JP5831488B2 - Battery resin sheet processing apparatus and processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery resin sheet processing apparatus and method.

  In recent years, in order to cope with air pollution and global warming, reduction of the amount of carbon dioxide has been strongly desired. In the automobile industry, there is a great expectation for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by introducing electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and the development of secondary batteries for motor drive that holds the key to commercialization of these is thriving. Has been done.

  As a secondary battery for driving a motor, it is required to have extremely high output characteristics and high energy as compared with a consumer lithium ion secondary battery used for a mobile phone, a notebook personal computer or the like. Therefore, a bipolar secondary battery in which lithium ion secondary batteries having the highest theoretical energy among all batteries (one secondary battery is referred to as a single battery) are stacked in series is attracting attention. Development is underway.

  As a technique for cutting a battery separator, a feeding mechanism is disclosed in which a separator unwound from a belt separator unwinding mechanism is cut into a predetermined size and intermittently fed (Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-323116 A

  However, since the battery separator is made of a material having lower conductivity than that of a metal, the separator is charged with static electricity in a cutting apparatus including a step of feeding out from the unwinding mechanism. In addition, the battery separator is thin and wrinkles easily. Therefore, when the separator is cut, wrinkles are generated in the separator, and the electric resistance may increase when the battery is assembled.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an adsorbing unit, a cutting unit, a movable adsorbing unit, a support unit, and a delivery unit. Adsorption means adsorbs the delivered resin sheet at the first adsorbing part and the second adsorbing part adjacent to each other by setting the adsorbing surface to be horizontal and at the same height, and suppresses wrinkling of the resin sheet To do. The cutting means cuts the resin sheet adsorbed by the adsorption means between the first adsorption part and the second adsorption part. The movable adsorbing means adsorbs the cut resin sheet on the first adsorbing part on the adsorbing surface, and conveys it onto the second adsorbing part. The support portion is provided to be movable up and down while supporting the resin sheet. The delivery means feeds the resin sheet onto the first adsorption part through the support part. Further, the support portion is movable point at which the resin sheet to support becomes less the same height as the suction surfaces of the first adsorption unit and a second adsorption section as nadir. The adsorbing means is configured to adsorb the resin sheet conveyed by the movable adsorbing means onto the second adsorbing portion after the adsorbing at the first adsorbing portion of the resin sheet cut by the cutting means is released. The support part moves to the lowest point while supporting the resin sheet before adsorbing the resin sheet at the first adsorbing part, and then adsorbs the resin sheet to the first adsorbing part. The resin sheet is adsorbed by the adsorption part and the second adsorption part.

  According to the battery resin sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, the resin sheet such as a separator or a resin current collector having relatively low conductivity can be cut while suppressing the generation of wrinkles. Increase can be suppressed.

1 is an external view of a laminated battery in which a resin sheet processed by a battery resin sheet processing apparatus and a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. It is sectional drawing of the laminated battery shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the processing apparatus of the resin sheet for batteries which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the processing method of the resin sheet for batteries which concerns on this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the processing apparatus of the resin sheet at the time of enforcing the processing method of the resin sheet for batteries which concerns on this embodiment.

  The battery resin sheet processing apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments. As the resin sheet, a separator made of an insulator having lower conductivity is optimal. Thus, a separator used in a bipolar lithium ion secondary battery (hereinafter referred to as “stacked battery”) will be described below as an example of a resin sheet, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the resin sheet may be a separator used for other batteries or a resin current collector used for batteries. In the drawings to be referred to below, the shape, thickness and the like of the components of the stacked battery are exaggerated for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a stacked battery in which a resin sheet processed by a battery resin sheet processing apparatus and a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stacked battery shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stacked battery 10 has, for example, a rectangular flat shape, and a positive electrode tab 110 </ b> A and a negative electrode tab 110 </ b> B for taking out electric power from both sides thereof are drawn out. The power generation element 120 is wrapped by an exterior material (for example, a laminate film) 130 of the stacked secondary battery 10, and the periphery thereof is heat-sealed. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation element 120 of the stacked battery 10 includes a stacked battery electrode 260 in which a positive electrode active material layer 210 and a negative electrode active material layer 220 are formed on each surface of a current collector 230. Have multiple. Each stacked battery electrode 260 is stacked via the electrolyte layer 240 to form the power generation element 120.

  The electrolyte layer 240 is formed by holding a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte in a separator. The separator is interposed between the positive electrode active material layer 210 and the negative electrode active material layer 220 and has a function of preventing a short circuit due to contact between both active material layers, and a function of holding an electrolyte and ensuring conductivity. . As a separator, the porous sheet | seat and resin film which consist of resin which absorbs and hold | maintains the said electrolyte, and a nonwoven fabric can be mentioned, for example.

  The current collector 230 is a conductive thin film, and may be made of an aluminum foil, a stainless steel foil, a clad material of nickel and aluminum, a clad material of copper and aluminum, or a plating material of a combination of these metals. It is not limited to. For example, the current collector 230 may be a resin current collector.

  Resin current collectors have a lower electrical conductivity than metal current collectors, and thus are relatively easily charged with static electricity and tend to cause wrinkles. For this reason, this embodiment can also be applied to the processing of the resin current collector, like the separator.

  The adjacent positive electrode active material layer 210, electrolyte layer 240, and negative electrode active material layer 220 constitute one unit cell 200. Therefore, the stacked battery 10 has a configuration in which the single cells 200 are stacked. In addition, a seal member 250 for insulating between adjacent current collectors 230 is provided on the outer periphery of the opposing surface of each current collector 230.

  Next, the battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment. The battery resin sheet to which the present embodiment is applied includes a separator and a resin current collector.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a first suction unit 300, a second suction unit 310, a cutter 320, a movable suction unit 330, a tension roller 340, and a separator unwinding mechanism 370. , A guide roller 380, and a control unit 360.

  The first adsorption unit 300 is planar and has a function of adsorbing the separator 350 fed from the separator unwinding mechanism 370 through the support unit 340. Adsorption can be performed, for example, by vacuum suction. That is, between the first adsorption unit 300 and the separator 350 by continuously sucking outside air between the separator 350 and the first adsorption unit sent out onto the first adsorption unit 300 over the entire surface of the first adsorption unit 300. Bring to a vacuum. Thereby, the 1st adsorption | suction part 300 may adsorb | suck the separator 350. FIG. It is desirable to install the first adsorption unit 300 horizontally.

  The second adsorption unit 310 is planar like the first adsorption unit 300 and has a function of adsorbing the separator 350 over the entire surface. The first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310 are disposed adjacent to each other. That is, the first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310 having a planar shape are installed horizontally and at the same height. Thereby, even when the separator 350 is in a state of straddling the first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310, the shape of the separator 350 can be a plane without a step.

  The cutter 320 has a function of cutting the separator 350. The cutter 320 is disposed perpendicular to the first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310 and between the first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310. And the cutter 320 can cut | disconnect the separator 350 between the 1st adsorption | suction part 300 and the 2nd adsorption | suction part 310 by moving to the perpendicular downward direction. A cutter receiver 321 for preventing cutter wear may be provided between the first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310.

  The movable suction unit 330 can include a suction surface 331, a support 333, and a support bar 332. The movable suction unit 330 can move the suction surface 331 in the vertical direction while causing the suction surface 331 to face the first suction unit 300 or the second suction unit 310.

  As a result, the suction surface 331 is lowered and the separator 350 is sandwiched together with the first suction unit 300. By vacuuming the suction surface 331 in this state, the adhesive surface 331 can suck the separator 350.

  Further, the separator 350 can be moved upward by raising the adsorption surface 331 while adsorbing the separator 350 on the adsorption surface 331.

  Here, it is desirable to make the rising speed of the suction surface 331 of the movable suction portion 330 slower than the lowering speed. Thereby, stress concentration of the separator can be relaxed and damage can be suppressed.

  Such movement of the suction surface 331 is realized by providing a drive source on one of the support body 333 that supports the suction surface 331 and the support bar 332 that supports the support body 333, and a driven body on the other side. it can.

Furthermore, the movable suction unit 330 can move the suction surface 331 in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, while the separator 350 is adsorbed, it is possible to move the suction surface 331 from the first adsorbent 3 00 upwardly to the upper second suction portion 310. Such movement of the suction surface 331 is realized by providing a drive source on one of the support body 333 that supports the suction surface 331 and the support bar 332 that supports the support body 333, and a driven body on the other side. it can. By moving the separator while being adsorbed by the movable adsorbing part 330, it is possible to make it difficult to generate wrinkles even during movement.

The tension roller 340 can move up and down in the vertical direction while supporting the separator 350. By moving vertically up and down while supporting the separator 350, on the first adsorption unit 3 00, or the tension causing the separator 350 that span over the first adsorbent 3 00 on the second suction portion 310 Can be adjusted. The tension roller 340 is movable with the same height as the suction surface 331 of the movable suction portion 330 as the highest point and the same height or lower as the first suction portion and the second suction portion as the lowest point.

  By positioning the tension roller 340 at the uppermost point, the separator 350 can be kept horizontal even when the movable suction portion 330 sucks the separator 350 and moves it upward. Thereby, since the tension | tensile_strength of the separator 350 can be made constant, the separator 350 can be conveyed, suppressing generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle. Further, the generation of wrinkles in all the separators 350 can be suppressed, and a constant quality can be maintained. For example, the rising speed of the support portion can be set to 5 mm / s.

  In addition, after the separator 350 is transported onto the second adsorption unit 310, the tension roller 340 is positioned at the lowest point while the separator 350 is adsorbed by the second adsorption unit 310 and not adsorbed by the first adsorption unit 300. Can do. Thereby, the separator 350 can be adsorbed to the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 in a state where the tension of the separator 350 is kept constant. Therefore, the separator 350 can be adsorbed to the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 while suppressing the generation of wrinkles. Further, the generation of wrinkles in all the separators 350 can be suppressed, and a constant quality can be maintained.

  Separator unwinding mechanism 370 has a function of continuously feeding separator 350. Separator unwinding mechanism 370 can comprise, for example, a hoop equipped with separator 350 and a motor that rotationally drives the hoop.

  The guide roller 380 is provided to make the separator 350 fed from the separator unwinding mechanism 370 run smoothly.

  The control unit 360 is a component of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment, and includes a first suction unit 300, a second suction unit 310, a cutter 320, a movable suction unit 330, a tension roller 340, and a separator unwinding. The mechanism 370 and the guide roller 380 are controlled. The control unit 360 may include a storage device, and may control the component by a program stored in the storage device. A signal line provided between each component controlled by the control unit 360 and the control unit 360 is omitted for the sake of simplification of the drawing.

  Next, the battery resin sheet processing method according to this embodiment will be described together with the operation of the processing apparatus.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a flowchart of a method for processing a battery resin sheet according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when the battery resin sheet processing method according to the present embodiment is performed. In FIG. 5, in order to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment, the dimensions of each component of the resin sheet processing apparatus are partially exaggerated. Further, in FIG. 5, the display of reference numerals is omitted in order to avoid complication of the drawing.

  Hereinafter, the processing method of the battery resin sheet according to the present embodiment will be described for each step number with the step numbers in the flowchart of FIG.

[S500]
The separator is adsorbed on the first adsorption part.

  The separator 350 sent out from the separator unwinding mechanism 370 is installed on the first suction unit 300 via the guide roller 380 and the tension roller 340, and the first suction unit 300 is vacuum-sucked to thereby cause the first suction unit 300 to have a separator. 350 is adsorbed. FIG. 5A shows the state of the separator processing apparatus when this step is performed.

  This step is a state generated as a result of carrying out this embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the separator 350 is cut between the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 in a state in which the separator 350 is adsorbed by the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 (described later). Step S507). And it will be in the state of this step by collect | recovering the cut | disconnected separator 350 in the upper part 310 of a 2nd adsorption | suction part.

  In this step, it is desirable to reduce the distance between the first suction unit 300 and the suction surface 331 of the movable suction unit 330. By doing so, since the moving distance of the movable suction portion in the next step can be shortened, the process time can be shortened and the productivity can be improved. For example, the distance between the first suction unit 300 and the suction surface 331 of the movable suction unit 330 can be 10 mm.

[S501]
The separator is adsorbed on the movable adsorption unit.

  The movable suction portion 330 is lowered onto the first suction portion 300 so that the separator 350 is sandwiched between the movable suction portion 330 and the first suction portion 300. In this state, the movable suction part 330 starts vacuum suction and the first suction part 300 releases vacuum suction. Thereby, the separator 350 can be adsorbed to the movable adsorption portion 330.

  FIG. 5B shows the state of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when this step is performed.

[S502]
Raise the tension roller.

  The tension roller 340 is raised to the highest point. The uppermost point of the tension roller 340 is set to the same height as the suction surface 331 when the movable suction unit 330 is raised in the next step S503.

  In the next step S, the tension roller 340 is positioned at the uppermost point before the movable suction part is raised at 503, so that the separator 350 can be moved upward even if the movable suction part 330 sucks the separator 350 and moves it upward. Can be kept horizontal. Thereby, since the tension | tensile_strength of the separator 350 can be made constant, the separator 350 can be conveyed, suppressing generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle. Further, the generation of wrinkles in all the separators 350 can be suppressed, and a constant quality can be maintained.

  FIG. 5C shows the state of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when this step is performed.

[S503]
The separator is transported by the movable suction unit.

  First, the movable adsorption unit 330 is raised above the first adsorption unit 300 while the separator 350 is adsorbed on the entire surface. Next, the movable suction portion 330 is moved horizontally above the second suction portion 310 while the separator 350 is sucked on the entire surface. Thereafter, the movable suction portion 330 is lowered onto the second suction portion while the movable suction portion 330 is sucking the separator 350. Accordingly, the movable suction unit conveys the separator from the first suction unit 300 to the second suction unit 310.

  Thus, since the separator 350 is moved while being adsorbed, wrinkles are hardly generated even during the movement.

  FIG. 5D shows the state of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when this step is performed.

[S304]
The separator is adsorbed on the second adsorption part.

  The separator 350 conveyed on the second adsorption unit 310 in the previous step is vacuum-sucked by the second adsorption unit 310 to adsorb the separator 350 to the entire surface of the second adsorption unit 310. In this step, the first adsorbing unit 300 does not adsorb the separator 350.

  FIG. 5E shows the state of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when this step is performed.

[S305]
Lower the tension roller.

  The tension roller 340 is lowered to the lowest point. The lowest point of the tension roller 340 is set to a point that is not more than the same height as the first suction unit 300 and the second suction unit 310.

  In this step, the tension roller 340 is positioned at the lowest point in a state where the separator 350 is adsorbed by the second adsorbing unit 310 and is not adsorbed by the first adsorbing unit 300. Accordingly, since the tension of the separator 350 can be made constant, in the next step S306, the separator 350 is adsorbed to the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 while suppressing the generation of wrinkles. Can do. Further, the generation of wrinkles in all the separators 350 can be suppressed, and a constant quality can be maintained.

  FIG. 5F shows the state of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when this step is performed.

[S306]
The separator is adsorbed on the first adsorption part.

  In the previous step, the tension roller 340 is lowered and the separator is adsorbed on the entire surface of the first adsorbing unit 300 while the tension of the separator 350 is kept constant. Thereby, the separator 350 can be adsorbed to the first adsorbing part 300 and the second adsorbing part 310 while suppressing the generation of wrinkles.

  FIG. 5G shows the state of the battery resin sheet processing apparatus when this step is performed.

[S307]
Cut the separator.

  The cutter 320 is lowered between the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 while the separator 350 is adsorbed to the first adsorption unit 300 and the second adsorption unit 310 while suppressing the generation of wrinkles in the previous step. To cut the separator. Thereby, the separator 350 can be cut so that wrinkles are not generated in the separator 350. Therefore, an increase in electric resistance of the battery due to wrinkles generated in separator 350 can be suppressed. Further, the separator 350 can be processed without causing breakage or pinholes in the separator 350. Further, since the generation of wrinkles is suppressed by the apparatus, mixing of impurities can be prevented.

  As mentioned above, although the processing apparatus and processing method of the resin sheet for batteries concerning this embodiment were explained, the 1st adsorption part of this embodiment is equivalent to the 1st adsorption part and adsorption means of the present invention, and the 2nd adsorption part. Corresponds to the second adsorption part and the adsorption means. The cutter corresponds to cutting means. The tension roller corresponds to the support portion, the separator corresponds to the resin sheet, and the separator unwinding mechanism corresponds to the feeding means.

<Experimental result>
A comparative experiment of a micro short circuit test was conducted on a bipolar secondary battery using a separator processed by the battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment and a conventional bipolar secondary battery.

  100 bipolar secondary batteries were manufactured using the separator processed by the battery resin sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment, and the manufactured battery was charged and discharged at an environmental temperature of 20 ° C.

  100 bipolar secondary batteries were manufactured using a separator processed by a conventional battery resin sheet processing apparatus, and the manufactured battery was charged and discharged at an environmental temperature of 20 ° C.

  The capacity value of the charged / discharged battery was measured, the battery having a capacity value outside the range of ± 3% of the design value was determined as defective, and the yield was determined.

  As a result, the yield of the conventional bipolar secondary battery was 81%, while the yield of the battery using the separator by the processing apparatus according to this embodiment was 98%.

  By this experiment, the yield improvement effect in the micro short circuit test of the bipolar secondary battery using the separator processed with the processing apparatus of the battery resin sheet according to the present embodiment was verified.

Below, the effect of the processing apparatus and processing method of the resin sheet for batteries which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown.
-Since the battery resin sheet (separator, resin current collector) can be cut so as not to be wrinkled, an increase in electrical resistance when assembled in a battery can be suppressed.
-By incorporating it in the battery stacking process, it is possible to maintain a certain quality of the battery and improve yield and productivity.

10 stacked battery,
110A positive electrode tab,
110B negative electrode tab,
120 power generation elements,
130 exterior material,
200 cells,
210 positive electrode active material layer,
220 negative electrode active material layer,
230 current collector,
240 electrolyte layer,
250 seal member,
260 electrodes,
300 first adsorption part (first adsorption part, adsorption means),
310 second adsorption part (second adsorption part, adsorption means),
320 cutter (cutting means),
330 Movable suction part,
331 adsorption surface,
332 support rod,
333 support,
340 tension roller (support part),
350 separator (resin sheet),
360 control unit,
370 Separator unwinding mechanism (feeding means),
380 Guide roller.

Claims (2)

Adsorption that suppresses generation of wrinkles of the resin sheet by adsorbing the sent resin sheet at the first adsorbing part and the second adsorbing part adjacent to each other by setting the adsorbing surface to be horizontal and at the same height. Means,
Cutting means for cutting the resin sheet adsorbed by the adsorbing means between the first adsorbing part and the second adsorbing part;
Movable adsorbing means for adsorbing the cut resin sheet on the first adsorbing portion on an adsorbing surface and transporting the resin sheet onto the second adsorbing portion;
A support part movable up and down while supporting the resin sheet;
A delivery means for delivering the resin sheet onto the first adsorption part through the support part;
The support portion is movable point at which the resin sheet to support becomes less the same height as the suction surfaces of the first suction section and the second suction portion to a lowest point,
The adsorbing means removes the resin sheet conveyed by the movable adsorbing means onto the second adsorbing part after the adsorbing of the resin sheet cut by the cutting means is released at the first adsorbing part. The support part moves to the lowest point while supporting the resin sheet before adsorbing the resin sheet by the second adsorbing part and adsorbing the resin sheet by the first adsorbing part. An apparatus for processing a resin sheet for a battery, wherein the resin sheet is adsorbed by the first adsorbing portion and the second adsorbing portion by adsorbing the resin sheet. An adsorption stage that adsorbs the delivered resin sheet and suppresses wrinkling of the resin sheet at the first adsorption unit and the second adsorption unit that are adjacent to each other by setting the adsorption surface to be horizontal and at the same height. When,
A cutting step of cutting the resin sheet adsorbed by the adsorbing means between the first adsorbing part and the second adsorbing part;
A step of adsorbing the cut resin sheet on the first adsorption unit with an adsorption surface and conveying the resin sheet onto the second adsorption unit;
In the adsorption stage, after the resin sheet cut in the cutting stage is released from the adsorption in the first adsorption part, the resin sheet conveyed on the second adsorption part in the conveyance stage is adsorbed in the second adsorption unit, prior to adsorption of the resin sheet in the first adsorption unit, a supporting portion feeding into the resin sheet supporting while said first suction portion on the support portion for supporting the battery resin sheet is characterized in that moving while supporting the resin sheet by the supporting unit to the lowest point to be less flush with the said surface to be adsorbed in the first adsorption section and the second suction portion Resin sheet processing method.

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