Powder application apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11888142-B2
Application number	US-202117232395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2021
Priority date	May 11, 2020
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

A powder application apparatus includes a transport device, a powder supplier, a squeegee, and an ultra-high frequency vibration generator. The transport device is configured to move a sheet in a predetermined direction. The powder supplier is configured to supply powder on a surface of the sheet. The squeegee is positioned at a distance from the sheet, and the powder supplier is configured to adjust a thickness of the powder supplied onto the surface of the sheet. The ultra-high frequency vibration generator is configured to vibrate the squeegee at a frequency of 2 kHz or more and 300 kHz or less.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A powder application apparatus comprising:
a driver configured to move a member in a predetermined direction;
a powder supplier configured to supply powder onto a surface of the member;
a squeegee positioned at a distance from the member, the squeegee being configured to adjust a thickness of the powder supplied onto the surface of the member by the powder supplier; and
an ultra-high frequency vibration generator connected to the squeegee,
wherein:
the ultra-high frequency vibration generator is configured to make the squeegee vibrate at a frequency of 2 kHz or more and 300 kHz or less;
the squeegee has a columnar shape having an axis parallel to the surface of the member and orthogonal to a moving direction of the surface of the member; and
the ultra-high frequency vibration generator is configured to make the squeegee vibrate in a horizontal direction which is both parallel to a main surface of the squeegee and substantially parallel to the axis of the squeegee and in a perpendicular direction which is perpendicular to the main surface of the squeegee such that a magnitude of vibration in the horizontal direction is larger than a magnitude of vibration in the perpendicular direction.

2. The powder application apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the powder has a mean particle size (D50) of 0.005 μm or more and 50 μm or less.

3. The powder application apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the ultra-high frequency vibration generator is configured to make the squeegee vibrate such that a ratio of the thickness of the powder before thickness adjustment by the squeegee to the thickness of the powder after the thickness adjustment by the squeegee is within a range of 1:1 to 3:1.

4. The powder application apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a presser for compressing the powder on the member after the thickness of the powder has been adjusted by the squeegee.

5. The powder application apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the squeegee is 4 mm or more and 300 mm or less.

6. A powder application apparatus comprising:
a driver configured to move a member in a predetermined direction;
a powder supplier configured to supply powder onto a surface of the member;
a squeegee positioned at a distance from the member, the squeegee being configured to adjust a thickness of the powder supplied onto the surface of the member by the powder supplier;
a bearing configured to receive an end of the squeegee; and
an ultra-high frequency vibration generator connected to the squeegee,
wherein:
the ultra-high frequency vibration generator is configured to make the squeegee vibrate at a frequency of 2 kHz or more and 300 kHz or less;
the squeegee has a columnar shape having an axis parallel to the surface of the member and orthogonal to a moving direction of the surface of the member;
the axis of the squeegee is inserted into a circular bearing bore; and
the ultra-high frequency vibration generator is configured to make the squeegee vibrate in a horizontal direction which is both parallel to a main surface of the squeegee and substantially parallel to the axis of the squeegee and in a perpendicular direction which is perpendicular to the main surface of the squeegee such that a magnitude of vibration in the horizontal direction is larger than a magnitude of vibration in the perpendicular direction.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kojima Toshiyuki
• Okochi Motohiro
• Matsuno Shunichi
• Horikawa Akihiro

Classifications

• H01M4/0404 Primary

  by coating on electrode collectors · CPC title

• B05C11/028

  with a body having a large flat spreading or distributing surface · CPC title

• B05C19/008

  Accessories or implements for use in connection with applying particulate materials to surfaces; not provided elsewhere in B05C19/00 · CPC title

• H01M4/0435

  Rolling or calendering · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title