JP5380663B2 - Bag forming method and bag forming apparatus for sheet-like secondary battery - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet forming method and a forming apparatus for a sheet-like secondary battery in which either positive or negative electrode is packed with two separators in a sheet-like secondary battery in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked via separators. About.

  A sheet-like secondary battery in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked via separators is known. In particular, a lithium ion secondary battery has little self-discharge and has no memory effect. It is widely used in portable electric / information equipment, audio equipment, and other electric vehicles.

  In a sheet-like secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, all of the sheet-like rectangular positive and negative electrodes and separators are in the order of separator, positive electrode (or negative electrode), separator, negative electrode (or positive electrode). A plurality of combinations are stacked, a predetermined number of the combinations are stacked, they are covered with an outer case, and an electrolyte is injected and sealed.

  In a sheet-like secondary battery, a combination of a separator having two separators interposed between positive and negative electrodes, a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode is a unit, and this combination is necessary in large quantities in a sheet-like secondary battery. Is done. Therefore, efficient mass production of a combination of a separator, a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode is indispensable for the production of a sheet-like secondary battery.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-327779, roll electrode materials and separator materials are supplied from the left and right with a pallet sandwiched between them, and positive and negative electrodes formed alternately from electrode materials and separator materials are continuously formed. The structure by which a separator is piled up on a pallet in order of a separator, a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode is disclosed. According to this method, a combination of a separator, a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode can be efficiently mass-produced.

  Instead of simply stacking the combination of separator, positive electrode, separator and negative electrode (simple stacking method), either positive or negative electrode, for example, sandwiching the positive electrode from both sides with the separator and welding the separator, There has been proposed a method of forming a bag-packed bag body and combining this with a (bare) negative electrode, and this method requires a large amount of bag bodies in which a (positive) electrode is bagged with a separator.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-242507, a sheet-like secondary battery in which constituent members for packing electrodes are arranged along a belt conveyor and the electrodes are packed with two separators as the conveyor progresses. The bag forming method is described. The bag body forming apparatus in this publication will be described with reference to FIG. 5 showing a schematic diagram. A first supply of separator material is provided above the belt conveyor along the traveling direction of the belt conveyor 51 (from left to right in the figure). A sheet-type secondary battery bag forming apparatus 50 is provided with a roller 52-1, an electrode suction plate 53, a second supply roller 52-2 for separator material, a thermal welding machine 54, a cutter 55, and a take-out arm 56. It is configured.

  The belt conveyor 51, the electrode suction board 53, and the take-out arm 56 can all be sucked by negative pressure, and the electrode suction board, the thermal welding machine 54, the cutter 55, and the take-out arm are configured to be movable up and down.

  (A) Separator material a1 supplied from the first supply roller 52-1 is adsorbed on the upper surface (adsorption surface) of the belt conveyor 51 and pulled rightward as the belt conveyor advances, When the separator material a1 is conveyed to the bottom, the electrode suction plate descends and the negative pressure is removed, whereby the electrode b is supplied onto the separator material a1 and is adsorbed onto the belt conveyor from above the separator material a1. Further, the separator material a2 is drawn from the second supply roller 52-2 and supplied from above the electrode b, and the separator material a1, the electrode b, and the separator material a2 are overlapped and adsorbed on the belt conveyor 51.

(B) When the leading ends of the separator material a1, the electrode b, and the separator material a2 reach below the thermal welding machine 54, the thermal welding machine descends. For example, two separator materials a1 and a2 are welded before and after the electrode b. Thus, the original shape of the bag is formed.
(C) A bag body in which the electrode b is packed in the separators a1 'and a2' by cutting the separators a1 'and a2' from the separator materials a1 and a2 by sliding the cutter 55 in the horizontal direction at the lowered position. d is cut and molded.
(D) Then, the take-out arm 56, which is a transfer means for recovery, descends, and the bag body d is adsorbed and raised, whereby the bag body is taken out from the belt conveyor 51, transferred, and recovered.
In the figure, reference symbol S indicates the center of the seal by welding, and reference symbol C indicates a cut surface.

  According to the configuration of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-242507, (b) supply of separator material a1, electrode b, separator material a2, (b) welding of two separator materials (formation of bag), (c) ) A bag body d in which the electrodes b are packed in the separators a1 ′ and a2 ′ is continuously formed through the steps of cutting the two separator materials, cutting the separator, and (d) taking out the bag body.

  In addition, three steps are made in (A), and more specifically, there are six steps: (A) separator material a1 supply step, (B) electrode b supply step, and (C) separator material a2. Supply step, (D) separator material welding step, (E) cutting the separator material and cutting the separator to form a bag body (F) taking out the bag body. All of the six steps are performed at individual stations, and the six stations are set along the belt conveyor.

JP 2005-327779 A JP 2007-242507 A

In the configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-242507, six stations are set along the belt conveyor, and the first and second separator materials are adsorbed and pulled out by the belt conveyor until the separator is cut out from the drawer. . Therefore, the pull-out distance of the separator material becomes long, and the separator material may be stretched during the pull-out, and the bag body may be wrinkled.
And since the drawing-out distance of the separator raw material required until shape | molding a bag body is long, the time required to shape | mold a bag body becomes long, and a bag body cannot be shape | molded with high production efficiency.

  In order to weld and cut the separator material, it is necessary to stop the belt conveyor at the welding station and the cutting station. However, the drive control for stopping the belt conveyor at a predetermined position is not easy, and if the stop position of the belt conveyor is shifted, the shape of the bag body varies and high quality cannot be ensured.

  In addition, since six stations are set along the belt conveyor for the six processes, the distance traveled by the belt conveyor becomes longer and the apparatus itself becomes longer corresponding to the distance traveled by the belt conveyor. Cannot be downsized.

  The separator material adsorbed on the belt conveyor is cut with a cutter, and not only is the cutter lowered and pressed against the separator material, but also a slide is required, and the cutting is composed of two operations (pressing + sliding). It cannot be done quickly. Furthermore, the belt conveyor serves as a cutter holder that prevents the separator material from escaping, and a cutter cut mark is formed on the upper surface (suction surface) of the belt conveyor to damage the belt conveyor, which may impair the suction function of the belt conveyor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a bag body of a sheet-like secondary battery that can form a bag body without pulling out a separator material for a long distance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bag forming apparatus for a small sheet-like secondary battery that can form a bag without pulling out the separator material for a long distance.

  To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the positive and negative electrodes in the sheet-like secondary battery in which the positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked via the separators are packaged with two separators. In the bag forming method of the secondary battery, the first separator material is formed on the suction surface formed by the side surface of the suction drum as the suction drum rotates at a station set around the polygonal suction drum that is intermittently fed. The electrode and the second separator material are sequentially supplied, the first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material are adsorbed on the adsorption surface, and the first and second separator materials are welded to each other. 1. Cut the second separator material and cut the separator from the separator material to cut out the bag body, and form the bag body with the electrode packed in the separator while the suction drum rotates once. To have.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet-like secondary battery in which either positive or negative electrode in a sheet-like secondary battery in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked via separators is packed with two separators. In the bag forming method, a rectangular suction drum having side faces as suction faces is intermittently fed 90 ° around a horizontal axis, and stations A to D are sequentially set around the square suction drum. When the first separator material supplied is adsorbed to the first separator material and the electrode is supplied on the separator material, the adsorption surface overlaps the first separator material and the electrode, and the adsorption drum is 90 °. When the first separator material and the electrode are adsorbed to the station B by being rotated and the adsorbing surface pulls out the first separator material, the second separator material is Covering the electrode, the first separator is supplied on the first separator, and the adsorption surface overlaps and adsorbs the first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material. The separator material is welded to form a bag body in which the electrodes are packed, and the suction drum is further rotated by 90 ° so that the suction surface pulls out the first and second separator materials, and the first separator material and electrode When the second separator material is integrally adsorbed and reaches the station C, the first and second separator materials are cut at the boundary between the stations B and C to cut the separator from the first and second separator materials. Thus, the bag body is cut out and the electrode body is packed with the separator while the suction drum rotates once, thereby forming the bag body.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the station C with the suction surface facing downward, when the bag body in which the electrode is packed in the separator is formed, the suction by the suction surface is released and the bag body is removed from the suction surface. Is recovered by dropping naturally.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the resistance heating element is pressed against the first and second separator materials at the boundary between the stations B and C to thermally cut the separator material.

  According to the present invention, the side surface is a suction surface on which negative pressure acts, the polygonal suction drum that is rotated intermittently and sequentially sets at least three stations A to C, and the first A separator material is wound, and the first separator material is supplied to the suction surface of the suction drum at the station A so as to be sucked, and the first separator material is allowed to be pulled out as the suction drum rotates. A roller, an electrode supply means for supplying an electrode onto the first separator material adsorbed on the adsorption surface at the station A, and overlapping the first separator material with the electrode on the adsorption surface; The separator material is wound, the electrode is covered on the suction surface of the suction drum leading to station B, the second separator material is supplied onto the first separator, and the first separator material, the electrode and the Then, the second separator material is adsorbed on the adsorption surface, and the second supply roller that allows the second separator material to be pulled out with the rotation of the adsorption drum, and the station B, the electrode is sandwiched between the adsorption surface Welding means for welding the adsorbed first and second separator materials to form a bag body packed with electrodes, and the adsorbing surface integrally adsorbs the first separator material, the electrodes, and the second separator material. Then, when reaching station C, the cutting means comprises cutting means for cutting the first and second separator materials at the boundary between stations B and C and cutting the separator from the first and second separator materials, The first and second separator materials are cut and the separator is cut out from the first and second separator materials, and the bag is cut out, and the electrode is packed with the separator while the suction drum rotates once. And by molding the bag was.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the suction drum is a quadrangular suction drum that rotates around the horizontal axis by 90 ° intermittent feed, and the station A is at a horizontal position with the suction surface of the suction drum facing upward. However, the station C is set at a horizontal position facing downward, and the station B is set at a vertical position between the stations A and C. Pallets are arranged.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the cutting means is formed of a resistance heating element, the side corners of the suction drum are cut along the horizontal axis, and the first and second separators are formed at the side corners of the suction drum. An escape portion is formed to form a gap between the material and the suction surface.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the first and second separator materials are pulled out with the rotation of the suction drum, and the bag is formed by packing the electrode with the separator while the suction drum rotates once. In addition, since the two separator materials are both pulled out by a small distance and the separator material is not stretched by the drawer, a wrinkle-free bag can be formed. And since the pull-out distance of a separator raw material required before shape | molding a bag body is slight, a bag body can be mass-produced easily with high production efficiency.
All the steps up to forming the bag body at the station around the suction drum are performed, and the intermittent rotation of the suction drum can be easily controlled, and the suction drum stops at a predetermined position and a positional deviation occurs. Therefore, bag filling is performed without causing a positional shift to form a bag having a fixed shape, and a high-quality bag can be obtained.
In the polygonal suction drum, if the number of corners is N, the bag body is sequentially formed on the N suction surfaces. Therefore, N bag bodies are formed during one rotation of the suction drum, and two sheet-like sheets are formed. Large quantities of bags required for secondary batteries can be easily mass-produced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first separator material is drawn out at station A, the electrode is supplied, the second separator material is drawn out at station B, the separator material is welded, and the separator material is cut at station C to form a bag. The body is cut out and molded, and the two separator materials are merely sucked and pulled out at three stations A, B, and C set around a square suction drum. At station A, the suction surface on the side surface of the suction drum is located on the upper surface, and stations B and C are set at positions where the suction drum is rotated by 90 ° and 180 ° from station A, respectively. The distance corresponding to 180 ° rotation of the suction drum and the second separator material are merely drawn out corresponding to 90 ° rotation. That is, since the two separator materials are pulled out only a short distance and the separator material is not stretched by the drawer, a wrinkle-free bag can be formed. And since the pull-out distance of a separator raw material required before shape | molding a bag body is slight, a bag body can be mass-produced easily with high production efficiency.
All steps up to forming the bag body at the three stations A, B, and C around the suction drum are performed, and the intermittent rotation of the suction drum can be easily controlled. Since the position stops and no displacement occurs, the filling of the bags is performed without causing the displacement, and a bag having a fixed shape is formed to obtain a high quality bag.
In the quadrangular suction drum, the bag body is sequentially formed on the four suction surfaces. Therefore, four bag bodies are formed during one rotation of the suction drum, and a large amount of bag body is necessary for the sheet-like secondary battery. Can be easily mass-produced.

In this invention of Claim 3, since the molded article (bag body) is collect | recovered using the natural fall by cancellation | release of adsorption | suction, a molded article (bag body) can be collect | recovered quickly and easily.
In the present invention according to claim 4, since the two separator materials are thermally cut by pressing the resistance heating element and can be cut only by pressing, the separator material can be efficiently cut.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the stations A to C are set around the suction drum that rotates intermittently, and the first and second supply rollers, the electrode supply means, the welding means, and the cutting means are used for the first. Separating the separator material, supplying the electrode, pulling out the second separator material, welding the separator material, cutting the separator material, and cutting the bag body, the bag body is formed until the suction drum makes one revolution. . For this reason, both of the two separator materials are pulled out only a short distance, and the separator material does not stretch due to the drawer, so that a wrinkle-free bag can be formed. And since the pull-out distance of a separator raw material required before shape | molding a bag body is slight, a bag body can be mass-produced easily with high production efficiency.
All steps up to forming the bag body at the three stations A, B, and C around the suction drum are performed, and the intermittent rotation of the suction drum can be easily controlled. Since the position stops and no displacement occurs, the filling of the bags is performed without causing the displacement, and a bag having a fixed shape is formed to obtain a high quality bag.
Since the first and second supply rollers, the electrode supply means, the welding means, and the cutting means are arranged around the suction drum so as to perform predetermined steps at the stations A to C, the sheet-shaped secondary battery bag is formed. The device can be miniaturized.
If the number of corners of the polygonal suction drum is N, the bags are sequentially formed on the N suction surfaces. Therefore, N bags are formed during one rotation of the suction drum, and the sheet-like secondary Large quantities of bags required for batteries can be easily mass-produced.

In the present invention described in claim 6, in the station C where the separator is cut out from the separator material and the bag body is cut out, since the suction surface is in a horizontal position facing downward, if the suction of the suction surface is released, the molded product ( The bag body) is collected in a pallet that naturally falls and waits downward, and the molded product (bag body) can be collected without the need for a transfer means such as a suction arm.
Since the suction drum is square, the bags are sequentially formed on the four suction surfaces, and four bags can be formed in one rotation.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the separator can be cut from the separator material only by pressing the resistance heating element against the first and second separator materials, and it is not necessary to slide after pressing. The drive mechanism is simplified.
The resistance heating element, which is obtained by thermally cutting the separator material, enters the escape portion of the side corner of the suction drum and avoids contact with the suction surface (side surface) of the suction drum, so that the suction surface is not damaged and the suction function of the suction surface is achieved. Not damaged.

1 shows a perspective view of a bag formed according to the present invention and a (bare) electrode combined with the bag. FIG. (A) and (B) show a schematic plan view and a schematic front view of a bag forming apparatus for a sheet-like secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of the process of the bag shaping | molding method of the sheet-like secondary battery which concerns on one Example of this invention is shown. An example of the process of the bag shaping | molding method of the sheet-like secondary battery which concerns on one Example of this invention is shown. The schematic of the bag body shaping | molding apparatus of the sheet-like secondary battery in a prior art is shown.

  A polygonal suction drum is used instead of the belt conveyor, and the first and second separator materials and electrodes are supplied from the supply means arranged around the suction drum while the suction drum is rotated intermittently. Two separator materials and electrodes are adsorbed on the adsorption surface formed by the side surface of the adsorption drum. Then, the edges of the two separator materials are welded to form an original bag body in which the electrodes are packed in two separator materials, and the separator body is cut out from the separator material to cut out the bag body. A bag body in which electrodes are packed in a separator is formed during one rotation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag formed by the present invention and a (bare) electrode combined with the bag, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are sheet-like secondary batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention. The schematic plan view and schematic front view of this bag body forming apparatus are shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, a sheet-like rectangular electrode 15a is sandwiched between two sheet-like rectangular separators 14a1 and 16a1, and the edges of the two separators are partially welded. A bag body 20 in which electrodes are packed is formed. Specifically, sheet-like separator materials 14a and 16a wound around a supply roller are drawn from the supply roller, and the longitudinal direction of the electrode 15a is sandwiched between them. Is cut into a predetermined length in a direction orthogonal to the two, the two separators 14a1 and 16a1 are cut out, the bag body is cut out, and the bag body is formed. Reference numeral 15a ′ denotes a tab (terminal) of the electrode 15a, and the electrode is packaged by protruding the tab 15a ′.
For this purpose, a station is set around the polygonal suction drum, the necessary processing is performed at the corresponding station by components such as supply rollers arranged around the suction drum, and the suction drum that is intermittently fed rotates once. In the meantime, the bag 20 is formed.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a sheet-shaped secondary battery bag forming apparatus 10 includes a polygonal suction drum 12, a first supply roller 14, an electrode supply means 15, and a second supply. The roller 16, the welding means 17, and the cutting means 18 are provided, and the constituent members such as the first supply roller are all arranged around the suction drum, and while the suction drum rotates intermittently and rotates once, The bag body 20 in which the electrode 15a is packed with two separators is formed.

  For example, the suction drum 12 has a quadrangular shape, and its four side surfaces 12a1 to 12a4 are suction surfaces formed with a number of negative pressure holes on which negative pressure acts. The rotation axis 12b of the suction drum is positioned horizontally, and is intermittently rotated around the horizontal axis (rotation axis) by 90 ° feed (intermittent feed at 90 °). Stations are set at four positions facing left and right. In the embodiment, the rotation direction of the suction drum 12 is counterclockwise in FIG. 2B, and the horizontal station with the suction surface facing upward is referred to as station A, and the horizontal station with the lower surface facing downward is referred to as station C. Of the two vertical stations set between the two horizontal stations A and C, the station is set next to the station A as the suction drum rotates, and is faced to the left in FIG. The station B is set next to the station B and the station C in accordance with the rotation of the suction drum. The station facing the right side in FIG. Assuming that is started, it will be described below.

  While the stations A to D are fixed, the suction surfaces (side surfaces) 12a1 to 12a4 sequentially move through the stations A to D as the suction drum 12 rotates. For example, if the suction surface 12a1 is in the station A, the suction surfaces 12a2, 12a3, and 12a4 are located in the stations D, C, and B, respectively, and the suction drum 12 is intermittently fed by 90 ° so that the suction surface 12a1 is moved from the station A to the station B. If moved, the suction surface 12a2 is sequentially moved from station D to A, the suction surface 12a3 is moved from station C to D, and the suction surface 12a4 is sequentially moved from station B to C. Then, while the suction drum rotates once, the four suction surfaces 12a1 to 12a4 are circulated through all the stations A to D.

  The first supply roller 14 is a separator material supply means, and can supply a sheet-like separator material 14a made of paper, plastic sheet or the like to the suction surface of the suction drum located in the station A (the suction surface 12a1 in the embodiment). Is arranged around the suction drum 12 adjacent to the station A. Then, the supplied separator material 14a is adsorbed by the adsorption surface 12a1, and the first supply roller 14 allows the separator material to be pulled out without causing slack with the movement of the adsorption surface due to the rotation of the adsorption drum 12. It has become.

  The electrode supply means 15 is disposed around the suction drum 12 above the station A so that a rectangular sheet-like electrode 15a can be stacked on the separator material 14a and supplied to the suction surface 12a1 in the station A, and the suction surface 12a1. Adsorbs the supplied electrode 15a overlapping with the separator material 14a. The electrode supply means 15 is, for example, an adsorption arm.

When the suction drum 12 is intermittently fed by 90 °, the suction surface 12a1 that overlaps and sucks the separator material 14a and the electrode 15a reaches the station B. Similarly to the first supply roller 14, the second supply roller 16 is a separator material supply means. The separator material 14a and the electrode 15a are integrally adsorbed to cover the adsorption surface 12a1 reaching the station B. Thus, the sheet-like separator material 16a is arranged around the suction drum 12 so as to be adjacent to the station B.
The first and second separator materials 14a and 16a are made of the same material and have the same width, and the electrode 15a is sandwiched between these two separator materials, and the tab 15a '(see FIG. 1) is protruded to form a bag. It is formed in a shape that can be filled.

  In the station B, the first separator material 14a1 is first formed on the adsorption surface 12a1, the electrode 15a is formed on the separator material 14a1, and the second separator material 16a1 is formed on the first separator material 14a1 so as to cover the electrodes. The suction surface 12a1 is positioned and adsorbs these first separator material, electrode, and second separator material in an overlapping manner.

A welding means 17 is arranged around the suction drum 12 on the side of the station B, the welding means can be moved forward and backward, and the welding means proceeds in the direction of the suction surface 12a1 and separates two separator materials at the edge thereof. It is comprised so that it may weld. By welding the first and second separator materials 14a1 and 16a1 positioned above and below the electrode 15a, the original shape of the bag body in which the electrodes are packed is formed.
The welding here includes not only normal heat welding but also high-frequency welding, ultrasonic welding, and the like, and the two separator materials 14a1 and 16a1 are welded at the minimum temperature so that they are adsorbed by the welding means. There is no possibility that the surface 12a1 will be damaged.

When the suction drum 12 is further intermittently fed by 90 °, the suction surface 12a1 sucks the bag body in which the electrode 15 is packed in the two separator materials 14a1 and 16a1 with the edges welded to reach the station C.
The cutting means 18 is arranged around the suction drum 12 at the boundary between the stations B and C. The cutting means 18 is made of a resistance heating element such as a nichrome wire, and the two holding bars 19 which are movable back and forth are located between them. It is built in. That is, the resistance heating element (cutting means) 18 is arranged in parallel with the horizontal axis 12b of the suction drum and is located in parallel with the suction surface 12a1. Therefore, the holding bar 19 is advanced in the direction of the suction drum 12 and the resistance heating element (cutting means) 18 at the tip is pressed against the first and second separator materials 14a1, 16a1, thereby separating the separators 14a, 16a ( 1) is cut out, and a bag body 20 in which the electrode 15 is packed is formed.
In the configuration in which the resistance heating element such as a nichrome wire is used as the cutting means 18, the cutting means (resistance heating element) can be cut simply by pressing against the separator materials 14a1 and 16a1, and it is not necessary to slide after pressing, so the cutting means The driving mechanism is simplified.

  The suction surfaces (side surfaces) 12a1 to 12a4 of the suction drum are formed to have the same width b (see FIG. 2A) as the short side width b (see FIG. 1) of the rectangular separator, and station C If the separator materials 14a1 and 16a1 are cut at the rear end (end opposite to the rotation direction; end on the station B side) of the suction surface 12a1 at the position B, the separators 14a and 16a having the width b are cut from the separator material.

  In the station C, the bag body 20 in which the electrodes 15 are packed is formed, and the molded bag body can be recovered by removing the suction by removing the negative pressure of the suction surface 12a1. Since the suction surface 12a1 located at the station C faces downward, if the suction is released by removing the negative pressure, the bag body 20 will naturally fall and separate from the suction surface 12a1, for example, a recovery pallet 22 The bag can be recovered simply by placing the under the station C. Therefore, a transfer means for transferring the bag body 20 from the suction drum 12 to the pallet 22 becomes unnecessary, and the configuration of the bag body forming apparatus 10 is simplified.

Of course, the station C may be provided with transfer means such as a suction arm for collection, and the suction arm 12 receives the bag body 20 from the suction surface 12a1 and transfers it to the pallet to collect it.
If a suction force larger than the suction force acting on the suction surface 12a1 is applied to the suction arm, the bag body can be transferred from the suction surface 12a1 to the suction arm, so the station C needs to remove the negative pressure on the suction surface. The bag body 20 can be molded while negative pressure is applied to all the suction surfaces, and the configuration of the negative pressure circuit is simplified.

  In the embodiment, although the suction drum 12 has a quadrangular shape and the four stations A to D are set, the bag body 20 is collected by the station C that can use the natural fall, and the station D becomes an idle station (effective Station not used). A configuration may be adopted in which the bag body 20 is collected at the station D in consideration of time required for processing, space, and the like. However, at station C, the resistance heating element 18 is only pressed and thermally cut, and the processing time at station C is short, and natural fall can be used. preferable.

    Since the first and second supply rollers 14 and 16, the electrode supply means 15, the welding means 17 and the cutting means 18 are all arranged around the suction drum so as to perform predetermined processes in the stations A to C, the bag The body shaping apparatus 10 can be reduced in size. In particular, when compared with a conventional apparatus in which a supply roller or the like is arranged along a belt conveyor and a bag is formed by packing electrodes at a station provided along the belt conveyor, the size can be significantly reduced. The size of the direction can be shortened to about 1/3 to 1/5.

  3 and 4 show an example of the process of the bag forming method for a sheet-like secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3A-1 and 3A-2 illustrate the processing steps in the station A. FIG. 3 (B-1) to 3 (B-3) show the processing steps in station B. FIG.

  (1) As shown in FIG. 3 (A-1), the first separator material 14a wound around the first supply roller 14 is first manually pulled out (facing upward), the suction surface 12a1. To be adsorbed.

  (2) As shown in FIG. 3A-2, the electrode 15a is supplied from the electrode supply means 15 to the adsorption surface 12a1 from above the first separator material 14a, and adsorbed together with the separator material 14a through the separator material 14a. Adsorbed to the surface 12a1. When the electrode 15a is supplied and sucked, the suction drum 12 is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise as indicated by a one-dot chain line.

(3) As shown in FIG. 3 (B-1), when the suction drum 12 is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise, the suction surface 12a1 is moved from the station A to the station B. Instead, the suction surface 12a2 is moved to the station. Go to A.
With the movement of the suction surface 12a1, the first separator material 14a is pulled out from the first supply roller 14, and the separator material corresponding to the drawn length is supplied to the suction surface 12a2 at the station A.

  Supply of the separator material 14a to the suction surface 12a2 is automatically performed by pulling out the separator material 14a as the suction drum 12 rotates, and in station A, a negative pressure is constantly acting on the suction surface. The supplied separator material 14a is adsorbed on the adsorption surface 12a2. In other words, except for the supply of the separator material 14a to the first suction surface 12a1, the supply (and suction) of the separator material 14a at the station A thereafter is automatically performed.

  When the separator material 14a is pulled out, supplied to the adsorption surface 12a2, and adsorbed, the electrode 15a is supplied onto the separator material 14a and adsorbed on the adsorption surface 12a2 through the separator material 14a.

(4) The second separator material 16a wound around the second supply roller 16 is first manually drawn onto the suction surface 12a1 reaching the station B as shown in FIG. 3 (B-2). The first separator material 14a is sandwiched between the electrodes 15a and supplied to the adsorption surface 12a1, and the three overlapping separator materials 14a, electrodes 15a, and separator material 16a are integrally adsorbed to the adsorption surface 12a1.
The supply of the second separator material 16a to the suction surface 12a1 at the station B is performed almost at the same time as the supply of the electrode 15a to the suction surface 12a2 at the station A.

  (5) As shown in FIG. 3 (B-3), the welding means 17 advances in the direction of the suction surface 12a1 located at the station B, and the edges of the two separator materials 14a and 16a are partially welded. To do. This welding may be performed so long as the electrode 15a other than the tab 15a 'does not protrude between the two separator materials 14a and 16a.

  If the separator materials 14a and 16a at this time that are attracted and wound on the suction surface are unfolded and the direction in which the separator material is drawn is indicated by an arrow X, the shape shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. If the portion corresponding to is cut as indicated by a two-dot chain line, the separator is cut out from the separator material, and the bag body 20 packed with the electrode 15a is cut out.

  By welding, the original shape of the bag body in which the electrode 15a is packed with two separator materials 14a and 16a is formed, and when the welding is finished, the suction drum 12 is further rotated 90 ° counterclockwise.

  (6) When the suction surface 12a1 reaches the station C, as shown in FIG. 4 (C-1), the holding bar 19 that holds the resistance heating element (for example, nichrome wire) 18 at the tip thereof is directed toward the suction surface 12a1. Then, the resistance heating element is pressed against the separator materials 14a and 16a on the suction surface 12a1 to cut the separator material and cut the separators 14 and 16 from the separator material, respectively. By cutting the separator materials 14a and 16a and cutting the separators 14 and 16, the bag body 20 (see FIG. 1) packed with the electrodes 15a is cut out and molded.

  In the cutting with the resistance heating element 18 such as a nichrome wire, the separator material can be cut simply by pressing the generated nichrome wire against the separator materials 14a and 16a, and there is no need to slide the cutter material. Can be cut.

  Here, since the notches 12c extending in the horizontal axis direction (horizontal direction) are formed at the corners of the four side surfaces, the first and second separator materials 14a sucked and pulled out by the suction surface 12a1, A gap 12c ′ is set in the horizontal direction between 16a and the side surface (suction surface) of the suction drum. For this reason, even if the resistance heating element 18 installed horizontally at the tip of the holding bar 19 cuts through the separator materials 14a and 16a and penetrates the separator material, it escapes to the gap 12c ', so that the resistance heating element contacts the suction surface. can avoid. Therefore, although the separator materials 14a and 16a are cut by the resistance heating element 18, the adsorption surfaces 12a1 and 12a2 sandwiching the notch 12c are not damaged by the resistance heating element 18, and the adsorption function of the adsorption surface is impaired. Absent.

  If the suction drum 12 is intermittently fed twice by 90 ° and the suction surface 12a1 reaches the station C, the suction surface 12a2 reaches the station B, and the suction surface 12a3 reaches the station A. The separator material 16a is supplied and adsorbed on the adsorption surface 12a2 of the station B, and the separator materials 14a and 16a are welded. The separator material 14a and the electrode 15a are supplied and adsorbed on the adsorption surface 12a3 of the station A. Needless to say.

  (7) After the bag body 20 packed with the electrode 15a is cut out and molded, if the suction surface 12a1 is removed from the suction by removing the negative pressure of the suction surface 12a1, as shown in FIG. 4 (C-2), the station C Since the suction surface 12a1 faces downward and is positioned horizontally, the molded product (bag 20) naturally falls under gravity. Therefore, if the collection pallet 22 is arranged around the suction drum 12 below the suction surface 12a1 at the station C, the molded bag 20 can be quickly and easily collected on the pallet.

  When the bag body 20 is collected at the station C, the suction drum 12 is further rotated by 90 °, and the suction surface 12a1 reaches the station D as shown in FIG. However, the station D is an idle station, and no processing is performed on the suction surface 12a1 in the station D.

  Supply of the first separator material 14a and the electrode 15a at the station A as described above, supply of the second separator material 16a at the station B, welding of the separator materials 14a and 16a, separator material 14a and 16a at the station C By repeating the cutting, forming of the bag body 20, and recovery, the bag body 20 in which the electrode is packed with a separator is formed while the suction drum 12 rotates once. In the quadrangular suction drum 12, the bag body 20 is sequentially formed with four suction surfaces, so that four bag bodies can be formed in one rotation, and a large amount of bags are required for the sheet-like secondary battery. The body can be easily mass-produced.

  In FIG. 4D, the first separator material 14a and the electrode 15a are supplied to the suction surface 12a4 located at the station A and sucked onto the suction surface 12a4, and the second suction is applied to the suction surface 12a3 located at the station B. Separator material 16a is supplied and is adsorbed on the adsorption surface 12a3 integrally with the electrode and the first separator material 14a, and the separator materials 14a and 16a are welded and are adsorbed on the adsorption surface 12a2 in the station C. Needless to say, the bags are recovered by cutting 14a and 16a.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a bag body in which electrodes are packed in a separator is formed while the suction drum rotates once, and the two separator materials are both pulled out by a small distance. Since the separator material is not stretched by the above, a wrinkle-free bag can be formed. And since the pulling-out distance of the separator raw material required before shape | molding a bag body is small, a bag body can be mass-produced with high production efficiency. And while the suction drum makes one rotation, the number of bags corresponding to the number of corners of the polygonal suction drum is formed, and a large number of bags required for the sheet-like secondary battery can be easily mass-produced.

  The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. All modifications, alterations, etc. within the technical scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the embodiment, a quadrangular suction drum is used. However, the suction drum is not limited to a quadrangular shape, and the suction drum may be a polygon more than a triangle that can set at least three stations. The side surface of the suction drum is a suction surface. If the suction drum is N-shaped (N is 3 or more), N bag bodies can be formed while the suction drum rotates once by using the N suction surfaces. However, if the square shape is increased, the intermittent feed angle is reduced, the time required for one rotation of the suction drum is increased, and the production efficiency is lowered. In addition, since a predetermined width is required for the suction surface, if the number of suction surfaces is increased by increasing the square, the suction drum becomes larger and it is difficult to reduce the size of the entire apparatus. Therefore, the shape (number of corners) of the suction drum may be determined in consideration of factors such as production efficiency and downsizing.

  In the embodiment, although the suction drum is rotated about the horizontal axis, the rotation shaft may be provided vertically and the suction drum may be rotated about the vertical axis. However, if the suction drum is rotated around the vertical axis, the side surface (suction surface) is positioned vertically, so the first and second separator materials may hang down. Since the collection of the (bag body) becomes difficult and the configuration becomes complicated, it is preferable to rotate the suction drum around the horizontal axis.

  The present invention can be widely applied to sheet-like secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries that require a large amount of bags in which electrodes are packed in two separators.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sheet-like secondary battery bag forming apparatus 12 Polygonal adsorption drum 12a1 to 12a4 Adsorption surface (side surface of adsorption drum)
12b Rotation axis (horizontal axis)
14, 16 First and second supply rollers (separator material supply means)
14a, 16a First and second separator materials 14a1, 16a1 First and second separators 15 Electrode supply means 15a Electrodes 17 Welding means 18 Cutting means (resistance heating element)
19 Holding bar AD station

Claims (7)

In the sheet molding method of a sheet-like secondary battery in which either positive or negative electrode in a sheet-like secondary battery in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked via separators is packed with two separators,
At the station set around the polygonal suction drum that is intermittently fed, the first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material are sequentially supplied to the suction surface that is the side surface of the suction drum as the suction drum rotates. The first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material are adsorbed on the adsorption surface in an overlapping manner,
After the first and second separator materials are welded, the first and second separator materials are cut and the separator is cut off from the separator material, so that the bag body is cut out, and the electrode is separated while the suction drum rotates once. A method for forming a bag body of a sheet-like secondary battery, which forms a bag body packed in a bag. In the sheet molding method of a sheet-like secondary battery in which either positive or negative electrode in a sheet-like secondary battery in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked via separators is packed with two separators,
A quadrangular suction drum with side faces as suction surfaces is intermittently fed 90 ° around a horizontal axis, and stations A to D are sequentially set around the drum.
At station A, the suction surface of the suction drum located on the upper surface sucks the supplied first separator material, and when the electrode is supplied on the separator material, the suction surface overlaps the first separator material and the electrode. And adsorb
When the suction drum is rotated 90 ° and the suction surface pulls out the first separator material, the first separator material and the electrode are adsorbed to reach station B. In station B, the second separator material covers the electrode. The first separator material is supplied onto the first separator, and the adsorption surface adsorbs the first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material in an overlapping manner. Forming a bag body that is welded and packed with electrodes,
When the suction drum is further rotated by 90 ° and the suction surface pulls out the first and second separator materials, the first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material are sucked together to reach station C. The first and second separator materials are cut at the boundary between the stations B and C, and the separator is separated from the first and second separator materials, thereby cutting the bag body and separating the electrode while the suction drum makes one revolution. A method for forming a bag body of a sheet-like secondary battery, which forms a bag body packed in a bag. 2. In Station C with the suction surface facing downward, when a bag body in which electrodes are packed in a separator is formed, suction by the suction surface is released and the bag body is naturally dropped from the suction surface and collected. A method for forming a bag of a sheet-like secondary battery according to 2. The method for forming a bag of a sheet-like secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein the resistance heating element is pressed against the first and second separator materials at the boundary between the stations B and C to thermally cut the separator material. A polygonal suction drum that has a side surface as a suction surface on which negative pressure acts, and is rotated intermittently to sequentially set at least three stations A to C;
The first separator material is wound, and the first separator material is supplied to the suction surface of the suction drum at the station A for suction, and the first separator material is allowed to be pulled out as the suction drum rotates. 1 supply roller;
In the station A, an electrode supplying means for supplying an electrode onto the first separator material adsorbed on the adsorption surface and causing the electrode to overlap the first separator material and adsorb to the adsorption surface;
The second separator material is wound, the electrode is covered on the suction surface of the suction drum that reaches station B, the second separator material is supplied onto the first separator, and overlaps with the first separator material and the electrode. A second supply roller that adsorbs the second separator material to the adsorption surface and allows the second separator material to be drawn with rotation of the adsorption drum;
In station B, welding means for forming a bag body in which the electrodes are packed by welding the first and second separator materials adsorbed on the adsorption surface across the electrodes;
When the adsorption surface integrally adsorbs the first separator material, the electrode, and the second separator material to reach the station C, the first and second separator materials are cut at the boundary between the stations B and C and the first separator material is cut. Cutting means for cutting the separator from the second separator material;
And the cutting means cuts the first and second separator materials and cuts the separators from the first and second separator materials, thereby cutting the bag body and the electrode with the separator while the suction drum makes one revolution. A sheet forming device for a sheet-like secondary battery for forming a bag packed in a bag. The suction drum is a square suction drum that rotates around the horizontal axis with 90 ° intermittent feed,
Station A is set at a horizontal position where the suction surface of the suction drum faces upward, station C is set at a horizontal position facing downward, and station B is set at a vertical position between stations A and C.
The sheet-shaped secondary battery bag forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a pallet for collecting the bag body is disposed below and facing the suction surface located at the station C. The cutting means consists of a resistance heating element,
The corner of the side surface of the suction drum is notched along the horizontal axis, and the first and second separator materials and a clearance portion that forms a gap between the suction surfaces are formed at the corner of the side surface of the suction drum. 6. A bag forming apparatus for a sheet-like secondary battery according to 6.

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