JP2007329112A - Lithium ion cell, its manufacturing method, and manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology of efficiently mass-producing a bagged electrode plate and a unit cell laminated body and a manufacturing device as well as to provide a laminated type lithium ion cell capable of being mass-produced at low cost and of high quality with a low self-discharging rate, for establishment of mass-production technology for a laminated type lithium ion cell. <P>SOLUTION: With the use of a plurality of 'cradles' with suction boards 1-4 and 'holding plates' 2-3 in circulation movement, an electrode plate (a cathode plate) 11 in a state pinched by the 'cradle ' suctioning and fixing an underside separator cutoff piece 14 and the 'holding plate' suctioning and fixing an upper side separator cutoff piece 15 is moved as it is, a top and a bottom separators of the electrode plate are thermally adhered automatically on their outer periphery, cut off, and a residue separator is removed. A bagged electrode plate (cathode plate) 16 made in the above method and an opposing electrode plate (an anode plate) are alternately laminated to manufacture a unit cell laminated body of a laminated type lithium ion cell automatically in mass. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a large laminated lithium ion battery, and more particularly to a large laminated lithium ion battery for automobiles.

Conventionally, a lithium ion battery has been mainly a small spiral type for the electronics field, and mass production technology in this field has been established. Recently, there has been an increasing demand for large-sized lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles, emergency power, and nighttime power storage. In order to increase the size of the lithium ion battery, a stacked type is suitable. However, mass production technology for stacked lithium ion batteries has not yet been established.

  In order to establish mass production technology for stacked lithium ion batteries, a technology and a manufacturing apparatus for efficiently manufacturing a large number of unit cell stacks made by stacking a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate are required.

  The quality of the stacked lithium ion battery and the production yield are governed by how well this single cell stack is made. The production of the cell stack requires a technique and an apparatus for repeatedly and automatically laminating a positive electrode plate, a separator, a negative electrode plate, a separator, a positive electrode plate, a separator, a negative electrode plate, and a separator.

  At this time, it is conceivable to make a unit cell stack by putting the positive electrode plate in a bag and alternately laminating the bag-containing positive electrode plate and the bare negative electrode plate. In this method, since the same effect as the above-mentioned lamination can be obtained by alternately laminating two types of a positive electrode plate in a bag and a bare negative electrode plate, the laminating process is simplified. The present inventor has found that a laminated lithium ion battery comprising a single battery laminate produced by this method has a low self-discharge rate and good quality. The reason is considered to be that the separator around the positive electrode plate is sealed by thermal bonding, so that there is little leakage of current in the peripheral portion of the electrode plate of the unit cell laminate. It has also been found that the yield during manufacturing is good by simplifying the lamination process. However, a technology and an apparatus for automatically and automatically manufacturing a bag electrode plate have not been developed yet.

  Incidentally, one electric vehicle needs about 100 cells of a laminated lithium ion battery, and for that purpose, about 10,000 positive and negative plates are laminated. Therefore, in order to manufacture a laminated lithium ion battery for 10,000 units, it is necessary to make a unit cell laminate by laminating about 100 million positive and negative electrode plates.

  The present invention is a key technology for efficiently producing a large number of stable single cell laminates of a laminated lithium ion battery in large quantities, and is a multilayer lithium ion battery incorporating a novel method for producing a bag electrode plate. A method and apparatus for manufacturing a cell stack and a lithium ion battery based on the manufacturing method are proposed.

  That is, the object of the present invention is to provide a technology and a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a single cell stack in a large amount efficiently with a good yield in order to establish a mass production technology for a stacked lithium ion battery, and mass production. Therefore, it is possible to provide a stacked lithium ion battery having a good quality with low self-discharge rate and low cost.

  The unit cell of the laminated lithium ion battery according to the present invention comprises a positive electrode plate coated with a positive electrode mixture on both sides of a positive electrode current collector (usually a thin aluminum plate) and a negative electrode mixture made of a negative electrode current collector (usually copper). A single battery stack obtained by alternately stacking negative plates coated on both sides of a thin plate) by inserting separators into a single battery (cell) case and connecting the positive electrode terminal metal fitting and negative electrode terminal metal fitting to a single battery (cell) case. The liquid is poured into a sealed structure.

  A cell stack, which is the heart of a stacked lithium ion battery, is usually manufactured by repeatedly laminating a positive electrode plate, a separator, a negative electrode plate, a separator, a positive electrode plate, a separator, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. In the invention, a manufacturing method of manufacturing a unit cell laminate by first manufacturing a separator-made positive electrode plate (or negative electrode plate) and alternately laminating a naked negative electrode plate (or positive electrode plate) opposite thereto is adopted. . The present inventor has achieved it as a result of earnestly researching the development of a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus suitable for mass production of bag electrode plates efficiently.

  As mentioned earlier, the advantage of this method is that only the two components of the bare negative electrode plate (or positive electrode plate) facing the bag positive electrode plate (or negative electrode plate) are alternately laminated, so that the lamination process is It is to be simplified. Conventionally, the present inventor has alternately stacked a bare electrode plate (a negative electrode plate or a positive electrode plate) facing a handmade bag electrode plate (a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate), and a unit cell laminate of a stacked lithium ion battery. It has been found that a large-sized laminated lithium ion battery with a low self-discharge rate and good quality can be produced, and the large-sized laminated lithium ion battery made by this method has been used for more than 5 years to 10 years. It has also been found to be an excellent battery suitable for electric vehicles with a lifetime. It has also been found that this production method has a good yield during production. However, mass production is difficult by hand, and the cost is high. The key to reducing the cost of lithium-ion batteries by this method is to develop technology for efficiently and mass-manufacturing bag electrode plates.

  According to the present invention, a novel manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for automatically and automatically manufacturing a bag electrode plate are provided. This technique, a bag positive electrode plate (or negative electrode plate) and a bare negative electrode plate (or positive electrode plate) are provided. By combining techniques for alternately stacking, it is possible to provide a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for automatically and automatically manufacturing a single-cell stack of stacked lithium ion batteries in large quantities. In addition, by incorporating a single battery laminate manufactured by this manufacturing method, it is possible to provide a large quantity of low-cost lithium-ion batteries with a low self-discharge rate and good quality.

  One of the features of the present invention is that a single cell laminate of a stacked lithium ion battery is formed by alternately laminating a bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate or positive electrode plate) facing a bag electrode plate (positive electrode plate or negative electrode plate). Is to manufacture. Conventionally, the industrialization of this method has not progressed because there has been no technology for efficiently producing a bag electrode plate.

  Another feature is to provide a novel manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus suitable for mass production with high efficiency of the electrode plate in a bag.

  In addition, one of the features of the novel method for manufacturing a bag electrode plate is that the separator is thin and difficult to handle, and the separator belt fed out from the separator roll is cut to a size slightly larger than the electrode plate (hereinafter referred to as the electrode plate) In the form of "separator cut piece"), this is also a process of manufacturing a bag-shaped electrode plate in a state where it is superposed on the upper and lower sides of an electrode plate that requires care. This is made possible by carrying out the processing process while moving the “sandwich electrode plate” proposed by the present invention while maintaining the state, and forming the “sandwich electrode plate”. This is the function of a plurality of “moving bases with suction plates” and a plurality of “moving press plates with suction plates” that are circulated and introduced.

  The manufacturing method which manufactures the single cell laminated body of the lithium ion battery incorporating the novel manufacturing method which manufactures the electrode plate with separator bag making which is one form of this invention below is demonstrated. That is, a plurality of “carrying bases with suction plates that circulate” (hereinafter referred to as “bases”), a lower separator band feeding device that feeds the lower separator band from the separator roll, and an upper separator band from the separator roll. An upper separator band feeding device that feeds out, an upper separator band receiving device that receives the fed upper separator band, and one moving or a plurality of “pressing plates with suction plates that circulate and move” (hereinafter referred to as “pressing plates”). In the apparatus, the lower separator band automatically fed out from the lower separator band feeding device is automatically taken up in a state where the lower separator band is sucked and fixed on the “cradle” A by the suction disk, and the lower separator band feeding device and “ The "cradle" B is automatically inserted into the space between the "cradles" A, and the lower separator band “B” is set in a state of being sucked and fixed by the suction disk, and the lower separator band is set to “cradle” A with the lower separator band being sucked and fixed to both “cradle” A and “cradle” B. It cuts automatically between the “cradles” B, and creates a state in which the lower separator cut piece with the lower separator band cut on the “cradles” A is sucked and fixed. At the same time that the electrode plate is automatically placed, the upper separator band automatically fed from the upper separator band feeding device onto the upper separator band receiving device in parallel with this is automatically pushed by the “presser plate”. In this state, the upper separator band is automatically cut between the upper separator band feeding device and the “presser plate”, and the upper separator cut piece with the upper separator band cut under the “presser plate” is sucked and fixed. Make a state, A state in which the support plate is automatically moved onto the cradle A and the upper separator cut piece and the presser plate are automatically held in place at the electrode plate and the lower separator cut piece. The sandwiched electrode plate sandwiched between the "cradle" with the lower separator cut piece fixed by suction and the "presser plate" with the upper separator cut piece fixed by suction (hereinafter "sandwich electrode plate") The upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically heat-bonded while maintaining the state and automatically moved, and the heat-bonded part of the separator outside the edge of the electrode plate or A bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate or positive electrode plate) facing the bag electrode plate (positive electrode plate or negative electrode plate) made by a method that automatically cuts the outside and automatically removes the excess separator. The stacking type A lithium ion battery manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus based on this method for manufacturing a single cell stack of a lithium ion battery are effective for manufacturing a large number of single cell stacks of a stacked lithium ion battery. I found out.

  The significance of the present invention is that, as described above, a bare electrode plate (negative electrode) opposed to a bag electrode plate (positive electrode plate or negative electrode plate) manufactured by the novel method for manufacturing a bag electrode plate proposed in the present invention. Plate or positive electrode plate) are alternately stacked to produce a single cell laminate of a laminated lithium ion battery, which enables mass production at a low cost for a large quality laminated lithium ion battery with low self-discharge rate efficiency and good quality Is to provide a simple manufacturing technique and manufacturing apparatus.

  The present invention also provides a technique and apparatus for mass-producing an excellent large-sized laminated lithium ion battery suitable for “electric vehicles” having a low self-discharge rate and a long life, at a low cost.

  The point of the novel manufacturing method of the electrode plate with bag proposed as one form of the present invention in order to enable these features is as follows:

1) “Separator cut pieces” stacked on the top and bottom of the electrode when manufacturing the electrode plate in a bag are fixed by suctioning the lower separator cut piece to the “cradle” and the upper separator cut piece to the “holding plate”, respectively. Please handle in the condition.

2) Use a plurality of “carrying bases with suction plates that circulate” (hereinafter referred to as “cradles”) and a plurality of “pressing plates with suction plates that circulate” (hereinafter referred to as “pressing plates”).

3) The method of sucking and fixing the lower separator cut piece to the “cradle” is the state in which the lower separator band fed from the lower separator band feeding device is sucked and fixed on the “cradle” A by the suction disk. It automatically picks up and inserts the “cradle” B automatically into the space formed between the lower separator strip feeding device and the “cradle” A. In this state, the lower separator strip is connected to the “cradle” A. Cutting between the “cradle” B automatically and fixing the lower separator cut piece on the “cradle” A by suction.

4) The method of sucking and fixing the upper separator cut piece to the “holding plate” is to automatically hold the upper separator band fed on the upper separator band receiving device by the upper separator band feeding device. In this state, the upper separator band is automatically cut between the upper separator band feeding device and the “pressing plate”, and the upper separator cut piece is sucked and fixed under the “pressing plate”.
The upper separator band receiving device may be a belt conveyor or a pedestal with a suction plate that reciprocates in the flow direction of the upper separator band, but is not limited thereto.

5) A sandwich electrode plate (hereinafter referred to as a “sandwich electrode plate”) sandwiched between a “cradle” that sucks and fixes the lower separator cut piece and a “presser plate” that sucks and fixes the upper separator cut piece. The processing steps for manufacturing the electrode plate in a bag are sequentially performed while making and moving the product while maintaining the state. That is, while the “sandwich electrode plate” is moved while maintaining the state, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically thermally bonded, and the separator is thermally bonded outside the edge of the electrode plate. Automatically cutting off the outer part or outside thereof, and automatically removing the excess separator.

Thus, a bag-shaped electrode plate is manufactured. That is, it has been found that it is possible to efficiently and stably manufacture a bag electrode plate only by combining these five elements. The significance and necessity of each point are explained below.

  First, “Handling with the lower separator cut piece on the“ cradle ”and the upper separator cut piece on the“ holding plate ”while being sucked and fixed” is the first point. It plays an important role in handling the thin and difficult-to-handle separators reliably and accurately. In a lithium ion battery, a porous polypropylene film or a porous polyethylene film having a thickness of 20 to 40 microns is used as a separator. Further, as exemplified in the embodiment of the present specification, two sheets such as a thin porous polypropylene film or porous polyethylene film and a polypropylene nonwoven fabric or polyethylene nonwoven fabric having a thickness of 20 to 40 microns are used. There are also cases where they are used in a superimposed manner. In either case, the separator is thin and difficult to handle. As a way to handle such thin separators “reliably”, “Handle the lower separator cut piece to the“ cradle ”and the upper separator cut piece to the“ holding plate ”in a suction and fixed state”. Devised.

  In addition, the electrode plate of the lithium ion battery is thin and low in rigidity with a thickness of 50 to 300 microns, and an electrode agent (on both sides of a thin plate of aluminum (positive electrode) or copper (negative electrode) with a thickness of 10 to 30 microns) (A positive electrode agent or a negative electrode agent) is applied and needs to be handled carefully. If not handled carefully, the applied electrode agent will fall off and the small particles will cause self-discharge. In order to handle the electrode plate carefully, it is important to handle the thin separator in a surely flat shape.

It is also important to handle thin separators “accurately”. The size of the electrode plate is about 100 mm to 200 mm in length and width. However, in the process of manufacturing the bag electrode plate, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically heat bonded to each other. There is a process of automatically cutting the heat-bonded portion of the separator or the outside thereof at the outside of the edge of the sheet, in which a positioning with an accuracy of about 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters is required. If this accuracy is reduced, the size of the bag electrode plate is set larger than the size of the electrode plate, and the volume energy density of the lithium ion battery is lowered accordingly.
Moreover, if the accuracy of positioning at the time of thermal bonding or cutting is insufficient, there is a possibility that the yield may be lowered, for example, by cutting the electrode plate.

  In order to ensure positioning during thermal bonding or cutting, first, the dimensions of the “presser plate” should be matched to the periphery of the electrode plate, and the periphery of the electrode plate should be thermally bonded along the “presser plate”. In addition, providing a function of cutting is effective in improving the workability of the apparatus. In addition, by detecting the position of the electrode plate on the cradle and making a fine adjustment to suppress the electrode plate accordingly, yield due to poor positioning during thermal bonding or cutting is provided. Can be prevented.

  In addition, the device for detecting the position of the electrode plate was provided in the thermal bonding machine and the cutting machine, and it was attempted to adjust the position of the cutting machine and cut each time, but the operating speed of the apparatus could be significantly slowed down. . By adopting a “holding plate”, these problems were solved. In addition, when the separator is thermally bonded, the separator may be deformed and cause problems. However, the size of the “pressing plate” is adjusted to the circumference of the electrode plate, and the separator that is deformed by thermal bonding is pressed down. This also solved the problem.

  The second point is “a plurality of“ carrying bases with suction plates that circulate ”(hereinafter referred to as“ cradles ”) and a plurality of“ press plates with suction plates that circulate ”(hereinafter referred to as“ press plates ”). The use of is an important point that enables mass production of bag electrode plates according to the present invention. Using one “cradle” and one “holding plate”, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically thermally bonded, and the separator is thermally bonded outside the edge of the electrode plate. In this case, it is difficult to shorten the time (tact time) for manufacturing one bag-shaped electrode plate. Further, the “method of sucking and fixing the lower separator cut piece to the“ cradle ”” devised in the present invention described below cannot be adopted.

  By using a plurality of “cradles” and a plurality of “holding plates”, the tact time can be greatly shortened for the first time. In addition, in order to continue production of bag electrode plates, it is necessary to "circulate and use multiple" cradles "and multiple" holding plates ". This is one of the features of the present invention. In the “Embodiments of the Invention” of the present specification, a plurality of “cradles” includes a lower separator cut piece attaching portion, an electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply portion, an electrode plate sandwiching portion, a separator thermal bonding portion, Along the "cradle" moving rail along the flow of the main process of making the electrode plate with bag, such as the electrode plate perimeter cutting part, surplus separator removing part, "holding plate" removing part, unit cell laminate stacking part, etc. After manufacturing the bag electrode plate while moving and taking out the bag electrode plate completed in the last cell stack laminate from the cradle, the cradle is under the cradle moving rail. Circulate and return to the first lower separator cut piece pasting section. In addition, a plurality of “holding plates” are moved from the upper separator cut piece attaching part provided on the upper side in parallel with the flow of the main bag-made electrode plate manufacturing process step, and the electrode plate is sandwiched between them. Join the "cradle" at the part and proceed with the flow of the main bag-made electrode plate manufacturing process together with the "cradle". Return to the first upper separator cut piece pasting part. Thus, in this specification, the “cradle” circulates under the flow of the main bag electrode plate manufacturing process, and the “presser plate” circulates over the flow of the main bag electrode plate manufacturing process. Although the moving mechanism is employed, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the moving mechanism can be circulated using the left and right spaces in the flow of the main bag-made electrode plate manufacturing process.

The third point, “Method of sucking and fixing the lower separator cut piece to the“ cradle ””, is to suck the lower separator band fed from the lower separator band feeding device onto the “cradle” A. Automatically with the speed at which the lower separator belt unwinding device unwinds in a state of being fixed by suction, and the “cradle” B is automatically placed at the interval formed between the lower separator belt unwinding device and the “cradle” A. Then, the lower separator strip is automatically cut between “cradle” A and “cradle” B to form a lower separator cut piece on “cradle” A and suction Create a fixed state. That is, on the “cradle” A, “a“ cradle ”in which the lower separator cut piece is fixed by suction” is formed. Next, “cradle” B plays the role of “cradle” A, and new cradle “B” circulates. Such an operation is repeated on a “cradle” that circulates one after another.

At this time, the lower separator band was sucked and fixed by the suction disk of the “cradle” B, and the lower separator band was sucked and fixed to both the “cradle” A and the “cradle” B. It is also conceivable that the lower separator band is automatically cut between the “cradle” A and the “cradle” B in the state. By doing in this way, this process can be advanced more reliably.
In the “Embodiment of the Invention” in this specification, a combination of a lower separator belt feeding roll and a lower separator belt feeding belt conveyor is shown as the lower separator radar feeding device, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  One feature of this method is that the lower separator band is automatically picked up together with the speed at which the lower separator band feeding roll is fed while being sucked and fixed on the “cradle” A by the suction disk. It is in the point which can maintain the state which always applied moderate pulling force to the separator belt. By maintaining a state in which an appropriate tensile force is applied, the lower separator band is cut into a predetermined shape and fixed to the “cradle” by suction without causing wrinkles or distortion in the lower separator band.

“Cutting the lower separator strip in a predetermined position between“ cradle ”A and“ cradle ”B” is a requirement of the present invention. Here, “between“ cradle ”A and“ cradle ”B” will be described. In order to “cut the lower separator strip at a predetermined position”, a receiving surface of the cutting blade is required. In the “embodiment of the invention” of the present specification, the right end of the “cradle” B (assuming that the machining process proceeds in the right direction) is cut as the receiving surface of the cutting blade. It can also be cut at the left end of. Further, a cutting blade receiving surface can be provided between the “cradle” A and the “cradle” B only when cutting, so that the cutting can be performed. Thus, “between“ cradle ”A and“ cradle ”B” means between the right end of “cradle” B and the left end of “cradle” A.
Moreover, the receiving surface of a cutting blade is normally required in the place to cut | disconnect. It is necessary to give consideration to design aspects such as surface hardness and exchangeability so that the surface that receives the separator band cutting machine and the electrode plate peripheral cutting machine of the “cradle” plays the role of “cutting blade receiving surface”.

  In the “method of sucking and fixing the lower separator cut piece to the“ cradle ”” using the “cradle” A and the “cradle” B, the lower separator cut piece on the “cradle” A is cut. Both lines can be made inside the cradle A edge. First, cut at the left end of the “cradle” A, then shift the “cradle” B slightly to the right before the “cradle” B becomes the next “cradle” A, In the state where the cutting line of the separator band is moved to the inside of the edge of the “cradle” B, the “cradle” B becomes the next “cradle” A, and the operation described above with the lower separator band sucked and fixed. By repeating the above, both the cutting lines of the lower separator cut piece on the “cradle” A can be formed inside the edge of the “cradle” A. This is the case when making a bag-like electrode plate by simply bonding the upper and lower separators of the electrode plate of the “sandwich electrode plate” by omitting cutting around the electrode plate after heat bonding and removing the excess separator. Since the part of a surplus separator can be made small, its value is high.

The fourth point, “method of sucking and fixing the upper separator cut piece to the“ holding plate ””, is that the upper separator band fed out on the upper separator band receiving device (belt conveyor) by the upper separator band feeding device. It is automatically pressed by the “presser plate”, and in this state, the upper separator band is automatically cut between the upper separator band feeding device and the “presser plate”, and the upper separator cut piece is sucked under the “presser plate”. A method of fixing was devised. In this state, the “holding plate” on which the upper separator cut piece is sucked and fixed is lifted above the upper separator band receiving device (belt conveyor) and moved to a predetermined location.
In order to stabilize the operation of sucking and fixing the upper separator cut piece to the “holding plate”, it is conceivable to provide a suction disk on a belt conveyor as the upper separator band receiving device. Further, in the “Embodiment of the Invention” of the present specification, the upper separator band feeding device is shown as a roll in contact with the upper separator band receiving belt conveyor, but is not limited thereto.

  Furthermore, in order to further stabilize the movement of the upper separator band on the upper separator band receiving belt conveyor, the length of the belt conveyor is lengthened, the upper separator band is pressed by the “holding plate” A, and is sucked and fixed. Then, the "presser plate" A is moved in accordance with the movement of the upper separator band feeding device and the upper separator band receiving device (belt conveyor), the upper separator band is taken up, and the "presser plate" A and the upper separator band feeding device The upper separator band in the interval is pressed with a new “presser plate” B, and in this state, the upper separator band is automatically cut between “presser plate” A and “presser plate” B, and “presser plate” A It is also conceivable to form a state in which the upper separator cut piece is fixed under suction.

  The fifth point is “a sandwich electrode plate sandwiched between a“ cradle ”to which the lower separator cut piece is sucked and fixed and a“ presser plate ”to which the upper separator cut piece is sucked and fixed (hereinafter referred to as“ sandwich electrode ”). The processing steps for manufacturing the bag electrode plate are sequentially performed while the plate is moved while maintaining this state. That is, while moving the “sandwich electrode plate” while maintaining its state, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically thermally bonded, and the separator is thermally bonded outside the edge of the electrode plate. The cut portion or the outside thereof is automatically cut, and the excess separator is automatically removed to produce a bag-shaped electrode plate.

  In this specification, as a mechanism for holding and moving the “sandwich electrode plate”, the “cradle” is moved on the “cradle” moving rail, and the “presser plate” is moved on the cradle moving rail. A method is adopted in which the "holding plate" is moved in a state of being hung on a holding plate moving rail provided in parallel, and at this time the "pressing plate" is pressed against the "cradle" with a spring. In addition to this, after forming the “sandwich electrode plate”, the “holding plate” that moves on the “cradle” moving rail and the “pressing plate” that constitutes this and the “sandwich electrode plate” It is also possible to fix it with a clamp.

  In this way, “moving the electrode plate in a sandwich state” while maintaining its state is generally used with a thin separator that is difficult to handle and an electrode plate that is easily damaged when handled. It has become possible to handle with automated equipment. The point is one of the features of the present invention. Then, “the electrode plate in the sandwich state” is formed, and the processing steps for manufacturing the bag electrode plate are sequentially performed while holding and moving the electrode plate. In addition, it has become possible to manufacture efficiently. In addition, the thin and difficult-to-handle separator and the electrode plate that is easily damaged can be handled gently. This is considered to be the reason why it is effective for mass production of lithium ion batteries.

  In the present invention, as a novel manufacturing method of a bag electrode plate, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically thermally bonded while moving the “sandwich electrode plate” while maintaining the state. We propose a method of manufacturing a bag electrode plate by automatically cutting the heat-bonded part of the separator on the outside of the edge of the electrode plate, or automatically removing the excess separator. In this specification, this method is mainly described.

  In addition to this, in the present invention, as a novel manufacturing method of the electrode plate in a bag, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically moved while the “sandwich electrode plate” is moved while maintaining the state. A method of manufacturing a bag electrode plate by thermally bonding using a hot iron or a hot wire with a sharp tip and simultaneously cutting and then automatically removing an excess separator is proposed.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, as a novel method for manufacturing a bag electrode plate, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are automatically heated while moving the “sandwich electrode plate” while maintaining the state. A method of manufacturing a bag electrode plate by simply bonding is also proposed. In this case, the separator band is cut when the lower separator cut piece is sucked and fixed to the “cradle” and when the upper separator cut piece is sucked and fixed to the “holding plate”. Therefore, it is not necessary to cut the heat-bonded portion of the separator or the outside thereof outside the edge of the electrode plate, and further remove the excess separator. However, in this case, since the width of the excess separator remaining on the bag electrode plate is larger than the above-described method, the high volumetric energy density required for the lithium ion battery for electric vehicles is somewhat sacrificed. It is thought that it becomes.

  The present invention aims to develop a technology for industrially mass-producing laminated lithium-ion batteries for automobiles, but in the case of electric cars, a unit cell stack having as large a capacity as possible is accommodated. Is required to. That is, there is a high demand for volume energy density as well as weight energy density. The bag electrode plate manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention incorporates the removal of the cut excess separator, so that the size of the thermal bonding portion of the separator around the bag electrode plate is sufficiently small, about 1 mm or less. Therefore, it is thought that it contributes to the improvement of the volume energy density of a lithium ion battery.

  Finally, the bag-shaped electrode plate manufacturing process of the present invention is completed by taking out the completed bag-shaped electrode plate from the “cradle” and supplying it to the unit cell laminate having the bare electrode plate supply section. The “cradle” and “presser plate” that have moved together with the “sandwich electrode plate” are circulated and moved by the cradle / presser plate circulation device proposed in the present invention.

  In the last unit cell laminate part, a bare electrode plate (negative electrode or positive electrode) facing the bag electrode plate (positive electrode or negative electrode) manufactured by the newly developed bag electrode plate manufacturing method is a laminating device. A single battery stack is manufactured by alternately and alternately stacking.

  "Receiver", "Presser plate", Receiver / presser plate circulation device, "Receiver" suction disk function, "Presser plate" suction disk function, lower and upper separator rolls, lower separator belt feed Device, upper separator strip feeding device, upper separator strip receiving device, lower and upper separator strip cutter, electrode plate (positive electrode) feeder, thermal bonding machine, electrode plate perimeter cutter, surplus separator remover, bare electrode plate ( The movements of the negative electrode plate feeding machine, the laminating machine and the like are controlled by an electrically or mechanical mechanism that is completely linked, and operate intermittently and automatically.

The manufacturing method of a separator-made electrode plate, which is the core of the present invention, has been developed to efficiently mass-produce a unit cell laminate of a laminated lithium ion battery. As described above, it has been developed in accordance with the characteristics of the separator, electrode plate, and unit cell laminate of the lithium ion battery, particularly the characteristics of the separator and electrode plate. As a result, the laminated lithium ion battery comprising the single battery laminate made by the method of the present invention is an excellent quality lithium ion battery having a low self-discharge rate.

  The present invention is a single cell laminate formed by laminating a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate, which are the heart of a laminated lithium ion battery suitable for large-sized lithium ion batteries such as for electric vehicles, emergency power, and nighttime power storage. A manufacturing technique and a manufacturing apparatus for efficiently manufacturing a large amount of the product.

  A laminated lithium ion battery comprising a single battery laminate produced by the method of the present invention is an excellent quality lithium ion battery having a low self-discharge rate, and the present invention enables mass production of laminated lithium ion batteries. In addition, since the yield at the time of manufacture is good, it is expected to realize cost reduction that is widely demanded for large-sized lithium ion batteries for automobiles.

  The whole schematic diagram of two examples of the manufacturing apparatus of a bag-containing electrode plate and a cell laminated body based on this invention is shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2.

  In order to shorten the tact time of the apparatus, FIG. 1 shows the basics of the present invention, namely, “a pedestal with a suction plate that circulates” (hereinafter referred to as “the cradle”) and “a presser plate with a suction plate that circulates and moves” This shows an example in which the number of “presser plates” is increased. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the number of “cradles” and “holding plates” is reduced at the expense of the takt time of the apparatus. In this example, the separator sandwiching part and the electrode plate peripheral cutting part are united, and at the same time, the outside of the edge of the electrode plate of claim 2 is thermally bonded using a thermal iron or a hot wire with a sharp tip. It corresponds to the case of cutting. In either case, a method is adopted in which the “cradle” is circulated and moved under the main bag-made electrode plate production line, and the “presser plate” is circulated and moved over the main bag-made electrode plate production line. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these, and a method of circulating and moving the “cradle” and the “holding plate” to the left and right of the main bag-made electrode plate production line is also conceivable.

  This description will be made in detail according to FIG. 1, and only parts different from FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1A is an elevation view of the upper separator cut piece attaching portion 92, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the upper separator cut piece attaching portion 92, and FIG. 1A is an elevation view of FIG. (B) The AA 'cross section of a top view is shown. FIG. 1 (c) shows a main bag-made electrode plate production line (lower separator cut piece attaching portion 91, electrode plate (positive plate) supply portion 93, electrode plate sandwiching portion 94, separator thermal bonding portion 95, electrode plate. Elevated view of the peripheral cutting part 96, the surplus separator removing part 97, the presser plate removing part 97 ′ and the unit cell laminate stacking part 99 (including the bare electrode supply part 98)), (d) shows the production of the bag electrode plate A plan view of the line is shown, and FIG. 1C is an elevation view showing a BB ′ cross section of the plan view of FIG.

  FIG. 1 (e) shows an elevational view of the cradle / presser plate circulation and movement device 71, and an AA ′ cross section and a BB ′ cross section of the cradle / presser plate circulation and movement device 71 of FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (d). Is displayed centering on “cradle” and “presser plate” so that these movements are easy to understand.

  3 to 6 show all the main elements of the apparatus in elevation and plan views, and explain the manufacturing process of the bag electrode plate and the manufacturing process of the unit cell stack.

  3A to 6A are elevation views and FIG. 3B is a plan view. The elevation view shows a cross-sectional view of the BB 'plane of the plan view. The elevation view mainly shows the positional relationship of the apparatus. The electrode plate moving machine, the thermal bonding machine, the cutting machine, etc. do not show the actual size or shape, but show that the devices having the respective functions are in their positions and perform the respective functions. The plan view is a view seen from above with the AA 'plane of the elevation view as the center, and the upper and lower separators and electrode plate portions are displayed centering on the upper surface of the "cradle".

  FIGS. 7 to 10 are enlarged views of only the elevational views of FIGS. 3 to 7 and show how the lower separator, the upper separator, and the electrode plate are processed into a bag electrode plate. However, the thicknesses of the separator and the electrode plate are displayed relatively large relative to the vertical and horizontal dimensions so that they can be discriminated in the drawing. In addition, the separator cutting line 21, the separator thermal bonding part 22, the separator cutting line (electrode plate periphery) 23, and the surplus separator part 24 are also displayed relatively large relative to the vertical and horizontal dimensions. The reason for this is to make the movement of the electrode plate and separator, which is the main role of this patent, as easy as possible.

  FIG. 11 shows a process in which a bag-shaped electrode plate is manufactured from the lower separator cut piece, the upper separator cut piece and the electrode plate by the method of the present invention in a form in which the “cradle” and the “holding plate” are removed, The process is easy to understand.

  FIG. 11A shows a cross-sectional view of the BB ′ plane of FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11B shows a plan view of the AA ′ plane of FIG. 11 (1) shows an electrode plate (positive plate) supply unit 93 in the vertical direction, FIG. 11 (2) shows an electrode plate sandwiching unit 94, and FIG. 11 (3) shows an electrode plate sandwiching unit 94. 11 (4) shows the shape after removing the “cradle” and “presser plate” of the separator thermal bonding section 95, and FIG. 11 (5) shows the shape after removing the “cradle” and “presser plate”. FIG. 11 (6) shows the shape obtained by removing the “cradle” and the “presser plate” of the electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96, and FIG. 11 (6) shows the “cradle” and the “presser” after the surplus separator removing portion 97 is removed. The shape excluding the “plate”, that is, the bag electrode plate 16 is shown.

  12A, 12B, and 12C show the details of the electrode plate 11, and FIGS. 12D, 12E, and 12F show the details of the electrode plate 16 in the bag.

  12A is a plan view of the electrode plate 11, FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line JJ ′ of FIG. . Here, the electrode plate 11 is formed by applying an electrode mixture on both sides of a conductor (aluminum or copper thin plate) 41 "parts where the electrode material of the electrode plate is applied" 41 and "ears of the electrode plate" 42 (of the conductor) It is a portion where no electrode material is applied and a portion for taking out electricity from the electrode plate.

  12 (d) is a plan view of the electrode plate 16 with bag, FIG. 12 (e) is a KK ′ cross section of FIG. 12 (d), and FIG. 12 (f) is LL ′ of FIG. 12 (d). A cross section is shown. Here, the bag-containing electrode plate 16 includes the electrode plate 11 (consisting of “a portion of the electrode plate coated with the electrode material” 41 and “electrode plate ear” 42) and the separator bag 45. 12D, 12E, and 12F show the thermal bonding portion 22 and the separator cutting line (periphery of the electrode plate) 23 of the separator bag 45 of the bag-containing electrode plate 16. FIG.

  FIG. 13 shows a unit cell stack 18 incorporating a bare electrode plate 17 (negative electrode plate) opposite to a bag electrode plate 16 (positive electrode plate) according to the present invention. 13A is a plan view of the cell stack 18, FIG. 13B is a II ′ section of FIG. 13A, and FIG. 13C is a JJ ′ section of FIG. 13A. Indicates. Here, the constituent elements of the unit cell stack 18 are a portion 46 (a bag-containing positive electrode plate) coated with a positive electrode material, a portion 47 (a bare negative electrode plate) coated with a negative electrode material, The separator bag 45 (attached to the bag-containing positive electrode plate), the positive electrode plate ear 43 (the bag-containing positive electrode plate) and the negative electrode plate ear 44 (the bare negative electrode plate). In addition, FIG. 13 shows a separator thermal bonding portion 22 and a separator cutting line (electrode plate periphery) 23 in which the separator is processed.

  First, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, “the cradle 1 with a suction plate that circulates and moves” (hereinafter referred to as “cradle” 1) (“cradle” 1 − 1 to 11-11) and "pressing plate 2 with a suction plate that circulates and moves" (hereinafter referred to as "press plate" 2) (display that generically shows "press plate" 2-1 to 2-7) The explanation will focus on movement.

  In the following description, the “cradle” 1-1 is positioned at the “cradles” 1-1 to 1-9, and the “presser plate” 2-1 is the “presser plate” 2-1 to 2-7. A process in which the electrode plate is processed into the bag-shaped electrode plate while moving the position to the right in the drawing will be described. Further, the “cradle” 1-1 passes through the positions of the “cradles” 1-10 and 1-11 to the position of the “cradle” 1-1, and the “presser plate” 2-1 After passing through the positions of “plates” 2-7 and 2-8, it returns to the position of “presser plate” 2-1 by circulation. Therefore, the “cradle” 1-1 and the “holding plate” 2-1 are actually involved in the machining operations in the following description. In addition, after the “cradle” 1-1, the “cradle” 1 located at the position of the “cradle” 1-11 goes through the same process as the “cradle” 1-1 and circulates. Similarly, after the “presser plate” 2-1, the “presser plate” 2-8 proceeds in the same process as the “presser plate” 2-1, and circulates. As described above, in principle, an apparatus including a plurality of “cradles” 1 and “holding plates” 2 can be used to produce an infinite number of bag electrode plates.

  Therefore, for the sake of convenience, for the sake of convenience, the “cradle” 1 will be referred to as “cradle” 1-1 ”(the“ cradle ”1- 1 at the position of the“ cradle ”1-1). 1) ”,“ “cradle” 1-2 ”(“ cradle ”1-1” in the position of “cradle” 1-2), and the like are used. In addition, “presser plate” 2-1 ”(meaning“ presser plate ”2-1” at the position of “presser plate” 2-1) and “presser plate” “2-2” (meaning “presser plate” 2-1 ”at the position of“ presser plate ”2-2) is used.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1C, 1D, and 1E, the movement of the “cradle” 1 will be described.

  The “cradle” 1-1 sequentially moves the positions of the “cradles” 1-1 to 1-9 on the “cradle” moving rail 72 to the right along the arrow a in FIG. The processing operation of the following processing steps constituting the production line of the main bag electrode plate proceeds while being received on the “cradle” 1-1. The main production line of the electrode plate with bag is the first lower separator cut piece pasting portion 91 (““ cradle ”1-1” and ““ cradle ”1-2”) (where the lower separator Starting from a state in which the cut piece is sucked and fixed with a suction board), hereinafter, an electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply section 93 (““ base ”1-3”), an electrode plate sandwiching portion 94 (““ base ”) 1-4 ”), separator thermal bonding portion 95 (“ “cradle” 1-5 ”), electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96 (“ “cradle” 1-6 ”), surplus separator removing portion 97 (“ “capture” After passing through the “base” 1-7 ”), the presser plate removing portion 97 ′ (“ “base” 1-8 ”) ends. Are automatically formed on the "cradle" 1-1. Then, the completed bag-like electrode plate (positive electrode plate) is transferred from the ““ cradle ”1-9” to the unit cell stacking unit 99, where it is supplied from the bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply unit 98. A unit cell laminate is automatically manufactured by alternately laminating the opposite bare electrode plates (negative electrode plates). The empty “cradle” 1-9 is lowered along the arrow b in FIG. 1 (e) by the cradle lift B75, passes through the “cradle” 1-10, and then the cradle return rail. 73 is returned to "" cradle "1-11" along the arrow c in FIG. 1E, where it is raised by the cradle elevator A74 along the arrow d in FIG. Return to cradle “1-1”. In the system of the cradle / holding plate circulation movement device 71 of the present invention, a plurality of “cradles” 1 are circulated and moved in this way.

  Next, the movement of the “holding plate” 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).

  First, the “presser plate” 2-1 is returned to the “presser plate” 2-8 ”((the“ presser plate ”2-8 located at the position of the“ presser plate ”2-8. -1 ”) is applied to the upper separator cut piece pasting portion 92 (“ “presser plate” 2-1 ”) along the arrow e in FIGS. 1A and 1E by the presser plate lift A79. The "presser plate" 2-1 "comes down, and after the" presser plate "2-1 creates a state in which the upper separator cut piece is sucked and fixed by the suction plate, the presser plate lifter A79 is used again. It is lifted along the arrow f in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (e) to the height of the presser plate moving rail A76, and then hung on the presser plate moving rail A76. 4 "" "Presser plate" 2-3 ") and move along the arrow g in FIGS. 1 (a), (c) and (e) Then, ““ Presser plate ”2-2” is generated. ““ Presser plate ”2-2” is the ““ Pedestal ”1-4” of the electrode plate sandwiching portion 94 (the lower separator cut piece is sucked. Along with the "support" 1-1) in a state where the electrode plate is placed at a predetermined position on the fixed plate, the press plate lifter B80 is moved along the arrow h in FIGS. 1 (a), (c) and (e). As a result, the electrode plate is lowered to ““ presser plate ”2-3.” Here, the “plate” 1-4 in the state where the lower separator cut piece is sucked and the upper separator cut piece are sucked. A state of being sandwiched between the “presser plates” 2-3 of the state is completed, that is, “a sandwiched electrode plate” is completed.

  The “holding plate” 2-1 holds the “sandwich electrode plate” together with the “cradle” 1-1, and moves the production line of the main electrode plate in a bag to the arrow i in FIG. The separator thermal bonding portion 95 (““ cradle ”1-5”; “presser plate” 2-4 ”), electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96 (“ “cradle” 1-6 ”) ; "" Presser plate "2-5"), surplus separator removing portion 97 ("" Pedestal "1-7"; "" Presser plate "2-6"), then presser plate removing portion 97 '("" It moves to "cradle" 1-8 ";" "presser plate" 2-7 "). During this time, as described above, a bag electrode plate is completed. "" Presser plate "2-7" is raised along the arrow j in FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1E by the presser plate lift C81 at the presser plate removing portion 97 ', and then the presser plate return rail 78. 1a, 1c, 1e, and 1e to move to "" pressing plate "2-8" and the circulation of "pressing plate" 2 is completed.

  2, the “cradle” 1-2 in FIG. 2 is replaced with the “cradle” 1-2 in FIG. 1 (lower separator cut piece pasting portion 91) and the “cradle” 1-3 in FIG. Plate) supply section 93), and the "cradle" 1-4 and FIG. 2 "presser plate" 2-4 shown in FIG. 2-4 (separator thermal bonding portion 95) and FIG. 1 “cradle” 1-6 and FIG. 1 “presser plate” 2-5 (electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96), 2 “Receiver” 1-5 and FIG. 2 “Presser plate” 2-5, the roles of “Receiver” 1-7 and “Presser plate” 2-6 (excess separator removing portion 97) and FIG. The "cradle" 1-8 and the "presser plate" 2-7 shown in FIG.

  Here, FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which the electrode plate and the upper and lower separators when the bag-shaped electrode plate is manufactured by the method of the present invention are processed into the bag-shaped electrode plate.

  First, the “holding plate” 2-2 in FIG. 11A (electrode plate supply unit 93) is a state in which the upper separator cut piece 15 is sucked and fixed by the pressing plate suction disk 83, and the “pressing plate” 2-2 in FIG. The “cradle” 1-4 is a state in which the lower separator cut piece 14 is sucked and fixed by the “cradle” suction disk 82. From above, the electrode plate 11 (positive electrode plate) is in a state before being placed on the “cradle” 1-4. The “presser plate” 2-2 is actually placed on the “cradle” 1-5 at the stage of FIG. 11 (2), but is displayed here so that the mechanism of the present invention can be easily understood. It is. In FIG. 11 (2) (electrode plate sandwiching portion 94), the "holding plate" 2-3 in which the upper separator cut piece 15 is sucked and fixed and the "cradle" 1-5 in which the lower separator cut piece 14 is sucked and fixed are used as electrodes. A state in which the plate 11 is sandwiched, that is, a “sandwich electrode plate” is shown. FIG. 11 (3) shows a shape in which the “cradle” and “presser plate” are removed from the “sandwich electrode plate” of FIG. 11 (2). The state sandwiched between the side separator cut pieces 14 is shown. By using the “cradle” and the “holding plate”, the following process is performed to hold the “state in which the electrode plate 11 is sandwiched between the upper separator cut piece 15 and the lower separator cut piece 14” and to form the following bag electrode plate. Performing the process is one of the features of the present invention. In the following, the “sandwich electrode plate” is shown in FIG. 11 (4) (separator thermal bonding portion 95), and the portion of the separator thermal bonding portion 22 is thermally bonded along the outer periphery of the electrode plate by the thermal bonding machine 58. 11 (5) (electrode plate periphery cutting section 96), the electrode plate periphery cutting machine 59 cuts the separator cutting line (electrode plate periphery) 23 along the outer periphery of the electrode plate, and FIG. 11 (6) (removing excess separator) In part 97), the surplus separator 24 is removed by the surplus separator removing machine 60 to obtain the bag-containing electrode plate 16.

  3 and 7, the lower separator cut piece pasting portion 91 and the electrode plate supply portion 93 will be described.

  First, the lower separator cut piece pasting portion 91 will be described. In this step, the lower separator cut piece 14 is sucked and fixed to the “cradle” 1.

  The lower separator band 12 supplied from the lower separator band roll B31 (non-woven fabric) and the lower separator band roll A32 is fed out on the “cradle” 1-1 by the lower separator band feeding device. The lower separator band 12 that has been fed out (the end is cut at a predetermined position) is sucked and fixed to the “cradle” 1-1 by the cradle suction disk 82, and the “cradle” 1- 1 is moved down on the pedestal moving rail 72 to the position of “cradle” 1-2 in accordance with the movement of the lower separator band feeding device (lower separator band feeding roll 51 and lower separator band feeding belt conveyor 52). The side separator band 12 is moved so as to be taken up. In this state, the lower separator band is pulled with an appropriate tension by the lower separator band feeding device and the ““ cradle ”1-2”, and the next “cradle” is placed at the position of the “cradle” 1-1. It is in a shape with an interval enough for 1-11 to enter. Here, the “cradle” 1-11 that has been circulated by the cradle / holding plate circulation movement device 71 is moved by the cradle elevator A74. The “cradle” 1-11 becomes the next “cradle” 1-1.

  In this state, the lower separator band 12 is sucked and fixed to the “cradle” 1-11 at the position of the “cradle” 1-1 by the cradle suction disk 82. At this time, the lower separator band 12 is sucked and fixed to both the “cradle” 1-11 and ““ cradle ”1-2” at the position of the “cradle” 1-1. With the two “cradles” sucked and fixed, the lower separator band cutting machine 53 is used to connect the lower separator band 12 to the separator cutting line 21 shown in FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b) and 7. And the lower separator cut piece 14 is sucked and fixed on the "" cradle "1-2". In this state, the “cradle” 1-1 moves on the cradle moving rail 72 to the position of the “cradle” 1-3 and enters the next electrode plate supply unit 93.

  In addition, although the apparatus which combined the lower separator band supply roll 51 and the lower separator band supply belt conveyor 52 is employ | adopted as a lower separator band supply apparatus here, it is not restricted to this. Further, when the present apparatus is started, it is assumed that the end portion of the lower separator band 12 fed out onto the “cradle” 1-1 is cut at a predetermined position.

Next, the electrode plate supply unit 93 will be described. In this step, the electrode plate 11 (positive electrode plate) is placed on the lower separator cut piece 14 sucked and fixed to the “cradle” 1.

  The electrode plate 11 is cut from the lower separator, which is sucked and fixed to the “cradle 1-3” by the electrode plate (positive electrode plate) feeder 57 from the electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply case 35 shown in FIG. It is placed exactly in place on the strip 14. The “cradle” 1-1 is configured such that the lower separator cut piece 14 is sucked and fixed, and the electrode plate 11 is placed at a predetermined position, and the top of the cradle moving rail 72 is positioned at the position of the “cradle” 1-4. It moves to the electrode plate sandwiching portion 94.

  The electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply case 35 is supplied from the electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply case supply port 84 shown in FIG. 3B through arrows m and n. The empty electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply case 35 is taken out from the electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply case (empty) outlet 85 via arrows o and p shown in FIG.

The upper separator cut piece pasting portion 92 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8. In this step, the upper separator cut piece 15 is sucked and fixed to the “holding plate” 2.

The upper separator band feed belt 54 serving as the upper separator band receiving apparatus is connected to the upper separator band 13 supplied from the upper separator band roll A33 and the upper separator band roll B (nonwoven fabric) 34 by the upper separator band feeding roll 54 serving as the upper separator band feeding apparatus. It is fed out on the conveyor 55.

  Next, the fed-up upper separator band 13 (the end is cut at a predetermined position) is fed on the upper separator band feeding belt conveyor 55 to the position of “pressing plate” 2-1, and “pressing plate” 2 The “presser plate” 2-1 (““ presser plate ”2-8”) located at the position −8 is the presser plate elevator A79 of the cradle / presser plate circulation moving device 71, and FIG. 8 descends along the arrow e and presses the upper separator band 13. In this state, the upper separator band 13 is sucked and fixed to the “presser plate” 2-1 by the presser plate suction disk 83, and then the upper separator band cutting machine 56 uses FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b) and FIG. 8 is cut, and the “presser plate” 2-1 ”is in a state where the upper separator cut piece 15 is sucked and fixed. In a state where the upper separator cut piece is sucked and fixed, the “presser plate” 2-1 is the presser plate lift A79 of the cradle / presser plate circulation moving device 71 and is lifted along the arrow f in FIGS. 4A and 8. Then, it moves along the arrow g in FIG. 4A and FIG. 8 by the presser plate moving rail A76, and becomes ““ presser plate ”2-2”. When the apparatus is started, it is assumed that the end portion of the upper separator band 12 fed out under the “presser plate” 2-1 is cut at a predetermined position.

  Next, the “presser plate” 2-1 is lowered along the arrow h in FIG. 4A and FIG. 8 by the presser plate elevator B80, and the “holding plate 1-4” of the electrode plate sandwiching portion 94 is lowered. It becomes "" Presser plate "2-3" above. The electrode plate sandwiching portion 94 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Here, the separator will be described. In general, a porous polyethylene film or a porous polypropylene film is used as a separator for a lithium ion battery. In addition, in combination with these porous membranes, two layers of polyethylene nonwoven fabric or polypropylene nonwoven fabric may be used.

  In one form of this invention demonstrated here, it devised so that it can respond also when using a porous membrane and a nonwoven fabric in 2 sheets in piles. Of course, it is possible to cope with the case where only one porous membrane is used as a separator. In that case, the lower separator strip roll B31 (nonwoven fabric) and the upper separator strip roll B34 (nonwoven fabric) become unnecessary. When two layers of the porous membrane and the nonwoven fabric are used, the nonwoven fabric is in contact with the surface of the cradle suction plate 82 of the “cradle” 1 and the surface of the presser plate suction plate 83 of the “holding plate” 2. It is necessary to arrange and arrange so that the suction disk can also suck the porous membrane through the nonwoven fabric.

  The electrode plate sandwiching portion 94, the separator thermal bonding portion 95, the electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96, the excess separator removing portion 97, and the pressing plate removing portion 97 'will be described with reference to FIGS. These processes constitute a main processing line for processing the electrode plate and the separator into the bag electrode plate, and the bag electrode plate is completed here. In FIG. 5A and FIG. 9, the cradle moving rail 71 is displayed, but the display of the presser plate moving rail B76 is omitted in order to avoid complication of the drawings.

  The operation of the electrode plate sandwiching portion 94 is performed by the “" cradle ”1-4” and the ““ presser plate ”2-3” in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. A board "is obtained.

  The upper separator cut piece 15 was sucked and fixed from above the electrode plate 11 (positive electrode plate) placed at a predetermined position on the lower separator cut piece 14 sucked and fixed to the "" cradle "1-4". "" Presser plate "2-2" descends with presser plate lift B80 to become "" Presser plate "2-3", and with "" Patch base "1-4" and "" Presser plate "2-3" A “sandwich electrode plate” is formed. The "electrode plate in the sandwich state" includes "" presser plate "2-3", upper separator cut piece 15, electrode plate 11 (positive electrode plate), lower separator cut piece 14, "" cradle "1-4. Are stacked in a sandwich state, and the feature of the present invention is that the state of the "sandwich electrode plate" is maintained and moved to perform processing for making a bag electrode plate. The “cradle” 1-1 and “presser plate” 2-1 constituting the “sandwich electrode plate” are sandwiched between the cradle moving rail 71 and the presser plate moving rail B76 to the next separator thermal bonding portion 95. Move with.

  The processing of the separator heat bonding portion 95 is performed by ““ cradle ”1-5” and ““ pressing plate ”2-4” in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. The separators located above and below the electrode plate are thermally bonded by a thermal bonding machine 58. The place to be heat-bonded is shown in the separator heat-bonding portion 22 in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. The “sandwich electrode plate” after the thermal bonding is moved to the next electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96.

  The processing of the electrode plate peripheral cutting portion 96 is performed by ““ cradle ”1-6” and ““ press plate ”2-5” in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. The heat-bonded portions of the separator above and below the electrode plate or the outside thereof are cut by an electrode plate peripheral cutting machine 59. The location to be cut is shown in the separator cutting line (around the electrode plate) 23 in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and FIG. The “sandwich electrode plate” after the separator cutting around the electrode plate moves to the next excess separator removing unit 97.

  The processing of the excess separator removing unit 97 is performed by the ““ cradle ”1-7” and ““ presser plate ”2-6” in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. The excess separator 24 formed by the surrounding cutting is removed by the excess separator removing machine 60, and the bag-like electrode plate 16 is completed. The surplus separator to be removed is the surplus separator portion 24 shown in ““ Pedestal ”1-6” and ““ Presser plate ”2-5” in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and FIG. , ““ Pedestal ”1-7” and ““ Presser plate ”2-6” show the state after the excess separator portion 24 is removed, that is, the electrode plate 16 in the bag. The “sandwich electrode plate” that has been processed is moved to the last presser plate removing portion 97 ′.

  The operation of the last presser plate removing portion 97 ′ is performed by ““ cradle ”1-8” and ““ presser plate ”2-7” in FIGS. 5A and 5B and FIG. The presser plate “2-7” is stopped by the presser plate suction board 83 and lifted by the presser plate lift C81, and the bag-like electrode plate 16 remains on the “cradle” 1-8 ”. In the state, it moves along the cradle moving rail 72 to the next single cell laminate stacking portion 99 to become ““ cradle ”1-9”.

  The unit cell stack part 99 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 10. Here, the bag-shaped electrode plate 16 (positive electrode plate) and the bare electrode plate 17 (negative electrode plate) that are made in the previous process are alternately stacked to manufacture the unit cell stack 18.

  6 (a), 6 (b) and FIG. 10 on the "" cradle "1-9", the bag-like electrode plate 16 (positive electrode plate) is moved by the bag-like electrode plate moving device 62 to the state shown in FIG. The cell moves to the unit cell stack receiving case 39 along the paths indicated by the arrows u, v, and w shown in FIG. In parallel with this and alternately with this, the opposing bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case 37 of FIG. The unit cell stack 18 is formed by moving to the unit cell stack receiving case 39 along the paths indicated by arrows x, y, and z shown in FIG.

At this time, the opposite bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case 37 is supplied from the opposite bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case supply port 86 through the arrows m ′ and n ′ shown in FIG. 6B. The The opposing bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case 37 (empty) that has become empty is taken out from the opposite bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case (empty) outlet 85 via the arrow o ′ and the arrow p ′. It is. The unit cell stack receiving case 39 is supplied to the unit cell stack unit 99 from the unit cell stack receiving case supply port 88 shown in FIG. The unit cell stack receiving case 39 (full) containing 16 is taken out from the unit cell stack receiving case (full) outlet 89 along the paths indicated by arrows r and s shown in FIG.

If the production capacity of the bag electrode plate manufacturing apparatus and the cell battery stack manufacturing apparatus do not match well, the bag electrode plate receiving case 36 is placed in the place of the cell battery stack receiving case 39, and the cell It is conceivable that the laminate is manufactured separately from the production of the bag electrode plate.

Overall view of the bag electrode and cell stack manufacturing equipment (Part 1) Overall view of bag electrode and cell stack manufacturing equipment (Part 2) Detailed view of lower separator cut piece pasting part, electrode plate supply part and electrode plate sandwiching part Detailed view of upper separator cut piece pasting part Detailed view of electrode plate sandwiching part, separator thermal bonding part, electrode plate peripheral cutting part, excess separator removing part and presser plate removing part Detailed view of cell stack manufacturing equipment Cross-sectional enlarged view of detail drawing of lower separator cut piece pasting part, electrode plate supply part and electrode plate sandwiching part Cross-sectional enlarged view of detail drawing of upper separator cut piece pasting part Cross-sectional enlarged view of detailed view of electrode plate sandwiching part, separator thermal bonding part, electrode plate peripheral cutting part, excess separator removing part and presser plate removing part Cross-sectional enlarged view of the cell laminate manufacturing equipment detail drawing Conceptual diagram showing the process of manufacturing a bag electrode plate in a bag electrode plate manufacturing apparatus Conceptual diagram of electrode plate and bag electrode plate Conceptual diagram of cell stack

Explanation of symbols

The reference numerals are common to all drawings.
1: Receiving base with suction plate 2: Holding plate with suction plate 11: Electrode plate (positive electrode plate)
12: Lower separator band 13: Upper separator band 14: Lower separator cut piece 15: Upper separator cut piece 16: Bag electrode plate 17: Opposite bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate)
18: Single pond laminate 21: Separator cutting line 22: Separator thermal bonding part 23: Separator cutting line (around electrode plate)
24: Surplus separator part 31: Lower separator band roll B (nonwoven fabric)
32: Lower separator strip roll A
33: Upper separator belt roll A
34: Upper separator band roll B (nonwoven fabric)
35: Electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supply case 36: Electrode plate (positive electrode plate) receiving case 37: Bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case 39: Single cell laminate receiving case 41: Electrode material of electrode plate Part 42 where electrode is applied: Ear of electrode plate (part where electrode material of electrode plate is not applied, part for extracting electricity from electrode plate)
43: Ear of positive electrode plate (with positive electrode plate in bag)
44: Ear of negative electrode plate (bare negative electrode plate)
45: Separator bag (attached to the bag-containing positive electrode plate)
46: A portion of the positive electrode plate coated with an electrode material (with a positive electrode plate in a bag)
47: Part of the negative electrode plate coated with the electrode material (bare negative electrode plate)
51: Lower separator strip feeding roll (lower separator strip feeding device)
52: Lower separator belt feeding belt conveyor (lower separator belt feeding device)
53: Lower separator band cutting machine 54: Upper separator band feeding device (upper separator band feeding roll)
55: Upper separator belt receiving belt conveyor 56: Upper separator belt cutting machine 57: Electrode plate (positive electrode) feeder 58: Thermal bonding machine 59: Electrode plate peripheral cutting machine 60: Surplus separator removing machine 61: Bare electrode plate (negative electrode) Plate) feeder 62: laminating machine 71: cradle / holding plate circulation moving device 72: cradle moving rail 73: cradle return rail 74: cradle lift A
75: cradle lift B
76: Presser plate moving rail A
77: Presser plate moving rail B
78: Presser plate return rail 79: Presser plate lift A
80: Presser plate lift B
81: Presser plate lift C
82: Receiving plate suction plate 83: Presser plate suction plate 84: Electrode plate (positive plate) supply case supply port 85: Electrode plate (positive plate) supply case (empty) outlet 86: Opposite bare electrode plate (negative plate) supply Case supply port 87: Opposite bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply case (empty) outlet 88: Cell stack receiving case supply port 89: Cell stack receiving case (full) outlet 91: Lower separator cut piece pasted Attaching part 92: Upper separator cut piece attaching part 93: Electrode plate (positive electrode plate) supplying part 94: Electrode plate sandwiching part 95: Separator thermal bonding part 96: Electrode plate peripheral cutting part 97: Surplus separator removing part 97 ': Presser Plate removal unit 98: Bare electrode plate (negative electrode plate) supply unit 99: Single cell laminate stacking unit

Claims (7)

A plurality of pedestals with suction plates that circulate, a lower separator band feeding device that feeds the lower separator band from the separator roll, an upper separator band feeding device that feeds the upper separator band from the separator roll, and an upper separator band that is fed out A suction disk for circulating and moving the lower separator band fed from the lower separator band feeding apparatus in an apparatus comprising a receiving upper separator band receiving device and a single moving or a plurality of circulating and holding plate with a suction plate. A state where a suction plate with a suction plate is inserted in a state of being sucked and fixed on the support plate A with a suction plate and circulated between the lower separator band feeding device and the support plate A, and this state is inserted. And cut the lower separator strip between the cradle A and the cradle B, A state in which the lower separator cut piece from which the side separator band has been cut is sucked and fixed, and the electrode plate is placed at a predetermined position on the upper separator band. The upper separator band fed over the band receiving device is pressed by the pressing plate, and in this state, the upper separator band is cut between the upper separator band feeding device and the holding plate, and the upper separator band is placed under the pressing plate. A state in which the upper separator cut piece from which the band has been cut is sucked and fixed is created, and the presser plate is moved onto the cradle A, and the electrode plate and the lower separator cut piece on the upper plate are separated from the upper separator cut piece. The holding plate is in a state of being pressed at a predetermined position, and the cradle A on which the lower separator cut piece is fixed by suction and the upper separator cut piece is fixed by suction. While sandwiching the electrode plate sandwiched between the plate and moving it, the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are thermally bonded, and the separator is thermally bonded outside the edge of the electrode plate. A single cell laminate of a stacked lithium-ion battery is manufactured by alternately laminating a bare electrode plate and a bag electrode plate made by cutting the outer part or the outside thereof, and removing the excess separator. Method for producing a lithium ion battery A plurality of pedestals with suction plates that circulate, a lower separator band feeding device that feeds the lower separator band from the separator roll, an upper separator band feeding device that feeds the upper separator band from the separator roll, and an upper separator band that is fed out A suction disk for circulating and moving the lower separator band fed from the lower separator band feeding apparatus in an apparatus comprising a receiving upper separator band receiving device and a single moving or a plurality of circulating and holding plate with a suction plate. A state where a suction plate with a suction plate is inserted in a state of being sucked and fixed on the support plate A with a suction plate and circulated between the lower separator band feeding device and the support plate A, and this state is inserted. And cut the lower separator strip between the cradle A and the cradle B, A state in which the lower separator cut piece from which the side separator band has been cut is sucked and fixed, and the electrode plate is placed at a predetermined position on the upper separator band. The upper separator band fed over the band receiving device is pressed by the pressing plate, and in this state, the upper separator band is cut between the upper separator band feeding device and the holding plate, and the upper separator band is placed under the pressing plate. A state in which the upper separator cut piece from which the band has been cut is sucked and fixed is created, and the presser plate is moved onto the cradle A, and the electrode plate and the lower separator cut piece on the upper plate are separated from the upper separator cut piece. The holding plate is in a state of being pressed at a predetermined position, and the cradle A on which the lower separator cut piece is fixed by suction and the upper separator cut piece is fixed by suction. While sandwiching the electrode plate sandwiched between the edge plates and moving while maintaining the state, the outside of the edge of the electrode plate is thermally welded using a thermal iron or a hot wire with a sharp tip, and simultaneously cut, Further, a lithium-ion battery comprising a laminated lithium-ion battery unit cell stack by alternately laminating a bag-shaped electrode plate made by a method of removing excess separator and a bare electrode plate facing each other Manufacturing method A plurality of pedestals with suction plates that circulate, a lower separator band feeding device that feeds the lower separator band from the separator roll, an upper separator band feeding device that feeds the upper separator band from the separator roll, and an upper separator band that is fed out A suction disk for circulating and moving the lower separator band fed from the lower separator band feeding apparatus in an apparatus comprising a receiving upper separator band receiving device and a single moving or a plurality of circulating and holding plate with a suction plate. A state where a suction plate with a suction plate is inserted in a state of being sucked and fixed on the support plate A with a suction plate and circulated between the lower separator band feeding device and the support plate A, and this state is inserted. And cut the lower separator strip between the cradle A and the cradle B, A state in which the lower separator cut piece from which the side separator band has been cut is sucked and fixed, and the electrode plate is placed at a predetermined position on the upper separator band. The upper separator band fed over the band receiving device is pressed by the pressing plate, and in this state, the upper separator band is cut between the upper separator band feeding device and the holding plate, and the upper separator band is placed under the pressing plate. A state is formed in which the upper separator cut piece from which the band has been cut is sucked and fixed, and the holding plate is moved onto the cradle A so that the electrode plate and the lower separator cut piece placed thereon are the upper separator cut piece. The holding plate is in a state of being pressed at a predetermined position, and the cradle A on which the lower separator cut piece is fixed by suction and the upper separator cut piece is fixed by suction. An electrode plate in a bag made by a method in which the upper and lower separators outside the edge of the electrode plate are thermally bonded while holding or moving the sandwiched electrode plate sandwiched between the edge plates. For manufacturing a unit cell laminate of a laminated lithium ion battery by alternately laminating bare electrode plates facing each other A lithium ion battery comprising a unit cell laminate produced by the production method according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3. 5. A lithium ion battery according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of separators are used in combination. An apparatus for producing a lithium ion battery, wherein a unit cell laminate is produced by the production method according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3. 7. The apparatus for manufacturing a lithium ion battery according to claim 6, wherein the upper separator band receiving device is a belt conveyor or a pedestal with a suction plate that reciprocates in the flow direction of the upper separator band. Manufacturing equipment

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