Patent Publication Number: US-2021194336-A1

Title: Method for manufacturing laminated body

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a laminated body. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Literature 1 discloses a method for manufacturing an annealed laminated iron core in which a laminated iron core is formed and annealed so that a lamination thickness of the annealed laminated iron core is not greater than that of the laminated iron core before annealing. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: JP2001-338825A 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     An object of the present disclosure to provide a method for manufacturing a laminated body, which is effective for reducing a defect rate of a thickness after annealing of a laminated body of an electromagnetic steel plate. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a laminated body includes: laminating an electromagnetic steel plate to form a laminated body; performing an annealing process on the laminated body; acquiring a before-annealing lamination thickness information on a thickness of the laminated body before performing the annealing process on the laminated body; and when the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy a before-annealing criterion which is predetermined, adjusting a lamination condition of the electromagnetic steel plate such that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a laminated body, which is effective for reducing a defect rate of a thickness after annealing of a laminated body of an electromagnetic steel plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a laminated iron core. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection portion between electromagnetic steel plates. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a laminated body manufacturing device. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a lamination thickness measurement device. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a removing device. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a controller. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a controller. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a lamination procedure. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a before-annealing lamination thickness check procedure. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating an annealing and after-annealing lamination thickness check procedure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements or elements having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a repetitive description thereof will be omitted. 
     [Laminated Body] 
     A laminated body  1 A according to the present embodiment is a laminated iron core  1  for a motor, or is an intermediate product thereof in a manufacturing process. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the laminated iron core  1  is, for example, a stator core of a motor, and includes an annular yoke  2  and a plurality of teeth  3 . The plurality of teeth  3  are arranged at equal intervals along the yoke  2  and protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the yoke  2  toward a center of the yoke  2 . The laminated iron core  1  is formed of the laminated body  1 A in which a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates  4  perpendicular to a central axis of the yoke  2  are laminated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the laminated body  1 A has a plurality of laminated blocks  5  overlapping along the central axis of the yoke  2 . Each of the laminated blocks  5  is a laminated body of a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates  4 . The plurality of electromagnetic steel plates  4  of the laminated block  5  include a plurality of first electromagnetic steel plates  6  that are laminated on each other, and a second electromagnetic steel plate  7  that is further laminated on the plurality of first electromagnetic steel plates  6 . The second electromagnetic steel plate  7  is located at an outermost layer (for example, a lowermost layer as illustrated) of the laminated block  5 . 
     The first electromagnetic steel plate  6  includes a caulking portion  6   a . The caulking portion  6   a  includes a recessed portion  6   d  formed in a main surface  6   b  of the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  and a protruding portion  6   e  formed on a main surface  6   c  of the first electromagnetic steel plate  6 . The first electromagnetic steel plates  6  are laminated such that the main surfaces  6   b  and  6   c  face each other. At a boundary between the first electromagnetic steel plates  6 , the protruding portion  6   e  of one of the first electromagnetic steel plates  6  is fitted into the recessed portion  6   d  of another first electromagnetic steel plate  6 . Accordingly, the first electromagnetic steel plates  6  are connected to each other. 
     The second electromagnetic steel plate  7  is obtained by changing the caulking portion  6   a  of the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  to a through-hole  7   a . The second electromagnetic steel plate  7  is laminated on a main surface  6   c  side with respect to the first electromagnetic steel plate  6 . At a boundary between the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  and the second electromagnetic steel plate  7 , the protruding portion  6   e  of the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  is fitted into the through-hole  7   a  of the second electromagnetic steel plate  7 . Accordingly, the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  and the second electromagnetic steel plate  7  are connected. 
     The second electromagnetic steel plate  7  prevents the laminated blocks  5  from being connected by the caulking portion  6   a . Specifically, the second electromagnetic steel plate  7  prevents fitting of the protruding portion  6   e  of one laminated block  5  into the recessed portions  6   d  of another laminated block  5  at a boundary between the laminated blocks  5 . The plurality of laminated blocks  5  are fixed to each other by welding, adhesion, or the like. The laminated iron core  1  is not necessarily a stator core, and may be a rotor core. 
     [Laminated Body Manufacturing Device] 
     Next, a manufacturing device  10  of the laminated body  1 A will be described. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the manufacturing device  10  is a device that manufactures the laminated body  1 A from a band-like steel plate W 1  that is a band-like electromagnetic steel plate. The manufacturing device  10  includes an uncoiler  20 , a delivery device  30 , a blanking device  40 , an annealing device  50 , lamination thickness measurement devices  60 A and  60 B, conveyors  70 A,  70 B,  70 C, and  70 D, and a controller  100 . 
     The uncoiler  20  rotatably holds a wound body in a state where the wound body of the band-like steel plate W 1  is mounted. A length of the band-like steel plate W 1  constituting the wound body may be, for example, 500 m to 10,000 m. A thickness of the band-like steel plate W 1  constituting the wound body may be about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. A thickness of the band-like steel plate W 1  may be about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm from the viewpoint of achieving more excellent magnetic characteristics of the laminated iron core  1 . A width of the band-like steel plate W 1  constituting the wound body may be about 50 mm to 500 mm. 
     The delivery device  30  sends out the band-like steel plate W 1  pulled out from the wound body toward the blanking device  40 . The blanking device  40  (laminating device) includes a progressive die  41  and a press part  42 . The progressive die  41  is driven by the press part  42  to perform blanking on the band-like steel plate W 1 . Specifically, with the progressive die  41 , a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates  4  obtained by blanking are laminated to form the laminated block  5 , and this is repeated to form a plurality of laminated blocks  5 , and the plurality of laminated blocks  5  are stacked along a laminating direction of the electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form the laminated body  1 A. 
     The annealing device  50  is a device that performs annealing process on the laminated body  1 A formed by the blanking device  40 . For example, the annealing device  50  performs the annealing process after the laminated body  1 A is put into a heating furnace adjusted to a temperature for annealing. The annealing device  50  may perform the annealing process in a batch system in which a predetermined number of the laminated bodies  1 A are collectively processed. For example, the annealing device  50  is configured to carry a predetermined number of laminated bodies  1 A into a heating furnace collectively. 
     The lamination thickness measurement device  60 A measures a lamination thickness of the laminated body  1 A before the annealing process to be performed by the annealing device  50 . The lamination thickness measurement device  60 B measures a lamination thickness of the laminated body  1 A after the annealing process performed by the annealing device  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lamination thickness measurement devices  60 A and  60 B each include a pressing plate  620 , a depression driving part  610 , and a plurality of (for example, three or more) height sensors  630 . The pressing plate  620  is disposed on the laminated body  1 A to be measured. The depression driving part  610  lowers the pressing plate  620  and presses the pressing plate  620  against the laminated body  1 A. The depression driving part  610  is a cylinder of a fluid type such as a hydraulic type or a pneumatic type, and includes a depressing rod  611  protruding downward. A tip end portion of the depressing rod  611  is connected to the pressing plate  620  via a movable joint  621 . The movable joint  621  is, for example, a ball joint, and enables tilting of the pressing plate  620  in all directions. With fluid pressure such as hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure, the depression driving part  610  lowers the depressing rod  611  to press the pressing plate  620  against the laminated body  1 A. 
     The lamination thickness measurement devices  60 A and  60 B are configured to be capable of switching between a state where the pressing plate  620  is pressed by the depression driving part  610  (hereinafter, referred to as a “pressed state”) and a state where the pressing plate  620  is not pressed by the depression driving part  610  (hereinafter, referred to as a “no-load state”. Therefore, according to the lamination thickness measurement devices  60 A and  60 B, both information on a thickness of the laminated body  1 A in the pressed state (hereinafter, referred to as “thickness in the pressed state”) and information on a thickness of the laminated body  1 A in the no-load state (hereinafter, referred to as “thickness in the no-load state”) can be acquired. A pressing force in the pressed state is set such that a difference in the thickness in the pressed state before and after the annealing process is less than a difference in the thickness in the no-load state before and after the annealing process. The pressing force in the pressed state may be set such that the thickness in the pressed state is substantially the same before and after the annealing process. 
     The plurality of height sensors  630  are arranged around the central axis of the depressing rod  611 , for example. Each height sensor  630 , for example, causes a contact rod  631  to protrude downward into contact with the pressing plate  620 , and detects a height of an upper surface of the pressing plate  620  based on a protruding length of the contact rod  631 . By detecting the height of the upper surface of the pressing plate  620  with each height sensor  630 , it is possible to derive a thickness of the laminated body  1 A at an arrangement position of each height sensor  630 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 3 , the conveyor  70 A conveys the laminated body  1 A from the blanking device  40  to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. The conveyor  70 B conveys the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A to the annealing device  50 . The conveyor  70 C conveys the laminated body  1 A from the annealing device  50  to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B. The conveyor  70 D further conveys the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B to a rear-stage device. Specific examples of the conveyors  70 A,  70 B,  70 C, and  70 D include a belt conveyor. 
     The conveyor  70 B may carry out conveyance in two types of conveyance modes: a “normal mode” and a “removal mode”. In a case of the normal mode, the conveyor  70 B conveys the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A to the annealing device  50 . In a case of the removal mode, the conveyor  70 B removes the laminated body  1 A from objects to be conveyed to the annealing device  50 . Similarly, the conveyor  70 D may carry out conveyance in two types of conveyance modes: the “normal mode” and the “removal mode”. In a case of the normal mode, the conveyor  70 D conveys the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B to a rear-stage device. In a case of the removal mode, the conveyor  70 D removes the laminated body  1 A from objects to be conveyed to the rear-stage device. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the conveyors  70 B and  70 D include a removing device  710 . The removing device  710  removes the laminated body  1 A to be removed from the conveyors  70 B and  70 D. For example, the removing device  710  pushes the laminated body  1 A to a collection part  713  disposed around the conveyors  70 B and  70 D, using an electric linear actuator, an air cylinder, or the like as a power source. 
     Next, a configuration of the controller  100  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The controller  100  is configured to control the blanking device  40  to laminate the electromagnetic steel plate  4  to form the laminated body  1 A, control the annealing device  50  to perform the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, acquire before-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A before the annealing process is performed on the laminated body  1 A, and when the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy a before-annealing criterion set in advance, adjust a lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. The information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A includes information directly indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A and information, a relationship between which and the thickness of the laminated body  1 A is specified by a function, a table, or the like. 
     The controller  100  may further acquire, from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B, after-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A on which the annealing process is performed, and when the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy an after-annealing criterion set in advance, adjust the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. 
     The controller  100  may further adjust the lamination condition so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion, when the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A satisfies the before-annealing criterion and the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion. 
     For example, the controller  100  includes, as functional components (hereinafter referred to as “functional modules”), a lamination condition holding unit  111 , a mode holding unit  112 , a lamination control unit  113 , a conveyance control unit  114 , a lamination thickness information acquisition unit  115 , a lamination condition adjustment unit  116 , a conveyance control unit  117 , an annealing control unit  118 , a conveyance control unit  119 , a lamination thickness acquisition unit  121 , a lamination condition adjustment unit  122 , a before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123 , and a conveyance control unit  124 . 
     The lamination condition holding unit  111  stores lamination conditions of the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  and the second electromagnetic steel plate  7  for forming the laminated block  5 . The lamination condition includes information that affects the lamination thickness of the laminated body  1 A, such as a lamination number of the electromagnetic steel plates  4  (a lamination number of the first electromagnetic steel plates  6 ), a pressing force at the time of laminating the electromagnetic steel plate  4 , and a formation condition of the caulking portion  6   a . The mode holding unit  112  stores the above-described conveyance modes to be performed by the conveyor  70 B. 
     The lamination control unit  113  controls the blanking device  40  to laminate a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form the laminated block  5 , and to stack a plurality of laminated blocks  5  in a laminating direction of the electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form one laminated body  1 A. At the time of forming the laminated block  5 , the lamination control unit  113  controls the blanking device  40  to laminate the electromagnetic steel plates  4  under a lamination condition according to the lamination condition in the lamination condition holding unit  111 . More specifically, the lamination control unit  113  controls the blanking device  40  to laminate the first electromagnetic steel plates  6  on one second electromagnetic steel plate  7  under a lamination condition according to the lamination condition of the lamination condition holding unit  111  to form the laminated block  5 . The conveyance control unit  114  controls the conveyor  70 A to convey the laminated body  1 A from the blanking device  40  to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. 
     The lamination thickness information acquisition unit  115  acquires the above-described before-annealing lamination thickness information on the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. The before-annealing lamination thickness information may include before-annealing pressed state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state where the laminated body  1 A is pressed in the laminating direction of the electromagnetic steel plate  4 , and before-annealing no-load state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state where the laminated body  1 A is not pressed. That is, the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  115  may acquire information on the thickness in the pressed state and information on the thickness in the no-load state from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. The information on the thickness in the pressed state is height information detected by the plurality of height sensors  630  in a state where the pressing plate  620  is pressed by the depression driving part  610 . The information on the thickness in the no-load state is height information detected by the plurality of height sensors  630  in a state where the pressing plate  620  is not pressed by the depression driving part  610 . 
     When the before-annealing lamination thickness information acquired by the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  115  does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion set in advance, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  changes the conveyance mode stored in the mode holding unit  112  from the normal mode to the removal mode, and adjusts the lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. The before-annealing criterion is set in advance based on, for example, a relationship between before-annealing lamination thickness information and after-annealing lamination thickness information acquired in the past. For example, the before-annealing criterion is set so that a defect rate of the after-annealing lamination thickness information of a group of laminated bodies  1 A satisfying the criterion is significantly reduced with respect to a defect rate of the after-annealing lamination thickness information of a group of laminated bodies  1 A not satisfying the criterion. The before-annealing criterion may include a before-annealing pressed state criterion and a before-annealing no-load criterion which are set in advance. 
     When it falls within at least one of a case where the before-annealing pressed state information does not satisfy the before-annealing pressed state criterion and a case where the before-annealing no-load state information does not satisfy the before-annealing no-load state criterion, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may adjust the lamination condition so that the before-annealing pressed state information and the before-annealing no-load state information satisfy the before-annealing pressed state criterion and the before-annealing no-load state criterion respectively. The before-annealing pressed state criterion may include a before-annealing pressed state lower limit value set in advance, and the before-annealing no-load state criterion may include a before-annealing no-load state upper limit value set in advance. The lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may adjust the lamination condition so as to increase the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the before-annealing pressed state information is lower than the before-annealing pressed state lower limit value, and adjust the lamination condition so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the before-annealing no-load state information is higher than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value. 
     The before-annealing pressed state criterion may further include a before-annealing pressed state upper limit value set in advance. The lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may adjust the lamination condition so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A even when the before-annealing pressed state information is higher than the before-annealing pressed state upper limit value. The lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may not necessarily perform adjustment of the lamination condition which is in accordance with whether or not the before-annealing pressed state information is higher than the before-annealing pressed state upper limit value. In addition, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may not perform adjustment of the lamination condition which is in accordance with whether or not the before-annealing no-load state information is lower than the predetermined lower limit value. 
     After adjusting the lamination condition, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  maintains the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B in the removal mode without further adjusting the lamination condition until the laminated body  1 A formed after the adjustment is conveyed to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. When the laminated body  1 A formed after the adjustment of the lamination condition is conveyed to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A and the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A satisfies the before-annealing criterion, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  changes the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B from the removal mode back to the normal mode. When the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  adjusts the lamination condition again while maintaining the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B in the removal mode. Therefore, the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B is maintained in the removal mode after it is determined that the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, until the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     The conveyance control unit  117  controls the conveyor  70 B to convey the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A to the annealing device  50  (hereinafter, the control is referred to as “normal conveyance control”). Further, when the before-annealing lamination thickness information of a laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, the conveyance control unit  117  controls the conveyor  70 B to remove laminated bodies  1 A formed following the laminated body  1 A using the removing device  710  until the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion (hereinafter, the control is referred to as “removal control”). For example, the conveyance control unit  117  executes the normal conveyance control when the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B is the normal mode, and executes the removal control when the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B is the removal mode. As described above, the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B is maintained in the removal mode after it is determined that the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, until the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. Therefore, if the removal control is executed when the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B is the removal mode, the removal control is continued until the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     The annealing control unit  118  controls the annealing device  50  to perform annealing process on the laminated body  1 A. For example, the annealing control unit  118  controls the annealing device  50  to, at a timing when a predetermined number of laminated bodies  1 A are conveyed from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A to the annealing device, carries the laminated bodies collectively into an annealing furnace and then carries the laminated bodies out of the annealing furnace after elapse of a predetermined time period. The conveyance control unit  119  controls the conveyor  70 C to convey the laminated body  1 A from the annealing device  50  to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B. 
     The lamination thickness information acquisition unit  121  acquires the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B. The after-annealing lamination thickness information may include after-annealing pressed state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state where the laminated body  1 A is pressed in the laminating direction of the electromagnetic steel plate  4 , and after-annealing no-load state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state where the laminated body  1 A is not pressed. That is, the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  121  may acquire information on the thickness in the pressed state and information on the thickness in the no-load state from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B. 
     The lamination condition adjustment unit  122  adjusts the lamination condition so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion, when the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A satisfies the before-annealing criterion and the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion. As described above, when the before-annealing lamination thickness information of a laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, the conveyance mode of the conveyor  70 B is maintained in the removal mode, and the laminated body  1 A is removed by the removing device  710 . Therefore, the laminated body  1 A is not subjected to the processing to be executed by the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  121  and the lamination condition adjustment unit  122 . In other words, acquisition of the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A, and adjustment of the lamination number of the laminated electromagnetic steel plates  4  which is in accordance with the acquisition are executed when the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     The lamination condition adjustment unit  122  may perform adjustment of the lamination condition which is in accordance with whether or not the after-annealing no-load state information satisfies a predetermined criterion, without performing adjustment of the lamination condition which is in accordance with whether or not the after-annealing pressed state information satisfies a predetermined criterion. The lamination condition adjustment unit  122  may perform adjustment of the lamination condition which is in accordance with whether or not the after-annealing no-load state information of the laminated body  1 A is higher than a predetermined upper limit value, without performing adjustment of the lamination condition which is in accordance with whether or not the after-annealing no-load state information of the laminated body  1 A is lower than a predetermined lower limit value. For example, the after-annealing criterion includes an after-annealing no-load state upper limit value set in advance. The lamination condition adjustment unit  122  adjusts the lamination condition to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A, when the before-annealing no-load state information of the laminated body  1 A is equal to or lower than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value and the after-annealing no-load state information of the laminated body  1 A is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value. The after-annealing no-load state upper limit value may be set to a value smaller than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value. 
     The lamination condition adjustment unit  122  may adjust the lamination condition when the defect rate of the after-annealing lamination thickness information in a plurality of laminated bodies  1 A subjected to the annealing process collectively in the annealing device  50  exceeds a predetermined threshold. The defect rate in this case is a ratio of the number of laminated bodies  1 A, whose after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, to a total number of the laminated bodies  1 A subjected to the annealing process collectively in the annealing device  50 . 
     When the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  adjusts the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. In a case there the after-annealing no-load state information is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value, the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  may reduce the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value. 
     When the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A satisfies the after-annealing criterion, the conveyance control unit  124  controls the conveyor  70 D to convey the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B to a rear-stage device. On the other hand, when the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, the conveyance control unit  124  controls the conveyor  70 D to remove the laminated body  1 A using the removing device  710 . 
     The controller  100  is configured with one or more control computers. For example, the controller  100  includes a circuit  190  shown in  FIG. 7 . The circuit  190  includes one or more processors  191 , a memory  192 , a storage  193 , and an input/output port  194 . The storage  193  includes a computer-readable storage medium such as a hard disk. The storage medium stores a program for causing the manufacturing device  10  to execute a manufacturing procedure for the laminated body  1 A, which is to be described later. The storage medium may be a removable medium such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory  192  temporarily stores a program loaded from the storage medium of the storage  193  and a calculation result by the processor  191 . The processor  191  constitutes each of the functional modules described above by executing the program in cooperation with the memory  192 . The input/output port  194  performs input and output of electric signals between the blanking device  40 , the annealing device  50 , the lamination thickness measurement devices  60 A and  60 B, and the conveyors  70 A,  70 B,  70 C, and  70 D in accordance with a command from the processor  191 . Note that a hardware configuration of the controller  100  is not necessarily limited to one in which each functional module is configured with a program. For example, each functional module of the controller  100  may be configured with a dedicated logic circuit or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in which dedicated logic circuits are integrated. 
     [Laminated Body Manufacturing Procedure] 
     Next, a manufacturing procedure for the laminated body  1 A to be executed by the manufacturing device  10  will be described as an example of a method for manufacturing a laminated body. This manufacturing procedure includes laminating the electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form the laminated body  1 A, performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, acquiring the before-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A before performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, and when the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion set in advance, adjusting the lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     This manufacturing procedure may further include acquiring the after-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A after the annealing process is performed on the laminated body  1 A, and when the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion set in advance, adjusting the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. This manufacturing procedure may further include adjusting the lamination condition, when the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A satisfies the before-annealing criterion and the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. Hereinafter, the manufacturing procedure for the laminated body  1 A is divided into a lamination procedure, a before-annealing lamination thickness check procedure, and an annealing and after-annealing lamination thickness check procedure, and each procedure is illustrated in detail. 
     (Lamination Procedure) 
     The lamination procedure is a procedure of laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form the laminated block  5  and stacking a plurality of laminated blocks  5  along the laminating direction of the electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form one laminated body  1 A. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the controller  100  executes step S 01 . In step S 01 , the lamination control unit  113  checks whether or not an electromagnetic steel plate  4  (hereinafter, referred to as an “electromagnetic steel plate  4  to be blanked out”) to be blanked out from the band-like steel plate W 1  by the blanking device  40  is a lowermost layer of the laminated block  5 . 
     If it is determined in step S 01  that the electromagnetic steel plate  4  to be blanked out is a lowermost layer of the laminated block  5 , the controller  100  executes step S 02 . In step S 02 , the lamination control unit  113  controls the blanking device  40  to blank out the second electromagnetic steel plate  7  from the band-like steel plate W 1 . 
     If it is determined in step S 01  that the electromagnetic steel plate  4  to be blanked out is not a lowermost layer of the laminated block  5 , the controller  100  executes step S 03 . In step S 03 , the lamination control unit  113  controls the blanking device  40  to blank out the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  from the band-like steel plate W 1 , and to laminate the first electromagnetic steel plate  6  on the electromagnetic steel plate  4  previously blanked out. 
     After executing step S 02  or step S 03 , the controller  100  executes step S 04 . In step S 04 , the lamination control unit  113  checks whether or not lamination of the electromagnetic steel plate  4  for a lamination number (hereinafter, referred to as a “set number”) included in the lamination condition stored in the lamination condition holding unit  111  is completed. If it is determined in step S 04  that the lamination of the set number of electromagnetic steel plates  4  has not been completed, the controller  100  returns the processing to step S 01 . Thereafter, the controller  100  repeats procedures of steps S 01  to S 04  until the lamination of the set number of electromagnetic steel plates  4  is completed. 
     If it is determined in step S 04  that the lamination of the set number of electromagnetic steel plates  4  is completed, the controller  100  executes step S 05 . In step S 05 , the lamination control unit  113  checks whether or not lamination of all the laminated blocks  5  is completed. If it is determined in step S 05  that the lamination of all the laminated blocks  5  has not been completed, the controller  100  returns the processing to step S 01 . Thereafter, the controller  100  repeats procedures of steps S 01  to S 05  until the lamination of all the laminated blocks  5  is completed. 
     If it is determined in step S 05  that the lamination of all the laminated blocks  5  is completed, the controller  100  executes steps S 06  and S 07 . In step S 06 , the lamination control unit  113  controls the blanking device  40  to deliver the laminated body  1 A formed by the lamination of the laminated blocks  5  to the conveyor  70 A. In step S 07 , the conveyance control unit  114  controls the conveyor  70 A to convey the laminated body  1 A from the blanking device  40  to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. Thus, the lamination procedure ends. The controller  100  repeatedly executes the above processing. 
     (Before-Annealing Lamination Thickness Check Procedure) 
     The before-annealing lamination thickness check procedure is a procedure of acquiring the before-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A before performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, checking whether or not the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion, and when the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion, conveying the laminated body  1 A to the annealing device  50 . This procedure includes adjusting the lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion when the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the controller  100  executes steps S 11  and S 12 . In step S 11 , the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  115  acquires the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A. The before-annealing lamination thickness information may include the before-annealing pressed state information and the before-annealing no-load state information. In step S 12 , the conveyance control unit  117  determines whether or not the conveyance mode stored in the mode holding unit  112  is the normal mode. 
     If it is determined in step S 12  that the conveyance mode is the normal mode, the controller  100  executes step S 13 . In step S 13 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  checks whether or not the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. For example, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  checks whether or not the before-annealing pressed state information satisfies the before-annealing pressed state criterion and whether or not the before-annealing no-load state information satisfies the before-annealing no-load state criterion. More specifically, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  checks whether or not the before-annealing pressed state information is lower than the before-annealing pressed state lower limit value, and whether or not the before-annealing no-load state information is higher than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value. The lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may further check whether or not the before-annealing pressed state information is higher than the before-annealing pressed state upper limit value. 
     If it is determined in step S 13  that the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, the controller  100  executes steps S 14  and S 15 . In step S 14 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  changes the conveyance mode stored in the mode holding unit  112  from the normal mode to the removal mode. In step S 15 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  adjusts the lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. For example, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  adjusts the lamination condition so that the before-annealing pressed state information and the before-annealing no-load state information satisfy the before-annealing pressed state criterion and the before-annealing no-load state criterion respectively. More specifically, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  adjusts the lamination condition so as to increase the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the before-annealing pressed state information is lower than the before-annealing pressed state lower limit value, and adjusts the lamination condition so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the before-annealing no-load state information is higher than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value. The lamination condition adjustment unit  116  may adjust the lamination condition so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A even when the before-annealing pressed state information is higher than the before-annealing pressed state upper limit value. 
     If it is determined in step S 12  that the conveyance mode is not the normal mode, the controller  100  executes step S 16 . In step S 16 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  determines whether or not the laminated body  1 A to be measured for the before-annealing lamination thickness information is a laminated body  1 A formed after the adjustment of the lamination condition. 
     If it is determined in step S 16  that the laminated body  1 A to be measured for the before-annealing lamination thickness information is a laminated body  1 A formed after the adjustment of the lamination condition, the controller  100  executes step S 17 . In step S 17 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  determines whether or not the before-annealing lamination thickness information acquired by the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  115  in step S 11  satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     If it is determined in step S 17  that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion, the controller  100  executes step S 18 . In step S 18 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  changes the conveyance mode stored in the mode holding unit  112  from the removal mode to the normal mode. 
     If it is determined in step S 17  that the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion, the controller  100  shifts the processing to step S 15 . In this case, the lamination condition adjustment unit  116  executes the adjustment of the lamination condition in step S 15  again while maintaining the conveyance mode stored in the mode holding unit  112  in the removal mode. 
     After executing step S 15  or step S 18 , the controller  100  executes step S 19 . If it is determined in step S 13  that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion, the controller  100  skips steps S 14  and S 15  and executes step S 19 . If it is determined in step S 16  that the laminated body  1 A to be measured for the before-annealing lamination thickness information is not a laminated body  1 A formed after the adjustment of the lamination condition, the controller  100  skips steps S 17  and S 18  and executes step S 19 . In step S 19 , the conveyance control unit  117  determines whether or not the conveyance mode stored in the mode holding unit  112  is the normal mode. 
     If it is determined in step S 19  that the conveyance mode is the normal mode, the controller  100  executes step S 21 . In step S 21 , the conveyance control unit  117  controls the conveyor  70 B to convey the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A to the annealing device  50 . 
     If it is determined in step S 19  that the conveyance mode is not the normal mode, the controller  100  executes step S 22 . In step S 22 , the conveyance control unit  117  controls the conveyor  70 B to remove the laminated body  1 A using the removing device  710 . Thus, the before-annealing lamination thickness check procedure ends. The controller  100  repeatedly executes the above processing. 
     (Annealing and after-Annealing Lamination Thickness Check Procedure) 
     The annealing and after-annealing lamination thickness check procedure is a procedure of performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, acquiring the after-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A formed after the annealing process, and checking whether or not the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. This procedure may include adjusting the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion when the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the controller  100  executes steps S 31  and S 32 . In step S 31 , the annealing control unit  118  waits for a predetermined number of laminated bodies  1 A to be conveyed from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 A to the annealing device  50 . In step S 32 , the annealing control unit  118  controls the annealing device  50  to carry the predetermined number of laminated bodies  1 A collectively into an annealing furnace, and to carry the predetermined number of laminated bodies  1 A out of the annealing furnace after elapse of a predetermined time period. 
     Next, the controller  100  executes steps S 33 , S 34 , and S 35 . In step S 33 , the conveyance control unit  119  controls the conveyor  70 C to convey the laminated body  1 A from the annealing device  50  to the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B. In step S 34 , the lamination thickness information acquisition unit  121  acquires the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B. The after-annealing lamination thickness information may include the after-annealing pressed state information and the after-annealing no-load state information. In step S 35 , the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  checks whether or not the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. For example, the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  checks whether or not the after-annealing no-load state information is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value. 
     When it is determined in step S 35  that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion, the controller  100  executes step S 36 . In step S 36 , the conveyance control unit  124  controls the conveyor  70 D to convey the laminated body  1 A from the lamination thickness measurement device  60 B to a rear-stage device. 
     If it is determined in step S 35  that the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, the controller  100  executes step S 37 . In step S 37 , the conveyance control unit  124  controls the conveyor  70 D to remove the laminated body  1 A using the removing device  710 . 
     After executing step S 36  or step S 37 , the controller  100  executes step S 38 . In step S 38 , the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  checks whether or not acquisition of the after-annealing lamination thickness information for the total number of the laminated bodies  1 A, which are subjected to the annealing process collectively in the annealing device  50 , is completed. If it is determined in step S 38  that the acquisition of the after-annealing lamination thickness information for the total number of the laminated bodies  1 A is not completed, the controller  100  returns the processing to step S 33 . Thereafter, the controller  100  repeats the processing of steps S 33  to S 38  until the acquisition of the after-annealing lamination thickness information for the total number of the laminated bodies  1 A, which are subjected to the annealing process collectively in the annealing device  50 , is completed. 
     If it is determined in step S 38  that the acquisition of the after-annealing lamination thickness information for the total number of the laminated bodies  1 A is completed, the controller  100  executes step S 39 . In step S 39 , the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  checks whether or not the defect rate is equal to or less than an allowable value. 
     If it is determined in step S 39  that the defect rate exceeds the allowable value, the controller  100  executes steps S 41  and S 42 . In step S 41 , the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  adjusts the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. For example, the before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  reduces the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value when the after-annealing no-load state information is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value. The before-annealing criterion adjustment unit  123  may adjust the before-annealing criterion so as to make the defect rate equal to or less than the allowable value. In step S 42 , the lamination condition adjustment unit  122  adjusts the lamination condition so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. For example, the lamination condition adjustment unit  122  adjusts the lamination condition so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the after-annealing no-load state information is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value. When it is determined in step S 39  that the defect rate is equal to or less than the allowable value, the controller  100  skips steps S 41  and S 42 . Thus, the annealing and after-annealing lamination thickness check procedure ends. The controller  100  repeatedly executes the above processing. 
     Effect of the Present Embodiment 
     As described above, the method for manufacturing the laminated body  1 A includes laminating the electromagnetic steel plates  4  to form the laminated body  1 A, performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, acquiring the before-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A before performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, and when the before-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the before-annealing criterion set in advance, adjusting the lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     There is a certain degree of correlation between a before-annealing thickness and an after-annealing thickness of the laminated body  1 A. Therefore, a defect rate of the thickness after annealing can be reduced by adjusting the thickness before annealing. Accordingly, the manufacturing method is effective in reducing the defect rate of the thickness after annealing of the laminated body  1 A of the electromagnetic steel plates  4 , which includes adjusting the lamination condition for the electromagnetic steel plate  4  so that the before-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the before-annealing criterion. 
     When a defect in the thickness of the laminated body  1 A after annealing occurs and the laminated body  1 A is removed, not only a material of the laminated body  1 A is wasted, but also thermal energy required for annealing the laminated body  1 A is wasted. When the annealing process is performed by batch processing in which a plurality of laminated bodies  1 A are processed collectively, the above-described waste is even greater. In contrast, by reducing the defect rate of the thickness after annealing of the laminated body  1 A, efficiency in manufacturing the laminated body  1 A can be improved. 
     The before-annealing lamination thickness information may include before-annealing pressed state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state where the laminated body  1 A is pressed in the laminating direction of the electromagnetic steel plate  4 , and before-annealing no-load state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state where the laminated body  1 A is not pressed. The before-annealing criterion may include the before-annealing pressed state criterion and the before-annealing no-load criterion which are set in advance. When it falls within at least one of a case where the before-annealing pressed state information does not satisfy the before-annealing pressed state criterion and a case where the before-annealing no-load state information does not satisfy the before-annealing no-load state criterion, the lamination condition may be adjusted so that the before-annealing pressed state information and the before-annealing no-load state information satisfy the before-annealing pressed state criterion and the before-annealing no-load state criterion respectively. 
     For the laminated body  1 A of the electromagnetic steel plate  4 , both a thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a pressed state and a thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a no-load state may be required to be set to a desired state. For example, in order to stabilize performance for serving as an electromagnetic core of an electric motor, the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a pressed state may be required to be within a desired range. In addition, in order to improve the ease of incorporation into the electric motor, it may be required to set the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a no-load state to be within a desired range. On the other hand, by adjusting the lamination condition so that the before-annealing pressed state information and the before-annealing no-load state information satisfy the before-annealing pressed state criterion and the before-annealing no-load state criterion respectively, defect rates of both a thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a pressed state after annealing and a thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a no-load state after annealing can be reduced. 
     The before-annealing pressed state criterion may include the before-annealing pressed state lower limit value set in advance, and the before-annealing no-load state criterion may include the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value set in advance. The lamination condition may be adjusted so as to increase the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the before-annealing pressed state information is lower than the before-annealing pressed state lower limit value, and the lamination condition may be adjusted so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A when the before-annealing no-load state information is higher than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value. In this case, the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a pressed state after annealing is prevented from being too small. Accordingly, the performance for serving as an electric motor of an electromagnetic core can be improved. Further, the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a no-load state after annealing is prevented from being excessively large. Accordingly, the ease of incorporation into the electric motor can be improved. 
     The before-annealing pressed state criterion may include the before-annealing pressed state upper limit value set in advance, and the lamination condition may be adjusted so as to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A even when the before-annealing pressed state information is higher than the before-annealing pressed state upper limit value. In this case, the performance for serving as an electric motor of an electromagnetic core can be further stabilized. 
     The method for manufacturing the laminated body  1 A may further include acquiring the after-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A after performing the annealing process on the laminated body  1 A, and when the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, adjusting the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. The after-annealing lamination thickness information may include the after-annealing no-load state information indicating the thickness of the laminated body  1 A in a state of not being pressed, and the after-annealing criterion may include the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value set in advance. When the after-annealing no-load state information is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value, the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value may be reduced. In this case, the defect rate of the thickness after annealing of the laminated body  1 A can be further reduced by adjusting the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value in accordance with actual performance of the after-annealing no-load state information. 
     The method for manufacturing the laminated body  1 A may further include adjusting the lamination condition to reduce the thickness of the laminated body  1 A, when the before-annealing no-load state information of the laminated body  1 A is equal to or lower than the before-annealing no-load state upper limit value and the after-annealing no-load state information of the laminated body  1 A is higher than the after-annealing no-load state upper limit value. In this case, the defect rate of the thickness after annealing of the laminated body  1 A can be further reduced by reflecting the after-annealing no-load state information in the lamination condition in preference to the before-annealing no-load state information. 
     The method for manufacturing the laminated body  1 A may further include acquiring the after-annealing lamination thickness information on the thickness of the laminated body  1 A after the annealing process is performed on the laminated body  1 A, and when the after-annealing lamination thickness information does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion set in advance, adjusting the before-annealing criterion so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. In this case, the defect rate of the thickness after annealing of the laminated body  1 A can be further reduced by adjusting the before-annealing criterion in accordance with the actual performance of the after-annealing no-load state information. 
     The method for manufacturing the laminated body  1 A may further include adjusting the lamination condition, when the before-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A satisfies the before-annealing criterion and the after-annealing lamination thickness information of the laminated body  1 A does not satisfy the after-annealing criterion, so that the after-annealing lamination thickness information satisfies the after-annealing criterion. In this case, the defect rate of the thickness after annealing of the laminated body  1 A can be further reduced by reflecting the after-annealing no-load state information in the lamination condition in preference to the before-annealing no-load state information. 
     Although an embodiment is described above, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     This application is based on JP2018-093054 filed on May 14, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The method for manufacturing a laminated body according to the present disclosure is effective for reducing a defect rate of a thickness after annealing of a laminated body of electromagnetic steel plates. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1 A: laminated body 
               4 : electromagnetic steel plate