 6a, 6b is used to fix the winding core rod 1a. Since the outer periphery (outer shape) of the electrode group to be formed is restricted, the increase in the number of wound layers is restricted, and sometimes the outer peripheral surface portion is damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated manufacturing device corresponding to the outer dimensions of the cylindrical wound electrode group to be manufactured or the inner diameter of the cylindrical battery can body to be installed. In addition, the problem spreads to the manufacturing cost and the yield.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a general-purpose manufacturing apparatus that can cope with an increase in the number of wound layers and can produce wound-type electrodes (electromotive units) for increasing the capacity with high yield. The purpose is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 includes a core rod for winding a belt-like positive electrode sheet, an interlayer insulating sheet and a negative electrode sheet in a cylindrical spiral shape, and a belt-like positive electrode sheet, an interlayer insulating sheet and a negative electrode sheet on the core rod. A sheet supply mechanism for supplying each of the guides while guiding, and a gripping surface having an arcuate cross section over the entire length of the cylindrical electrode that grips the cylindrical electrode formed by winding each of the sheets onto the core rod, A gripping surface is opposed across the core rod, and a pair of electrode group holding blocks arranged to be able to advance and retract toward the core rod, and the electrode holding block are moved in a non-contact manner when the cylindrical electrode is wound. And a holding block movement control mechanism for moving the cylindrical electrode outer peripheral surface so as to sandwich the wound cylindrical electrode at the end of winding the cylindrical electrode.
[0009]
In the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the core rod wound in a cylindrical spiral shape is configured to sandwich an interlayer insulating sheet (separator). That is, the core rod has a configuration in which a pair of flat surfaces having a semi-cylindrical cross section are separated from each other or opposed to each other, or a configuration in which a slit is provided in the diameter direction of a circular rod having a circular cross section, the flat surface An interlayer insulating sheet is sandwiched between the slits or the slits, and the electrode sheets are stacked in a stacked manner along the sandwiched interlayer insulating sheet.
[0010]
In addition, the pair of electrode holding blocks that move radially back and forth with respect to the core rod has a cylindrical shape in which the surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode wound and formed on the core rod is wound and formed. It is concaved by taking an arc less than the radius of the electrode. Here, it is easy to hold the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode without mechanically damaging it by setting the opposing surface to a concave surface having an arc less than the radius of the cylindrical electrode to be wound and formed. This is to make it happen. Further, the opposing concave surface having the arc of the electrode holding block is configured to contact the entire length direction of the cylindrical electrode to be wound and formed.
[0011]
In the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the holding block movement control mechanism for moving the pair of electrode holding blocks radially forward and backward with respect to the core rod is provided with advance / retreat means such as an air cylinder, an oil cylinder, and a return screw. The forward / backward movement is sliding or swinging.
[0012]
According to the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, in the process of winding the electrode sheet and the insulating sheet (separator) to form the cylindrical electrode, the cylindrical electrode on which the holding block is formed is positioned in a non-contact state. To do. Then, at the time of winding and forming the cylindrical electrode, the holding block moves to a position where the cylindrical electrode outer peripheral surface formed with the winding is sandwiched. In other words, since the electrode sheet and the insulating sheet are wound without any restrictions on the holding block, the possibility of damaging the cylindrical electrode wound and formed by this holding block is completely eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a wound electrode with high yield and high reliability.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the main configuration of a manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment. Here, reference numeral 7 denotes a winding mechanism body having a winding core rod 7a for winding the belt-like positive electrode sheet 8, the negative electrode sheet 9 and the interlayer insulating sheets 10, 10 'in a spiral shape, and 11, 11' are the winding mechanisms. This is a sheet supply mechanism with a guide for separately supplying the positive electrode sheet 8, the first interlayer insulating sheet 10, the negative electrode sheet 9, and the second interlayer insulating sheet 10 'to the core 7a of the main body 7. Reference numerals 12 and 12 ′ denote a pair of electrode holding blocks formed in an arc having a radius equal to or less than the radius of the cylindrical electrode which moves radially with respect to the core rod 7a and whose opposing surface is wound. The electrode holding blocks 12, 12 ′ are non-contacted when the cylindrical electrode is wound by the rotation driving of the core rod 7a by the holding block movement control mechanism 13, 13 ′ having an air cylinder or the like. Moves (retreats) in the direction of arrow A to take the state, and moves to the dotted line position so that the wound cylindrical electrode outer circumferential surface is sandwiched when winding and forming of the cylindrical electrode is completed It is configured to (progress). In the above configuration, the core rod 7a is formed by facing and combining a pair of rod-like flat surfaces having a semi-cylindrical cross section apart from each other. The positive electrode sheet 8 to be supplied and the first interlayer insulating sheet 10, the negative electrode sheet 9 and the second interlayer insulating sheet 10 'may be provided with tension applying means for applying appropriate tension.
[0015]
Next, an example of manufacturing a wound electrode using the manufacturing apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.
[0016]
First, in order to act as interlayer insulation sheets 10 and 10 'between the spaced apart and opposed flat portions of the core rod 7a, a tape-like insulation sheet having both ends wound around a rewinding roller (not shown) is inserted. Or pinch. Here, the insulating sheet is in the form of a tape having a thickness of 0.2 mm and a width of 63 mm, for example, and is slidably supplied while being held on the surface of the sheet supply mechanisms 11 and 11 ′ with guide. On the other hand, the tape-like positive electrode sheet 8 having a thickness of 0.6 mm and a width of 60 mm coated with the required positive electrode active material is placed along the surface of the interlayer insulating sheet 10, and the required negative electrode active material is The tip of the coated negative electrode sheet 9 having a thickness of 0.3 mm and a width of 60 mm is disposed along the surface of the interlayer insulating sheet 10 ′, and if necessary, the positive electrode sheet 8 and the interlayer insulating sheet. Tensile force is applied to each of the sheet 10 and the interlayer insulating sheet 10 'by tension applying means, and in this state, the core rod 7a is rotated in the direction of arrow B. At this point, the holding block movement control mechanisms 13 and 13 ′ cause the electrode holding blocks 13 and 13 ′ to be retracted so that the arc surface facing the cylindrical electrode that is wound and formed does not contact.
[0017]
With the rotation of the core rod 7a, the positive electrode sheet 8 and the negative electrode sheet 9 are wound in a stacked manner while being clamped via the interlayer insulating sheet 10 or the interlayer insulating sheet 10 '. That is, the positive electrode sheet 8, the negative electrode sheet 9, and the interlayer insulating sheets 10 and 10 'forming the cylindrical wound electrode are not slackened or loosened in the winding (winding) process. As shown in a plan view in FIG. 2, a wound electrode 14 having a high capacity cylindrical shape is formed. Thus, when the required wound electrode is formed, the rotation of the core rod 7a is stopped, while the electrode group holding blocks 13, 13 'are moved in the direction of arrow C by the holding block movement control mechanisms 13, 13'. The outer peripheral surface of the wound and formed cylindrical electrode 14 is sandwiched and held by the opposed arc surfaces. Thereafter, by separating the positive electrode sheet 8, the negative electrode sheet 9, and the interlayer insulating sheets 10 and 10 'supplied for winding, a high-quality cylindrical wound electrode having no damage on the outer peripheral surface or the like is obtained. can get.
[0018]
In addition, since the winding can be performed in the above-described fixed tension state, the winding is always dense, so that a cylindrical wound electrode having a constant outer diameter can be manufactured with a high yield, and a high reliability can be obtained. The next battery can be provided.
[0019]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention. For example, the thickness and width of the insulating sheet, the positive electrode sheet, and the negative electrode sheet can be appropriately set according to the type and capacity of the target secondary battery.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in manufacturing a cylindrical wound electrode for, for example, a nickel metal hydride secondary battery, a tape-shaped positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and an interlayer insulating sheet (separator) are wound on a winding core rod. In the process (step), since the electrode holding block is set in a non-contact manner with respect to the formed wound body or the like, the possibility of damage to the formed wound body or the like is eliminated. That is, in the process of winding the sheet forming the electrode on the winding core rod, a sufficient winding operation area is secured, so there is no risk of damage due to external mechanical contact with a high quality cylinder. Can be provided easily and with a high yield. Further, the manufacturing apparatus can advance and retract and set the electrode holding block at an arbitrary position, and therefore can be applied to manufacturing in the case where the diameter of the cylindrical wound electrode to be wound / formed is slightly different.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the structure of a main part of a wound-type electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a state at the end of winding and formation of a cylindrical wound electrode by the wound electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main structure of a conventional wound electrode manufacturing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,7 …… Winding mechanism body
1a, 7a ...... Core rods 2, 8 ... Strip-shaped positive electrode sheets 3, 9 ... Strip-shaped negative electrode sheets 4, 10 ... First interlayer insulation sheets 4 ', 10' ... First interlayer insulation Sheet
5a, 5b, 11, 11 ′ …… Guide sheet feeding mechanism with guide
6a, 6b …… Fixed electrode holding block
12, 12 '…… Advance and retract movement type electrode holding block
13, 13 ′ …… Holding block movement control mechanism

Claims (1)

A core rod for winding a belt-like positive electrode sheet, an interlayer insulating sheet and a negative electrode sheet into a cylindrical spiral;
A sheet supply mechanism for supplying a belt-like positive electrode sheet, an interlayer insulating sheet and a negative electrode sheet to the winding core rod while guiding them,
A cylindrical electrode formed by winding each sheet on the winding core rod is gripped. The cylindrical electrode has a cross-sectional arc-shaped gripping surface, and the gripping surface is opposed to the winding core rod. A pair of electrode group holding blocks disposed so as to be able to advance and retract toward the winding core rod ,
A holding block movement control mechanism that moves the electrode holding block in a non-contact manner when the cylindrical electrode is wound, and moves so as to sandwich the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical electrode that is formed when the cylindrical electrode is wound. Winding electrode manufacturing equipment.

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