JP6904126B2 - Electrode stacking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrode laminating device.

As an electrode stacking device for manufacturing a laminated body of electrodes, for example, the device described in Patent Document 1 is known. The electrode laminating device described in Patent Document 1 is located at a supply mechanism for supplying sheet-shaped electrodes and a position below the supply mechanism, and the electrodes supplied from the supply mechanism are brought into a predetermined position by using gravity. It is provided with a drop moving mechanism for dropping and moving, and a guide stacking mechanism which is arranged below the drop moving mechanism and sequentially guides electrodes discharged from the discharge portion of the drop moving mechanism to a predetermined position to stack them. The guide laminating mechanism includes a bottom wall on which the laminated body is placed and a vertical wall that is projected perpendicular to the bottom wall and stops the movement of the electrodes discharged from the discharge portion of the drop moving mechanism for positioning. have. The downstream side of the guide stacking mechanism in the moving direction of the electrodes is lower than the upstream side in order to easily adjust the position of the laminated electrodes.

Although omitted in Patent Document 1, the electrode is provided with a connecting portion for electrically connecting to the outside. In the case of an electrode used in a laminated power storage device, a part of the metal foil is projected from a part of the outer periphery of the electrode body in which active material layers are formed on both sides of a substantially rectangular metal foil. A tab portion is often formed from a part of these protruding metal foils, and the tab portion is often used as a connecting portion. Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a laminating method when an electrode having a tab portion formed therein is used. In the laminating method described in Patent Document 2, the positive electrode and the negative electrode supplied from opposite directions are laminated on the mounting means. Further, in the laminating method described in Patent Document 3, it is described that positive electrodes and negative electrodes alternately placed on a conveyor are dropped at the end of the conveyor and laminated. In Patent Documents 2 and 3, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are aligned and transported so that the protruding direction of the tab portion is orthogonal to the supply direction of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

Further, so-called multi-row cutting is known as an efficient manufacturing method of an electrode provided with a tab portion, and as an example thereof, Patent Document 4 discloses a manufacturing method of double-row cutting. In the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 4, a tab portion facing the center is formed in the lateral direction of the strip-shaped plate portion. By the way, when the active material layer is formed by coating, continuous coating is easier to stabilize the quality such as the film thickness of the coating film than intermittent coating. For this reason, in Patent Document 4, the active material layer is formed by continuous coating when double-rowing is performed, but the uncoated portion in which the active material layer is not formed at the end or the center of the strip-shaped electrode material in the lateral direction. To form. Then, a tab portion is formed from a part of this uncoated portion.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-19372 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-129098 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-138868 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-174058

By the way, for example, in a pair of electrodes formed by performing double striping, the tab portions project in opposite directions. When laminating this with one laminating device, it is necessary to reverse the direction of one electrode and align the directions of the electrodes. However, since the change in the orientation of the electrodes involves contact with a conveyor or the like, there is a risk that some of the active material particles will peel off from the active material layer and fall (powder fall off).

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode laminating apparatus capable of efficiently producing a laminated body by using an electrode formed by double striping.

The electrode laminating device on one side is an electrode laminating device for laminating electrodes having a main body portion on which an active material is provided and a tab protruding from the main body portion, so that the protruding directions of the tabs intersect in the transport direction. A supply unit that supplies electrodes in two rows, a first circulation laminated unit that stacks electrodes in one row of the electrodes supplied from the supply unit to form a first laminated body, and a supply unit that supplies the electrodes to the first circulation layer. The electrodes in the other row of the electrodes are laminated to form the second laminated body, and the first laminated body is carried out from the first circulating laminated portion, and the first laminated body is swiveled in the horizontal direction. Then, the first swivel portion to be transferred to the transport path and the second swivel section to carry out the second laminated body from the second circulation laminated section, swivel the second laminated body in the horizontal direction, and transfer to the transport path. And.

In such an electrode stacking device, a first laminate in which one of the electrodes supplied in two rows is laminated and a second laminate in which the other electrode of the electrodes supplied in two rows is laminated. The laminate is transferred to the same transport path. Since the first laminated body and the second laminated body are swiveled in the horizontal direction by the first swivel portion and the second swivel portion, respectively, when they are transferred to the transport path, they are in the protruding direction of the tabs in the first laminated body. , The protruding direction of the tab in the second laminated body can be aligned. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for aligning the tabs in the transport path. Therefore, by supplying the electrodes formed by the double striping in two rows, the laminated body can be efficiently manufactured.

Further, on one side surface, at least one of the first swivel portion and the second swivel portion may be inverted with respect to the axial direction along the horizontal direction. In this configuration, the position of the tab with respect to the transport direction of the transport path 400 can be changed.

Further, on one side surface, the first swivel portion and the second swivel portion may be arranged between the first circulation laminated portion and the second circulation laminated portion. In this configuration, the space between the first circulation laminated portion and the second circulation laminated portion can be effectively used, and the electrode laminating device can be compactly configured.

According to the electrode laminating device on one side surface, the laminated body can be efficiently manufactured by using the electrodes formed by the double striping.

It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the power storage device manufactured by applying the electrode stacking device which concerns on one Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. It is a top view which shows typically the electrode laminating apparatus. It is a side view which shows the circulation laminated part. It is a top view which shows the circulation laminated part. It is an enlarged view which shows the structure around the stacking unit of a circulation stacking part. It is a top view which shows the swivel arm. It is a side view which shows the swivel arm. It is a top view which shows typically the modification of one of the electrode stacking apparatus. It is a top view which shows the other modification of the electrode laminating apparatus schematically. It is a top view which shows the other modification of the electrode laminating apparatus schematically. It is a top view which shows the other modification of the electrode laminating apparatus schematically. It is a top view which shows the other modification of the electrode laminating apparatus schematically. It is a top view which shows the other modification of the electrode laminating apparatus schematically. It is a side view which shows the modification of the swing arm.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of a power storage device including a laminate manufactured by applying the electrode stacking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the power storage device 1 is a lithium ion secondary battery having a laminated electrode assembly.

The power storage device 1 includes, for example, a case 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and an electrode assembly 3 housed in the case 2. The case 2 is made of a metal such as aluminum. Although not shown, a non-aqueous (organic solvent-based) electrolytic solution is injected into the case 2, for example. The positive electrode terminal 4 and the negative electrode terminal 5 are arranged on the case 2 so as to be separated from each other. The positive electrode terminal 4 is fixed to the case 2 via the insulating ring 6, and the negative electrode terminal 5 is fixed to the case 2 via the insulating ring 7. Further, an insulating film is arranged between the electrode assembly 3 and the inner side surface and the bottom surface of the case 2, and the case 2 and the electrode assembly 3 are insulated by the insulating film. In FIG. 1, for convenience, a slight gap is provided between the lower end of the electrode assembly 3 and the bottom surface of the case 2, but in reality, the lower end of the electrode assembly 3 is inside the case 2 via an insulating film. Is in contact with the bottom of the. Further, in order to reduce the rattling of the electrode assembly 3 in the stacking direction of the electrode assembly 3, several spacers are arranged in the gap between the electrode assembly 3 and the case 2. The number of spacers is appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the electrode assembly 3.

The electrode assembly 3 has a structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes 8 and a plurality of negative electrodes 9 are alternately laminated via a bag-shaped separator 10. The positive electrode 8 is wrapped in a bag-shaped separator 10. The positive electrode 8 in a state of being wrapped in the bag-shaped separator 10 is configured as a positive electrode 11 with a separator. Therefore, the electrode assembly 3 has a structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes 11 with separators and a plurality of negative electrodes 9 are alternately laminated. The electrodes located at both ends of the electrode assembly 3 are negative electrodes 9.

The positive electrode 8 has, for example, a metal foil 14 which is a positive electrode current collector made of aluminum foil, and a positive electrode active material layer 15 formed on both sides of the metal foil 14. The metal foil 14 has a rectangular foil main body portion 14a in a plan view and a tab 14b integrated with the foil main body portion 14a. The tab 14b projects from the edge of the foil body 14a near one end in the longitudinal direction. The tab 14b penetrates the separator 10. The plurality of tabs 14b extending from the plurality of positive electrodes 8 are connected (welded) to the conductive member 12 in a foil-collected state, and are connected to the positive electrode terminals 4 via the conductive member 12. In FIG. 2, tab 14b is omitted for convenience.

The positive electrode active material layer 15 is formed on both the front and back surfaces of the foil main body portion 14a. The positive electrode active material layer 15 is a porous layer formed by containing the positive electrode active material and the binder. Examples of the positive electrode active material include composite oxides, metallic lithium, sulfur and the like. Composite oxides include, for example, at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt and aluminum and lithium.

The negative electrode 9 has, for example, a metal foil 16 which is a negative electrode current collector made of copper foil, and a negative electrode active material layer 17 formed on both sides of the metal foil 16. The metal foil 16 has a rectangular foil main body portion 16a in a plan view and a tab 16b integrated with the foil main body portion 16a. The tab 16b projects from the edge of the foil body 16a near one end in the longitudinal direction. The tab 16b is connected to the negative electrode terminal 5 via the conductive member 13. In FIG. 2, tab 16b is omitted for convenience.

The negative electrode active material layer 17 is formed on both the front and back surfaces of the foil body portion 16a. The negative electrode active material layer 17 is a porous layer formed by containing the negative electrode active material and the binder. Examples of the negative electrode active material include graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, carbon such as hard carbon and soft carbon, alkali metals such as lithium and sodium, metal compounds, and SiO _x (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1. Examples thereof include metal oxides such as 5) and carbon with added boron.

The separator 10 has a rectangular shape in a plan view. Examples of the material for forming the separator 10 include a porous film made of a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), or a woven cloth or non-woven fabric made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), methyl cellulose and the like. ..

When manufacturing the power storage device 1 configured as described above, first, the positive electrode 11 with a separator and the negative electrode 9 are manufactured, and then the positive electrode 11 with a separator and the negative electrode 9 are alternately laminated to form a laminated body. The electrode assembly 3 is obtained by fixing the positive electrode 11 with a separator and the negative electrode 9 after the positive electrode 11 with a separator and the negative electrode 9 are brought into close contact with each other by pressurizing the laminate. Then, the tab 14b of the positive electrode 11 with a separator is connected to the positive electrode terminal 4 via the conductive member 12, and the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is connected to the negative electrode terminal 5 via the conductive member 13, and then the electrode assembly 3 is connected to the case. It is housed in 2.

Next, the electrode laminating device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 is a device that alternately stacks the positive electrode 11 with a separator and the negative electrode 9 supplied from the upstream process, transfers the laminated body to the transport path, and sends the laminated body to the downstream process. The electrode stacking device 100 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B.

The electrode supply unit 200 transports and supplies the electrodes in two rows so that the protruding direction of the tab intersects the transport direction of the electrodes. In the present embodiment, the electrode supply unit 200 is composed of a negative electrode supply unit 200A that supplies the negative electrode 9 in two rows and a positive electrode supply unit 200B that supplies the positive electrode 11 with a separator in two rows. The negative electrode supply unit 200A supplies the negative electrode 9 supplied from the upstream process 210A to the circulation laminated units 300A and 300B. In the upstream step 210A of the negative electrode supply unit 200A, two negative electrodes 9 are cut out at once from the wide strip-shaped electrode material, that is, so-called double striping is performed, and the two negative electrodes 9 are manufactured at the same time. As shown in the figure, the negative electrode supply unit 200A supplies the negative electrode 9 in one row of the negative electrodes supplied in two rows from the upstream process 210A to the circulation stacking unit 300A, and the negative electrode 9 in the other row is the circulation stacking unit. Supply to 300B.

The positive electrode supply unit 200B supplies the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied from the upstream process 210B to the circulation laminated units 300A and 300B. In the upstream step 210B of the positive electrode supply unit 200B, two positive electrodes with separators 11 are cut out at a time from a wide strip-shaped electrode material, double striping is performed, and the two positive electrodes with separators 11 are supplied at the same time. To do. As shown in the figure, the positive electrode supply unit 200B supplies the positive electrode 11 with a separator in one row of the positive electrodes 11 with a separator supplied in two rows from the upstream process to the circulation laminated unit 300A, and has a separator in the other row. The positive electrode 11 is supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B.

In the present embodiment, the tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows are all arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 14b of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 14b of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows are all arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction.

The circulation laminated portion (first circulating laminated portion) 300A stacks electrodes in one row of the electrodes supplied from the electrode supply unit 200 to form a laminated body (first laminated body) 50A. The circulation laminated portion (second circulation laminated portion) 300B stacks electrodes in the other row of the electrodes supplied from the electrode supply portion 200 to form a laminated body (second laminated body) 50B. The circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B have the same configuration. The circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B are arranged so as to face each other along the transport path 400. Hereinafter, the circulation laminated portion 300 having the same configuration as the circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the circulation laminated portion 300. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the circulation laminated portion 300. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the configuration around the lamination unit 22 of the circulation lamination portion 300.

The circulation laminating unit 300 includes a positive electrode transport unit 20A, a negative electrode transport unit 20B, and a laminating unit 22. The circulation laminated section 300 is connected to the positive electrode supply conveyor 21A and the negative electrode supply conveyor 21B located at the downstream end of the electrode supply section 200 on the transport path. The XYZ coordinate system is set for the circulation laminated portion 300. The X-axis direction indicates one direction in the horizontal direction. The Y-axis direction indicates a direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the horizontal direction. The Z-axis direction indicates a vertical direction. Further, one in the X-axis direction (on the right side of the paper in FIG. 4) is defined as "positive" and the other is defined as "negative". One (the front side of the paper in FIG. 4) in the Y-axis direction is "positive", and the other is "negative". The upper side in the Z-axis direction is "positive" and the lower side is "negative". In the following description, the description may be made using the XYZ coordinate system as appropriate.

The positive electrode transport unit 20A is a unit that sequentially transports the positive electrode 11 with a separator while storing it. The positive electrode transport unit 20A includes a circulation member 23A, a plurality of support portions 24A, a drive portion 26A, an extrusion unit 27A, and a positioning unit 29A.

The circulation member 23A is a loop-shaped member extending in the vertical direction, and has an outer peripheral surface that circulates so as to form a circulation path that descends after ascending. On the outer peripheral side of the circulation member 23A, a plurality of support portions 24A are provided at regular intervals over the entire circumference of the circulation member 23A. The circulation member 23A is bridged between the rollers 28A and 28A arranged vertically. The rollers 28A and 28A have a rotation axis extending in the Y-axis direction, and rotate clockwise when viewed from the positive side to the negative side in the Y-axis direction. That is, the circulation direction of the circulation member 23A is clockwise when viewed from the positive side to the negative side in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the portion of the circulation member 23A extending in the vertical direction on the negative side of the rollers 28A and 28A in the X-axis direction is configured as an ascending section for raising the support portion 24A. Of the circulation member 23A, a portion of the rollers 28A and 28A extending in the vertical direction on the positive side in the X-axis direction is configured as a descending section for lowering the support portion 24A.

The support portion 24A is a member that supports the positive electrode 11 with a separator. The support portion 24A circulates in the circulation path together with the circulation member 23A. The support portion 24A receives the positive electrode 11 with a separator from the positive electrode supply conveyor 21A in the rising section on the negative side of the circulation member 23A in the X-axis direction. The positive electrode supply conveyor 21A is supplied with the positive electrode 11 with a separator in one row of the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied from the positive electrode supply unit 200B. The support portion 24A discharges the positive electrode 11 with a separator to the stacking unit 22 in the descending section on the positive side of the circulation member 23A in the X-axis direction. The support portion 24A is composed of a bracket portion 31A provided on the circulation member 23A and a pair of plate portions 32A, 32A provided so as to sandwich the bracket portion 31A (particularly, see FIG. 6). In a state where the support portion 24A is arranged in the ascending section or the descending section of the circulation member 23A, the plate portions 32A and 32A extend in the X-axis direction from the outer peripheral surface of the circulation member 23A and face each other in the vertical direction. ing. The positive electrode 11 with a separator is supported by the support portion 24A in a state where the tab 14b is arranged between the plate portions 32A and 32A so as to project to the negative side in the Y-axis direction. The dimensions of the plate portions 32A and 32A in the width direction (Y-axis direction) are smaller than those of the positive electrode 11 with a separator. Therefore, in a state where the positive electrode 11 with a separator is supported by the support portion 24A, the edge portions 11a and 11b of the positive electrode 11 with a separator facing in the Y-axis direction are the side edge portions of the plate portions 32A and 32A facing in the Y-axis direction. It protrudes from 32Aa and 32Ab. Of the gaps between the plate portions 32A and 32A, a cushioning member 33A that covers the tip end portion of the bracket portion 31A is provided at the end portion on the circulation member 23A side.

The drive unit 26A rotates the circulation member 23A and moves the circulation member 23A in the vertical direction. The drive unit 26A raises the support portion 24A in the ascending section of the circulation member 23A, and lowers the support portion 24A in the descending section of the circulation member 23A.

The extrusion unit 27A is a unit that simultaneously extrudes a plurality of (here, five) positive electrodes with separators 11 toward the stacking unit 22 in a stacking area where the positive electrodes 11 with separators are laminated. The extrusion unit 27A discharges the positive electrode 11 with a separator from the support portion 24A to the lamination unit 22. Here, the extrusion unit 27A is provided at a position corresponding to the descending section of the circulation member 23A, and discharges the positive electrode 11 with a separator toward the positive side in the X-axis direction. The extrusion unit 27A includes a pair of extrusion members 34A, 36A that push together a plurality of positive electrodes 11 with separators supported by each support portion 24A, and a drive unit (non-extrusion) that reciprocates the extrusion members 34A, 36A in the X-axis direction. (Illustrated) and. The extruded member 34A is provided on the negative side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the support portion 24A. The extruded member 36A is provided on the positive side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the support portion 24A. The extruded members 34A and 36A have base portions 34Aa and 36Aa extending in the vertical direction and comb tooth type extruded portions 34Ab and 36Ab provided at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction with respect to the base portions 34Aa and 36Aa. There is. The extruded portions 34Ab and 36Ab have portions extending in the X-axis direction along the side edge portions 32Aa and 32Ab extending in the X-axis direction of the support portion 24A. The extruded portions 34Ab and 36Ab come into contact with the portions of the negative side edge portion 11c of the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the X-axis direction that protrude from the side edge portions 32Aa and 32Ab of the support portion 24A. A total of m extruded portions 34Ab and 36Ab are provided on the base portions 34Aa and 36Ba at one interval with respect to the supporting portion 24A per n stages. In the present embodiment, n = 4 and m = 5, but the number is not particularly limited.

The positioning unit 29A is a unit for positioning the positive electrode 11 with a separator supported by the support portion 24A. The positioning unit 29A positions the positive electrode 11 with a separator with respect to the support portion 24A before discharging the positive electrode 11 with a separator to the laminated unit 22. The positioning unit 29A includes a positioning member 40A arranged on the negative side in the Y-axis direction and a positioning member 41A arranged on the positive side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the support portion 24A arranged in the descending section of the circulation member 23A. And. The positioning member 40A is a positioning unit 42A that positions the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the Y-axis direction, a positioning unit 43A that positions the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the X-axis direction, and an avoidance unit that avoids interference with the tab 14b during positioning. It has a 44A and a base portion 48A that supports the positioning portions 42A and 43A and the avoidance portion 44A. The positioning member 41A includes a positioning portion 46A that positions the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the Y-axis direction, a positioning portion 47A that positions the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the X-axis direction, and a base portion 49A that supports the positioning portions 46A and 47A. And have.

The positioning portions 42A and 46A position the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the Y-axis direction by sandwiching the positive electrode 11 with a separator from both sides in the Y-axis direction. The positioning portions 43A and 47A move the positive electrode 11 with a separator toward the negative side in the X-axis direction and press it against the buffer member 33A of the support portion 24A to position the positive electrode 11 with a separator in the X-axis direction. The positioning portions 42A, 43A, 46A, 47A, the avoidance portions 44A, and the base portions 48A, 49A are laminated so that the positive electrodes 11 with a plurality of separators supported by the plurality of support portions 24A in the descending section can be positioned at one time. It extends in the vertical direction over a plurality of support portions 24A facing the unit 22.

The negative electrode transport unit 20B is a unit that sequentially transports the negative electrode 9 while accumulating the negative electrode 9. The negative electrode transfer unit 20B is provided so as to be adjacent to the positive electrode transfer unit 20A at a position separated from the positive electrode transfer unit 20A on the positive side in the X-axis direction. The negative electrode transfer unit 20B includes a circulation member 23B, a plurality of support portions 24B, a drive portion 26B, an extrusion unit 27B, and a positioning unit 29B. The support portion 24B of the negative electrode transfer unit 20B includes a bracket portion 31B, plate portions 32B and 32B, and a cushioning member 33B. The extrusion unit 27B of the negative electrode transfer unit 20B has extrusion members 34B and 36B for extruding the negative electrode 9 supported by the support portion 24B, and a drive unit (not shown) for reciprocating the extrusion members 34B and 36B. Further, the extruded members 34B and 36B have a base portion 34Ba and 36Ba and an extruded portion 34Bb and 36Bb. The positioning unit 29B includes a positioning member 40B and a positioning member 41B. The positioning member 40B includes a positioning portion 42B for positioning the negative electrode 9 in the Y-axis direction, a positioning portion 43B for positioning the negative electrode 9 in the Y-axis direction, an avoidance portion 44B for avoiding the tab 16b, and a base portion 48B. have. The positioning member 41B includes a positioning portion 46B for positioning the negative electrode 9 in the Y-axis direction, a positioning portion 47B for positioning the negative electrode 9 in the X-axis direction, and a base portion 49B. In the negative electrode transport unit 20B, the circulation direction of the circulation member 23A is counterclockwise when viewed from the positive side to the negative side in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, of the circulation member 23A, the negative side in the X-axis direction is the descending section, and the positive side in the X-axis direction is the ascending section. Further, in the negative electrode transport unit 20B, the extrusion unit 27B discharges the negative electrode 9 toward the negative side in the X-axis direction. Further, the positioning portions 43B and 47B of the positioning unit 29B move the negative electrode 9 to the positive side in the X-axis direction and press it against the cushioning member 33B of the support portion 24. Since the other configurations of the negative electrode transport unit 20B have the same configuration as the positive electrode transport unit 20A, the description thereof will be omitted.

The positive electrode supply conveyor 21A horizontally conveys the positive electrode 11 with a separator toward the positive electrode transfer unit 20A, and supplies the positive electrode 11 with a separator to the support portion 24A of the positive electrode transfer unit 20A. The positive electrode supply conveyor 21A supplies the positive electrode 11 with a separator to the positive electrode transfer unit 20A at regular intervals. The positive electrode supply conveyor 21A is provided on the negative side in the X-axis direction with respect to the positive electrode transfer unit 20A. The positive electrode supply conveyor 21A supplies the positive electrode 11 with a separator to the support portion 24A at a position corresponding to the rising section of the circulation member 23A of the positive electrode transport unit 20A.

The negative electrode supply conveyor 21B horizontally conveys the negative electrode 9 toward the negative electrode transfer unit 20B, and supplies the negative electrode 9 to the support portion 24B of the negative electrode transfer unit 20B. The negative electrode supply conveyor 21B supplies the negative electrode 9 to the negative electrode transfer unit 20B at regular intervals. The negative electrode 9 in one or the other row of the negative electrodes 9 supplied from the negative electrode supply unit 200A is supplied to the negative electrode supply conveyor 21B. The negative electrode supply conveyor 21B is provided on the positive side in the X-axis direction with respect to the negative electrode transfer unit 20B. The negative electrode supply conveyor 21B supplies the negative electrode 9 to the support portion 24B at a position corresponding to the ascending section of the circulation member 23 of the negative electrode transfer unit 20B.

The laminating unit 22 is arranged between the positive electrode transport unit 20A and the negative electrode transport unit 20B. The stacking unit 22 is a unit that receives and stacks the positive electrode 11 with a separator discharged from the positive electrode transport unit 20A and the negative electrode 9 discharged from the negative electrode transport unit 20B. The laminating unit 22 includes a laminating portion 51, wall portions 52A and 52B, partition plates 53A and 53B, positioning members 54A and 54B, and receiving members 56A and 56B.

The laminating portion 51 is a portion for laminating the positive electrode 11 with a separator discharged from the positive electrode transport unit 20A and the negative electrode 9 discharged from the negative electrode transport unit 20B. The laminated portion 51 is composed of a plate member extending in parallel with the XY plane. In the illustrated example, a U-shaped notch-shaped portion from the positive side to the negative side in the Y-axis direction is formed in the laminated portion 51. A plurality of laminated portions 51 are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of extrusion portions 34Ab, 36Ab, 34Bb, 36Bb of the extrusion units 27A and 27B. Further, a total of m extruded portions 34Ab, 36Ab, 34Bb, 36Bb are provided at one interval with respect to the supporting portions 24A, 24B per n stages. Therefore, a total of m laminated portions 51 are provided at one interval with respect to the support portions 24A and 24B per n stages. The laminated portion 51 is supported by a support structure (not shown). The support structure supports the portions of the laminated portion 51 on the positive side in the Y-axis direction near the receiving members 56A and 56B so as not to interfere with the receiving members 56A and 56B, respectively. The support structure includes a pair of base portions extending in the vertical direction and a support portion extending from the base portion toward the support position of the laminated portion 51.

The wall portion 52A is provided between the positive electrode transport unit 20A and the laminated portion 51. The wall portion 52A is parallel to the YZ plane and extends in the vertical direction. The wall portion 52B is provided between the negative electrode transport unit 20B and the laminated portion 51. The wall portion 52B is parallel to the YZ plane and extends in the vertical direction. The wall portion 52A is formed with a slit 55A for discharging the positive electrode 11 with a separator to the laminated portion 51 side (see FIG. 6). A plurality of slits 55A are formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of extruded portions 34Ab and 36Ab of the positive electrode transport unit 20A in the vertical direction. The wall portion 52B is formed with a slit 55B for discharging the negative electrode 9 to the laminated portion 51 side (see FIG. 6). A plurality of slits 55B are formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of extruded portions 34Bb and 36Bb of the negative electrode transport unit 20B in the vertical direction. The slit 55A is formed at a position higher than the slit 55B in the vertical direction by one step of the support portions 24A and 24B. The wall portions 52A and 52B are supported by support structures (not shown), respectively. Each support structure includes a base portion extending in the vertical direction and a support portion extending from the base portion toward the wall portions 52A and 52B, respectively. The support structure is provided in the vicinity of the positioning members 54A and 54B so as not to interfere with the positioning members 54A and 54B.

The partition plate 53A is a member that temporarily holds the positive electrode 11 with a separator discharged from the slit 55A to the laminated portion 51 side above the laminated portion 51. The partition plate 53B is a member that temporarily holds the negative electrode 9 discharged from the slit 55B toward the laminated portion 51 above the laminated portion 51. When the electrodes 11 and 9 are placed on the partition plates 53A and 53B, the partition plates 53A and 53B move so as to be pulled out from the position facing the laminated portion 51 to the negative side in the Y-axis direction (state shown in FIG. 5). .. At this time, the positioning members 54A and 54B support the electrodes 11 and 9 placed on the partition plates 53A and 53B in the pull-out direction. Thereby, when the partition plates 53A and 53B are pulled out, the electrodes 11 and 9 can be prevented from moving together with the partition plates 53A and 53B. After the partition plates 53A and 53B are pulled out, the electrodes 11 and 9 fall downward and are laminated on the laminated portion 51.

The positioning members 54A and 54B are members for positioning the electrodes 11 and 9 laminated on the laminated portion 51. The positioning members 54A and 54B are arranged on the negative side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the laminated portion 51. Further, as described above, the positioning members 54A and 54B also position the electrodes 11 and 9 when the partition plates 53A and 53B are pulled out. The positioning members 54A and 54B include base portions 54Aa and 54Ba extending in the vertical direction and push portions 54Ab and 54Bb provided on the base portions 54Aa and 54Ba at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction. The pushing portion 54Ab of the positioning member 54A presses the portion of the negative side edges 11a, 9a of the electrodes 11 and 9 in the Y-axis direction closer to the wall portion 52A. The pushing portion 54Bb of the positioning member 54B presses the portion of the negative side edges 11a, 9a of the electrodes 11 and 9 in the Y-axis direction closer to the wall portion 52B. The positioning members 54A and 54B include a driving unit (not shown) that reciprocates the base portions 54Aa and 54Ba and the pushing portions 54Ab and 54Bb in the positioning direction (Y-axis direction). When the pushing portions 54Ab and 54Bb press the edges 11a and 9a of the electrodes 11 and 9 laminated on the laminated portion 51, the receiving members 56A and 56B are on the opposite side (positive side in the Y-axis direction) of the electrodes 11 and 9. Receives parts 11b and 9b.

The receiving members 56A and 56B are members that receive the electrodes 11 and 9 pressed by the pushing portions 54Ab and 54Bb when the positioning members 54A and 54B position the electrodes 11 and 9 laminated on the laminated portion 51. The receiving members 56A and 56B are arranged on the positive side in the Y-axis direction with respect to the laminated portion 51. The receiving members 56A and 56B are composed of columnar members extending in the vertical direction over the plurality of laminated portions 51. The receiving member 56A receives the portions of the positive side edges 11b and 9b of the electrodes 11 and 9 in the Y-axis direction closer to the wall portion 52A. The receiving member 56B receives the portions of the positive side edges 11b and 9b of the electrodes 11 and 9 in the Y-axis direction closer to the wall portion 52B. The receiving members 56A and 56B are connected to a drive unit (not shown) and can reciprocate in the X-axis direction. Here, a grip portion 540 of the swivel arm 500, which will be described later, is provided on the positive side of the laminated portion 51 in the Y-axis direction. The grip portion 540 pulls out the laminated body on the laminated portion 51 to the positive side in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, when the grip portion 540 pulls out the laminated body, the receiving members 56A and 56B move outward in the X-axis direction with respect to the electrodes 11 and 9 to avoid interference with the laminated body.

The circulation stacking unit 300 includes a controller 310. The controller 310 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, an input / output interface, and the like. The controller 310 includes a transport control unit that controls the drive units 26A and 26B described above, a stacking control unit that controls the stacking unit 22 drive unit, an extrusion control unit that controls the drive units of the extrusion units 27A and 27B, and a positioning unit. It has a positioning control unit that controls the drive units of 29A and 29B. The controller 310 determines the control content based on the detection signal from each sensor in the device and the program stored in the ROM, and drives and controls each drive unit via each control unit. The controller 310 does not have to be composed of one processing device, but may be composed of a plurality of processing devices. For example, a processing device independent of the components of the circulation stacking unit 300 is provided, and each processing device may match the operation timing with other components based on the detection signals of various sensors.

In such a circulation laminated portion 300, when the support portions 24A and 24B supporting the electrodes 11 and 9 move to the positions of the slits 55A and 55B at the lower end, the positioning unit 29A of the positive electrode transport unit 20A is supported by the support portion 24A. The positive electrode 11 with a separator is positioned in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the positioning unit 29B of the negative electrode transport unit 20B positions the negative electrode 9 supported by the support portion 24B in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Next, the extrusion unit 27A of the positive electrode transfer unit 20A and the extrusion unit 27B of the negative electrode transfer unit 20B simultaneously extrude the electrodes 11 and 9. As a result, the electrodes 11 and 9 are simultaneously discharged onto the partition plates 53A and 53B. Next, the partition plates 53A and 53B in which the positioning members 54A and 54B support the electrodes 11 and 9 are pulled out. As a result, the electrodes 11 and 9 are simultaneously laminated on the laminated portion 51. After the electrodes 11 and 9 are laminated on the laminated portion 51, the positioning members 54A and 54B and the receiving members 56A and 56B position the electrodes 11 and 9 on the laminated portion 51 in the Y-axis direction. After that, the support portions 24A and 24B move together with the circulation members 23A and 23B, and the same operation is repeated.

The transport path 400 is, for example, a roller conveyor, and the laminated bodies laminated by the circulation laminating portions 300A and 300B are conveyed to the downstream process. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the transport path 400 three-dimensionally intersects (for example, orthogonally) with the transport path of the negative electrode 9 in the negative electrode supply unit 200A. The transport path 400 may be arranged on the positive electrode supply unit 200B side. In the transport path 400 of the present embodiment, the pallet 410 on which the laminated body is placed is transported. When the pallet 410 is transported to a predetermined position, it is sandwiched from the width direction by, for example, a sandwiching portion (not shown) provided in the transport path 400 and stopped. For example, the pallet 410 is stopped at a position where it can receive the laminate from the swivel arm 500. In the illustrated example, the pallet 410 is stopped at a position where the transport path 400 and the swivel arm 500 extended in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport path 400 intersect.

The swivel arm (first swivel portion) 500A carries out the laminate from the circulation stacking portion 300A, swivels the laminate in the horizontal direction, and transfers the laminate onto the transport path 400. The swivel arm (second swivel portion) 500B carries out the laminate from the circulation stacking portion 300B, swivels the laminate in the horizontal direction, and transfers the laminate to the transport path 400. The swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B have the same configuration. Hereinafter, the swivel arm 500 having the same configuration as the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B will be described.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the swivel arm 500. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the swivel arm 500. The swivel arm 500 has a base 510, a swivel base 520, an arm portion 530, and a grip portion 540. The base 510 has, for example, a columnar shape, and has substantially the same height as the laminated portion 51 arranged at the highest position. The swivel base 520 has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and is provided so as to cover a part of the side surface of the base 510. The swivel base 520 is configured to be movable up and down with respect to the base 510. Further, the swivel base 520 is configured to be swivelable in the circumferential direction around the base 510. The arm portion 530 is attached to a part of the swivel base 520 in the circumferential direction, and swivels together with the swivel base 520. The arm portion 530 is configured in a multi-stage shape and can be expanded and contracted. The arm portion 530 of the illustrated example has a tubular first arm portion 531 fixed to the swivel base 520, a second arm portion 532 arranged so as to be accessible within the first arm portion 531, and a second arm portion 532. It has a third arm portion 533 arranged so as to be able to enter and exit inside.

A grip portion 540 for gripping the laminated body is provided at the tip of the third arm portion 533. The grip portion 540 has a support portion 541 provided at the tip of the third arm portion 533 and a pair of chucks 542 supported by the support portion 541. In the present embodiment, when the pair of chucks 542 approach each other, the laminated body can be sandwiched by the grip portion 540. The chuck 542 has a shape along the notch-shaped portion of the laminated portion 51 in a plan view, and has a U-shape in the present embodiment. As a result, the pair of chucks 542 can grip the laminated body laminated on the laminated portion 51 from the vertical direction. The support portion 541 is rotatably provided with respect to the third arm portion 533 about the axis 530L of the arm portion along the horizontal direction. Therefore, the grip portion 540 can rotate about the axial direction of the arm portion 530.

The operations of the swivel 520, the arm 530 and the grip 540 can be controlled by a control unit (not shown). For example, the swivel arm 500 stands by with the grip portion 540 facing the laminated portion 51. When the electrodes are laminated on the laminated portion 51, the arm portion 530 is extended and the laminated body is gripped by the grip portion 540. Then, after the arm portion 530 contracts, the swivel base 520 is swiveled. As a result, the laminated body gripped by the grip portion 540 is swiveled. In the illustrated example, the swivel table 520 swivels by about 90 ° so that the protruding direction of the tabs in the laminated body coincides with the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport path 400. In this state, the arm portion 530 is extended until the laminated body moves above the pallet 410 placed on the transport path 400. Then, as the swivel base 520 descends, the laminated body is placed on the pallet 410. In the present embodiment, by repeating the above operation, the respective laminated bodies laminated on the plurality of laminated portions 51 are sequentially placed on separate pallets 410.

As shown in FIG. 3, the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B are arranged between the circulation stacking portion 300A and the circulation stacking portion 300B. The swivel arm 500A transfers the laminated body laminated by the circulation laminated portion 300A to the transport path. Therefore, the swivel arm 500A is arranged at a position where the laminated body laminated on the laminated portion 51 in the circulating laminated portion 300A can be gripped. In the illustrated example, the swivel arm 500A is arranged at a position in front of the laminated portion 51 (position along the Y-axis direction in the example of FIG. 5) in the circulating laminated portion 300A. Further, the swivel arm 500B is arranged at a position where the laminated body laminated on the laminated portion 51 in the circulating laminated portion 300B can be gripped. In the illustrated example, the swivel arm 500B is arranged at a position in front of the laminated portion 51 (position along the Y-axis direction in the example of FIG. 5) in the circulating laminated portion 300B.

In the electrode laminating device 100 described above, the negative electrode 9 formed by the double striping in the upstream process 210A is conveyed in two rows by the negative electrode supply unit 200A. Further, the positive electrode 11 with a separator formed by double-rowing in the upstream step 210B is conveyed in two rows by the positive electrode supply unit 200B. The negative electrode 9 in one row of the negative electrodes 9 transported in two rows and the positive electrode 11 with a separator in one row of the positive electrodes 11 with separators transported in two rows are supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A. .. The negative electrode 9 in the other row of the negative electrodes 9 transported in the two rows and the positive electrode 11 with the separator in the other row of the positive electrodes 11 with the separator transported in the two rows are supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B. .. In the circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B, a laminated body 50A and a laminated body 50B in which the negative electrode 9 and the positive electrode 11 with a separator are laminated are formed, respectively.

The laminated body 50A formed by the circulating laminated portion 300A is taken out from the laminated portion 51 by the swivel arm 500A, and is swiveled by about 90 ° counterclockwise in a plan view. The laminated body 50B formed by the circulating laminated portion 300B is taken out from the laminated portion 51 by the swivel arm 500B and swiveled clockwise by about 90 ° in a plan view. In the present embodiment, the directions of the tabs of the electrodes transported in two rows by the electrode supply unit 200 are opposite to each other in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. Therefore, in the laminated body 50A and the laminated body 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500, the tabs in the directions intersecting the transport directions of the transport path 400 are aligned with each other. In each of the illustrated examples, the tab protrudes to the left in the transport direction.

On the other hand, the arrangement of the tabs 14b of the negative electrode 9 (or the arrangement of the tabs 16b of the positive electrode 11 with a separator) with respect to the transport direction of the transport path 400 is different between the laminated body 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500 and the laminated body 50B. doing. That is, in the laminated body 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction. On the other hand, in the laminated body 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the upstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction. Therefore, in the swivel arm 500B, for example, after the swivel arm 500B is swiveled, the support portion 541 is rotated by 180 °, so that the top and bottom of the laminated body 50B are inverted. As a result, even in the laminated body 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction.

In this state, the laminated bodies 50A and 50B move to the position of the transport path 400 by extending the respective arms of the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B. By lowering the swivel base 520, the laminated bodies 50A and 50B are placed on the pallet 410 waiting on the transport path 400. As a result, the tab positions of the laminated bodies 50A and 50B laminated by the circulating laminated portion 300A and the circulating laminated portion 300B are aligned on the transport path 400. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for aligning the tabs in the transport path. Therefore, by supplying the electrodes formed by the double striping in two rows, the laminated body can be efficiently manufactured.

Further, since the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B are arranged between the circulation stacking portion 300A and the circulation stacking portion 300B, the space between the circulation stacking portion 300A and the circulation stacking portion 300B can be effectively used, and the electrodes can be effectively used. The laminating device can be compactly configured.

Although the embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the operation, layout, and the like of the swivel arm can be changed according to the form of double-rowing in the upstream process. Hereinafter, such a modification will be described.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modified example of the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 of FIG. 9 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B. The tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows are all arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 16b of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 16b of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows are all arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction.

In this modification, in the laminated body 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the upstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction. On the other hand, in the laminated body 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction. In this modification, in the swivel arm 500A, for example, after the swivel arm 500A has swiveled, the support portion 541 is rotated by 180 ° to invert the top and bottom of the laminated body 50A. As a result, in the laminated body 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A as in the above embodiment, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 of FIG. 10 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B. The tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, the tab 14b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 14b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs of the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the positive electrodes 11 with a separator supplied in two rows, the tab 16b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of the separator-equipped positive electrodes 11 supplied in two rows, in the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 16b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction.

In this modification, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction in both the laminate 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A and the laminate 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B. Has been done. Therefore, in this modification, in both the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B, the laminated bodies 50A and 50B are transferred to the transport path 400 without rotating the support portion by 180 °.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a modified example of the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 of FIG. 11 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B. The tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, the tab 14b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 14b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs of the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied in two rows project outward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the positive electrodes 11 with a separator supplied in two rows, the tab 16b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Of the separator-equipped positive electrodes 11 supplied in two rows, in the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 16b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction.

In this modification, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the upstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction in both the laminate 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A and the laminate 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B. Has been done. Therefore, in either the swivel arm 500A or the swivel arm 500B, the laminated body 50 may be transferred to the transport path without rotating the support portion 541 by 180 °.

In this modification, in both the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B, for example, after the swivel arm 500 has swiveled, the support portion 541 rotates 180 ° to invert the top and bottom of the laminated bodies 50A and 50B. There is. As a result, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction, as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a modified example of the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 of FIG. 12 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B. The tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project inward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, the tab 14b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 14b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows project inward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the positive electrodes 11 with a separator supplied in two rows, the tab 16b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of the separator-equipped positive electrodes 11 supplied in two rows, in the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 16b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction.

In this modification, the swivel arms 500A and 500B are arranged between the circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B as in the above embodiment. Therefore, the laminated body laminated on the laminated portion 51 is taken out by the swivel arm 500 from the protruding side of the tab. In the state where the swivel arms 500A and 500B are swiveled, the tabs of the laminated body gripped by both the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B project to the right in the transport direction of the transport path 400.

In this modification, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction in both the laminate 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A and the laminate 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B. Has been done. Therefore, in either the swivel arm 500A or the swivel arm 500B, the laminated body 50 may be transferred to the transport path without rotating the support portion 541 by 180 °.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a modified example of the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 of FIG. 13 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B. The tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project inward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, the tab 14b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 14b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 16b of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows project inward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the positive electrodes 11 with a separator supplied in two rows, the tab 16b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Of the separator-equipped positive electrodes 11 supplied in two rows, in the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 16b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction.

In this modification, the layout of the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B is different from the above embodiment. That is, in this modification, the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B are arranged not between the circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B (inside) but on the outside. Therefore, the laminated body formed by the circulating laminated portion 300A is taken out by the swivel arm 500A and swiveled clockwise by about 90 ° in a plan view. The laminated body formed by the circulating laminated portion 300B is taken out by the swivel arm 500B and swiveled by about 90 ° counterclockwise in a plan view.

In the swivel state, the tabs of the laminated body 50 gripped in both the swivel arms 500A and 500B project to the left side in the transport direction of the transport path 400. Further, in both the laminated body 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A and the laminated body 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport path 400. .. Therefore, in this modification, in both the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B, the laminated body is transferred to the transport path without rotating the support portion by 180 °.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a modified example of the electrode laminating device. The electrode stacking device 100 of FIG. 14 includes an electrode supply section 200, circulation stacking sections 300A and 300B, a transport path 400, and swivel arms 500A and 500B. The tabs 14b of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in two rows project inward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, the tab 14b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of the negative electrodes 9 supplied in the two rows, in the negative electrode 9 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 14b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction. Further, the tabs 16b of the positive electrodes 11 with separators supplied in two rows project inward from each other in a direction intersecting (orthogonal in the illustrated example) in the transport direction. Further, in the positive electrode 11 with a separator supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300A among the positive electrodes 11 with a separator supplied in two rows, the tab 16b is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction. Of the separator-equipped positive electrodes 11 supplied in two rows, in the separator-equipped positive electrode 11 supplied to the circulation laminated portion 300B, the tab 16b is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction.

In this modified example, the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B are arranged not between the circulation laminated portion 300A and the circulation laminated portion 300B (inside) but on the outside as in the example of FIG. In the swivel state, the tabs of the laminated body 50 gripped in both the swivel arms 500A and 500B project to the right in the transport direction of the transport path 400. Further, in both the laminated body 50A swiveled by the swivel arm 500A and the laminated body 50B swiveled by the swivel arm 500B, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transport path 400. .. Therefore, in this modification, in both the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B, the laminated body 50 may be transferred to the transport path 400 without rotating the support portion by 180 °.

In this modification, in both the swivel arm 500A and the swivel arm 500B, for example, after the swivel arm swivels, the support portion 541 rotates 180 ° to reverse the top and bottom of the laminated body 50. As a result, the tab 14b of the negative electrode 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path 400 in the transport direction, as in the above embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the swivel arm 500 having the arm portion 530 that can move in the vertical direction has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the swivel arm may have a plurality of arms. The swivel arm 600 shown in FIG. 15 has a base 610, a swivel base 620, an arm portion 630, and a grip portion 640. The base 610 has, for example, a columnar shape, and has substantially the same height as the laminated portion 51 arranged at the highest position. The swivel base 620 has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and is provided so as to cover a part of the side surface of the base base 610. In this modification, a plurality of swivel bases 620 are provided. A plurality of swivel stands 620 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. For example, the number of swivel bases 620 may be the same as the number of laminated portions 51 provided in the circulating laminated portion 300. The swivel base 620 is configured to be swivelable in the circumferential direction with the base base 610 as the center. The arm portion 630 is attached to a part of the swivel base 620 in the circumferential direction with respect to each of the plurality of swivel bases 620. The configuration of each arm portion 630 is the same as the configuration of the arm portion 530 of the above embodiment. That is, the arm portion 630 has a first arm portion 631, a second arm portion 632, and a third arm portion 633. Further, a grip portion 640 for gripping the laminated body is provided at the tip of the third arm portion 633. The configuration of the grip portion 640 may be the same as the configuration of the grip portion 540 of the above embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the electrode stacking device of this modification further includes a robot arm 700 as a transfer device. The robot arm 700 is taken out by the swivel arm 600, receives the swiveled laminate from the swivel arm 600, and is transferred to the transport path 400. The robot arm 700 is composed of a pedestal 710, a first arm 720, a second arm 730, and a hand 740. The first arm 720 is provided on the pedestal 710. The angle of the first arm 720 with respect to the horizontal plane is arbitrarily controlled. The second arm 730 is provided at the tip of the first arm 720. The angle formed by the first arm 720 and the second arm 730 is arbitrarily controlled. The hand 740 is provided at the tip of the second arm 730. The angle formed by the second arm 730 and the hand 740 is arbitrarily controlled. A pair of chucks 741 for gripping the laminated body is provided at the tip of the hand 740.

In this modification, by having the same number of gripping portions 640 as the number of laminated portions 51, each laminated body 50 laminated on the plurality of laminated portions 51 can be taken out at the same time. The plurality of laminated bodies 50 taken out are sequentially transferred to the transport path 400 by the robot arm 700. By shortening the time for taking out the laminated body 50 from the circulating laminated portion 300, the circulating laminated portion 300 can be efficiently driven.

9, 11 ... Electrodes, 14b, 16b ... Tabs, 50A ... 1st laminated body, 50B ... 2nd laminated body, 100 ... Electrode laminating device, 300A ... 1st circulating laminated part, 300B ... 2nd circulating laminated part, 400 ... Transport path, 500, 600 ... Swivel arm (swivel part).

Claims (2)

An electrode laminating device for laminating electrodes including a positive electrode and a negative electrode having a main body portion provided with an active material and a tab protruding from the main body portion.
Said positive supply unit for supplying a positive electrode in two rows along the horizontal direction projecting direction of the tab intersects the transport direction,
A negative electrode supply unit that supplies the negative electrodes in two rows so that the protruding directions of the tabs intersect the horizontal direction intersecting the transport direction.
Laminating said anode of one row of the negative electrode which is supplied from the positive electrode and the negative electrode supply unit of one of the columns of the positive electrode which is supplied from the positive electrode supply unit, forming a first stack a first product layer portion which,
Laminating said anode in the other row of the negative electrode which is supplied from the positive electrode and the negative electrode supply section of the other row of supplied the positive electrode from the positive electrode supply unit, forming a second stack a second product layer portion which,
A transport path for transporting the first laminated body formed by the first laminated portion and the second laminated body formed by the second laminated portion, and
Said first and unloading the first stack from the product layer portion, turning said first laminate in a horizontal direction, a first pivot portion for transferring the transport path,
The second carries the said second stack from the product layer portion, to pivot the second stack in the horizontal direction, and a second pivot portion for transferring the transport path,
The first turning portion is an electrode laminating device that inverts the top and bottom of the first laminated body about an axial direction along a horizontal direction. Wherein the first product layer portion and the second product layer portion along said conveying path being arranged to face each other,
The first pivot portion and the second pivot portion, the is disposed between the first product layer portion and the second product layer portion, the electrode stack according to claim 1.

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