Patent Publication Number: US-2022216499-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for manufacturing laminated electrode body

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority on the basis of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-000511 filed in Japan on Jan. 5, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode body. 
     In recent years, secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries and nickel hydride batteries are growing in importance as vehicle-mounted power supplies for vehicles using electricity as a drive source and as power supplies to be mounted to electrical appliances including personal computers and mobile phones. In particular, since lithium ion secondary batteries are lightweight and produce high energy density, they are preferable as high-output power supplies for driving vehicles such as a battery electrical vehicle (BEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and demand for lithium secondary ion batteries is expected to increase into the future. 
     An aspect of such batteries is a battery including a laminated electrode body in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet are laminated in plurality via a separator sheet. The laminated electrode body is typically manufactured by individually causing the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator sheet to be adsorbed by an adsorbing portion and transported to a laminating table, and sequentially laminated on top of each other. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-116807 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-176699 disclose a laminating apparatus including members for performing the step described above. 
     SUMMARY 
     In recent years, in order to produce the batteries with higher accuracy, there is a need for improving accuracy of an electrode body included in the batteries. For example, in order to satisfy this need in a laminated electrode body, conceivably, it is necessary to perform lamination while controlling positions of the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator sheet with high accuracy. However, with conventional techniques, since the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator sheet are caused to be individually adsorbed by an adsorbing portion and transported to a laminating table, it is difficult to control the position of each sheet with high accuracy in an aspect of a laminate. 
     The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the circumstances described above and a main object thereof is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode body which enable a highly accurate laminated electrode body to be manufactured. 
     In order to realize the object described above, the present disclosure provides a manufacturing apparatus which manufactures a laminated electrode body in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet are laminated in plurality via a separator sheet. 
     The manufacturing apparatus includes: a laminating table on which the positive electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet, and the separator sheet are to be laminated; transporting means which transports sheets to the laminating table and which includes a drivable adsorbing portion having an adsorption plate; an inspecting portion which acquires, from a direction opposing the surface of the adsorption plate, relative positional information between the separator sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate and the positive electrode sheet or the negative electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate; and a control portion for controlling the inspecting portion and the transporting means. In addition, the control portion is configured to execute any of 1) to 3) below:
     1) A selective first electrode sheet arrangement process including: causing a separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate; causing a first electrode sheet made of any of the positive/negative electrode sheets to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed separator sheet; acquiring, from a direction opposing the surface of the adsorption plate, relative positional information of the separator sheet and the first electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate and inspecting whether or not the acquired positional information indicates a normal positional relationship determined in advance; and arranging the separator sheet and the first electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate on a prescribed laminating table when the normal positional relationship is indicated but not arranging the separator sheet and the first electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate on the laminating table when the normal positional relationship is not indicated; and a selective second electrode sheet arrangement process of performing the selective first electrode sheet arrangement process with respect to the separator sheet and a second electrode sheet, which is a counter electrode of the first electrode sheet, wherein the selective first electrode sheet arrangement process and the selective second electrode sheet arrangement process are alternately repetitively performed until the number of laminations determined in advance of the positive/negative electrode sheets is reached;   2) A first electrode sheet arrangement process including: causing a first separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate; causing a first electrode sheet made of any of the positive/negative electrode sheets to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first separator sheet; causing a second separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first electrode sheet; and arranging, on a prescribed laminating table, a 3-ply sheet made up of the first separator sheet, the first electrode sheet, and the second separator sheet in a state of being adsorbed; and a second electrode sheet arrangement process including: causing a second electrode sheet, which is a counter electrode of the first electrode sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate; and arranging the second electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed on a laminate obtained after the first electrode sheet arrangement process, wherein the first electrode sheet arrangement process and the second electrode sheet arrangement process are alternately repetitively performed until the number of laminations determined in advance of the positive/negative electrode sheets is reached; and   3) Repetitively performing a 4-ply sheet arrangement process including: causing a first separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate; causing a first electrode sheet made of any of the positive/negative electrode sheets to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first separator sheet; causing a second separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first electrode sheet; causing a second electrode sheet, which is a counter electrode of the first electrode sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed second separator sheet; and arranging, on a prescribed laminating table, a 4-ply sheet made up of the first separator sheet, the first electrode sheet, the second separator sheet, and the second electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed, wherein the 4-ply sheet arrangement step is repetitively performed until the number of laminations determined in advance of the positive/negative electrode sheets is reached.   

     According to the manufacturing apparatus of a laminated electrode body including the control portion described above, a laminated electrode body in which a position of each sheet is controlled with high accuracy in an aspect of a laminate can be manufactured. 
     In addition, as another aspect, the present disclosure provides a manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body in which a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet are laminated in plurality via a separator sheet. 
     A first manufacturing method disclosed herein includes: a selective first electrode sheet arrangement step (first 2-ply sheet arrangement step) including: separator adsorption processing of causing a separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of an adsorption plate; first electrode sheet adsorption processing of causing a first electrode sheet made of any of the positive/negative electrode sheets to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed separator sheet; electrode adsorption position inspection processing of acquiring, from a direction opposing the surface of the adsorption plate, relative positional information of the separator sheet and the first electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate and inspecting whether or not the acquired positional information indicates a normal positional relationship determined in advance; and first electrode sheet selection processing of arranging the separator sheet and the first electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate on a prescribed laminating table when the normal positional relationship is indicated in the electrode adsorption position inspection processing but not arranging the separator sheet and the first electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate on the laminating table when the normal positional relationship is not indicated, and a selective second electrode sheet arrangement step (second 2-ply sheet arrangement step) of performing each processing step of the selective first electrode sheet arrangement step with respect to the separator sheet and a second electrode sheet, which is a counter electrode of the first electrode sheet, wherein the selective first electrode sheet arrangement step and the selective second electrode sheet arrangement step are alternately repetitively performed until the number of laminations determined in advance of the positive/negative electrode sheets is reached. 
     According to the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body configured as described above, a relative positional relationship between the separator sheet and the positive electrode sheet (or the negative electrode sheet) is checked in a stage prior to lamination and only those of which the relative positional relationship is considered normal are laminated. Accordingly, a laminated electrode body in which a position of each sheet is controlled with high accuracy in an aspect of a laminate can be manufactured. 
     A second manufacturing method disclosed herein includes: a first electrode sheet arrangement step including: first separator adsorption processing of causing a first separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of an adsorption plate; first electrode sheet adsorption processing of causing a first electrode sheet made of any of the positive/negative electrode sheets to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first separator sheet; second separator adsorption processing of causing a second separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first electrode sheet; and 3-ply sheet arrangement processing of arranging, on a prescribed laminating table, a 3-ply sheet made up of the first separator sheet, the first electrode sheet, and the second separator sheet in a state of being adsorbed; and a second electrode sheet arrangement step including: second electrode sheet adsorption processing of causing a second electrode sheet, which is a counter electrode of the first electrode sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate; and electrode sheet arrangement processing of arranging the second electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed on a laminate obtained after the first electrode sheet arrangement step, wherein the first electrode sheet arrangement step and the second electrode sheet arrangement step are alternately repetitively performed until the number of laminations determined in advance of the positive/negative electrode sheets is reached. 
     According to the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body configured as described above, lamination can be performed in a state where a relative positional relationship between the separator sheet, the positive electrode sheet (or the negative electrode sheet), and the separator sheet is maintained. Accordingly, a laminated electrode body in which a position of each sheet is controlled with high accuracy in an aspect of a laminate can be manufactured. 
     A third manufacturing method disclosed herein comprising a 4-ply sheet arrangement step including: first separator adsorption processing of causing a first separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of an adsorption plate; first electrode sheet adsorption processing of causing a first electrode sheet made of any of the positive/negative electrode sheets to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first separator sheet; second separator adsorption processing of causing a second separator sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed first electrode sheet; second electrode sheet adsorption processing of causing a second electrode sheet, which is a counter electrode of the first electrode sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorbed second separator sheet; and 4-ply sheet arrangement processing of arranging, on a prescribed laminating table, a 4-ply sheet made up of the first separator sheet, the first electrode sheet, the second separator sheet, and the second electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed, wherein the 4-ply sheet arrangement step is repetitively performed until the number of laminations determined in advance of the positive/negative electrode sheets is reached. 
     According to the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body configured as described above, lamination can be performed in a state where a relative positional relationship between the separator sheet, the positive electrode sheet (or the negative electrode sheet), the separator sheet, and the negative electrode sheet (or the positive electrode sheet) is maintained. Accordingly, a laminated electrode body in which a position of each sheet is controlled with high accuracy in an aspect of a laminate can be manufactured. 
     In a preferable aspect of the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body disclosed herein, in the electrode adsorption position inspection processing, the relative positional information is acquired based on a surface image of the adsorption plate having been photographed by a camera arranged in the opposing direction. 
     A surface image of the adsorption plate having been photographed by a camera is preferable because the relative positional information can be acquired in a state of higher accuracy. 
     In a preferable aspect of the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body disclosed herein, the first electrode sheet, the second electrode sheet, and the separator sheet all have rectangular shapes, and in the electrode adsorption position inspection processing, relative positional information between four corners of the separator sheet in a state of being adsorbed on the adsorption plate and four corners of the first electrode sheet or the second electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed on the adsorption plate is acquired. 
     When the first electrode sheet, the second electrode sheet, and the separator sheet have rectangular shapes, such acquisition of positional information is effective. 
     In a preferable aspect of the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body disclosed herein, the adsorption plate is a porous adsorption plate. 
     Using a porous adsorption plate as the adsorption plate is preferable because an adsorption mark is less likely to be made on the separator sheet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing main components of a laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a rough process chart for explaining a first manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a control flow chart for explaining the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic view for explaining an aspect of acquiring adsorption position information of a positive electrode sheet prior to adsorption in order to cause the positive electrode sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of a separator sheet in a state of being adsorbed by an adsorption plate in the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  is a plan view schematically showing an aspect of acquiring positional information of four corners of the positive electrode sheet prior to the adsorption as the adsorption position information in the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic view for explaining an aspect of acquiring lamination position information of a separator sheet and a positive electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by an adsorption plate from a direction opposing a surface of the adsorption plate in the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5B  is a plan view schematically showing an aspect of the surface of the adsorption plate in the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a control flow chart for explaining a second manufacturing method according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a control flow chart for explaining a third manufacturing method according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a battery including the laminated electrode body according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment related to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a laminated electrode body disclosed herein will be described in detail while referring to the drawings when appropriate. With the exception of matters specifically mentioned in the present specification, matters required to carry out the present disclosure can be understood to be design matters of a person with ordinary skill in the art based on the prior art in the relevant technical field. The present disclosure can be carried out on the basis of the contents disclosed in the present specification and common general technical knowledge in the relevant field. However, the embodiment described below is not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein. In addition, in the drawings shown in the present specification, members and portions that produce the same effects will be described using the same reference characters. Furthermore, dimensional relationships (a length, a width, a thickness, and the like) shown in the respective drawings do not reflect actual dimensional relationships. 
     It should be noted that, in the present specification and the scope of claims, a prescribed numerical value range described as A to B (where A and B are any numerical values) means A or more and B or less. Therefore, A to B includes cases of more than A and less than B. 
     First, a configuration of a battery  100  including a typical laminated electrode body  80  manufactured by a laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to  FIG. 8 . While a case where an outer package made of a laminated film is used as an outer package  70  will be described as an example below, the example is not intended to limit a type of the outer package to laminated films. For example, the outer package may be a metallic battery case with a hexahedral shape. 
     Overall Configuration of Battery 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of the battery  100  including the laminated electrode body  80  according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8 , roughly speaking, the battery  100  includes the laminated electrode body  80  and the outer package  70  housing the electrode body. The outer package  70  housing the laminated electrode body  80  is formed by arranging the laminated electrode body  80  between a pair of laminated films and forming a welded portion (not illustrated) by welding outer peripheral edge portions of the laminated films. 
     Although a detailed illustration will be omitted, the laminated electrode body  80  according to the present embodiment is formed by having a positive electrode sheet  40  and a negative electrode sheet  50  (hereinafter, also collectively referred to as an “electrode sheet”) with rectangular shapes being laminated in plurality via a separator sheet  60  with a same rectangular shape. The electrode sheet includes a current collector (a positive electrode current collector  42  or a negative electrode current collector  52 ) which is a foil-shaped metal member and an electrode active material layer (a positive electrode active material layer  41  or a negative electrode active material layer  51 ) formed on a surface (one surface or both surfaces) of the current collector. 
     In the electrode sheet with a rectangular shape according to the present embodiment, an active material layer unformed portion (a positive electrode active material layer unformed portion  43  or a negative electrode active material layer unformed portion  53 ) in which the electrode active material layer is not formed and the current collector is exposed is formed at one side edge portion in a long-side direction. In addition, the laminated electrode body  80  is formed by stacking each electrode sheet so that the positive electrode active material layer unformed portion  43  protrudes from one of the side edge portions and the negative electrode active material layer unformed portion  53  protrudes from the other side edge portion. A core portion in which the electrode active material layers of the electrode sheets are laminated is formed in a center portion in the long-side direction of the laminated electrode body. Furthermore, a positive electrode terminal connecting portion in which the positive electrode active material layer unformed portion  43  is stacked in plurality is formed in one of the side edge portions in the long-side direction and a negative electrode terminal connecting portion in which the negative electrode active material layer unformed portion  53  is stacked in plurality is formed in the other side edge portion. A positive electrode collector terminal  44  is connected to the positive electrode collector terminal connecting portion and a negative electrode collector terminal  54  is connected to the negative electrode collector terminal connecting portion. 
     For example, the battery  100  including the laminated electrode body  80  manufactured by the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body according to the present embodiment may be a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery or an all solid-state battery. In the case of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the laminated electrode body  80  in which an insulating separator sheet  60  is inserted between electrode sheets is used and, at the same time, a nonaqueous electrolytic solution is housed inside the outer package  70 . On the other hand, in the case of an all solid-state battery, the laminated electrode body  80  in which a solid electrolyte layer (which corresponds to the separator sheet  60 ) is inserted between the electrode sheets is used. It should be noted that, as these members (specifically, the electrode sheets, the separator sheet, the solid electrolyte layer, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution, and the like), members usable in secondary batteries of this type can be used without any particular limitations. 
     Next, a preferred embodiment of each of the first to third manufacturing methods disclosed herein will be described together with the laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus  1  which embodies the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing main components of the laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus  1  according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , roughly speaking, the laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus  1  includes a laminating table  2 , sheet housing portions (a positive electrode sheet housing portion  4 , a negative electrode sheet housing portion  6 , and a separator sheet housing portion  8 ), transporting means  10 , an inspection camera  20  (which corresponds to the inspecting portion), and a control portion  30 . Hereinafter, each component will be described in detail. 
     Laminating Table  2   
     The laminating table  2  according to the present embodiment is a table on which the positive electrode sheet  40 , the negative electrode sheet  50 , and the separator sheet  60  are to be laminated. The laminating table  2  has a rectangular shape in a plan view and at least has a size that enables the positive electrode sheet  40 , the negative electrode sheet  50 , and the separator sheet  60  to be arranged thereon. A configuration (for example, constituent materials) of the laminating table  2  is not particularly limited insofar as the techniques disclosed herein can be implemented. In addition, although not illustrated, on the laminating table  2 , the positive electrode active material layer unformed portion  43  of the positive electrode sheet  40  and the negative electrode active material layer unformed portion  53  of the negative electrode sheet  50  are laminated via the separator sheet  60  so as to protrude in opposite directions. 
     Sheet Housing Portions 
     The laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment includes the positive electrode sheet housing portion  4 , the negative electrode sheet housing portion  6 , and the separator sheet housing portion  8 . The positive electrode sheet housing portion  4  houses the positive electrode sheet  40  being laminated in plurality in a state where the positive electrode active material layer unformed portions  43  are aligned in a same direction. The negative electrode sheet housing portion  6  houses the negative electrode sheet  50  being laminated in plurality in a state where the negative electrode active material layer unformed portions  53  are aligned in a same direction. In addition, the separator sheet housing portion  8  houses the separator sheet  60  being laminated in plurality. 
     Transporting Means  10   
     The transporting means  10  according to the present embodiment is means which transports the positive electrode sheet  40 , the negative electrode sheet  50 , and the separator sheet  60  to the laminating table  2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , roughly speaking, the transporting means  10  according to the present embodiment is constituted of an arm portion  11 , an adsorbing portion  12  provided at a tip of the arm portion, and a base portion  17  which supports the arm portion  11  and the adsorbing portion  12 . By operating the arm portion  11 , the adsorbing portion  12  can be moved to a desired position. In addition, as the arm portion  11  and the base portion  17 , members usable for this application can be used without any particular limitations. 
     The adsorbing portion  12  according to the present embodiment includes an adsorption plate  13 , an adsorption base  14 , and a suction tube  15 . The adsorption plate  13  is a portion which adsorbs the positive electrode sheet  40 , the negative electrode sheet  50 , and the separator sheet  60 . While a configuration of the adsorption plate is not particularly limited insofar as the techniques disclosed herein can be implemented, for example, an adsorption plate made of a porous body (in other words, a porous adsorption plate) or a multi-pore adsorption plate with artificially opened pores can be used. Among these materials, a porous adsorption plate can be favorably used from the perspective of preventing adsorption marks from being made on the separator sheet  60 . The adsorption plate  13  is installed on the adsorption base  14 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the suction tube  15  is installed outside the adsorbing portion  12 . Another end of the suction tube is connected to a vacuum pump (not illustrated) of which on/off states are controlled by the control portion  30  to be described later. Accordingly, adsorption and adsorption release of sheets by the adsorption plate  13  are controlled. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a control camera  16  is provided at a tip of the adsorbing portion  12  according to the present embodiment. The control camera is used to photograph an entirety or a part of an object to be adsorbed (in this case, the positive electrode sheet  40 , the negative electrode sheet  50 , and the separator sheet  60 ). In addition, acquired image data is transmitted to the control portion  30  to be described later from a transmission source (not illustrated) to be utilized in position adjustment of the adsorbing portion  12  or the like to be described later. It should be noted that the transmission source may be provided in the control camera  16  or may be present in a portion other than the control camera. 
     Inspection Camera  20   
     In the inspection camera  20  according to the present embodiment, relative lamination position information of the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  (or the negative electrode sheet  50 ) in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  is acquired as image data from a direction opposing a surface of the adsorption plate. Image data obtained by the camera is preferable because the relative lamination position information can be acquired in a state of higher accuracy. The image data may be image data of an entire surface of the adsorption plate  13  or image data of a part of the surface of the adsorption plate  13 . 
     The acquired image data is transmitted to the control portion  30  to be described later from a transmission source (not illustrated) to be utilized in an inspection for determining whether or not the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  (or the negative electrode sheet  50 ) in a state of being adsorbed to the surface of the adsorption plate  13  to be described later are to be arranged on the laminating table  2  and the like. It should be noted that the transmission source may be provided in the inspection camera  20  or may be present in a portion other than the inspection camera. 
     Control Portion  30   
     The control portion  30  according to the present embodiment controls the inspection camera  20  and the transporting means  10  (the control camera  16 ). In a similar manner to general control units, the control portion  30  is constituted of an arithmetic portion (a CPU), a storage portion (a memory), an input portion, an output portion, and the like. Various programs for executing the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body according to the present embodiment are stored in the storage portion, and the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body according to the present embodiment is executed as the arithmetic portion reads and executes the programs. Since a configuration of the control portion  30  itself does not characterize the present disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of each of the first to third manufacturing methods disclosed herein will be described together with procedures ( FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 ) to be executed by the control portion  30 . 
     First Manufacturing Method 
       FIG. 2  is a rough process chart for explaining the first manufacturing method according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , roughly speaking, the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment alternately repetitively performs a selective first electrode sheet arrangement step (step S 1 ) and a selective second electrode sheet arrangement step (step S 2 ) until the number of laminations of the positive electrode sheet  40  and the negative electrode sheet  50  determined in advance is reached. In addition,  FIG. 3  is a control flow chart for more specifically explaining  FIG. 2 . In this case, step Si and step S 2  described above can be steps that include steps S 10  to S 15  shown in  FIG. 3 . Hereinafter, a case where the first electrode sheet is the positive electrode sheet  40  and the second electrode sheet is the negative electrode sheet  50  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment, first, the separator sheet  60  is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate  13  (step S 10 ). In addition, the positive electrode sheet  40  is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the separator sheet  60  having been adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  (step S 11 ). 
     In step S 11  described above, as shown in  FIG. 4A , an entire image of the positive electrode sheet  40  present on an outermost surface among the positive electrode sheets  40  being housed in the positive electrode sheet housing portion  4  is photographed by the control camera  16 . In addition, acquired image data is transmitted from a transmission source (not illustrated) and received by the control portion  30 . 
     Subsequently, positions (refer to  FIG. 4B ) of four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  in the acquired image data are collated with positions of the four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  in image data stored in the control portion  30  in advance. In this case, the positions of the four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  in the stored image data refer to positions of the four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  in image data that can be acquired by the control camera  16  included in the adsorbing portion  12  in a case where the adsorbing portion is at an appropriate position when being moved in order to adsorb the positive electrode sheet  40 . Furthermore, when a deviation has occurred between the acquired positions of the four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  and the positions of the four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  stored in advance, the deviation is interpreted as an amount of movement of an x-axis coordinate and a y-axis coordinate and the adsorbing portion  12  is moved by the amount of movement. In this manner, by appropriately adjusting the position of the adsorbing portion  12  before adsorbing the positive electrode sheet  40 , the positive electrode sheet  40  can be caused to be adsorbed with high accuracy at a desired position on the surface of the separator sheet  60  being adsorbed by the adsorption plate. 
     Next, relative lamination position information of the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  is acquired from a direction opposing the surface of the adsorption plate (step S 12 ). In addition, an inspection is performed to determine whether or not the lamination position information acquired in step S 12  described above indicates a normal positional relationship determined in advance (step S 13 ). 
     In step S 12  described above, as shown in  FIG. 5A , image data of the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the surface of the adsorption plate  13  is acquired by the inspection camera  20  from a direction opposing the surface of the adsorption plate. Furthermore, acquired image data is transmitted from a transmission source (not illustrated) and received by the control portion  30 . 
     In addition, in step S 13  described above, as shown in  FIG. 5B , clearances of four corners of the separator sheet  60  and four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  in the acquired image data described above (in other words, portions P 1  to P 4  and portions Q 1  to Q 4  in  FIG. 5B ) are collated with clearances of four corners of the separator sheet  60  and four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  stored in advance in the control portion  30 . In this case, the clearances of the four corners of the separator sheet  60  and the four corners of the positive electrode sheet  40  in image data stored in advance refer to clearances of the respective four corners in image data that can be acquired by the inspection camera  20  when the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  are present at appropriate positions. Furthermore, the portions P 1  to P 4  and the portions Q 1  to Q 4  in  FIG. 5B  can be calculated using methods such as making full use of various algorithms. 
     When the clearances of the four corners in the acquired image are within an acceptable error as compared to the clearances of the four corners stored in advance, it is determined that the relative positional relationship between the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  indicates a normal positional relationship. On the other hand, when the clearances of the four corners in the acquired image are outside of the acceptable error as compared to the clearances of the four corners stored in advance, it is determined that the relative positional relationship between the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  does not indicate a normal positional relationship. It should be noted that the acceptable error described above can be set to, for example, ±0.6 mm to ±1.1 mm or the like when a planar size of the separator sheet  60  is 305 mm×425 mm and a planar size of the positive electrode sheet  40  is 300 mm×420 mm (a similar range can be adopted as an acceptable error with respect to distances described in (vi) below). 
     In step S 13  described above, when it is determined that the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  indicates a normal positional relationship determined in advance, the separator sheet and the positive electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate are arranged on the laminating table  2  (step S 15 ). 
     On the other hand, when it is determined in step S 13  described above that the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  do not indicate a normal positional relationship determined in advance, the separator sheet and the positive electrode sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate are removed from the adsorption plate without being arranged on the laminating table  2  (step S 14 ) and a return is made to step S 10 . The sheets removed from the adsorption plate  13  may be discarded as it is or reused for lamination from the perspective of reducing cost or the like. The operation described above is repetitively performed until step S 15  is reached. 
     Subsequently, when step S 15  described above is reached, it is confirmed whether or not the number of laminations of the positive electrode sheet  40  and the negative electrode sheet  50  reaches the number of laminations determined in advance (step S 16 ). When the number of laminations is reached, lamination is concluded (step S 17 ), but when the number of laminations is not reached, a return is made to step S 10  once again. When returning to step S 10  once again after arranging the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode sheet  40 , operations of steps S 10  to S 15  are performed only this time with respect to the negative electrode sheet  50  in place of the positive electrode sheet  40 . Accordingly, the separator sheet  60  and the negative electrode sheet  50  are arranged. A laminate can be manufactured by repetitively performing the operations described above until step S 17  is reached. 
     It should be noted that since the positive electrode sheet  40  is directly present in a bottommost portion (in other words, a portion in contact with the laminating table  2 ) of the laminate manufactured in the first manufacturing method according to the embodiment, the separator sheet  60  may be further arranged in the bottommost portion of the laminate. In addition, envisaging that the laminate is to be housed in an outer package inside which an insulating sheet has been added in advance, the positive electrode sheet  40  or the negative electrode sheet  50  may be further arranged in a topmost portion of the laminate. Furthermore, the battery  100  including the laminated electrode body  80  can be obtained through conventional and known battery manufacturing methods. 
     Second Manufacturing Method 
       FIG. 6  is a control flow chart for explaining a second manufacturing method according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, a case where the first electrode sheet is the positive electrode sheet  40  and the second electrode sheet is the negative electrode sheet  50  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the second manufacturing method according to the embodiment, first, the separator sheet  60  (which corresponds to the first separator sheet) is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate  13  (step S 20 ). In addition, the positive electrode sheet  40  is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the separator sheet  60  having been adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  (step S 21 ). Subsequently, the separator sheet  60  (which corresponds to the second separator sheet) is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the positive electrode sheet  40  having been adsorbed in step S 21  (step S 22 ). In addition, the first separator sheet, the positive electrode sheet, and the second separator sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  are arranged on the laminating table  2  (step S 23 ). Next, the negative electrode sheet  50  is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate  13  (step S 24 ). In addition, the negative electrode sheet  50  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  is laminated on top of the laminate obtained in step S 23  (step S 25 ). 
     While a method of causing a prescribed sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position of the adsorption plate  13  or each sheet in steps S 20  to S 22  and S 24  described above is not particularly limited insofar as an effect of the techniques disclosed herein is exhibited, for example, a method based on step S 11  described above can be used. 
     When step S 25  described above is reached, it is confirmed whether or not the number of laminations of the positive electrode sheet  40  and the negative electrode sheet  50  reaches the number of laminations determined in advance (step S 26 ). When the number of laminations is reached, lamination is concluded (step S 27 ), but when the number of laminations is not reached, a return is made to step S 20  once again. A laminate can be manufactured by repetitively performing the operations until step S 27  is reached. For example, the laminate fabricated as described above may be housed inside an outer package as it is. Furthermore, the battery  100  including the laminated electrode body  80  can be obtained through conventional and known battery manufacturing methods. 
     Third Manufacturing Method 
       FIG. 7  is a control flow chart for explaining a third manufacturing method according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, a case where the first electrode sheet is the positive electrode sheet  40  and the second electrode sheet is the negative electrode sheet  50  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the third manufacturing method according to the embodiment, first, the separator sheet  60  (which corresponds to the first separator sheet) is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the adsorption plate  13  (step S 30 ). In addition, the positive electrode sheet  40  is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the first separator sheet having been adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  (step S 31 ). Subsequently, the separator sheet  60  (which corresponds to the second separator sheet) is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the positive electrode sheet  40  having been adsorbed in step S 31  (step S 32 ). In addition, the negative electrode sheet  50  is caused to be adsorbed at a prescribed position on a surface of the second separator sheet having been adsorbed in step S 32  (step S 33 ). Next, the first separator sheet, the positive electrode sheet  40 , the second separator sheet, and the negative electrode sheet  50  in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  are arranged on the laminating table  2  (step S 34 ). 
     While a method of causing a prescribed sheet to be adsorbed at a prescribed position of the adsorption plate  13  or each sheet in steps S 30  to S 33  described above is not particularly limited insofar as an effect of the techniques disclosed herein is exhibited, for example, a method based on step S 11  described above can be used. 
     When step S 34  described above is reached, it is confirmed whether or not the number of laminations of the positive electrode sheet  40  and the negative electrode sheet  50  reaches the number of laminations determined in advance (step S 35 ). When the number of laminations is reached, lamination is concluded (step S 36 ), but when the number of laminations is not reached, a return is made to step S 30  once again. A laminate can be manufactured by repetitively performing the operations until step S 36  is reached. 
     It should be noted that since the negative electrode sheet  50  is directly present in a bottommost portion (in other words, a portion in contact with the laminating table  2 ) of the laminate manufactured in the third manufacturing method according to the embodiment, the separator sheet  60  may be further arranged in the bottommost portion of the laminate. In addition, envisaging that the laminate is to be housed in an outer package inside which an insulating sheet has been added in advance, the positive electrode sheet  40  or the negative electrode sheet  50  may be further arranged in a topmost portion of the laminate. Furthermore, the battery  100  including the laminated electrode body  80  can be obtained through conventional and known battery manufacturing methods. 
     MODIFICATIONS 
     While specific examples of the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body disclosed herein (a preferred embodiment of each of the first to third manufacturing methods disclosed herein) have been described in detail above with reference to the laminated electrode body manufacturing apparatus  1  and  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 , contents of the manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body disclosed herein are not limited to the specific examples. The manufacturing method of a laminated electrode body disclosed herein includes various modifications of the specific examples described above insofar as objects thereof remain unchanged. Examples of such modifications will be explained in (i) to (vi) below. 
     (i) While the first electrode sheet is explained to be the positive electrode sheet  40  and the second electrode sheet is explained to be the negative electrode sheet  50  in the embodiments described above, the first electrode sheet can be the negative electrode sheet  50  and the second electrode sheet can be the positive electrode sheet  40 . 
     (ii) While sheets with rectangular shapes are used as the positive electrode sheet  40 , the negative electrode sheet  50 , and the separator sheet  60  in the embodiments described above, the sheets may include a sheet of which four corners have been rounded or the like. However, in this case, inspections that do not use four corners must be performed in steps S 11  and S 13  described above. Inspections that do not use four corners can be appropriately selected from those exemplified in (iv), (vi), and the like described below. 
     (iii) While the laminating table  2  with a rectangular shape in a plan view is used in the embodiments described above, for example, a laminating table with a circular shape, a trapezoidal shape, or the like in a plan view can also be used. 
     (iv) In the embodiments described above, an entire image of a positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet present on an outermost surface among the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheets being housed in the housing portion is photographed and positions of four corners of the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet are collated with positions of four corners of a positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet in image data stored in advance in the control portion  30 . However, the collation is not limited thereto and, for example, a position or positions of one prescribed corner, two prescribed corners, or three prescribed corners of the respective positive electrode (negative electrode) sheets may be collated. Alternatively, a position or positions of one prescribed side, two prescribed sides, three prescribed sides, or four prescribed sides, a position of a diagonal (one or two), a position of an intersection of diagonals, or the like of the respective positive electrode (negative electrode) sheets may be collated. Furthermore, from the perspective of improving inspection accuracy, two or more of the methods described above may be used in combination. 
     (v) While the inspection camera  20  is adopted as the inspecting portion in the embodiments described above (specifically, the first manufacturing method according to an embodiment), a device that receives ultrasonic waves, a device that receives lasers, or the like may be used in place of the inspection camera. It should be noted that, when using a device that receives ultrasonic waves, a device that transmits ultrasonic waves with respect to an object must be provided inside or outside of the device. In addition, when using a device that receives lasers, a device that transmits a laser with respect to an object must be provided inside or outside of the device. 
     (vi) In the embodiments described above (specifically, the first manufacturing method according to an embodiment), in step S 12 , clearances of four corners of the separator sheet  60  and four corners of the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet in a state of being adsorbed by the adsorption plate  13  are collated with clearances of four corners of the separator sheet  60  and four corners of the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet in image data stored in advance in the control portion  30 . However, the collation is not limited thereto and, for example, positions of two prescribed corners or three prescribed corners of the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet may be collated. Alternatively, shortest distances between two prescribed corners, three prescribed corners, or four prescribed corners of the separator sheet  60  and the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet, distances between four sides of the separator sheet  60  and four sides (or one prescribed side, two prescribed sides, or three prescribed sides) of the positive electrode (negative electrode), a relative positional relationship between an intersection of diagonals of the separator sheet  60  and an intersection of diagonals of the positive electrode (negative electrode) sheet, or the like may be collated.