Electrode plate unit for rechargeable battery and manufacturing method thereof

• US 6,761,993 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tokutome, Yoshihiro, Masaki, Masaru, Taniguchi, Akihiro, Fujioka, Noriyuki, Kajiya, Hiromi, Karasawa, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): TSANG FOSTER, SUSY N
• Application Number:
  US09/664,323
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 429/161, 429/211, 296/231
• US Class Current: 429/161
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/48 of inorganic oxides or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/533 characterised by the shape of the leads or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/534 characterised by the material of the leads or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/536 characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/54 Connection of several leads or tabs of plate-like electrode stacks, e.g. electrode pole straps or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/10 Battery-grid making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49114 including adhesively bonding

Abstract

A plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are stacked alternately upon one another with intervening separators therebetween, wherein lateral edges of the positive electrode plates protrude beyond the negative electrode plates on one side, and lateral edges of the negative electrode plates protrude beyond the group of positive electrode plates on the opposite side. Collector plates are brought in tight contact with respective lateral edges of the positive and negative electrode plates, and heat is applied to the collector plate on an opposite surface of the electrode plates from a non-contact type heat source at several locations in lines along a direction in which the electrode plates are stacked.

Claims

1. A battery comprising an electrode plate unit, the electrode plate unit including:

a group of electrode plates comprising a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates that are alternately stacked upon one another with intervening separators therebetween, wherein;

edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates protrude beyond edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates on one side of said group of electrode plates, and

edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates protrude beyond edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates on an opposite side of said group of electrode plates;

a positive electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates and having a plurality of parallel positive electrode collector plate channels each having raised edges protruding beyond a plane defined by said positive electrode collector plate, said raised edges of said positive electrode collector plate channels on a side of said positive electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates;

a negative electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates and having a plurality of parallel negative electrode collector plate channels each having raised edges protruding beyond a plane defined by said negative electrode collector plate, said raised edges of said negative electrode collector plate channels on a side of said negative electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates; and

a planar portion extending between adjacent said channels of at least one of said positive electrode collector plate and said negative electrode collector plate.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a said positive electrode collector plate channel and a said negative electrode collector plate channel extends along a respective at least one positive electrode collector plate and said negative electrode collector plate, in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which said positive electrode plates and said negative electrode plates are stacked.

3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein said positive electrode collector plates and said negative electrode collector plates are made of one of nickel sheet and nickel-plated steel sheet.

4. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising:

a solder material attached between said positive electrode collector plate and said protruding edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates, and attached between said negative electrode collector plate and said protruding edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates.

5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein:

said solder material is configured to be applied to said positive and negative electrode collector plates prior to being applied to said protruding edges of said plurality of positive and negative electrode plates; and

said solder material is configured to be reflowed after being applied in said channels of said positive and negative electrode collector plates.

6. A battery comprising an electrode plate unit, the electrode plate unit including:

a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates that are alternately stacked upon one another with intervening separators therebetween; and

an electrode collector plate attached to protruding edges of at least one of said plurality of positive electrode plates and said plurality of negative electrode plates;

a plurality of bent portions, each bent portion of said plurality of bent portions respectively formed by bending a portion of an edge of said protruding edges, wherein not all of said bent portions on a said edge are uniform in length and said plurality of bent portions form a uniform, flat end surface at a lateral end of the electrode plate unit.

7. A battery comprising an electrode plate unit, the electrode plate unit including:

a group of electrode plates comprising a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates that are alternately stacked upon one another with intervening separators therebetween, wherein;

edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates protrude beyond edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates on one side of said group of electrode plates, each said edge of said edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates having a slit therein; and

edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates protrude beyond edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates on an opposite side of said group of electrode plates, each said edge of said edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates having a slit therein;

a positive electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates and having a plurality of parallel positive electrode collector plate channels each having raised edges protruding beyond a plane defined by said positive electrode collector plate, said raised edges of said positive electrode collector plate channels on a side of said positive electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of positive electrode plates;

a negative electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates and having a plurality of parallel negative electrode collector plate channels each having raised edges protruding beyond a plane defined by said negative electrode collector plate, said raised edges of said negative electrode collector plate channel on a side of said negative electrode collector plate attached to said protruding edges of said plurality of negative electrode plates; and

a planar portion extending between adjacent said channels of at least one of said positive electrode collector plate and said negative electrode collector plate.

8. A battery comprising an electrode plate unit, the electrode plate unit including:

a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates that are alternately stacked upon one another with intervening separators therebetween, lead portions of each of said plurality of positive electrode plates and lead portions of each of said plurality of negative electrode plates extending along a respective edge thereof;

a collector plate attached to said lead portions of at least one of said plurality of positive electrode plates and said plurality of negative electrode plates; and

a plurality of bent portions, each bent portion of said plurality of bent portions respectively formed by bending a portion of a said lead portion of said plurality of positive electrode plates and said plurality of negative electrode plates, wherein not all of said bent portions on a said lead portion are uniform in length and said plurality of bent portions form a uniform, flat end surface at a lateral end of the electrode plate unit,

wherein said lead portions comprise a locator configured to position said edges of at least one of said positive electrode plates and said negative electrode plates with respect to said collector plate.

9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein said locator is one of a hole and a cut-out.

10. The battery according to claim 8, wherein said lead portions of at least one of said plurality of positive electrode plates and said plurality of negative electrode plates comprise a reinforcing material.