METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LAMINATED BATTERY, MANUFACTURING APPARATUS FOR LAMINATED BATTERY, AND LAMINATED BATTERY

The time to manufacture laminated batteries is shortened. A cutting process includes folding or winding a binding margin continuously with a separating portion of a separator member and cutting the separator member with a cutter to form the binding margin. A transfer process includes transferring a laminate body and the binding margin. A main portion has a length at least twice a width of a wider side surface of the laminate body. A laminate body formation process is at least partially performed in parallel with a binding process.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a laminated battery, a manufacturing apparatus for a laminated battery, and a laminated battery.

BACKGROUND

Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent No. 6632823) describes a method for manufacturing a laminated battery including winding and fixing a separator member around a laminate including positive plates, negative plates, and separators each between adjacent ones of the positive and negative plates.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

BRIEF SUMMARY

Technical Problem

As described in Patent Literature 1, when a single manufacturing apparatus laminates electrodes and a separator member and winds the separator member, the laminating process and the winding process are performed sequentially. The method for manufacturing the laminated battery described in Patent Literature 1 takes time to manufacture a single laminated battery.

One or more aspects of the present invention are directed to shortening the time to manufacture laminated batteries.

Solution to Problem

In response to the above issue, aspects of the present invention are described below. Any of these aspects may be combined as appropriate.

A method for manufacturing a laminated battery according to an aspect of the present invention includes forming a laminate body, cutting, transferring, and binding. The forming the laminate body includes forming the laminate body including a plurality of positive plates, a plurality of negative plates, and a separating portion of a separator member fanfolded in layers by fanfolding a strip of the separator member in layers while alternately placing the plurality of positive plates and the plurality negative plates on the layers of the separator member to have the layers of the separator member between the plurality of positive plates and the plurality negative plates. The cutting includes cutting the separator member after folding or winding a main portion of a binding margin continuously with the separating portion of the separator member to form the binding margin. The transferring includes transferring the laminate body and the binding margin with the main portion being folded or wound. The binding includes binding the laminate body with the binding margin by winding the binding margin around the laminate body at least once. The main portion has a length at least twice a width of a wider side surface of the laminate body. The forming the laminate body is at least partially performed in parallel with the binding.

With the method for manufacturing the laminated battery including the above processes, the main portion having a length at least twice the width of the wider side surface of the laminate body is folded or wound while being transferred, allowing smooth transition to the binding. The forming the laminate body is at least partially performed in parallel with the binding, thus shortening the manufacturing time.

In the above method for manufacturing the laminated battery, the cutting may include fanfolding the main portion in layers without placing an electrode plate between the layers. The transferring may include transferring the laminate body and the binding margin with the main portion fanfolded in layers without an electrode plate and the laminate body being held. The method for manufacturing the laminated battery including the above processes allows smooth transition from the forming the laminate body to the binding without adding further components to the manufacturing apparatus or without complicating the manufacturing apparatus.

In the above method for manufacturing the laminated battery, the cutting may include cutting the separator member to a length allowing a side edge of the binding margin to be placed on a side portion of the laminate body. The method for manufacturing the laminated battery including the above processes allows the side edge of the separator member to be easily placed on the side portion of the laminate body, thus allowing easy manufacture of a laminated battery with reduced failures.

In the above method for manufacturing the laminated battery, the laminate body may include a first laminate body and a second laminate body, and the binding margin may include a first binding margin and a second binding margin. The forming the laminate body may include forming the first laminate body and the first binding margin in parallel with and at a staggered timing from when the second laminate body and the second binding margin are formed. The transferring and the binding may include sequentially performing transferring and binding for the first laminate body and the first binding margin and for the second laminate body and the second binding margin. With the method for manufacturing the laminated battery including the above processes, the binding can bind the first laminate body with the first binding margin and the second laminate body with the second binding margin, allowing efficient manufacture of a laminated battery.

A manufacturing apparatus for a laminated battery according to an aspect of the present invention includes a laminating device, a transferrer, and a binder. The laminating device forms a laminate body including a plurality of positive plates, a plurality of negative plates, and a separating portion of a separator member fanfolded in layers by fanfolding a strip of the separator member in layers while placing the plurality of positive plates and the plurality of negative plates on the layers of the separator member to have the layers of the separator member between the plurality positive plates and the plurality negative plates. The laminating device folds or winds a main portion of a binding margin continuously with the separating portion of the separator member. The main portion has a length at least twice a width of a wider side surface of the laminate body. The laminating device cuts the separator member to form the binding margin. The transferrer transfers, from the laminating device to the binder, the laminate body and the binding margin with the main portion being folded or wound. The binder binds the laminate body with the binding margin by winding the binding margin around the laminate body at least once. The binder binds another laminate body at least partially in parallel with formation of the laminate body and the binding margin performed by the laminating device.

In the manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery with the structure, the main portion having a length at least twice the width of the wider side surface of the laminate body is folded or wound while being transferred by the transferrer, allowing smooth transition to the binder. The binder binds another laminate body at least partially in parallel with formation of the laminate body and the binding margin performed by the laminating device, thus shortening the manufacturing time.

In the above manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery, the laminating device may fanfold, before cutting the separator member, the main portion in layers without placing an electrode plate between the layers. The transferrer may transfer, from the laminating device to the binder, the laminate body and the binding margin by holding the laminate body and the main portion fanfolded in layers without an electrode plate placed between the layers. The manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery with the structure allows, without having additional components or a complicated structure, smooth transition of the laminate body and the binding margin from the laminating device to the binding operation with the binder.

In the above manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery, the laminating device may cut the separator member to a length allowing a side edge of the binding margin to be placed on a side portion of the laminate body. The manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery with the structure allows the side edge of the separator member to be easily placed on the side portion of the laminate body, thus allowing easy manufacture of a laminated battery with reduced failures.

In the above manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery, the laminating device may include a first laminating device and a second laminating device. The first laminating device and the second laminating device may each separately form the laminate body and the binding margin at different timings. The transferrer and the binder may perform transferring and binding sequentially for the laminate body and the binding margin formed by the first laminating device and for the laminate body and the binding margin formed by the second laminating device. In the manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery with the structure, the binder can bind the laminate body with the binding margin formed by the first laminating device and bind the laminate body with the binding margin formed by the second laminating device in parallel with the operations of the first laminating device and the second laminating device, allowing efficient manufacture of a laminated battery.

A laminated battery according to an aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of positive plates and a plurality of negative plates alternating with one another, and a strip of a separator member including a separating portion and a binding margin. The separating portion is fanfolded in layers between the plurality of positive plates and the plurality of negative plates adjacent to each other. The binding margin is continuous with the separating portion. The bonding margin in the separator member binds a laminate body including the plurality of positive plates, the plurality of negative plates, and the separating portion fanfolded in layers, with the bonding margin wound around the laminate body at least once. The binding margin has creases resulting from being fanfolded in layers.

In the above laminated battery, the binding margin may have a side edge on a side portion of the laminate body. In the laminated battery with the structure, the side surface of the laminate is less likely to be damaged by a step formed with the separator member.

Advantageous Effects

The method for manufacturing the laminated battery or the manufacturing apparatus for the laminated battery according to the above aspects of the present invention shortens the time to manufacture laminated batteries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) Overview of Structure of Laminated Battery

FIG.1is an external view of an example laminated battery. A laminated battery1shown inFIG.1includes a casing2. The casing2accommodates a laminate10shown inFIG.2. The laminated battery1is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The casing2also accommodates a sealed-in electrolyte (not shown). The casing2includes a container3accommodating the laminate10and the electrolyte, and a lid4sealing the electrolyte. The laminated battery1has a positive electrode5and a negative electrode6.

Positive tabs5aand negative tabs6aprotrude from the casing2. The positive tabs5aand the negative tabs6aare respectively the positive electrode5and the negative electrode6of the laminated battery1. The laminate10in the laminated battery1includes the positive tabs5aand the negative tabs6a. A laminated battery in another form may not include the positive tabs5aand the negative tabs6ain the laminate10as the tabs of the laminated battery. For example, a laminated battery in another form may include other components as the tabs of the battery in place of the positive tabs5aand the negative tabs6aof the laminate10. The tabs of the battery may be electrically connected to the positive tabs5aand the negative tabs6aof the laminate10inside the battery.

FIG.3is an exploded view of the laminate10. The laminate10includes multiple positive plates11, multiple negative plates12, and a separator member13assembled together. Each positive plate11contains a positive active material for the positive electrode5of the laminated battery1. Each negative plate12contains a negative active material for the negative electrode6of the laminated battery1. The separator member13has pores allowing ions to penetrate through. The separator member13may be, for example, a porous membrane or a nonwoven fabric formed from a synthetic resin. The synthetic resin may be, for example, a polyolefin resin. The separator member13is fanfolded in layers. Being fanfolded in layers refers to being folded in a zigzag manner. The separator member13is folded back at a first crease CR to have two rectangular portions13aand13bfacing each other. The separator member13is then folded back at a second crease CR to have two rectangular portions13band13cfacing each other. One negative plate12is placed between the two rectangular portions13aand13bof the separator member13. One positive plate11is placed between the two rectangular portions13band13cof the separator member13. The rectangular portion13bof the separator member13is thus placed between one positive plate11and one negative plate12. After the separator member13is folded back at the subsequent crease CR, a negative plate12is placed between the two rectangular portions13cand13dfacing each other. The rectangular portion13cof the separator member13is thus placed between one positive plate11and one negative plate12. The separator member13is thus a continuous strip fanfolded in layers in a zigzag manner and placed between positive plates11and negative plates12alternating with one another. In other words, the laminate10includes the separator member13, a positive plate11, the separator member13, and a negative plate12arranged repeatedly in this order, or arranged in the order of, for example, the separator member13, a negative plate12, the separator member13, a positive plate11, the separator member13, and a negative plate12. The laminate10includes negative plates12as its uppermost and lowermost layers.

The laminate10is bound with a binding margin13zof the continuous strip of separator member13wound around a laminate body10L including the separator member13, the positive plate11, the separator member13, and the negative plate12arranged repeatedly in this order. The laminate10thus includes, as shown inFIG.2, an exposed portion of the separator member13wound around the perimeter of the laminate10. The laminate10is a rectangular prism excluding the positive tabs5aand the negative tabs6a. The laminate body10L being a rectangular prism has two wider side surfaces10aand two narrower side portions10b. The binding margin13zof the separator member13is wound around the two side surfaces10aand the two side portions10bat least once. The binding margin13zhas a side edge13splaced on a side portion10b. When accommodated in the container3in the casing2, the laminate10with the side edge13splaced on a narrower side portion10bis less likely to be damaged by a step formed with the side edge13spressed by the container3than the laminate10with the side edge13splaced on a wider side surface10a.

The separator member13includes a separating portion13p(refer toFIG.3) fanfolded in layers and placed between the positive plates11and the negative plates12. The laminate body10L includes the separating portion13p, the positive plates11, and the negative plates12. In other words, the laminate body10L is the portion of the laminate10excluding the binding margin13z(refer toFIG.4).

The binding margin13zhas a main portion13M shown inFIG.4that is to be folded in layers (fanfolded in layers without electrode plates placed between the layers). The main portion13M has a length at least twice the width of the wider side surface10aof the laminate body10L. The main portion13M may have a length at least two-thirds of the overall length of the binding margin13zto facilitate holding of the portion adjacent to the side edge13sof the binding margin13z.

(2) Method for Manufacturing Laminated Battery

(2-1) Overview of Manufacturing

A method for manufacturing the laminated battery1described below includes a laminate body formation process, a cutting process, a transfer process, and a binding process. The laminated battery1is manufactured with, for example, a manufacturing apparatus1000for a laminated battery shown inFIG.5. The manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery includes a first laminating device100, a second laminating device200, a transferrer300, and a binder400.

In the laminate body formation process, the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200each independently fanfold a strip of the separator member13in layers while alternately placing the positive plates11and the negative plates12on the layers of the separator member13to have the layers of the separator member13between the positive plates11and the negative plates12. In other words, the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200each independently fold the strip of separator member13in a zigzag manner and place the layers of the separator member13between the positive plates11and the negative plates12to have the alternating positive plates11and negative plates12separated by the layers of the separator member13. In the laminate body formation process, each of the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200thus forms the laminate body10L including the positive plates11, the negative plates12, and the separating portion13pfanfolded in layers.

Subsequently, in the cutting process, the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200each fanfold (fold) the main portion13M (refer toFIG.4) of the binding margin13zin layers without placing electrode plates between the layers and cut the separator member13to form the binding margin13z.

In the transfer process, the laminate body10L and the binding margin13zare then transferred, with the main portion13M fanfolded in layers without electrode plates between the layers, by the transferrer300from the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200to the binder400. The transferrer300transfers the laminate body10L and the binding margin13zalternately from the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200to the binder400.

In the binding process, the binder400then holds the portion adjacent to the side edge13sof the binding margin13zand binds the laminate body10L by winding the binding margin13zaround the laminate body at least once.

The laminate body formation process performed by the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200is at least partially performed in parallel with the binding process performed by the binder400. In other words, while the first laminating device100forms the laminate body10L, the binder400may perform binding. In another situation, while the second laminating device200forms the laminate body10L, the binder400may perform binding.

(2-2) Laminate Body Formation Process

The first laminating device100and the second laminating device200perform the same laminating operation. The laminating operation of the first laminating device100is herein described, without describing the laminating operation of the second laminating device200. The first laminating device100and the second laminating device200may perform the laminating process in manners different from each other.

For example, the number of positive plates11and negative plates12laminated by the first laminating device100may be different from the number of positive plates11and negative plates12laminated by the second laminating device200. In the cross-sectional views inFIG.6and subsequent figures, the separator member13, the positive plates11, and the negative plates12are illustrated schematically with, for example, inaccurate thicknesses for ease of illustration, and are not drawn to scale relative to the actual size of each component.

As shown inFIG.6, the first laminating device100fixes the portion adjacent to one side edge13sof the separator member13to a laminating stage110with two first fixtures131. The first laminating device100spreads the separator member13on the laminating stage110with a guide roller120. The two first fixtures131are arranged along the side edge13sof the separator member13.

As shown inFIG.7, the first laminating device100fixes the separator member13spread on the laminating stage110with two second fixtures132located away from the first fixtures131. The two second fixtures132are arranged along the crease CR of the separator member13. After fixing the separator member13with the second fixtures132, the first laminating device100sucks a negative plate12with a first feeder arm140and places the negative plate12on the separator member13spread on the laminating stage110. Multiple negative plates12are stored in a first storage (not shown) in the first laminating device100.

After placing the negative plate12, as shown inFIG.8, the first laminating device100moves the guide roller120at the position inFIG.7to the opposite position with respect to the laminating stage110. As the guide roller120is moved, the separator member13is folded back at the second fixtures132and is spread on the negative plate12being placed. The separator member13spread on the negative plate12is then fixed with the first fixtures131. The first laminating device100pulls out the two first fixtures131fixing the negative plate12in the direction along the side edge13sand places the first fixtures131on the separator member13to hold the negative plate12from above.

The first laminating device100sucks, as shown inFIG.9, a positive plate11with a second feeder arm150and places the positive plate11on the separator member13fixed with the first fixtures131. Multiple positive plates11are stored in a second storage (not shown) in the second laminating device200.

The first laminating device100repeats the operations described with reference toFIGS.7to9to place the separator member13, the negative plate12, and the positive plate11on the laminating stage110in the order of the separator member13, the negative plate12, the separator member13, and the positive plate11.

The laminate10described herein includes seven plates in total including three positive plates11and four negative plates12. Thus, in the state inFIG.10in which three positive plates11and four negative plates12are layered, laminating of the positive plates11and the negative plates12is complete. The laminate body formation process includes the operations starting from fixing the separator member13on the laminating stage110shown inFIG.6to completing lamination of the positive plates11and the negative plates12shown inFIG.10.

(2-3) Cutting Process

InFIG.10, the separator member13is folded back at the second fixtures132without a positive plate11placed on the separator member13. The separator member13thus has the fanfolded portions in contact with each other. InFIG.11, the first laminating device100further folds back the separator member13in the state inFIG.10by fixing the separator member13with the second fixtures132to place the separator member13on the separator member13. InFIG.12, the first laminating device100further folds back the separator member13in the state inFIG.11by fixing the separator member13with the first fixtures131to place the separator member13on the separator member13. The fanfolding in layers shown inFIGS.10to12is performed without placing the positive plates11and the negative plates12between the layers. This is referred to as fanfolding in layers without placing electrode plates between the layers or fanfolding in layers without an electrode plate(s). The main portion13M of the binding margin13zcontinuous with the separating portion13pof the separator member13is fanfolded in layers without electrode plates. This process of fanfolding the main portion13M in layers without electrode plates is fanfolding the main portion in layers without placing an electrode plate between the layers.

InFIG.13, the binding margin13zfanfolded in layers without electrode plates is fixed to the laminate body10L with the first fixtures131and the second fixtures132. The first laminating device100cuts the separator member13with a cutter160. The separator member13is cut to a length that allows the binding margin13zto be wound once around the laminate body10L and allows the side edge13sto be placed on the side portion10b. The binding margin13zhas a length Lb that is set to (2×w1+2×w2)<Lb<(2×w1+3×w2), where w1 is the width of the side surface10a, and w2 is the width of the side portion10bof the laminate body10L. For example, the length Lb of the binding margin13zis set to satisfy Lb=2×w1+2.5×w2.

The cutting process includes fanfolding the separator member13in layers without placing electrode plates between the layers shown inFIGS.10to12and cutting the separator member13with the cutter160shown inFIG.13.

(2-4) Transfer Process

InFIG.14, the transferrer300maintains the main portion13M of the binding margin13zfanfolded in layers without electrode plates by holding the laminate body10L and the main portion13M with a transfer handler310. For example, the transfer handler310includes lower forks311to support the laminate body10L from below and upper forks312to hold the main portion13M from above. The laminating stage110thus includes a groove111to receive the lower forks311.

The transferrer300includes, as shown inFIG.5, a support320supporting the transfer handler310and a slide330that allows the transfer handler310and the support320to slide. For example, the transferrer300holds the laminate body10L and the binding margin13zwith the transfer handler310(refer toFIG.15), lifts the transfer handler310with the support320, and slides the transfer handler310and the support320with the slide330from the position of the first laminating device100to the position of the binder400. The slide330moves, for example, along a rail340. For example, the transferrer300places, with the support320, the transfer handler310, the laminate body10L, and the binding margin13zon a support base410in the binder400. After the binder400fixes the laminate body10L and the main portion13M of the binding margin13zon the support base410with two first fixtures431and two second fixtures432(refer toFIG.16), the transferrer300removes the transfer handler310from the laminate body10L and the main portion13M.

(2-5) Binding Process

With the laminate body10L and the main portion13M of the binding margin13zfixed on the support base410with the two first fixtures431and the two second fixtures432, as shown inFIG.17, the adjacent portion of the side edge13sof the binding margin13zis fixed by a suction portion421and held by a clamp422.

When the laminate body10L maintains its shape without being held by the first fixtures431and the second fixtures432, the holding operation with the first fixtures431and the second fixtures432may be eliminated.

As shown inFIG.18, the clamp422is moved away from the laminate body10L to unfold the binding margin13zfanfolded in layers without electrode plates. To unfold the binding margin13zfanfolded in layers without electrode plates, the first fixtures431and the second fixtures432holding the main portion13M are removed alternately, for example. When the laminate body10L maintains its shape without being held by the first fixtures431and the second fixtures432, the holding operation with the first fixtures431and the second fixtures432may be eliminated.

As shown inFIG.19, to maintain the structure of the laminate body10L when rotated, the rectangular laminate body10L has its portion adjacent to the four sides fixed by the first fixtures431, the second fixtures432, third fixtures433, and fourth fixtures434. The clamp422then pulls the adjacent portion of the side edge13sof the separator member13to apply tension to the binding margin13z. With the separator member13being wound around the side portions10b, a length L1 from the side edge13sof the separator member13to the laminate body10L shown inFIG.19is the sum of twice the width w1 of side surface10a, twice the width w2 of side portion10b, and a length a to the middle of the side portion10b(or the sum of 2×w1+2×w2+α). For example, when the width w1 of the side surface10ais 120 mm, the width w2 of the side portion10bis 30 mm, and the length a is 15 mm, the length L1 is 325 mm.

InFIG.20, the laminate body10L inFIG.19is rotated 180 degrees clockwise, with the separator member13wound around one side surface10aand one side portion10b. A remaining length L2 inFIG.20is 175 mm in the above example.

InFIG.21, the laminate body10L inFIG.20is rotated 180 degrees clockwise, with the separator member13wound around two side surfaces10aand two side portions10b. A remaining length L3 inFIG.21is 25 mm in the above example.

As shown inFIG.22, the laminate10is complete after the remaining portion of the separator member13is attached to the side portion10bof the laminate body10L with, for example, adhesive tape. The end of the separator member13may be, for example, welded with heat or bonded with an adhesive in place of being fixed with adhesive tape.

The laminate body10L and the binding margin13zformed by the first laminating device100are herein respectively referred to as a first laminate body and a first binding margin. The laminate body10L and the binding margin13zformed by the second laminating device200are herein respectively referred to as a second laminate body and a second binding margin.

In the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery, the first laminating device100forms the first laminate body and the first binding margin at a staggered timing from when the second laminating device200forms the second laminate body and the second binding margin.FIG.23is a timing chart of an example operation of two laminating devices being the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200. For example, the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200each take two minutes to form the laminate body10L and the binding margin13z, and the binder400takes 30 seconds to bind the laminate10. In this case, one minute after the first laminating device100starts to form the first laminate body and the first binding margin, the second laminating device200starts to form the second laminate body and the second binding margin. The binder400then starts binding after the first laminating device100completes the first laminate body and the first binding margin to complete the laminate10including the first laminate body and the first binding margin before the second laminating device200completes the second laminate body and the second binding margin. Similarly, the binder400starts binding after the second laminating device200completes the second laminate body and the second binding margin to complete the laminate10including the second laminate body and the second binding margin before the first laminating device100completes the first laminate body and the first binding margin.

The manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery with this structure may include two laminating devices100and200and one binder400. The manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery can manufacture one laminate10in two minutes, shortening the manufacture time per laminate10by omitting the time for binding.

With the method for manufacturing the laminated battery1and in the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery described above, in the transfer process, the main portion13M having a length at least twice the width of the wider side surface of the laminate body is fanfolded in layers without electrode plates while being transferred by the transferrer300. The binder400can thus smoothly start the binding process after receiving the laminate body10L and the binding margin13z. The laminate body formation process performed by the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200is at least partially performed in parallel with the binding process performed by the binder400. This can shorten the manufacturing time.

In the cutting process, the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200each fanfold the main portion13M of the separator member13in layers without placing electrode plates between the layers. In the transfer process, the transferrer300holds the laminate body10L and the main portion13M of the binding margin fanfolded in layers without electrode plates to transfer the laminate body10L and the binding margin13z. This allows smooth transition from the laminate body formation process performed by the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200to the binding process performed by the binder400without adding further components to the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery or without complicating the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery.

In the cutting process, the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200each cut the separator member13to a length allowing the side edge13sof the binding margin13zto be placed on the side portion10bof the laminate body10L. The side edge13sof the separator member13is thus easily placed on the side portion10bof the laminate body10L, allowing manufacture of the laminated battery1with reduced failures.

The first laminating device100forms the first laminate body and the first binding margin in parallel with but at a staggered timing from when the second laminating device200forms the second laminate body and the second binding margin. The binder400can thus sequentially bind the first laminate body with the first binding margin and the second laminate body with the second binding margin. In this case, the binder400can perform binding while the first laminating device100is forming the first laminate body and the first binding margin and the second laminating device200forming the second laminate body and the second binding margin, saving the time for binding in the manufacture of the laminate10and allowing efficient manufacture of a laminated battery.

(4-1) Modification A

The method for manufacturing the laminated battery1and the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery described above use two laminating devices being the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200. However, the number of laminating devices included in the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery is not limited to the example in the above embodiment. The manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery may include one laminating device or three or more laminating devices.FIG.24is a timing chart of an example operation of three laminating devices being a first laminating device, a second laminating device, and a third laminating device. As shown inFIG.24, one transferrer sequentially moves from the first laminating device, the second laminating device, and the third laminating device to the binder. The first laminating device, the second laminating device, and the third laminating device can start the laminate body formation process in the subsequent cycle without waiting for the laminate body and the binding margin to be transferred. One binder then sequentially binds the laminate bodies formed by the first laminating device, the second laminating device, and the third laminating device. The first laminating device, the second laminating device, the third laminating device, and the transferrer can start the laminate body formation process and the transfer process without waiting for the binding process to be ended.

(4-2) Modification B

The method for manufacturing the laminated battery1and the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery described above use two laminating devices being the first laminating device100and the second laminating device200and one binder400. However, the ratio between the number of binders400and the number of laminating devices is not limited to the example in the above embodiment. For example, the ratio between the number of binders and the number of laminating devices may be one-to-one, one-to-three, or one-to-four.

(4-3) Modification C

With the method for manufacturing the laminated battery1and in the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery described in the above example, the positional relationship between the main portion13M and the laminate body10L is maintained by fanfolding the main portion13M in layers without placing electrode plates between the layers. The positional relationship between the main portion13M and the laminate body10L is maintained with a method other than in the above embodiment. For example, in the cutting process, the main portion of the binding margin continuous with the separating portion of the separator member may be wound, and the separator member including the binding margin may then be cut to form the binding margin. For example, as shown inFIG.25, the binding margin13zmay be wound around a rod170, allowing easy identification of the positional relationship between the rod170and the laminate body10L. With the main portion13M wound around the rod170, the laminate body10L and the binding margin13zmay be transferred.

(4-4) Modification D

With the method for manufacturing the laminated battery1and in the manufacturing apparatus1000for the laminated battery described above, the binding margin13zof the separator member13is wound once around the two side surfaces10aand the two side portions10b(once around the laminate body10L). However, the binding margin13zof the separator member13may be wound at least once around the two side surfaces10aand the two side portions10b(around the laminate body10L). The binding margin13zbeing wound around at least once may be wound, for example, 1.5 or 2 times around the laminate body10L, allowing the side edge13sof the binding margin13zto be placed on the side portion10b.

(4-5) Modification E

With the method for manufacturing the laminated battery1described above, the transferrer300including the transfer handler310holds and transfers, in the transfer process, the laminate body10L and the binding margin13z. However, the transfer process may use a device other than the transferrer300. For example, a robotic arm may be used in place of the transferrer300. In the transfer process, the robotic arm may perform insertion.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and may be changed in various manners without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments and the modifications described herein may be combined in any manner as appropriate.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST