阅读说明：本技术 带状电极板的制造方法、电池的制造方法和电极板制造装置 (Method for manufacturing strip-shaped electrode plate, method for manufacturing battery, and electrode plate manufacturing apparatus ) 是由 岸本尚也 于 2019-07-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种带状电极板的制造方法,在干燥炉内使未干燥活性物质层加热干燥而形成活性物质层,使从干燥炉搬出的带状电极板分别接触n个冷却辊等,通过各冷却辊等使带状电极板在厚度方向上弯曲并且沿长度方向搬送,同时冷却带状电极板。以带状电极板的温度差越大接触长度就越短的方式配置n个冷却辊等。(A method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, wherein an active material layer is formed by heating and drying an undried active material layer in a drying furnace, the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace is brought into contact with n cooling rolls or the like, and the strip-shaped electrode plate is bent in a thickness direction and conveyed in a longitudinal direction by the cooling rolls or the like, while being cooled. The n cooling rolls are arranged so that the contact length becomes shorter as the temperature difference between the strip-shaped electrode plates becomes larger.)

1. A method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer formed on the current collector foil in a strip shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the current collector foil, the method comprising:

heating and drying an undried active material layer in the undried electrode plate in a drying furnace while conveying the undried electrode plate in the longitudinal direction to form the active material layer, the undried active material layer being formed in a band shape extending in the longitudinal direction on the collector foil; and

cooling the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace while bringing the strip-shaped electrode plate into contact with n cooling rolls, respectively, and conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction while bending the strip-shaped electrode plate in the thickness direction by the cooling rolls, wherein,

n is a natural number of 2 or more,

(i) l (y) represents a contact length in the longitudinal direction between the y-th cooling roll, which is in contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate, of the n cooling rolls and the strip-shaped electrode plate,

(ii) setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (0) of the belt-shaped electrode plate at an outlet of the drying furnace and a temperature Td (1) of the belt-shaped electrode plate after contacting the 1 st cooling roller as Δ Td (1), and setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (y-1) of the belt-shaped electrode plate after contacting the (y-1) th cooling roller and a temperature Td (y) of the belt-shaped electrode plate after contacting the y-1 th cooling roller as Δ Td (y),

in this case, the n cooling rolls are arranged so that the contact length l (y) becomes shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) becomes larger.

2. The method of manufacturing a strap-like electrode plate according to claim 1,

when the temperature of the roll surface of the y-th cooling roll is set to Tr (y), the n cooling rolls satisfy the condition Tr (1) >. Tr (n).

3. The method of manufacturing a strap-like electrode plate according to claim 2,

at least 1 of the n cooling rolls utilizes radiant heat from the drying oven in order to maintain the temperature tr (y) of the roll surface.

4. The method for manufacturing a strap-like electrode plate according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the temperature differences Δ td (y) are all less than 35 ℃.

5. The method for manufacturing a strap-like electrode plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of forming the electrode plate,

the number n of the cooling rollers is more than 3.

6. The method for manufacturing a strap-like electrode plate according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the contact lengths L (y) are all 14mm or more.

7. A method for manufacturing a battery including an electrode body having a strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer formed on the current collector foil in a strip shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the current collector foil, the method comprising:

manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate by the method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6;

forming the electrode body including the strip-shaped electrode plate; and

the battery including the electrode body is assembled.

8. An electrode plate manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer formed on the current collector foil in a strip shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the current collector foil, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus comprising a drying furnace and n cooling rolls,

and a drying furnace for heating and drying the undried active material layer in the undried electrode sheet while conveying the undried electrode sheet in the longitudinal direction to form the active material layer, wherein the undried active material layer is formed in a band shape extending in the longitudinal direction on the collector foil,

the n cooling rolls are in contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate conveyed out of the drying furnace, respectively, and cool the strip-shaped electrode plate while conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction while bending the strip-shaped electrode plate in the thickness direction,

n is a natural number of 2 or more,

l (y) represents a contact length in the longitudinal direction between the y-th cooling roll, which is in contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate, of the n cooling rolls and the strip-shaped electrode plate,

setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (0) of the belt-shaped electrode plate at an outlet of the drying furnace and a temperature Td (1) of the belt-shaped electrode plate after contacting the 1 st cooling roller as Δ Td (1), and setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (y-1) of the belt-shaped electrode plate after contacting the (y-1) th cooling roller and a temperature Td (y) of the belt-shaped electrode plate after contacting the y-1 th cooling roller as Δ Td (y),

in this case, the n cooling rolls are arranged so that the contact length l (y) becomes shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) becomes larger.

9. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8,

when the temperature of the roll surface of the y-th cooling roll is set to Tr (y), the n cooling rolls satisfy the condition Tr (1) >. Tr (n).

10. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to claim 9,

at least 1 of the n cooling rolls is disposed at a position where it receives radiant heat from the drying furnace in order to maintain the temperature tr (y) of the roll surface.

11. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10,

the temperature differences Δ td (y) are all less than 35 ℃.

12. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11,

the number n of the cooling rollers is more than 3.

13. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12,

the contact lengths L (y) are all 14mm or more.

14. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13,

the contact length l (y) is shorter as the strip-shaped electrode plate is closer to the drying furnace side in the conveying direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, a method for manufacturing a battery including the strip-shaped electrode plate, and an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate, the strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer formed in a strip shape on the current collector foil.

Background

As an electrode plate used in a lithium ion secondary battery or the like, a strip-shaped electrode plate in which an active material layer is formed on a strip-shaped current collector foil is known. Such a strip-shaped electrode plate is manufactured by, for example, the following method. That is, first, an active material paste containing active material particles, a solvent, and the like is applied to a current collecting foil while the current collecting foil in a band shape is conveyed in the longitudinal direction thereof, and an undried active material layer is formed in a band shape on the current collecting foil. Next, the undried active material layer is heated and dried in a drying furnace while the undried electrode plate is conveyed in the longitudinal direction, thereby forming an active material layer. Then, the dried belt-like electrode plate is wound once by a winding roll. The strip-shaped electrode plate is subjected to roll pressing, and the active material layer is pressed in the thickness direction to be densified. Thus, a belt-shaped electrode plate is formed.

However, in the above-described process for manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate, wrinkles may occur in the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out from the drying furnace. The problem of such wrinkles occurring is pointed out, for example, in Japanese patent laid-open No. 11-102696. In order to solve this problem, jp 11-102696 a has a guide roller and a guide roller cooler for cooling the guide roller provided near the outlet of the drying furnace, and cools the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace by bringing the cooled guide roller into contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate (see claim 3, fig. 1, and the like of jp 11-102696 a). This describes that the occurrence of wrinkles in the belt-shaped electrode sheet can be effectively suppressed (see japanese patent laid-open publication nos. 11-102696 (paragraphs 0035), (0041), and (0046)).

Disclosure of Invention

However, the present inventors have verified that the method of jp-a-11-102696 cannot appropriately prevent wrinkles from occurring in the belt-shaped electrode sheet carried out of the drying furnace. Specifically, if the temperature of the guide roller provided near the outlet of the drying furnace is too low, the temperature of the strip electrode plate drops sharply when the strip electrode plate passes through the guide roller, and therefore wrinkles occur in the strip electrode plate.

On the other hand, if the temperature of the guide roller provided near the outlet of the drying furnace is raised to such an extent that the band-shaped electrode plate is not wrinkled, the temperature of the band-shaped electrode plate after passing through the guide roller is still high. Therefore, it is necessary to naturally cool the belt-like electrode plate by extending the distance from the guide roller to the winding roller, and the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus is lengthened. Further, if the distance from the guide roller to the winding roller is increased, the band-shaped electrode plate is greatly bent downward between the guide roller and the winding roller, and therefore, when the band-shaped electrode plate is wound around the winding roller, the band-shaped electrode plate is wrinkled due to the bending.

Further, when the guide roller and the guide roller cooler are provided apart from the outlet of the drying furnace, the strip-shaped electrode plate is greatly bent downward between the outlet of the drying furnace and the guide roller, and therefore, when the strip-shaped electrode plate comes into contact with the guide roller, the strip-shaped electrode plate is wrinkled due to the bending. Thus, by merely providing 1 guide roll (cooling roll) downstream of the drying furnace, it is not possible to appropriately prevent the occurrence of wrinkles when the strip-like electrode plate is carried out from the drying furnace.

The invention provides a method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, which can prevent the strip-shaped electrode plate conveyed out of a drying furnace from generating wrinkles in the manufacturing process of the strip-shaped electrode plate, a method for manufacturing a battery, which can prevent the strip-shaped electrode plate conveyed out of the drying furnace from generating wrinkles in the manufacturing process of the strip-shaped electrode plate, and an electrode plate manufacturing device for manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate in a manner of preventing the strip-shaped electrode plate conveyed out of the drying furnace from generating wrinkles.

The present invention relates to claim 1, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer formed on the current collector foil in a strip shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the current collector foil. The manufacturing method comprises the following steps: heating and drying an undried active material layer in the undried electrode plate in a drying furnace while conveying the undried electrode plate in the longitudinal direction to form the active material layer, the undried active material layer being formed in a band shape extending in the longitudinal direction on the collector foil; and bringing the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace into contact with n cooling rolls, respectively, and cooling the strip-shaped electrode plate while conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction while bending the strip-shaped electrode plate in the thickness direction by the cooling rolls. n is a natural number of 2 or more. And (d) setting a contact length between the y-th cooling roller of the n cooling rollers, which is in contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate, and the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction as l (y), setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (0) of the strip-shaped electrode plate at the outlet of the drying furnace and a temperature Td (1) of the strip-shaped electrode plate after the contact with the 1 st cooling roller as Δ Td (1), and setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (y-1) of the strip-shaped electrode plate after the contact with the (y-1) th cooling roller and a temperature Td (y) of the strip-shaped electrode plate after the contact with the y-th cooling roller as Δ Td (y), wherein the n cooling rollers are arranged such that the contact length l (y) is shorter as the temperature difference Δ Td (y) is larger.

As described above, the occurrence of wrinkles in the belt-like electrode plate cannot be appropriately prevented only by providing 1 cooling roll downstream of the drying furnace. Therefore, the present inventors have studied to provide a plurality of cooling rolls downstream of the drying furnace and cool the belt-like electrode plate while conveying the same. However, when a plurality of cooling rolls are arranged along the transport path in a system in which the strip-shaped electrode plate is supported from below by the cooling rolls (a system in which the cooling rolls are in point contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate), the cooling rolls rub against the strip-shaped electrode plate to prevent generation of metal powder (when the cooling rolls rub against the collector foil of the strip-shaped electrode plate) and active material powder (when the cooling rolls rub against the active material layer of the strip-shaped electrode plate), respectively. In this way, in order to suppress the generation of metal powder and active material powder during conveyance, the strip-shaped electrode plate can be conveyed while being bent in the thickness direction by the cooling rollers, and friction between the cooling rollers and the strip-shaped electrode plate is suppressed. However, it was found that as the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the strip-shaped electrode plates described above increases, the contact length l (y) between the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plates in the longitudinal direction increases, and wrinkles are likely to occur in the strip-shaped electrode plates in the cooling roll, and the present invention was completed.

In the above-described method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, in the cooling step, the strip-shaped electrode plate is cooled by a plurality of cooling rolls while being conveyed in the longitudinal direction while being bent in the thickness direction. In this case, the cooling rolls are arranged so that the contact length l (y) in the longitudinal direction between the y-th cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes larger.

Since the strip-shaped electrode plate can be cooled in stages by using the plurality of cooling rolls, the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate can be prevented from being rapidly lowered, and wrinkles can be prevented from being generated in the strip-shaped electrode plate. Further, by using a plurality of cooling rolls, it is possible to prevent the strip-shaped electrode plate from being greatly bent downward during conveyance and from being wrinkled. Further, by conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate while bending it in the thickness direction by the cooling roller, it is possible to suppress the generation of metal powder or active material powder due to friction between the cooling roller and the strip-shaped electrode plate, as compared with the case where the cooling roller and the strip-shaped electrode plate are in point contact. Further, by arranging the cooling rolls such that the contact length l (y) between the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes shorter as the relationship between the y-th cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes larger, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the strip-shaped electrode plate due to the contact length l (y). In the above-described method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, the strip-shaped electrode plate conveyed out of the drying furnace can be prevented from being wrinkled in the process of manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate.

The "strip-shaped electrode plate" includes a strip-shaped positive electrode plate having a positive electrode active material layer on one or both surfaces, a strip-shaped negative electrode plate having a negative electrode active material layer on one or both surfaces, and a composite electrode plate having a positive electrode active material layer on one surface and a negative electrode active material layer on the other surface.

When the temperature of the roll surface of the y-th cooling roll is Tr (y), the n cooling rolls may satisfy the condition of Tr (1) >. Tr (n).

Since the temperature Tr (y) of the roll surface of the y-th cooling roll satisfies the condition Tr (1) >. cndot. > Tr (n), the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is prevented from rapidly decreasing, and the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is easily decreased in stages. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the band-shaped electrode plate can be more reliably prevented. Further, to maintain the temperature Tr of the roll surface of the cooling roll, radiant heat from the drying furnace may be utilized. Further, a temperature adjusting device such as a heater or a cooler may be provided and used.

At least 1 of the n cooling rolls may use radiant heat from the drying furnace in order to maintain the temperature tr (y) of the roll surface.

Since the surface of at least 1 cooling roll is maintained at the temperature tr (y) by the radiant heat from the drying furnace, the need to separately provide a temperature adjusting device such as a heater and use the device can be reduced.

The temperature differences Δ td (y) may all be less than 35 ℃.

When the temperature difference Δ td (y) between before and after the y-th cooling roll of the strip-shaped electrode plate comes into contact is excessively large, specifically, when the temperature difference Δ td (y) becomes 35 ℃ or higher, wrinkles are likely to occur in the strip-shaped electrode plate. In contrast, in the above-described method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, since the temperature differences Δ td (y) of the strip-shaped electrode plate are all made smaller than 35 ℃, wrinkles in the strip-shaped electrode plate due to rapid cooling caused by contact with the cooling roll can be more effectively prevented.

The number n of the cooling rolls may be 3 or more.

By setting the number n of cooling rolls to 3 or more, the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is prevented from rapidly decreasing and the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is easily lowered stepwise, as compared with the case where the number n of cooling rolls is 2. Therefore, as compared with the case where the number n of cooling rolls is 2, the occurrence of wrinkles in the strip-shaped electrode plate can be more reliably prevented.

The contact lengths L (y) may all be 14mm or more.

When the contact length l (y) of the cooling roller and the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction is too short, specifically, when the contact length l (y) is less than 14mm, the cooling roller and the strip-shaped electrode plate rub against each other, and metal powder or active material powder is likely to be generated. In contrast, in the above-described method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, since the contact lengths l (y) in the longitudinal direction of the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate are all set to 14mm or more, the occurrence of metal powder or active material powder due to friction between the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate can be more effectively suppressed.

The invention according to claim 2 relates to a method for manufacturing a battery including an electrode body having a strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer, wherein the active material layer is formed on the current collector foil in a strip shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the current collector foil. The method for manufacturing a battery includes the steps of: manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate by using the method for manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate; forming the electrode body including the strip-shaped electrode plate; and assembling the battery including the electrode body.

In the above-described method for manufacturing a battery, since the strip-shaped electrode plate is manufactured by the above-described method for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate, wrinkles can be prevented from occurring in the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace. Therefore, a highly reliable battery can be manufactured by forming an electrode body including a strip-shaped electrode plate without the wrinkles (electrode body forming step), and then assembling a battery including the electrode body (battery assembling step). The "electrode body" includes a cylindrical or flat wound electrode body in which the above-described strip-shaped electrode plates are formed in a strip shape, and a laminated electrode body in which the strip-shaped electrode plates are cut into a predetermined shape such as a rectangle.

The present invention according to claim 3 relates to an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a strip-shaped electrode plate including a strip-shaped current collector foil and an active material layer formed on the current collector foil in a strip shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the current collector foil. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus includes a drying furnace for forming the active material layer by heating and drying an undried active material layer in an undried electrode plate while conveying the undried electrode plate in the longitudinal direction, and n cooling rolls for cooling the strip-shaped electrode plate while conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction while bending the strip-shaped electrode plate in the thickness direction while contacting the strip-shaped electrode plate conveyed from the drying furnace. n is a natural number of 2 or more. And (d) setting a contact length between the y-th cooling roller of the n cooling rollers, which is in contact with the strip-shaped electrode plate, and the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction as l (y), setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (0) of the strip-shaped electrode plate at the outlet of the drying furnace and a temperature Td (1) of the strip-shaped electrode plate after the contact with the 1 st cooling roller as Δ Td (1), and setting a temperature difference between a temperature Td (y-1) of the strip-shaped electrode plate after the contact with the (y-1) th cooling roller and a temperature Td (y) of the strip-shaped electrode plate after the contact with the y-th cooling roller as Δ Td (y), wherein the n cooling rollers are arranged such that the contact length l (y) is shorter as the temperature difference Δ Td (y) is larger.

The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus includes a plurality of cooling rolls that cool the strip-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace while conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate in the longitudinal direction while bending the strip-shaped electrode plate in the thickness direction. The cooling rolls are arranged such that the contact length l (y) in the longitudinal direction of the y-th cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the y-th cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes larger.

Since the strip-shaped electrode plate can be cooled in stages by using the plurality of cooling rolls, the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate can be prevented from being rapidly lowered, and wrinkles can be prevented from being generated in the strip-shaped electrode plate. Further, by using a plurality of cooling rolls, it is possible to prevent the strip-shaped electrode plate from being greatly bent downward during conveyance and from being wrinkled. Further, by conveying the strip-shaped electrode plate while bending it in the thickness direction by the cooling roller, it is possible to suppress the generation of metal powder or active material powder due to friction between the cooling roller and the strip-shaped electrode plate, as compared with the case where the cooling roller and the strip-shaped electrode plate are in point contact. Further, by arranging the cooling rolls such that the contact length l (y) between the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes shorter as the relationship between the y-th cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate becomes larger than the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the strip-shaped electrode plate, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the strip-shaped electrode plate due to the contact length l (y). Thus, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus can prevent the occurrence of wrinkles in the belt-shaped electrode plate carried out of the drying furnace.

When the temperature of the roll surface of the y-th cooling roll is Tr (y), the n cooling rolls may satisfy the condition of Tr (1) > · > Tr (n).

Since the temperature Tr (y) of the roll surface of the y-th cooling roll satisfies the condition Tr (1) >. cndot. > Tr (n), the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is prevented from rapidly decreasing, and the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is easily decreased in stages. Therefore, the occurrence of wrinkles in the belt-shaped electrode plate can be more reliably prevented.

At least 1 of the n cooling rolls may be disposed at a position where it receives radiant heat from the drying furnace in order to maintain the temperature tr (y) of the roll surface.

Since the surface of at least 1 cooling roll is maintained at the temperature tr (y) by the radiant heat from the drying furnace, the need to separately provide a temperature adjusting device such as a heater and use the device can be reduced.

The temperature differences Δ td (y) may all be less than 35 ℃.

Since the temperature difference Δ td (y) before and after the contact of the y-th cooling roll of the strip-shaped electrode plate is made smaller than 35 ℃, wrinkles in the strip-shaped electrode plate due to rapid cooling caused by the contact with the cooling roll can be more reliably prevented.

The number n of the cooling rolls may be 3 or more.

By setting the number n of cooling rolls to 3 or more, the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is prevented from rapidly decreasing and the temperature of the strip-shaped electrode plate is easily lowered stepwise, as compared with the case where the number n of cooling rolls is 2. Therefore, as compared with the case where the number n of cooling rolls is 2, the occurrence of wrinkles in the belt-shaped electrode plate can be more reliably prevented.

The contact lengths L (y) may all be 14mm or more.

In the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus, since the contact lengths l (y) in the longitudinal direction between the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate are all set to 14mm or more, the occurrence of metal powder or active material powder due to friction between the cooling roll and the strip-shaped electrode plate can be more effectively suppressed.

Drawings

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery of an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the electrode body of the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a development view of the electrode body of the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the strip-shaped positive electrode plate according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a sub-routine of the positive electrode plate manufacturing process according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a strip-shaped positive electrode plate is formed by using the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the cooling roll in the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the vicinity of the cooling roll in comparative example 1.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the cooling roll in comparative example 2.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the cooling roll in comparative example 3.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a battery 100 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the electrode body 120 constituting the battery 100, and fig. 3 is a development view of the electrode body 120. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction BH, the lateral direction CH, and the thickness direction DH of the battery 100 will be described with reference to the directions shown in fig. 1. This battery 100 is a rectangular sealed lithium ion secondary battery mounted on a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, or an electric vehicle. The battery 100 includes a rectangular battery case 110, a flat wound electrode body 120 and an electrolyte 105 housed therein, and a positive electrode terminal member 150 and a negative electrode terminal member 160 supported by the battery case 110 (see fig. 1).

The battery case 110 is made of a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped metal (aluminum in the present embodiment). The battery case 110 is composed of a case main body member 111 having a bottomed square tube shape and having an opening only on the upper side, and a case lid member 113 having a rectangular plate shape and welded so as to close the opening of the case main body member 111. The case lid member 113 is fixedly provided with a positive electrode terminal member 150 made of aluminum in an insulated state from the case lid member 113. The positive terminal member 150 is connected to and electrically connected to a strip-shaped positive electrode plate (strip-shaped electrode plate) 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "positive electrode plate 1") of the electrode body 120 (see also fig. 2 and 3) in the battery case 110, and extends to the outside of the battery through the case lid member 113. In addition, the negative electrode terminal member 160 made of copper is fixedly provided on the case lid member 113 in a state insulated from the case lid member 113. The negative electrode terminal member 160 is connected to and electrically connected to a band-shaped negative electrode plate 131 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "negative electrode plate 131") in the electrode body 120 in the battery case 110, and extends to the outside of the battery through the case lid member 113.

The electrode assembly 120 (see fig. 1 to 3) is flat and is housed in the battery case 110 in a horizontal state. The electrode body 120 is a flat wound electrode body in which a positive electrode plate 1 and a negative electrode plate 131 are stacked on each other with a pair of strip-shaped separators 141 and 143 interposed therebetween and wound around an axis AX in a flat shape. In this case, the positive plate 1 is additionally shown in a perspective view in fig. 4. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction EH, the width direction FH, and the thickness direction GH of the positive electrode plate 1 and the positive electrode current collector foil (current collector foil) 3 constituting the positive electrode plate 1 will be described as the directions shown in fig. 4.

The positive electrode plate 1 includes a positive electrode current collector foil 3 made of a strip-shaped aluminum foil extending in the longitudinal direction EH. On the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3, a 1 st positive electrode active material layer (active material layer) 5 is formed in a strip shape in the longitudinal direction EH except for one end portion in the width direction FH. On the 2 nd main surface 3b on the opposite side of the positive electrode current collector foil 3, a 2 nd positive electrode active material layer (active material layer) 6 is formed in a strip shape in the longitudinal direction EH except for one end portion in the width direction FH.

These 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 and 2 nd positive electrode active material layer 6 are each composed of positive electrode active material particles, conductive particles, and a binder. In the present embodiment, lithium transition metal composite oxide particles, specifically, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide particles, are used as the positive electrode active material particles. In addition, Acetylene Black (AB) particles were used as conductive particles, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was used as a binder. One end portion in the width direction FH of the positive electrode plate 1 is in a strip shape extending in the longitudinal direction EH, and the 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 and the 2 nd positive electrode active material layer 6 are not provided in the thickness direction GH, and form a positive electrode exposed portion 1m exposing the positive electrode current collector foil 3. In a state where the battery 100 is configured, the positive electrode terminal member 150 is welded to the positive electrode exposed portion 1 m.

The negative electrode plate 131 (see fig. 3) has a negative electrode current collector foil 133 made of a strip-shaped copper foil extending in the longitudinal direction IH. On the 1 st main surface 133a of the negative electrode current collector foil 133, the 1 st negative electrode active material layer 135 is formed in a band shape in the longitudinal direction IH, except for the other end portion in the width direction JH. The 2 nd negative electrode active material layer 136 is formed in a band shape in the longitudinal direction IH on the 2 nd main surface 133b opposite to the negative electrode current collector foil 133 except for the other end portion in the width direction JH.

These 1 st anode active material layer 135 and 2 nd anode active material layer 136 are each composed of anode active material particles, a binder, and a thickener. In the present embodiment, graphite particles are used as the negative electrode active material particles, Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) is used as the binder, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is used as the thickener. The other end portion of the negative electrode plate 131 in the width direction JH is in a band shape extending in the longitudinal direction IH, and the 1 st negative electrode active material layer 135 and the 2 nd negative electrode active material layer 136 are not present in the thickness direction, and form a negative electrode exposed portion 131m in which the negative electrode current collector foil 133 is exposed. In a state where the battery 100 is configured, the negative electrode terminal member 160 is welded to the negative electrode exposed portion 131 m.

Next, a method for manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 and a method for manufacturing the battery 100 using the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 will be described (see fig. 5 to 8). First, in "positive electrode plate manufacturing step (electrode plate manufacturing step) S1", the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 is manufactured. That is, in the "1 st undried layer forming step S11" (see fig. 6) of the positive electrode plate manufacturing step S1, the strip-shaped undried 1 st active material layer 5x extending in the longitudinal direction EH is formed on the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3. The undried positive electrode plate (undried positive electrode plate) having the undried 1 st active material layer 5x formed on the positive electrode current collector foil 3 is also referred to as an undried one-side positive electrode plate 1 x.

The steps from the 1 st non-dried layer forming step S11 to the 1 st cooling step S13 described later were continuously performed by using the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 shown in fig. 7 and 8. First, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 will be described below. The lateral direction MH and the height direction NH of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 will be described with reference to the directions shown in fig. 7 and 8. The electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 includes: a supply section 210 for supplying the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the one-side positive electrode plate 1y described later), a die coating section 220 for die coating the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the one-side positive electrode plate 1y) with the positive electrode paste DP, a drying furnace 230 for drying the 1 st active material layer 5x (or the 2 nd active material layer 6x described later), a cooling section 240 for cooling the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plate 1w described later), and a winding and conveying section 250 for winding the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plate 1 w).

The supply unit 210 includes a take-up roller 211 for winding the strip-shaped positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the one-side positive electrode plate 1y), and a plurality of conveyance rollers 213 for conveying the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the one-side positive electrode plate 1y) in the longitudinal direction EH, and conveys the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the one-side positive electrode plate 1y) to the die coating unit 220. In the present embodiment, the transport speed V of the positive electrode collector foil 3 and the like in the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 is set to 20 m/min.

The die coating section 220 includes a coating die 221 for discharging the positive electrode paste DP, a support roller 223 for carrying the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the one-side positive electrode plate 1y), a pump (not shown) for sending the positive electrode paste DP to the coating die 221, and the like. The die coating section 220 coats the positive electrode paste DP from the coating die 221 onto the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the 2 nd main surface 3b of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y), and forms the undried 1 st active material layer 5x on the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (or the undried 2 nd active material layer 6x on the 2 nd main surface 3b of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 in the one-side positive electrode plate 1 y).

The drying furnace 230 has a drying chamber 233 partitioned from the outside by a wall 231. In the drying chamber 233, a plurality of conveying rollers 235 for conveying the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x (or undried both-side positive electrode plates 1z) described later in the longitudinal direction EH are arranged. In the drying chamber 233, a plurality of hot air blowing portions 237 are disposed for blowing hot air NF toward the undried 1 st active material layer 5x of the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x (or the undried 2 nd active material layer 6x of the undried both-side positive electrode plate 1 z). In the present embodiment, the temperature of the hot air NF is set to 180 ℃. This makes it possible to dry the undried 1 st active material layers 5x (or the undried 2 nd active material layers 6x of the undried both side positive electrode plates 1z) of the undried one side positive electrode plates 1x carried into the drying furnace 230.

The cooling unit 240 includes a plurality of cooling rolls (1 st cooling roll 241, 2 nd cooling roll 242, and 3 rd cooling roll 243) (n is 3 in the present embodiment) having an outer diameter of 80mm (see also fig. 8). These cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 are in contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) conveyed out of the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230, respectively, and cool the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) while conveying the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) in the longitudinal direction EH while bending the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) in the thickness direction GH. Of the 3 cooling rollers 241, 242, 243, the 1 st cooling roller 241 is in contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1w), the 2 nd cooling roller 242 is in contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1w), and the 3 rd cooling roller 243 is in contact with the 3 rd (last) one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1 w). Further, cooling water may be circulated inside the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 to adjust the surface temperatures of the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243.

The 1 st cooling roll 241 is disposed at a position where its center is 220mm away from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 in the lateral direction MH. The first cooling roll 241 is arranged below the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) in the height direction NH by conveying the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) carried out from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 in the lateral direction MH and contacting the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) from below in the height direction NH. The 1 st cooling roller 241 is located in the vicinity of the drying furnace 230, and is thus heated by the radiant heat from the drying furnace 230. Specifically, the roll surface 241a of the 1 st cooling roll 241 has a temperature Tr (1) of 50 ℃.

The 2 nd cooling roller 242 is disposed at a position where the center thereof is separated by 360mm in the lateral direction MH from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230, is disposed above the 1 st cooling roller 241 in the height direction NH, and is in contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1w) from above in the height direction NH. The 2 nd cooling roller 242 is also heated by the radiant heat from the drying furnace 230. Specifically, the roll surface 242a of the 2 nd cooling roll 242 has a temperature Tr (2) of 35 ℃.

The 3 rd cooling roller 243 is disposed at a position where the center thereof is separated by 480mm in the lateral direction MH from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230, is disposed at the same position as the 1 st cooling roller 241 in the height direction NH, and is in contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1w) from below in the height direction NH. The 3 rd cooling roller 243 is sufficiently separated from the drying oven 230 so as not to be substantially heated by the radiant heat from the drying oven 230. Therefore, the temperature Tr (3) of the roll surface 243a of the 3 rd cooling roll 243 is substantially equal to room temperature, and Tr (3) is 25 ℃. In this way, in the present embodiment, since the roll surfaces 241a, 242a, and 243a of the cooling rolls 241, 242, and 243 have the temperatures Tr (y) of Tr (1) > Tr (2) > Tr (3) of 50 ℃, 35 ℃, and 25 ℃.

By arranging the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 as described above, the wrap angle θ 1 between the 1 st cooling roller 241 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is set to 25 °. The wrap angle is an angle of an arc portion formed by winding the cooling roller with the single-side positive electrode plate. Since the outer diameter of the 1 st cooling roller 241 is 80mm as described above, the contact length L (1) of the 1 st cooling roller 241 with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) in the longitudinal direction EH is 17.5 mm. The wrap angle θ 2 between the 2 nd cooling roller 242 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is set to 40 °, and the contact length L (2) in the longitudinal direction EH between the 2 nd cooling roller 242 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is 28 mm. The wrap angle θ 3 between the 3 rd cooling roller 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is 105 °, and the contact length L (3) in the longitudinal direction EH of the 3 rd cooling roller 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is 73 mm. In this way, in the present embodiment, the contact length L (y) is L (1) < L (2) < L (3) because L (1) < 17.5mm, L (2) < 28mm, and L (3) < 73 mm.

At the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230, the temperature Td (0) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is 90 ℃. On the other hand, the temperature Td (1) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) after the contact with the 1 st cooling roller 241 is 60 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (1) is Td (0) -Td (1), which is 90-60, which is 30 ℃. Further, the temperature Td (2) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) after the contact with the 2 nd cooling roller 242 is Td (2) of 40 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (2) is Td (1) -Td (2), which is 60-40, which is 20 ℃. Further, the temperature Td (3) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plates 1w) after the contact with the 3 rd cooling roller 243 is 25 ℃ (the same as the room temperature). Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (3) is Td (2) -Td (3), 40-25, 15 ℃.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the temperature difference Δ Td (y) between the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or the both-side positive electrode plate 1w) is Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3) because Δ Td (1) — 30 ℃, Δ Td (2) — 20 ℃, and Δ Td (3) — 15 ℃. On the other hand, as described above, the contact length L (y) in the longitudinal direction EH of the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is in a relationship of L (1) < L (2) < L (3). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the contact length l (y) is shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) is larger.

The winding and conveying unit 250 includes a winding roller 251 around which the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) is wound, and a conveying roller 253 that conveys the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) in the longitudinal direction EH, and conveys and winds the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (or both-side positive electrode plates 1w) cooled by the cooling unit 240 onto the winding roller 251.

Next, a method for manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 and a method for manufacturing the battery 100 using the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 will be described. First, before the 1 st non-dried layer forming step S11 (see fig. 6) is performed using the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200, the positive electrode paste DP is prepared. The positive electrode paste DP is a paste obtained by mixing and stirring positive electrode active material particles (lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide particles), conductive particles (AB particles), and a binder (PVDF) together with a dispersion medium (N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP)). The solid content fraction of the positive electrode paste DP was 60 wt% (NMP ratio was 40 wt%).

In the 1 st non-dried layer forming step S11, the positive electrode paste DP is applied to the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 using the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 described above, thereby forming the 1 st non-dried active material layer 5 x. Specifically, positive electrode collector foil 3 wound out from winding-out roller 211 of supply unit 210 is conveyed to die coating unit 220 in longitudinal direction EH by a plurality of conveyance rollers 213 of supply unit 210. Next, a predetermined discharge amount of the positive electrode paste DP is discharged from the coating die 221 toward the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 conveyed by the support roller 223 of the die coating section 220, and a coating film (the 1 st active material layer 5x is not dried) is continuously formed in a band shape on the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 (the non-dried one-side positive electrode plate 1x is continuously formed).

Next, in the "1 st drying step S12", the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x is carried into the drying furnace 230 by being transported in the longitudinal direction EH, and the 1 st active material layer 5x of the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x is dried by heating while the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x is carried in the drying furnace 230 by being transported in the longitudinal direction EH, thereby forming the 1 st positive active material layer 5. Specifically, the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x carried into the drying chamber 233 of the drying furnace 230 is conveyed by a plurality of conveying rollers 235 in the longitudinal direction EH. On the other hand, hot air NF of 180 ℃ is blown from the hot air blowing portions 237 to the undried 1 st active material layer 5x of the undried one-side positive electrode plate 1x being conveyed. Thereby, the 1 st active material layer 5x is not dried, and the 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 is continuously formed. The strip-shaped positive electrode plate (strip-shaped electrode plate) having the 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 formed on the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 is also referred to as a single-sided positive electrode plate 1 y. The one-side positive electrode plate 1y is carried out to the outside of the drying furnace 230 through the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230.

Next, in the "1 st cooling step S13", the one-side positive electrode plate 1y (the one-side positive electrode plate 1y at the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 has a temperature Td (0) of 90 ℃) discharged from the drying furnace 230 and is cooled to 25 ℃ (room temperature) in the cooling unit 240. The one-side positive electrode plate 1y is brought into contact with the respective 3 cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 of the cooling unit 240, and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is cooled while being bent in the thickness direction GH and conveyed in the longitudinal direction EH by these cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243.

Specifically, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y carried out of the drying furnace 230 first contacts the 1 st cooling roller 241 and is cooled by the 1 st cooling roller 241. As described above, the 1 st cooling roller 241 is set such that the temperature Tr (1) of the roller surface 241a becomes Tr (1) 50 ℃. The wrap angle θ 1 between the 1 st cooling roller 241 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 25 °, and the contact length L (1) in the longitudinal direction EH of the 1 st cooling roller 241 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 17.5 mm. If passing through the 1 st cooling roller 241, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y having the temperature Td (0) of 90 ℃ at the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 is cooled to the temperature Td (1) of 60 ℃ with the temperature difference Δ Td (1) Td (0) -Td (1) of 90-60 ℃ of 30 ℃.

Next, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y contacts the 2 nd cooling roller 242 and is cooled by the 2 nd cooling roller 242. As described above, the 2 nd cooling roller 242 changes the temperature Tr (2) of the roller surface 242a to 35 ℃ by the radiant heat from the drying oven 230. The wrap angle θ 2 between the 2 nd cooling roller 242 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is set to 40 ° and the contact length L (2) in the longitudinal direction EH between the 2 nd cooling roller 242 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 28 mm. If passing through the 2 nd cooling roller 242, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y having the temperature Td (1) -60 ℃ after contacting the 1 st cooling roller 241 is cooled at the temperature Td (2) -40 ℃ with the temperature difference Δ Td (2) -60-40-20 ℃.

Next, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y contacts the 3 rd cooling roller 243 and is cooled by the 3 rd cooling roller 243. As described above, the 3 rd cooling roller 243 is not substantially affected by the radiant heat from the drying furnace 230, and the temperature Tr (3) of the roller surface 243a becomes substantially equal to Tr (3) of 25 ℃. The wrap angle θ 3 between the 3 rd cooling roller 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 105 °, and the contact length L (3) in the longitudinal direction EH between the 3 rd cooling roller 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 73 mm. If passing through the 3 rd cooling roller 243, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y having the temperature Td (2) -Td (3) -40 ℃ after contacting the 2 nd cooling roller 242 becomes the temperature Td (3) -25 ℃, and is cooled with the temperature difference Δ Td (3) -Td (40-25-15 ℃.

In this way, in the present embodiment, since the roll surfaces 241a, 242a, and 243a of the cooling rolls 241, 242, and 243 have the temperatures Tr (y) of Tr (1) > Tr (2) > Tr (3) of 50 ℃, 35 ℃, and 25 ℃. Further, since the contact length L (y) between each of the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is L (1) < L (2) < L (3) because L (1) < 17.5mm, L (2) < 28mm, and L (3) < 73mm, the relationship is established. The temperature difference Δ Td (y) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in a relationship of Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3) because Δ Td (1) > 30 ℃, Δ Td (2) > 20 ℃, and Δ Td (3) > 15 ℃. Therefore, the contact length l (y) becomes shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y becomes larger.

The one-side positive electrode plate 1y cooled by the cooling unit 240 is conveyed to the winding roller 251 by the conveying roller 253 of the winding conveying unit 250, and wound around the winding roller 251. In the present embodiment, the single-sided positive electrode plate 1y having thus completed the 1 st cooling step S13 is once wound, and then the 2 nd non-dried layer forming step S14 described below is performed, but the single-sided positive electrode plate 1y may not be wound, and the 2 nd non-dried layer forming step S14 may be performed after the 1 st cooling step S13.

Next, in the "2 nd non-dried layer forming step S14", the positive electrode paste DP is applied to the 2 nd main surface 3b of the positive current collector foil 3 in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y to form the non-dried 2 nd active material layer 6 x. The undried positive electrode plate (undried electrode plate) in which the 1 st positive active material layer 5 is formed on the 1 st main surface 3a of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 and the 2 nd undried active material layer 6x is formed on the 2 nd main surface 3b of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 is also referred to as an undried both-side positive electrode plate 1 z. The process from the 2 nd non-dried layer forming step S14 to the 2 nd cooling step S16 described later is continuously performed by using the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200. Specifically, a winding-out roller 211 around which the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is wound is disposed in the supply unit 210 of the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200. The one-side positive electrode plate 1y wound out from the winding-out roller 211 of the supply unit 210 is conveyed to the die coating unit 220 by a plurality of conveying rollers 213. Next, a predetermined amount of the positive electrode paste DP is discharged from the coating die 221 toward the 2 nd main surface 3b of the positive current collector foil 3 of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y conveyed by the support roller 223 of the die coating section 220, and a coating film (the 2 nd active material layer 6x is not dried) is continuously formed in a band shape on the 2 nd main surface 3b (the non-dried both-side positive electrode plates 1z are continuously formed).

Next, in the "2 nd drying step S15", the undried positive electrode plates 1z are carried into the drying furnace 230 by being transported in the longitudinal direction EH, and the 2 nd active material layer 6x on the undried positive electrode plates 1z is dried by heating while the undried positive electrode plates 1z are transported in the longitudinal direction EH in the drying furnace 230, thereby forming the 2 nd positive active material layer 6. Specifically, the undried positive electrode plates 1z on both sides are conveyed in the longitudinal direction EH by the plurality of conveying rollers 235, while hot air NF is blown from the plurality of hot air blowing portions 237 to the undried 2 nd active material layers 6x of the undried positive electrode plates 1z on both sides. Thereby, the 2 nd active material layer 6x is not dried, and the 2 nd positive electrode active material layer 6 is formed. The strip-shaped positive electrode plate (strip-shaped electrode plate) having the 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 formed on the 1 st main surface 3a and the 2 nd positive electrode active material layer 6 formed on the 2 nd main surface 3b of the positive electrode current collector foil 3 is also referred to as a double-sided positive electrode plate 1 w.

Next, in the "2 nd cooling step S16", the positive electrode plates 1w carried out of the drying furnace 230 (the temperature Td (0) of the positive electrode plates 1w at the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 is Td (0) ═ 90 ℃) are cooled to 25 ℃ (room temperature) in the cooling unit 240. The both-side positive electrode plates 1w are respectively brought into contact with the 3 cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 of the cooling unit 240, and the both-side positive electrode plates 1w are cooled while being bent in the thickness direction GH and conveyed in the longitudinal direction EH by these cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243.

Specifically, as in the first cooling step S13, the positive electrode plates 1w on both sides that are carried out of the drying furnace 230 are first cooled by the first cooling roller 241 from a temperature Td (0) of 90 ℃ to a temperature Td (1) of 60 ℃ with a temperature difference Δ Td (1) of 30 ℃. Next, the positive electrode plates 1w on both sides are cooled by the 2 nd cooling roller 242 from a temperature Td (1) of 60 ℃ to a temperature Td (2) of 40 ℃ with a temperature difference Δ Td (2) of 20 ℃. Next, the both positive electrode plates 1w are cooled by the 3 rd cooling roller 243 from a temperature Td (2) of 40 ℃ to a temperature Td (3) of 25 ℃ with a temperature difference Δ Td (3) of 15 ℃.

In the 2 nd cooling step S16, similarly to the 1 st cooling step S13, the roll surfaces 241a, 242a, and 243a of the respective cooling rolls 241, 242, and 243 have a relationship of Tr (1) > Tr (2) > Tr (3) because the temperature Tr (y) is Tr (1) 50 ℃, Tr (2) 35 ℃, and Tr (3) 25 ℃. Further, since the contact length L (y) between each of the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 and the positive electrode plates 1w on both sides is L (1) < L (2) < L (3) because L (1) < 17.5mm, L (2) < 28mm, and L (3) < 73mm, the relationship is established. The temperature difference Δ Td (y) between the positive electrode plates 1w on both sides is a relationship of Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3) because Δ Td (1) > 30 ℃, Δ Td (2) > 20 ℃, and Δ Td (3) > 15 ℃. Therefore, the contact length l (y) is shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the positive electrode plates 1w on both sides is larger.

The both side positive electrode plates 1w cooled by the cooling unit 240 are conveyed to the winding roller 251 by the conveying roller 253 of the winding conveying unit 250, and wound around the winding roller 251. In the present embodiment, the both-side positive electrode plates 1w having thus completed the 2 nd cooling step S16 are once wound and then subjected to the pressing step S17 described later, but the both-side positive electrode plates 1w may not be wound and the pressing step S17 may be performed after the 2 nd cooling step S16.

Next, in the "pressing step S17", the above-described both positive electrode plates 1w are rolled while being conveyed in the longitudinal direction EH by a rolling device (not shown), whereby the 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 and the 2 nd positive electrode active material layer 6 are pressed and compacted in the thickness direction GH. This forms the compacted positive electrode plate 1 v. Next, in the "cutting step S18", the positive electrode plate 1v after the compacting is cut (divided) in the longitudinal direction EH at the center in the width direction FH. Thus, the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 shown in fig. 4 was obtained.

In addition, in the "negative electrode plate production step S2" (see fig. 5), the negative electrode plate 131 is produced in a band shape. Negative electrode active material particles (graphite particles), a binder (SBR), and a thickener (CMC) were mixed and stirred with a dispersion medium (water) in advance to prepare a negative electrode paste (not shown). Then, the negative electrode paste was applied to the 1 st main surface 133a of the negative electrode current collector foil 133 by die coating, thereby forming the 1 st active material layer without drying. Then, the undried 1 st active material layer is dried by heating, and the 1 st negative electrode active material layer 135 is formed.

Next, the negative electrode paste is applied to the 2 nd main surface 133b of the negative electrode current collector foil 133 by die coating, thereby forming the 2 nd active material layer without drying. Then, the undried 2 nd active material layer is dried by heating, and the 2 nd negative electrode active material layer 136 is formed. Then, by subjecting the negative electrode plate to roll pressing, the 1 st negative electrode active material layer 135 and the 2 nd negative electrode active material layer 136 are respectively pressed and densified in the thickness direction. Then, the negative electrode plate is cut (divided) in the longitudinal direction IH at the center of the width direction JH. Thus, the negative electrode plate 131 is obtained in a band shape.

Next, in the "electrode forming step S3" (see fig. 5), the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 131 are stacked on each other with the pair of separators 141 and 143 separately provided therebetween, wound around the axis AX (see fig. 3), and then compressed into a flat shape (see fig. 2), thereby forming the flat wound electrode body 120.

Next, in the "battery assembling step S4", the battery 100 is assembled. Specifically, the case lid member 113 is prepared, and the positive electrode terminal member 150 and the negative electrode terminal member 160 are fixed thereto (see fig. 1). Then, the positive electrode terminal member 150 and the negative electrode terminal member 160 are welded to the positive electrode plate 1 and the negative electrode plate 131 of the electrode body 120, respectively. Then, the electrode body 120 is inserted into the case main body member 111, and the opening of the case main body member 111 is closed with the case lid member 113. Then, the case main body member 111 and the case lid member 113 are welded to form the battery case 110.

Next, in the "electrolyte injection and sealing step S5", the electrolyte solution 105 is injected into the battery case 110 through the electrolyte injection hole 113h provided in the case lid member 113, and the electrode body 120 is impregnated with the electrolyte solution 105. Then, the pour hole 113h is sealed with the sealing member 115. Next, in "inspection step S6", various inspections and initial charging are performed on the battery 100. Thus, the battery 100 is completed.

(examples)

Next, as an example, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 was used in the same manner as in the embodiment to perform the 1 st non-drying layer forming step S11, the 1 st drying step S12, and the 1 st cooling step S13 to form a strip-shaped positive electrode plate (one-side positive electrode plate 1y) having the 1 st positive electrode active material layer 5 on the positive electrode current collector foil 3, as described above, the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 of the embodiment includes a plurality of cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 (n is 3), the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 are not in point contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y, but are in contact with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y by the contact length L (y), and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is bent in the thickness direction GH along the length direction EH transport (the transport "column by cooling rollers" is described as "bending" transport "in the case where the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is bent in the thickness direction GH, the larger transport" Δ y "is the temperature difference between the one-side positive electrode plate 1 y" (Td is larger transport "Td) and the shorter transport" Δ y "is the temperature difference (Td) (the shorter transport Δ y) is expressed as" Td 2 "< Δ y) and the temperature difference (Td) (the transport length L2) is expressed as" Td) (the shorter transport length L2 > L2) of the temperature difference of the one-side (Td) (the temperature difference of the one-side Δ y) is expressed as the temperature difference of the temperature difference (Td) (the temperature difference of the temperature difference L) of the one-side.

TABLE 1

Comparative example 1

On the other hand, as comparative example 1, an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus (see fig. 9) having a different form of the cooling portion 240 in the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment was prepared, and the 1 st non-dried layer forming step S11, the 1 st drying step S12, and the 1 st cooling step S13 were performed using the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus to form the one-sided positive electrode plate 1 y. The cooling section 740 of comparative example 1 has only 1 cooling roll 741. The outer diameter of cooling roller 741 is the same as the outer diameter of cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 according to the embodiment. The cooling roll 741 is disposed at a position 480mm away from the center of the drying furnace 230 from the outlet 230e in the transverse direction MH, that is, at the same position as the 3 rd cooling roll 243 of the embodiment.

Since the cooling roll 741 is not substantially heated by the radiant heat from the drying furnace 230, the temperature Tr (1) of the roll surface 741a is Tr (1) of 25 ℃. The wrap angle θ 1 of the cooling roller 741 with respect to the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is set to 25 °, and the contact length L (1) of the cooling roller 741 with respect to the longitudinal direction EH of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 17.5 mm. The temperature Td (1) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after contacting the cooling roller 741 is 25 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (1) is Δ Td (1) — Td (0) — Td (1) — 90 — 25 — (65 ℃).

Comparative example 2

As comparative example 2, an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus (see fig. 10) having a different configuration of the cooling portion 240 in the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment was prepared, and the 1 st non-dried layer forming step S11, the 1 st drying step S12, and the 1 st cooling step S13 were performed using the apparatus to form the single-sided positive electrode plate 1 y. The cooling unit 840 of comparative example 2 includes 3 cooling rolls (the 1 st cooling roll 841, the 2 nd cooling roll 842, and the 3 rd cooling roll 843). The outer diameters of the cooling rollers 841, 842, 843 are the same as the outer diameters of the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 according to the embodiment.

The 1 st cooling roll 841 is disposed at a position where its center is separated by 220mm in the lateral direction MH from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230, that is, at the same position as the 1 st cooling roll 241 of the embodiment. The roll surface 841a of the 1 st cooling roll 841 has a temperature Tr (1) of 50 ℃. The 2 nd cooling roll 842 is disposed at a position separated by 300mm in the lateral direction MH from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 at the center thereof, and is disposed at a position where the one-side positive electrode plate 1y having passed through the 1 st cooling roll 841 is conveyed downward in the height direction NH. The roll surface 842a of the 2 nd cooling roll 842 has a temperature Tr (2) of 35 ℃. The 3 rd cooling roller 843 is disposed below the 2 nd cooling roller 842 in the height direction NH at a position 380mm away from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 in the lateral direction MH at the center thereof, and contacts the one-side positive electrode plate 1y from below in the height direction NH. The roll surface 843a of the 3 rd cooling roll 843 has a temperature Tr (3) of 25 ℃.

By arranging the cooling rollers 841, 842, 843 as described above, the wrap angle θ 1 between the 1 st cooling roller 841 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y becomes 90 °, and the contact length L (1) between the 1 st cooling roller 841 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y in the longitudinal direction EH becomes 63 mm. The wrap angle θ 2 of the 2 nd cooling roller 842 with respect to the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 75 ° and the contact length L (2) of the 2 nd cooling roller 842 with respect to the longitudinal direction EH of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 52 mm. The wrap angle θ 3 between the 3 rd cooling roller 843 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is set to 30 ° and the contact length L (3) in the longitudinal direction EH between the 3 rd cooling roller 843 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 21 mm. In comparative example 2, since the contact length L (y) is L (1) < 63mm, L (2) < 52mm, and L (3) < 21mm, the relationship of L (1) < L (2) < L (3) is L (1) > L (2) > L (3), contrary to the relationship of example.

In comparative example 2, the temperature Td (1) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after contacting the 1 st cooling roller 841 is 55 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (1) is Δ Td (1) — Td (0) — Td (1) — 90 — 55 — (35 ℃). The temperature Td (2) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after contacting the 2 nd cooling roller 842 is Td (2) of 37 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (2) is Δ Td (2) — Td (1) — Td (2) — 55 — 37 — (18 ℃). The temperature Td (3) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after contacting the 3 rd cooling roller 843 is Td (3) of 25 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (3) is Δ Td (3) — Td (2) — Td (3) — 37 — 25 — (12 ℃).

In comparative example 2, since the temperature difference Δ Td (y) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3) in the same manner as in example, Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3) is 35 ℃, Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (12 ℃). On the other hand, as described above, since the contact length L (y) of the cooling rollers 841, 842, 843 with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in the relationship of L (1) > L (2) > L (3), the contact length L (y) is not reduced as the temperature difference Δ td (y) is increased, unlike in the examples (the contact length L (y) is reduced as the temperature difference Δ td (y) is increased in table 1 as the column is indicated by the symbol "x").

Comparative example 3

As comparative example 3, an electrode plate manufacturing apparatus (see fig. 11) having a different configuration of the cooling portion 240 in the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment was prepared, and the 1 st non-dried layer forming step S11, the 1 st drying step S12, and the 1 st cooling step S13 were performed using the apparatus to form the single-sided positive electrode plate 1 y. The cooling section 940 of comparative example 3 has 2 cooling rolls (the 1 st cooling roll 941 and the 2 nd cooling roll 942). The outer diameters of the cooling rollers 941, 942 are the same as the outer diameters of the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 according to the embodiment.

The 1 st cooling roll 941 is disposed at a position where its center is separated by 220mm from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 in the lateral direction MH, that is, at the same position as the 1 st cooling roll 241 of the embodiment. The temperature Tr (1) of the roller surface 941a of the 1 st cooling roller 941 is Tr (1) at 50 ℃. The 2 nd cooling roller 942 is disposed below the 1 st cooling roller 941 in the height direction NH at a position 480mm apart from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 in the lateral direction MH at the center thereof, and contacts the one-side positive electrode plate 1y from below in the height direction NH. The roll surface 942a of the 2 nd cooling roll 942 has a temperature Tr (2) of 25 ℃.

By disposing the cooling rollers 941 and 942 as described above, the wrap angle θ 1 between the 1 st cooling roller 941 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y becomes 25 °, and the contact length L (1) between the 1 st cooling roller 941 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y in the longitudinal direction EH becomes 17.5 mm. The wrap angle θ 2 between the 2 nd cooling roll 942 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 75 ° with θ 2, and the contact length L (2) in the longitudinal direction EH between the 2 nd cooling roll 942 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is 52 mm. In comparative example 3, the contact length L (y) is L (1) < L (2) because L (1) < 17.5mm and L (2) < 52 mm.

In comparative example 3, the temperature Td (1) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after the first cooling roller 941 is brought into contact therewith is 60 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (1) is Δ Td (1) — Td (0) — Td (1) — 90 — 60 — (30 ℃). The temperature Td (2) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after contacting the 2 nd cooling roller 942 is 25 ℃. Therefore, the temperature difference Δ Td (2) is Δ Td (2) ═ Td (1) — Td (2) — 60 — 25 — (35 ℃.

In comparative example 3, the temperature difference Δ Td (y) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in a relationship of Δ Td (1) < Δ Td (2) because Δ Td (1) is 30 ℃ and Δ Td (2) is 35 ℃. On the other hand, as described above, the contact length L (y) between the cooling rollers 941 and 942 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in a relationship of L (1) < L (2). Therefore, contrary to the embodiment, the contact length l (y) is shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) is larger.

Next, the one-side positive electrode plates 1y of examples and comparative examples 1 to 3 were visually checked for the occurrence of wrinkles. As a result, wrinkles were not generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y of the example. On the other hand, wrinkles were generated in all of the one-side positive electrode plates 1y of comparative examples 1 to 3. The reason for this is considered as follows. That is, first, in comparative example 1 (see fig. 9), the cooling roll 741 is disposed apart from the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230. Therefore, between the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230 and the cooling roll 741, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is greatly deflected downward in the height direction NH (in fig. 9, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is described as being not deflected for convenience), and when the one-side positive electrode plate 1y contacts the cooling roll 741, wrinkles are considered to be generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1 y.

Further, in order to suppress the deflection of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y, in comparative example 1, when the cooling roller 741 is disposed close to the outlet 230e of the drying furnace 230, the temperature of the roller surface 741a of the cooling roller 741 becomes high due to the radiant heat from the drying furnace 230, and therefore the temperature of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y after passing through the cooling roller 741 becomes high. In this case, it is necessary to extend the conveyance path downstream of the cooling roller 741 to cool the one-side positive electrode plate 1y naturally, and the electrode plate manufacturing apparatus 200 is undesirably lengthened.

In comparative example 2, since the plurality of cooling rollers 841, 842, 843 are used, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from being generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y due to the deflection of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y during conveyance, as in comparative example 1. However, in comparative example 2, as described above, the temperature difference Δ Td (y) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in the relationship of Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3), and the contact length L (y) of the cooling rollers 841, 842, 843 with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in the relationship of L (1) > L (2) > L (3), and the contact length L (y) is longer as the temperature difference Δ Td (y) is larger. In comparative example 2, since such a relationship is obtained, it is considered that wrinkles are generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1 y.

In comparative example 3, since the plurality of cooling rollers 941 and 942 are used, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y due to flexure of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y as in comparative example 1. However, in comparative example 3, as described above, the temperature difference Δ Td (y) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in the relationship of Δ Td (1) < Δ Td (2), and the contact length L (y) between the cooling rollers 941 and 942 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is in the relationship of L (1) < L (2), and as in comparative example 2, the contact length L (y) is in a relationship of being longer as the temperature difference Δ Td (y) is larger. Therefore, it is considered that wrinkles are generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y in this comparative example 3 as well as in the comparative example 2.

In contrast, in the embodiment, since the plurality of cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 are used, it is possible to prevent the wrinkles from being generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y due to the flexure of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y as in comparative example 1. In the embodiment, as described above, the temperature difference Δ Td (y) of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is Δ Td (1) > Δ Td (2) > Δ Td (3), and the contact length L (y) between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is a relationship of L (1) < L (2) < L (3), and the contact length L (y) is shorter as the temperature difference Δ Td (y) is larger. Therefore, unlike comparative examples 2 and 3, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y is not likely to have wrinkles.

In any of examples and comparative examples 1 to 3, no metal powder was generated in cooling units 240, 740, 840, and 940. Since all of the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the like of the examples and comparative examples 1 to 3 convey the one-side positive electrode plate 1y while bending it in the thickness direction GH, friction between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the like and the positive electrode current collector foil 3 of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y can be suppressed. Therefore, it is considered that no metal powder is generated from the positive electrode current collector foil 3 of the one-side positive electrode plate 1 y.

As described above, in the method of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, the single-side positive electrode plate 1y and the double-side positive electrode plates 1w are bent in the thickness direction GH and conveyed in the longitudinal direction EH by the plurality of (n ═ 3 in the present embodiment) cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 in the 1 st cooling step S13 and the 2 nd cooling step S16, and the single-side positive electrode plate 1y and the double-side positive electrode plates 1w are cooled. At this time, the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 are arranged such that the contact length l (y) becomes shorter as the temperature difference Δ td (y) becomes larger in relation to the relationship between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1 w.

Since the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plates 1w can be cooled in stages by using the plurality of cooling rollers 241, 242, 243, it is possible to prevent the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plates 1w from being wrinkled due to a rapid temperature drop in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plates 1 w. Further, by using the plurality of cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243, the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w can be prevented from being greatly bent downward in the height direction NH during conveyance and from being wrinkled on the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1 w.

Further, by conveying the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w while bending them in the thickness direction GH by the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243, the occurrence of metal powder or positive electrode active material powder due to friction between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w can be suppressed, compared to the case where the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w make point contact with each other. Further, by disposing the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 such that the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w becomes shorter as the contact length l (y) becomes longer, it is possible to prevent the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w from being wrinkled due to the contact length l (y). In the method of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, wrinkles are prevented from occurring in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w carried out of the drying furnace 230 in the manufacturing process.

In the method for manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, since Tr (1) > Tr (2) > Tr (3) is set to Tr (1) > Tr (2) > Tr (3) for the temperature Tr (y) of the roll surfaces 241a, 242a, 243a of the cooling rolls 241, 242, 243, it is easy to prevent the temperature of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the two-side positive electrode plates 1w from rapidly decreasing, and it is easy to gradually decrease the temperature of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the two-side positive electrode plates 1 w. Therefore, wrinkles can be more reliably prevented from occurring in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1 w.

In the method of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, the roller surface 241a of the 1 st cooling roller 241 is maintained at a temperature Tr (1) of 50 ℃ and the roller surface 242a of the 2 nd cooling roller 242 is maintained at a temperature Tr (1) of 35 ℃ by the radiant heat from the drying furnace 230. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a temperature adjusting device such as a heater and use the temperature adjusting device.

In addition, if the temperature difference Δ td (y) between the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the y- th cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 of the both-side positive electrode plate 1w before and after the contact is excessively large, specifically, if the temperature difference Δ td (y) becomes 35 ℃. In contrast, in the method of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, the temperature difference Δ Td (y) between the single-side positive electrode plate 1y and the double-side positive electrode plate 1w is set to be less than 35 ℃ (in the present embodiment, Δ Td (1) is 30 ℃, Δ Td (2) is 20 ℃, and Δ Td (3) is 15 ℃). Therefore, wrinkles can be more effectively prevented from being generated in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plates 1w due to rapid cooling caused by contact with the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243.

Further, since the number n of the cooling rollers 241, 242, and 243 is set to 3 or more (n is 3 in the present embodiment), the temperature of the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plates 1w is prevented from being rapidly decreased, and the temperature is easily decreased stepwise, as compared with the case where the number n of the cooling rollers is 2. Therefore, as compared with the case where the number n of cooling rollers is 2, wrinkles are more reliably prevented from occurring in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plates 1 w.

If the contact length l (y) of the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 with the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w in the longitudinal direction EH is too short, specifically, if the contact length l (y) is less than 14mm, the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 rub against the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w, and metal powder or positive electrode active material powder is likely to be generated. In contrast, in the method of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, the contact length L (y) is set to 14mm or more in all (in the present embodiment, L (1) is 17.5mm, L (2) is 28mm, and L (3) is 73 mm). Therefore, the generation of metal powder or active material powder due to friction between the cooling rollers 241, 242, 243 and the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w can be more effectively suppressed.

Further, since the method of manufacturing the battery 100 includes the positive electrode plate manufacturing step S1 of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 by the method of manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring in the one-side positive electrode plate 1y and the both-side positive electrode plate 1w which are carried out from the drying furnace 230. Therefore, by forming the electrode body 120 using the belt-shaped positive electrode plate 1 without wrinkles (electrode body forming step S3) and assembling the battery 100 using the electrode body 120 (battery assembling step S4), the battery 100 with high reliability can be manufactured.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be applied by appropriately changing the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the method for manufacturing the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 is exemplified as the method for manufacturing the strip-shaped electrode plate in the embodiment, the present invention may be applied to the method for manufacturing the strip-shaped negative electrode plate 131.

In the embodiment, for example, the undried 1 st active material layer 5x and the undried 2 nd active material layer 6x are formed by applying the positive electrode paste DP to the positive electrode current collector foil 3, but the method of forming the undried 1 st active material layer 5x and the undried 2 nd active material layer 6x is not limited thereto. For example, the positive electrode active material particles, the conductive particles, the binder, and the dispersion medium are mixed and granulated to obtain a particle aggregate composed of clay-like wet particles. Further, a roll press apparatus having 3 rolls may be used to produce an undried active material layer from the particle aggregate, and then transfer it onto positive electrode current collector foil 3 to form undried 1 st active material layer 5x and undried 2 nd active material layer 6x on positive electrode current collector foil 3.

In the battery 100 of the embodiment, the flat wound electrode body 120 in which the strip-shaped positive electrode plate 1 is formed in a strip shape is used as an example of the electrode body 120, but the form of the electrode body 120 is not limited to this. For example, the electrode body 120 may be a laminated electrode body in which a plurality of strip-shaped positive electrode plates 1 are cut at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction EH to form a rectangular shape, a plurality of rectangular negative electrode plates and separators are prepared, and the plurality of positive electrode plates and the plurality of negative electrode plates are alternately laminated with the separators interposed therebetween.