Cylindrical cell and manufacturing method thereof

• US 7,763,378 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Masahiko, Bito, Seiji, Yoneyama, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cantelmo; Gregg
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang; Eugenia
• Application Number:
  US10/569,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20070020518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 219/93, 429/94, 429/181, 429/211, 429/161, 296/232, 296/234
• US Class Current: 429/161
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/533 characterised by the shape 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 50/578 in response to pressure
• 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 29/4911 including sealing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49114 including adhesively bonding

Abstract

A cylindrical battery includes an electrode plate assembly, a positive electrode collector welded to a projecting portion of a core material for a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode collector having a plurality of projections at its lower surface. The negative electrode collector is also welded to a projecting portion of a core material for a negative electrode plate at its upper surface. The cylindrical battery further includes a metal case for accommodating the electrode plate assembly. The projections of the negative electrode collector are welded to an inner bottom surface of the metal case. The projections of the negative electrode collector are arranged at a plurality of locations in a region between a portion opposed to a hollow cylindrical portion of the electrode plate assembly and a peripheral portion.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery, comprising:

forming an electrode plate assembly by depositing a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed therebetween so that a first exposed portion of a core material provided at an end of a positive electrode plate in a width direction and a second exposed portion of the core material provided at an end of a negative electrode plate in a width direction protrude from the separator in directions opposite from each other in the width direction, and winding the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate with the separator interposed therebetween;

welding a first collector to one of the first exposed portion and the second exposed portion of the core material;

forming surrounding protrusions projecting downward on a second collector at a plurality of locations in a region between a first area opposed to a hollow cylindrical portion of the electrode plate assembly and a second area positioned at a periphery of a lower surface of the second collector;

forming a central protrusion shorter in height than the surrounding protrusions at the first area;

welding an upper surface of the second collector to the other of the first exposed portion and the second exposed portion of the core material;

accommodating the electrode plate assembly in a metal case;

welding the surrounding and central protrusions and the metal case to each other;

pouring an electrolyte into the metal case; and

sealing a top of the metal case with a sealing member having a cap that also serves as an input and output terminal, while the sealing member is electrically insulated from the metal case,

wherein, during the welding of the surrounding and central protrusions and the metal case to each other, the electrode plate assembly and the metal case are brought into contact with each other by an application of pressure, and resistance welding is performed using a welding electrode bar inserted into the hollow cylindrical portion of the electrode plate assembly and a welding electrode brought into contact with a bottom of the metal case,

wherein the pressure is within a range of 50 Newtons to 400 Newtons,

wherein a welding current is within a range of 1 kA and 6 kA, and

wherein the central protrusion is shorter in height than the surrounding protrusions by 100 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

2. A cylindrical battery manufactured by using the method according to claim 1.

3. A method for manufacturing a cylindrical battery, comprising:

forming an electrode plate assembly by depositing a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed therebetween so that a first exposed portion of a core material provided at an end of a positive electrode plate in a width direction and a second exposed portion of the core material provided at an end of a negative electrode plate in a width direction protrude from the separator in directions opposite from each other in the width direction, and winding the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate with the separator interposed therebetween;

welding a first collector to one of the first exposed portion and the second exposed portion of the core material;

forming surrounding protrusions projecting downward on a second collector at a plurality of locations in a region between a first area opposed to a hollow cylindrical portion of the electrode plate assembly and a second area positioned at a periphery of a lower surface of the second collector;

forming a central protrusion shorter in height than the surrounding protrusions;

welding an upper surface of the second collector to the other of the first exposed portion and the second exposed portion of the core material;

accommodating the electrode plate assembly in a metal case;

welding the surrounding and central protrusions and the metal case to each other;

pouring an electrolyte into the metal case; and

sealing a top of the metal case with a sealing member having a cap that also serves as an input and output terminal, while the sealing member is electrically insulated from the metal case,

wherein, during the welding of the surrounding and central protrusions and the metal case to each other, the electrode plate assembly and the metal case are brought into contact with each other by an application of pressure, and resistance welding is performed using a welding electrode bar inserted into the hollow cylindrical portion of the electrode plate assembly and a ring-like welding electrode arranged in contact with portions on a bottom of the metal case corresponding to the surrounding protrusions,

wherein the pressure is within a range of 50 Newtons to 400 Newtons,

wherein a welding current is within a range of 1 kA and 6 kA, and

wherein the central protrusion is shorter in height than the surrounding protrusions by 100 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

4. A cylindrical battery manufactured by using the method according to claim 3.