KR20120082366A - Electrode production apparatus and electrode production method and computer storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of this invention is forming an active material layer suitably and efficiently on the surface of a strip | belt-shaped base material at the time of manufacturing an electrode.
The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 has the unwinding roll 10 which unwinds strip-shaped metal foil M, the coating part 11 which apply | coats an active material mixture to both surfaces of the metal foil M, and metal foil (M). ) And a drying unit 12 for drying the active material mixture on the sheet) to form the active material layer, and a winding roll 13 for winding the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. The unwinding roll 10, the coating part 11, the drying part 12, and the winding roll 13 are arrange | positioned in this order from an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the metal foil M. FIG. The unwinding roll 10 and the winding roll 13 are arrange | positioned so that the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M may be a horizontal direction, and the metal foil M may be conveyed in the direction which the short direction of the metal foil M becomes a perpendicular direction. .

Description

ELECTRODE PRODUCTION APPARATUS AND ELECTRODE PRODUCTION METHOD AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM

The present invention relates to an electrode manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode by forming an active material layer on both surfaces of a strip-shaped substrate, an electrode manufacturing method using the electrode manufacturing apparatus, a program, and a computer storage medium.

In recent years, lithium ion capacitors (LIC: Lithium Ion Capacitor), electric double layer capacitors (EDLC: Electric Double Layer Capacitor) and lithium ion batteries (LIB) The demand for electrochemical devices such as lithium ion batteries is rapidly expanding.

Lithium ion batteries are used in fields such as mobile phones and notebook personal computers because of their relatively high energy density. In addition, since the electric double layer capacitor can be rapidly charged and discharged, it is used as a memory backup small power supply such as a personal computer. Electric double layer capacitors are also expected to be used as large power sources for electric vehicles. In addition, lithium ion capacitors that combine the advantages of lithium ion batteries and the advantages of electric double layer capacitors have attracted attention because of their high energy density and output density.

The electrode of such an electrochemical element is manufactured by coating an active material mixture containing an active material or a solvent on the surface of a metal foil as a current collector as a base material, and then drying the active material mixture to form an active material layer. do. In the production of such an electrode, for example, an electrode production apparatus in which a coating device and a dryer are disposed between a take-up roll and a take-up roll is used. The coating device has a coating head in which a coating tool for coating the active material mixture is formed. In addition, the dryer has a plurality of heaters arranged at predetermined intervals. And coating and drying of an active material mixture are performed on the surface of metal foil with a coating apparatus and a dryer, respectively, conveying strip | belt-shaped metal foil substantially vertically upward between a unwinding roll and a winding roll (patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-186782

However, when manufacturing an electrode by the method of patent document 1, since metal foil is conveyed substantially vertically upward, when the active material mixture is apply | coated to the surface of metal foil, there exists a possibility that the said active material mixture may flow perpendicularly downward, ie, upstream. . In this case, an active material mixture cannot be uniformly applied to the surface of the metal foil.

In addition, when drying the active material mixture on a metal foil, the solvent evaporated from the said active material mixture flows vertically upward. If it does so, since metal foil is conveyed substantially vertically upward, there exists a possibility that the solvent evaporated in the upper part of metal foil, ie, the downstream side, may reattach. In this case, the active material layer cannot be appropriately formed on the surface of the metal foil.

In addition, when metal foil is conveyed substantially vertically upward, a coating device, a dryer, and a winding roll are arrange | positioned at a high position. For this reason, maintenance of these coating apparatuses, a dryer, and a winding roll becomes difficult and large scale.

This invention is made | formed in view of this point, and when manufacturing an electrode, it aims at forming suitably and efficiently an active material layer on the surface of a strip | belt-shaped base material.

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM In order to achieve the said objective, this invention is an electrode manufacturing apparatus which forms an active material layer on both surfaces of a strip | belt-shaped base material, and manufactures an electrode, The unwinding part which unwinds a base material, and the base material unwound in the said unwinding part are made. It is provided between the winding part to wind up, the coating part which is provided between the said unwinding part, and the said winding part, and apply | coats an active material mixture on both surfaces of a base material, and is installed between the said coating construction part and the said winding part, The said coating construction part Has a drying portion for drying the active material mixture applied to form the active material layer to form an active material layer, wherein the unwinding portion and the winding portion have a lengthwise direction in which the substrate is in a horizontal direction, and a substrate in a shorter direction in the vertical direction. It is arrange | positioned so that conveyance may be carried out.

According to this invention, between the unwinding part and the winding-up part, the base material conveyed in the direction in which the longitudinal direction of a base material is a horizontal direction, and a short direction of a base material becomes a perpendicular direction, of the active material mixture in an application | coating construction part Application | coating and drying of the active material mixture in a drying part are performed. Thus, since a base material is conveyed in the direction from which a longitudinal direction becomes a horizontal direction, when an active material mixture is apply | coated in a coating part, the said active material mixture does not flow upstream or downstream of a conveyance direction of a base material. Moreover, since a base material is conveyed in the direction which a short direction becomes a perpendicular direction, an active material mixture can be apply | coated uniformly on both surfaces of a base material. Moreover, when drying the active material mixture on a base material, the evaporated solvent flows smoothly to a perpendicular direction, and the evaporated solvent does not reattach to the surface of a base material. Therefore, the active material layer can be appropriately formed on the surface of the substrate. Moreover, since a base material is conveyed in the direction from which a longitudinal direction becomes a horizontal direction, the height of a base material can be made constant low and maintenance of an electrode manufacturing apparatus becomes easy. Therefore, the active material layer can be efficiently formed on the surface of the substrate.

The said unwinding part may have a unwinding roll arrange | positioned in the direction which an axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction, and the said winding part may have a winding roll arrange | positioned in the direction which an axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction.

The drying unit is provided on both sides of the base material, supplies a heating mechanism for drying the active material mixture by infrared radiation heating, and supplies air to flow in a vertical direction between the heating mechanism and the base material to dry the active material mixture. You may have the air supply mechanism to make it let.

The said drying part is arrange | positioned side by side in the longitudinal direction of a base material, and is arrange | positioned facing the surface of a base material through the some load heater which irradiates infrared rays, and the said load heater, and reflects the infrared rays from the said load heater to a base material side. An air inlet formed between a plurality of reflecting plates and the adjacent reflecting plate, and supplying air to a drying area between the reflecting plate and the substrate, and an exhaust port formed between another adjacent reflecting plate and exhausting air in the drying area. The plurality of load heaters, the plurality of reflecting plates, the air supply port, and the exhaust port may be provided on both sides of the substrate, respectively.

The rod heater has an inner cylinder provided with a heating element and an outer cylinder provided so as to surround the inner cylinder, and a distribution path through which air flows is formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder supplies air in the distribution path. The jet port which blows toward the surface of the said base material may be formed.

The said coating part may have a coating head in which the coating tool which discharges an active material mixture is formed in the surface of a base material, and the said coating head may be arrange | positioned at both sides of a base material.

The said coating part has the roller which contacts the surface of a base material, and apply | coats an active material mixture to the said base material, and the nozzle which supplies an active material mixture to the surface of the said roller, The said roller and the said nozzle are respectively at both sides of a base material. It may be arranged. In addition, in this invention, that a roller contacts the surface of a base material means that the active material mixture adhering to the surface of a roller contacts the surface of a base material.

The electrode may be an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery.

This invention which concerns on another viewpoint is an electrode manufacturing method which forms an active material layer on both surfaces of the said base material, and manufactures an electrode, conveying a strip | belt-shaped base material between a winding-up part and a winding-up part. And a coating step of coating the active material mixture on both surfaces, and a drying step of drying the active material mixture applied and coated in the coating step in the drying part to form an active material layer. The said drying process is performed with respect to the base material conveyed by the direction from which the longitudinal direction of a base material is a horizontal direction, and the short direction of a base material becomes a perpendicular direction, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

The drying unit is provided on both sides of the base material, supplies a heating mechanism for drying the active material mixture by infrared radiation heating, and supplies air to flow in a vertical direction between the heating mechanism and the base material to dry the active material mixture. In the drying step, the active material mixture may be dried by radiation heating by infrared rays from the heating mechanism and convection heating by air flowing between the heating mechanism and the substrate.

The said drying part is arrange | positioned side by side in the longitudinal direction of a base material, is arrange | positioned facing the surface of a base material through the some load heater which irradiates an infrared ray, and the said load heater, and reflects the infrared rays from the said load heater to a base material side Formed between a plurality of reflecting plates and adjacent reflecting plates, and provided between an air supply port for supplying air to a dry region between the reflecting plate and the substrate and another reflecting plate adjacent to each other to exhaust air in the dry region. The plurality of rod heaters, the plurality of reflecting plates, the air supply port, and the exhaust port are provided on both sides of the substrate, respectively, and in the drying step, the plurality of rod heaters, the plurality of reflecting plates, and the plurality of reflecting plates are provided. Radiation heating by infrared rays and air circulating from the air supply port to the exhaust port in the drying zone. You may dry the said active material mixture by convection heating.

The rod heater has an inner cylinder provided with a heating element installed at an outer circumferential portion, and an outer cylinder provided to surround the inner cylinder. You may heat with a heating element and blown off the heated air toward the surface of a base material from the blowing port formed in the said outer cylinder.

In the coating step, the active material mixture may be discharged onto the surface of the substrate from the coating tool of the coating head disposed on both sides of the substrate.

The said coating part has the roller which contacts the surface of a base material, and apply | coats an active material mixture to the said base material, and the nozzle which supplies an active material mixture to the surface of the said roller, The said roller and the said nozzle are respectively at both sides of a base material. In the said application | coating process, you may make the said roller with an active material mixture supplied from the said nozzle contact the surface of a board | substrate, and apply | coat an active material mixture to the surface of a base material. In addition, in this invention, contacting a roller to the surface of a base material means making the active material mixture adhered to the surface of a roller to contact the surface of a base material.

The electrode may be an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery.

According to the present invention according to another aspect, there is provided a readable computer storage medium storing a program operating on a computer of a control unit for controlling the electrode manufacturing apparatus, in order to execute the electrode manufacturing method by the electrode manufacturing apparatus.

According to the present invention, when producing the electrode, the active material layer can be appropriately and efficiently formed on the surface of the strip-shaped substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic side view which shows the outline of the structure of the electrode manufacturing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.
2 is a plan view illustrating an outline of a configuration of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
3 is a side view of the electrode produced in the electrode manufacturing apparatus.
4 is a plan view of the electrode produced in the electrode manufacturing apparatus.
5 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a configuration of a coating head.
6 is a side view illustrating an outline of a configuration of a drying unit.
The top view which shows the outline of the structure of the coating-coated part which concerns on other embodiment.
8 is a plan view illustrating an outline of a configuration of a drying unit according to another embodiment.
9 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a load heater according to another embodiment.
10 is a cross sectional view showing an outline of a configuration of a load heater according to another embodiment.
11 is a plan view illustrating an outline of a configuration of a drying unit according to another embodiment.
12 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration inside a load heater according to another embodiment.
13 is a cross sectional view showing an outline of a configuration of a load heater according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1: is a schematic side view which shows the outline of the structure of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment. 2 is a plan view illustrating an outline of the configuration of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1. Moreover, in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the electrode of a lithium ion capacitor is manufactured.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the electrode E in which the active material layer F was formed in both surfaces of the metal foil M as a strip | belt-shaped base material is manufactured. The active material layers F on both sides of the metal foil M are formed to face each other. Moreover, active material layer F is formed in the center part of the short direction (Z direction in FIG. 3) of metal foil M, and is formed in multiple numbers in the longitudinal direction (Y direction in FIGS. 3 and 4) of metal foil M. In addition, in FIG. do.

Metal foil M is a porous electrical power collector, for example. When manufacturing a positive electrode as electrode E, aluminum foil is used as metal foil M, for example. On the other hand, when manufacturing a negative electrode, copper foil is used as metal foil M, for example.

Moreover, in order to form active material layer F, a slurry-like active material mixture is apply | coated to the surface of metal foil M as mentioned later. The positive electrode active material mixture at the time of manufacturing a positive electrode mixes, for example, activated carbon as an active material, an acrylic binder as a binder, carboxymethyl cellulose as a dispersing agent, and conductive carbon powder such as acetylene black as a conductive assistant, and the solvent is mixed therewith. It is produced by adding and kneading with water. On the other hand, the negative electrode active material mixture at the time of manufacturing a negative electrode mixes amorphous carbon as an active material which can occlude and release lithium ion, polyvinylidene fluoride as a binder, and conductive carbon materials, such as acetylene black as a conductive support agent, for example. It is produced by adding and kneading water as a solvent.

In the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the materials are different as described above, but the width, thickness, and the like of the metal foil M and the active material layer F do not have a large difference. For this reason, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 can manufacture the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a lithium ion capacitor. Hereinafter, these positive electrode and negative electrode are called electrode E, and it demonstrates.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 applies an active material mixture to both surfaces of the unwinding roll 10 as a unwinding part for unwinding the metal foil M and the metal foil M. FIG. It has the coating part 11, the drying part 12 which dries the active material mixture on metal foil M, and forms the active material layer F, and the winding roll 13 as a winding part which winds up the metal foil M. have. The unwinding roll 10, the coating part 11, the drying part 12, and the winding roll 13 are in this order from an upstream side in the conveyance direction (Y direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the metal foil M. FIG. It is arranged. Moreover, a drive mechanism (not shown) is provided between the unwinding roll 10 and the unwinding roll 13, The metal foil M unwound from the unwinding roll 10 is conveyed by this drive mechanism, and the winding roll ( 13) is to be wound up.

The unwinding roll 10 is arrange | positioned in the direction to which the axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 1). Untreated metal foil M is wound by the unwinding roll 10, and the unwinding roll 10 is comprised so that rotation is possible about a vertical axis. And metal foil M is unwound from the unwinding roll 10 as it stretches in the longitudinal direction.

The winding roll 13 is also arrange | positioned in the direction which the axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction. The winding reel 13 is comprised so that rotation is possible about a perpendicular axis. And metal foil M in which the active material layer F was formed is wound up by the winding roll 13.

These unwinding roll 10 and the winding roll 13 are arrange | positioned at the same height. And in the unwinding roll 10 and the winding roll 13, the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M is a horizontal direction (Y direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), and the short direction of the metal foil M is a vertical direction (FIG. 1). It is arrange | positioned so that the metal foil M may be conveyed in the direction used as (Z direction).

The coating part 11 has the coating head 20 which apply | coats an active material mixture on the surface of the metal foil M. FIG. The application | coating head 20 is arrange | positioned facing the both sides of the metal foil M conveying between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding rolls 13. As shown in FIG.

The coating head 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extended | stretched in a perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. The coating head 20 is formed longer than the short direction of the metal foil M, for example. On the surface facing the metal foil M of the coating head 20, a slit-shaped coating tool 21 for discharging the active material mixture is formed. The coating tool 21 is extended | stretched and formed in the perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 5). Moreover, the coating tool 21 is formed in the position which can supply an active material mixture to the center part of the short direction of the metal foil M. FIG. Moreover, the supply pipe 23 connected to the coating head 20 is connected to the active material mixture supply source 22. The active material mixture is stored in the active material mixture supply source 22, and the active material mixture can be supplied from the active material mixture supply source 22 to the coating head 20.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the drying unit 12 has a heating mechanism 30 for drying the active material mixture on the metal foil M by radiation heating by infrared rays. The heating mechanism 30 is arrange | positioned facing the both sides of the metal foil M conveying between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding rolls 13. In the heating mechanism 30, the rod heater 31 which irradiates infrared rays is arrange | positioned in multiple numbers side by side in the longitudinal direction (Y direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. The rod heater 31 is extended longer than the length of the short direction of the metal foil M in a perpendicular direction (Z direction in FIG. 1). That is, the load heater 31 can irradiate infrared rays to the whole short direction of the metal foil M. FIG. In addition, the load heater 31 has a structure in which a nichrome wire heater having a nichrome wire as a heating element is provided inside a ceramic outer cylinder. Moreover, in the heating mechanism 30, the reflecting plate (not shown) which reflects the infrared rays from the load heater 31 to the metal foil M side in the position which opposes the metal foil M through the load heater 31 between them. ) May be installed.

Moreover, the drying part 12 has the air supply mechanism 32 which dries the active material mixture S on the metal foil M by convection heating with air, as shown in FIG. The air supply mechanism 32 has an air supply portion 33 that supplies air vertically upward with respect to the dry region D formed between the heating mechanism 30 and the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. The air supply part 33 is arrange | positioned under the dry area | regions D and D formed in the both sides of the metal foil M, respectively, and is arrange | positioned in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M in multiple numbers. Moreover, the supply pipe 35 connected to the air supply source 34 is connected to the air supply part 33. Air, for example, dry air, is stored in the air supply source 34. 1 and 6, the air supplied from the air supply mechanism 32 flows through the drying region D vertically upwards.

The control part 50 is provided in the above electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. The control part 50 is a computer, for example, and has a program storage part (not shown). In the program storage unit, a program for controlling a process for manufacturing the electrode E in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 is stored. The program may be a computer-readable storage medium H such as a computer readable hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD), a magneto optical disk (MO), a memory card, or the like. May be installed in the control unit 50 from the storage medium H.

The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is comprised as mentioned above. Next, the process for manufacturing the electrode E performed by the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

The metal foil M is unwound from the unwinding roll 10 and is conveyed to the application | coating construction part 11. In the coating part 11, the slurry-like active material mixture S is apply | coated to the surface of the metal foil M in conveyance from the coating head 20. FIG. At this time, by supplying the active material mixture S from the coating heads 20 and 20 disposed on both sides of the metal foil M, the active material mixture S is simultaneously applied to both surfaces of the metal foil M with a uniform film thickness. do. In addition, the active material mixture S supplied from the coating head 20 is apply | coated to the central part of the short direction of the metal foil M. FIG. In addition, by supplying the active material mixture S intermittently from the coating head 20, the active material mixture S is applied to a plurality of regions in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M.

Thereafter, the metal foil M coated with the active material mixture S is conveyed to the drying unit 12. In the drying part 12, the active material mixture S of both surfaces of the metal foil M is dried by the radiation heating by the infrared rays from the heating mechanisms 30 and 30 arranged on both sides of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. At this time, the temperature of the load heater 31 of the heating mechanism 30 is set to 200 degreeC, for example. Moreover, the active material mixture S of both surfaces of the metal foil M is dried by convection heating by the air supplied from the intake mechanism 32 to the dry areas D and D formed on both sides of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. In addition, this air causes the solvent evaporated from the active material mixture S, that is, water to flow smoothly upward, and the evaporated water is removed to the outside of the dry region D. Thus, the active material mixture S of both surfaces of the metal foil M is dried, and the active material layer F of predetermined film thickness is formed on both surfaces of the said metal foil M. FIG.

Then, the metal foil M in which the active material layer F was formed is conveyed by the winding roll 13, and is wound up by the said winding roll 13. Thus, a series of processes in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 are complete | finished and the electrode E is manufactured.

According to the above embodiment, in the coating part 11, since the metal foil M is conveyed in the direction from which the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M becomes a horizontal direction, the active material mixture apply | coated to the surface of the metal foil M ( S) does not flow to the upstream or downstream of the conveyance direction of the said metal foil M. FIG. In addition, since the metal foil M is conveyed in the direction in which the short direction of the metal foil M becomes a perpendicular direction, the active material mixture S can be uniformly applied to both surfaces of the metal foil M. FIG.

Moreover, in the drying part 12, metal foil is produced by the radiant heating by the infrared rays from the heating mechanism 30, and the convection heating by the air supplied from the air supply mechanism 32, and circulating in the drying area D. The active material mixture (S) on (M) is dried. Thus, since two types of drying methods, radiation heating by infrared rays and convection heating by air, are used, the active material mixture S can be appropriately dried. In addition, when radiant heating by infrared rays is used, radiant heat of infrared rays is conducted without depending on the distance between the rod heater 31 and the metal foil M. FIG. Therefore, the active material mixture S can be appropriately heated without being affected by the warpage and the inclination of the metal foil M. In addition, the metal foil M is conveyed in the direction in which the short direction of the metal foil M becomes the vertical direction, and the evaporated water flows smoothly in the vertical direction. In addition, since the air supplied from the air supply mechanism 32 flows vertically upward in the drying region D, the evaporated water flows more smoothly. Therefore, the evaporated water does not reattach to the surface of the metal foil M.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the active material mixture S can be appropriately applied in the coating portion 11, and the active material mixture S can be appropriately dried in the drying portion 12. Therefore, the active material layer F can be appropriately formed on the surface of the metal foil M. FIG.

In addition, since the metal foil M is conveyed between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding roll 13 in the direction in which the longitudinal direction becomes the horizontal direction, the height of the metal foil M can be constantly lowered, thereby producing an electrode. Maintenance of the apparatus 1 becomes easy. Therefore, the active material layer F can be efficiently formed on the surface of the metal foil M. FIG.

In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, although the unwinding roll 10 was provided as a unwinding part, the structure of a unwinding part is not limited to this embodiment, If it is a structure which unwinds the metal foil M, various structures are taken into consideration. Can be taken. Similarly, although the winding roll 13 was provided as a winding part, the structure of a winding part is not limited to this embodiment, If it is a structure which winds up the metal foil M, various structures can be taken.

In addition, although the coating head 20 was provided in the coating part 11 of the above embodiment, the structure of the coating part 11 is not limited to this embodiment, The active material mixture is mixed on the surface of the metal foil M. In addition, in FIG. If it is the structure which can apply | coat (S), various structures can be taken.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the coating heads 20 and 20 were provided opposing the both sides of the metal foil M, either one of the coating heads 20 was more than the other coating head 20. It may be arrange | positioned downstream. In addition, the number of the coating heads 20 is not limited to this embodiment, The some coating head 20 may be arrange | positioned at both sides of the metal foil M, respectively.

In addition, in the coating part 11, you may apply | coat an active material mixture S to the surface of the metal foil M by the inkjet system.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the coating part 11 contacts the surface of the metal foil M, and the roller 100 which apply | coats a slurry-like active material mixture S to the said metal foil M is carried out. And the nozzle 101 for supplying the active material mixture S to the surface of the roller 100. These roller 100 and the nozzle 101 are arrange | positioned facing the both sides of the metal foil M conveying between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding rolls 13.

The roller 100 is extended in the vertical direction in the axial direction thereof, and is configured to be rotatable about the vertical axis. Moreover, the roller 100 is extended by the same length as the length of the perpendicular direction of the active material layer F formed in metal foil M, and can supply active material mixture S to the center part of the short direction of metal foil M. It is located at the position.

The nozzle 101 is also extended in the vertical direction similarly to the roller 100. Moreover, the discharge port (not shown) which is extended in the perpendicular direction and discharges the active material mixture S to the roller 100 is provided in the surface on the roller 100 side of the nozzle 101. The discharge port is formed in the length and position which can supply the active material mixture S to the whole surface of the roller 100. FIG. In addition, a supply pipe (not shown) connected to the nozzle 101 is connected to an active material mixture supply source (not shown) similarly to the coating head 20 shown in FIG. 5.

In this case, the coating part 11 supplies the active material mixture S from the nozzle 101 to the surface of the roller 100, while the roller 100 with the active material mixture S is attached to the metal foil M. Contact the surface of the. Then, the active material mixture S adhered to the surface of the roller 100 is transferred to the surface of the metal foil M, and the active material mixture S is applied to the surface of the metal foil M.

According to this embodiment, when the active material mixture S is apply | coated to the surface of the metal foil M from the roller 100, by adjusting the distance of the surface of the said roller 100 itself and the surface of the metal foil M, The film thickness of the active material mixture S can be adjusted.

Therefore, the active material mixture S can be applied to the surface of the metal foil M with a more uniform film thickness.

Although the heating mechanism 30 and the air supply mechanism 32 were provided in the drying part 12 of the above embodiment, the structure of the drying part 12 is not limited to this embodiment, The active material mixture on metal foil M ( If it is the structure which can dry S), various structures can be taken.

For example, in the above embodiment, although the air supply mechanism 32 supplied air vertically upward with respect to the dry area D, you may supply air vertically downward. In this case, the air supply part 33 is arrange | positioned above the dry area | regions D and D formed in the both sides of the metal foil M, respectively (not shown). And the air supplied from the air supply mechanism 32 distributes the inside of the drying area D vertically downward. Even in such a case, since the water evaporated from the active material mixture S flows smoothly downward in the drying part 12, the evaporated water does not reattach to the surface of the metal foil M. Therefore, the active material mixture S can be appropriately dried in the drying unit 12.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the drying part 12 is arrange | positioned side by side in the longitudinal direction (Y direction in FIG. 8) of the metal foil M, and the plurality of load heaters 200 which irradiate infrared rays, May be disposed to face the surface of the metal foil M with the load heater 200 interposed therebetween, and may have a plurality of reflecting plates 201 that reflect infrared rays from the load heater 200 toward the metal foil M side. These rod heaters 200 and the reflecting plate 201 are arrange | positioned at both sides of the metal foil M conveying between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding rolls 13.

The load heater 200 is extended longer than the length of the short direction of the metal foil M in a perpendicular direction. That is, the load heater 200 can irradiate infrared rays to the entire short direction of the metal foil M. FIG. In addition, the load heater 200 has a structure in which a nichrome wire heater having a nichrome wire as a heating element is provided inside a ceramic outer cylinder.

The reflecting plate 201 is curved convexly to the opposite side to the metal foil M which opposes. In addition, the reflecting plate 201 is extended in the vertical direction so as to cover the load heater 200. The infrared rays emitted from the load heater 200 to the opposite side to the metal foil M are reflected by the reflecting plate 201 and radiated to the metal foil M. FIG.

Between the adjacent reflecting plates 201 and 201, the air supply 202 which supplies air to the dry region D formed between the reflecting plate 201 and the metal foil M is formed. Moreover, the exhaust port 203 which exhausts the air in the drying area D is formed between the other adjacent reflecting plates 201 and 201. These air supply ports 202 and the exhaust ports 203 are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. The air supplied from the air supply port 202 into the drying region D flows along the surface of the metal foil M, and is then exhausted from the exhaust port 203 adjacent to the air supply port 202. In other words, air flow in one direction from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203 is generated in the drying region D. FIG. In addition, as the reflecting plate 201 is disposed on both sides of the metal foil M, the air supply port 202 and the exhaust port 203 are also formed on both sides of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG.

Each air supply port 202 is provided with a supply pipe 210 for supplying air to the air supply port 202, respectively. The supply pipe 210 communicates with the air supply source 211. Air, for example, dry air, is stored in the air supply source 211. In addition, the exhaust port 203 is provided with, for example, a vacuum pump (not shown), and the air in the drying region D is exhausted by the vacuum pump.

In this case, in the drying unit 12, radiation heating by infrared rays from the plurality of rod heaters 200 and the plurality of reflecting plates 201 disposed on both sides of the metal foil M, and formed on both sides of the metal foil M, respectively. The active material mixture S of both surfaces of the metal foil M is dried by convection heating by air circulated from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203 in the drying regions D and D. As shown in FIG. In addition, the temperature of the load heater 200 is set to 200 degreeC at this time, for example. In addition, water evaporated from the active material mixture S flows smoothly into the exhaust port 203 due to the airflow from the air supply port 202 generated in the drying region D to the exhaust port 203, and the evaporated water It removes without reattaching to the metal foil M. FIG. In this way, the active material mixture S of both surfaces of the metal foil M is dried, and the active material layer F having a predetermined film thickness is formed on both surfaces of the metal foil M.

According to this embodiment, since the drying part 12 uses two types of drying methods, radiation heating by infrared rays and convection heating by air, the active material mixture S can be appropriately dried. . In addition, when radiant heating by infrared rays is used, infrared radiation of heat is conducted without depending on the distance between the load heater 200 and the reflecting plate 201 and the metal foil M. FIG. Therefore, the active material mixture S can be appropriately heated without being affected by the warpage and the inclination of the metal foil M. In the drying unit 12, air flow in one direction from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203 can be generated in the drying area D. By this airflow, water evaporated when the active material mixture S on the metal foil M is dried is discharged from the exhaust port 203, so that the evaporated water does not reattach to the surface of the metal foil M. For this reason, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M can be dried more appropriately. Therefore, the active material layer F can be appropriately formed on the metal foil M. FIG.

In addition, since the reflecting plate 201 is disposed to face the surface of the metal foil M with the load heater 200 interposed therebetween, the infrared rays emitted from the load heater 200 to the opposite side to the metal foil M are reflected plates 201. Reflected from the radiation is emitted to the metal foil (M). Therefore, all the infrared rays can be used, and the active material mixture S on the metal foil M can be efficiently dried.

In addition, since the reflecting plate 201 is bent convexly to the side opposite to the metal foil M, a very small amount of air not exhausted from the exhaust port 203 can be smoothly flowed to the air supply port 202 side. This air again merges with air supplied from the air supply port 202 and flows to the exhaust port 203. Therefore, the air flow in one direction can be maintained without disturbing the air flow from the air supply port 202 in the drying region D to the exhaust port 203. In addition, since the trace amount of air which is not exhausted from the exhaust port 203 is heated by infrared radiation heating in the drying area | region D, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M can be dried efficiently.

In the above embodiment, air may be distributed inside the load heater 200. As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the load heater 200 has an inner cylinder 220 and an outer cylinder 221 provided to surround the inner cylinder 220. On the outer circumferential portion of the inner cylinder 220, a nichrome wire heater 222 having a nichrome wire as a heating element is provided in a spiral shape. This nichrome wire heater 222 is provided longer than the length of the short direction of the metal foil M in a perpendicular direction. In addition, as described above, the material of the outer cylinder 221 is ceramic. In addition, the inner cylinder 220 has heat resistance, and the material is ceramic or alumina, for example.

Between the outer cylinder 221 and the inner cylinder 220, the flow path 230 through which air flows is formed. Air flowing through the distribution path 230 is supplied from the air supply unit 231. The air supply unit 231 is disposed at both ends of the rod heater 200 in the axial direction. In addition, a supply pipe 233 connected to the air supply source 232 is connected to the air supply unit 231. Inside the air supply source 232, the air of 23 degreeC which is normal temperature, for example, dry air is stored.

The outer cylinder 221 is provided with a plurality of ejection openings 234 that eject air from the flow passage 230 toward the surface of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG. The jet port 234 is formed in multiple numbers in parallel to the longitudinal direction (Z direction in FIG. 9) of the outer cylinder 221. As shown in FIG. These jet ports 234 face the exhaust port 203 side as shown in FIG. Moreover, these blowing ports 234 are formed in the position which blows the air in the flow path 230 obliquely toward the surface of the metal foil M. As shown in FIG.

In this case, in the drying part 12, the air supplied from the air supply part 231 to the flow path 230 flows through the flow path 230. At this time, the air in the flow path 230 is heated by the nichrome wire heater 222. Since the temperature of the load heater 200 is set to 200 degreeC as mentioned above, for example, the air in the flow path 230 is heated to 200 degrees C or less with temperature higher than 23 degreeC. And heated air is blown off from the blowing port 234 to dry region D. In this way, the air ejected from the load heater 200 toward the surface of the metal foil M in the drying region D flows near the surface of the metal foil M and flows from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203. It joins airflow and is exhausted from the exhaust port 203.

In the drying unit 12, radiant heating by infrared rays from the plurality of load heaters 200 and the plurality of reflecting plates 201 and circulation from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203 in the drying area D. In addition to the convection heating by air to be mentioned above, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M is dried by the convection heating by the air ejected from the above-described rod heater 200.

According to this embodiment, since the air blown off from the load heater 200 to the dry region D is heated by the nichrome wire heater 222, the drying time of the active material mixture S can be shortened. For this reason, the length of the drying part 12 can also be shortened, and the footprint of the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 can be made small. In addition, the nichrome wire heater 222 provided in order to dry the active material mixture S can be used for the heating of the air in this flow path 230, and it is not necessary to provide a separate heating mechanism. As mentioned above, according to this embodiment, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M can be dried more efficiently.

In addition, since the jet port 234 is formed toward the exhaust port 203 side in the outer cylinder 221, the air jetted from the jet port 234 flows to the air flow flowing from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203. Do not reflux. In this way, the air blown out from the blowing port 234 can join the said airflow, maintaining the airflow in one direction, without disturbing the airflow from the air supply port 202 to the exhaust port 203. Therefore, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M can be appropriately dried.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, in the inside of the flow path 230 of the load heater 200, the outer cylinder 221 and the inner cylinder 220 are connected, and the said inner cylinder 220 is carried out. The support member 240 which supports the support may be provided. The support member 240 is arranged in plurality at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 220. In addition, the support member 240 is arrange | positioned in multiple numbers at equal intervals in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 220, ie, the longitudinal direction (Z direction in FIG. 12). As the support member 240 is disposed as described above, the flow of air in the flow path 230 is stirred.

In addition, the support member 240 has heat conductivity, and the material is SiC, for example. For this reason, the heat generated from the nichrome wire heater 222 is transmitted to the outer cylinder 221 through the support member 240.

In this case, since the flow of air in the flow path 230 is stirred by the support member 240, the air can be efficiently heated. In addition, since the heat from the nichrome wire heater 222 is transferred to the outer cylinder 221 by the support member 240, and the outer cylinder 221 is heated, the air in the flow path 230 can be efficiently heated. At the same time, the air in the drying region D can also be heated. As mentioned above, according to this embodiment, the active material mixture S on the metal foil M can be dried more efficiently.

In the above embodiment, the active material layer F is formed in plural in the longitudinal direction of the metal foil M, but the electrode manufacturing apparatus of the present invention also when the electrode E having one active material layer F is formed ( 1) is useful.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, although the active material layer F was formed in both surfaces of the metal foil M in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 1, in order to form the electrode E, other processes, for example, of metal foil M Pressing and cutting are also performed. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1 may also perform these other processes continuously between the unwinding roll 10 and the winding rolls 13.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, although the case where the electrode E of a lithium ion capacitor was manufactured was demonstrated, also when manufacturing the electrode used for an electric double layer capacitor, or the electrode used for a lithium ion battery, the electrode manufacturing apparatus of this invention. (1) can be used. In such a case, what is necessary is just to change the material of metal foil M, the material of active material mixture S, etc. according to the kind of electrode manufactured.

As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, this invention is not limited to this example. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the spirit described in the claims, and that they naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

1: electrode manufacturing apparatus
10: unwinding roll
11 coating part
12: drying part
13: winding roll
20: coating head
21: application tool
30: heating mechanism
31: load heater
32: air supply mechanism
33: air supply unit
34: air source
35 supply pipe
50:
100: roller
101: nozzle
200: load heater
201: Reflector
202: air supply
203: exhaust port
220: inner tube
221: outer cylinder
222: nichrome wire heater
230: distribution channel
234: spout
240 support member
D: dry area
E: electrode
F: active material layer
M: Metallic Foil
S: active material mixture

Claims (16)

It is an electrode manufacturing apparatus which forms an active material layer on both surfaces of a strip-shaped base material, and manufactures an electrode,
Unwinding part which unwinds mention,
A winding unit for winding up the substrate unrolled from the winding unit;
A coating portion provided between the unwinding portion and the winding portion and coating the active material mixture on both sides of the base material;
It is provided between the said coating part and the said winding part, It has a drying part which dries the said active material mixture apply | coated by the said coating part, and forms an active material layer,
The said unwinding part and the said winding part are arrange | positioned so that a base material may be conveyed in the direction from which the longitudinal direction of a base material is a horizontal direction, and a short direction of a base material becomes a vertical direction, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The said unwinding part has a unwinding roll arrange | positioned in the direction which an axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction,
The said winding part has a winding roll arrange | positioned in the direction which an axial direction becomes a perpendicular direction, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying unit,
A heating mechanism provided on both sides of the substrate and drying the active material mixture by radiation heating by infrared rays;
And an air supply mechanism for supplying air so as to flow in the vertical direction between the heating mechanism and the substrate, and drying the active material mixture. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying unit,
A plurality of load heaters arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the substrate and irradiating infrared rays,
A plurality of reflecting plates arranged to face the surface of the substrate with the rod heater interposed therebetween and reflecting infrared rays from the rod heater to the substrate side;
An air supply port formed between the adjacent reflecting plates and supplying air to a dry region between the reflecting plate and the substrate;
It is provided between the said another adjacent reflecting plate, and is provided with the exhaust port which exhausts air in the said drying area,
The plurality of rod heaters, the plurality of reflecting plates, the air supply port, and the exhaust port are provided on both sides of the substrate, respectively. The said rod heater has an inner cylinder provided with the heat generating body in the outer peripheral part, and the outer cylinder provided so that the said inner cylinder could be enclosed,
Between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is formed a flow path through which air flows,
The said outer cylinder is formed with the blower which blows off the air in the said distribution path toward the surface of the said base material, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The coating part according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the coating part has a coating head with a coating tool for discharging the active material mixture on the surface of the substrate,
The said coating head is arrange | positioned at the both sides of a base material, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The said coating part is any one of Claims 1-5.
A roller in contact with the surface of the substrate and coating the active material mixture on the substrate;
It has a nozzle which supplies an active material mixture to the surface of the said roller,
The said roller and the said nozzle are arrange | positioned at the both sides of a base material, respectively, The electrode manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The electrode manufacturing apparatus of Claim 6 which is an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery. It is an electrode manufacturing method of manufacturing an electrode by forming an active material layer on both surfaces of the said base material, conveying a strip | belt-shaped base material between a unwinding part and a winding part,
In a coating part, the coating process which apply | coats an active material mixture to both surfaces of a base material,
Then, in a drying part, it has a drying process which dries the said active material mixture apply | coated at the said application | coating process and forms an active material layer,
The said coating process and the said drying process are performed with respect to the base material conveyed in the direction from which the longitudinal direction of a base material is a horizontal direction, and a short direction of a base material becomes a perpendicular direction, The electrode manufacturing method characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 9, wherein the drying unit,
A heating mechanism provided on both sides of the substrate and drying the active material mixture by radiation heating by infrared rays;
It has an air supply mechanism which supplies air so that it may flow in a perpendicular direction between the said heating mechanism and a base material, and will dry the said active material mixture,
In the drying step, the active material mixture is dried by radiation heating by infrared rays from the heating mechanism and convection heating by air flowing between the heating mechanism and the substrate. The method of claim 9, wherein the drying unit,
A plurality of load heaters arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the substrate and irradiating infrared rays,
A plurality of reflecting plates arranged to face the surface of the substrate with the rod heater interposed therebetween and reflecting infrared rays from the rod heater to the substrate side;
An air supply port formed between the adjacent reflecting plates and supplying air to a dry region between the reflecting plate and the substrate;
It is provided between the said another adjacent reflecting plate, and is provided with the exhaust port which exhausts air in the said drying area,
The plurality of rod heaters, the plurality of reflecting plates, the air supply port, and the exhaust port are respectively provided on both sides of the substrate,
In the drying step, the active material mixture is mixed by radiant heating by infrared rays from the plurality of rod heaters and the plurality of reflecting plates and by convection heating by air circulating from the air supply port to the exhaust port in the drying region. Drying, characterized in that the electrode manufacturing method. The said rod heater has an inner cylinder in which the heat generating body was provided in the outer peripheral part, and the outer cylinder provided so as to surround the said inner cylinder,
In the drying step, air is supplied to a flow path formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder,
The supplied air is heated by the heat generating element, and the heated air is blown out from the blowing hole formed in the outer cylinder toward the surface of the substrate. The electrode according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein in the coating step, the active material mixture is discharged onto the surface of the substrate from the coating tool of the coating head disposed on both sides of the substrate. Manufacturing method. The said coating part is any one of Claims 9-12,
A roller in contact with the surface of the substrate and coating the active material mixture on the substrate;
It has a nozzle which supplies an active material mixture to the surface of the said roller,
The roller and the nozzle are respectively disposed on both sides of the substrate,
The said coating process WHEREIN: The electrode manufacturing method characterized by making the roller with an active material mixture supplied from the said nozzle contact with the surface of a board | substrate, and apply | coating an active material mixture to the surface of a base material. The electrode production method according to claim 13, wherein the electrode is an electrode used for a lithium ion capacitor, an electric double layer capacitor, or a lithium ion battery. A readable computer storage medium storing a program operating on a computer of a control unit for controlling the electrode manufacturing apparatus so as to execute the electrode manufacturing method according to claim 15 by the electrode manufacturing apparatus.

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