Claims
- 1. An apparatus for producing a capacitor element member to be used in production of monolayer capacitor elements, characterized by comprising an automatic feed mechanism for feeding metal foil by a constant length toward a guide member, a mechanism for bonding the metal foil to the guide member, and a mechanism for cutting the bonded metal foil.
- 2. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic feed mechanism comprises a constant-length feed mechanism for feeding the metal foil by a constant length, a slack mechanism for adjusting slack in the metal foil drawn from a reel, and a positioning mechanism for adjusting a feed position of the metal foil.
- 3. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic feed mechanism comprises a constant-length feed mechanism for feeding the metal foil by a constant length, a slack mechanism for adjusting slack in the metal foil drawn from a reel, a positioning mechanism for adjusting a feed position of the metal foil, and a mechanism for removing dust from a surface of the metal foil.
- 4. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bonding mechanism comprises welding means.
- 5. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the welding means of the bonding mechanism is a spot-welding mechanism.
- 6. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bonding mechanism is a continuous spot-welding mechanism and further comprises a polishing mechanism for polishing an electrode.
- 7. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting mechanism is a shear-cutting mechanism for shearing the metal foil by a scissorlike action.
- 8. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting mechanism shears the metal foil by a scissorlike action and comprises a mechanism for, after cutting, retreating cutting blades while maintaining a clearance therebetween.
- 9. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the automatic feed mechanism, the cutting mechanism, and the bonding mechanism are sequentially disposed along a direction of feed of the metal foil.
- 10. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the automatic feed mechanism, the bonding mechanism, and the cutting mechanism are sequentially disposed along a direction of feed of the metal foil.
- 11. The apparatus for producing a capacitor element member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the apparatus repeats a series of steps of feeding the metal foil by a constant length by means of the automatic feed mechanism until an end of the metal foil reaches the guide member, welding under pressure the end of the metal foil to the guide member by means of the bonding mechanism, and shearing, after welding, the metal foil to a constant length by means of the cutting mechanism, to thereby produce a comb-like capacitor element member comprising the guide member and a plurality of rectangular metal foil pieces bonded to the guide member.
- 12. An apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically used in production of a monolayer capacitor element, characterized by comprising a constant-length feed mechanism, which in turn comprises at least a pair of pinch rollers for feeding tape-like metal foil while pinching the metal foil; means for rotating the pinch rollers by a constant amount; and drive means therefor, and which feeds the metal foil by a constant length.
- 13. The apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically as claimed in claim 12, wherein the constant-length feed mechanism comprises pinch rollers; a pinion gear provided at an axial end of one of the pinch rollers; a rack gear in meshing-engagement with the pinion gear; and drive means connected to the rack gear.
- 14. The apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically as claimed in claim 12, wherein the constant-length feed mechanism comprises pinch rollers; a pulley provided at an axial end of one of the pinch rollers; a power transmission belt looped around the pulley; and a stepping motor coupled with the belt.
- 15. The apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising an automatic slack mechanism, which in turn comprises a reel for holding elongated tape-like metal foil in a rolled state; means for rotating the reel; and a position sensor disposed between the reel and the pinch rollers.
- 16. The apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising a horizontal positioning mechanism, which in turn comprises a slide table disposed along the direction of feed of the metal foil; means for pressing the table laterally with respect to the direction of feed of the metal foil; and roll-like bearings arranged on the upper surface of the table in a standing condition so as to control the position of the metal foil in the width direction of the metal foil.
- 17. The apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, further comprising a vertical positioning mechanism which prevents floating of the metal foil from the slide table.
- 18. The apparatus for feeding metal foil automatically as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, further comprising a dust removal mechanism, which in turn comprises blow means for blowing gas against the surface of the metal foil so as to blow off dust from the surface, and a suction pipe for drawing in the blown dust.
- 19. An apparatus for cutting metal foil, characterized by comprising vertically movable first and second cutting blades for shearing metal foil, the first cutting blade being supported via a shaft and pushed toward the second cutting blade by means of elastic force; and means for pushing the first cutting blade against the elastic force to thereby separate the first cutting blade from the second cutting blade, whereby a mechanism for separating and retracting the first and second cutting blades after cutting is formed.
- 20. The apparatus for cutting metal foil as claimed in claim 19, wherein the elastic force is produced by a metal spring, an air spring, or a rubber elastic material.
- 21. The apparatus for cutting metal foil as claimed in claim 19, wherein the elastic force is spring force.
- 22. The apparatus for cutting metal foil as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, comprising upper and lower blades for shearing the metal foil; frames supporting the upper and lower blades, respectively; and means for vertically moving the frames, wherein a base end portion of the lower blade is supported on a base portion of the upper blade by means of a shaft and via a spring; a distal end portion of the lower blade is supported on a lower blade frame by means of a shaft and via a spring, so that the lower blade is in close contact with the upper blade, and the lower blade can rotate about the base end portion thereof; and there is provided a press rod for pressing the lower end portion of the lower blade so as to separate the lower blade from the upper blade.
- 23. A method for cutting metal foil used in production of a monolayer capacitor element by shearing the metal foil through a scissorlike action, characterized in that, after cutting, a clearance is formed between cutting blades, which are then retracted while the clearance is maintained.
- 24. The method for cutting metal foil as claimed in claim 23, wherein the metal foil is valve metal foil of the monolayer capacitor element.
- 25. The method for cutting metal foil as claimed in claim 24, wherein the valve metal foil is formed of aluminum, tantalum, titanium, niobium, or an alloy thereof.
- 26. The method for cutting metal foil as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the clearance formed between the cutting blades falls within the range of 0.1 to 1.0 mm.
- 27. A metal foil produced by the cutting method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 26.
- 28. The metal foil as claimed in claim 27, wherein the width of cracks formed on a cut surface of the metal foil is not greater than 0.1 mm.
- 29. The metal foil as claimed in claim 27, wherein the width of cracks formed on a cut surface of the metal foil is not greater than 0.05 mm.
- 30. A capacitor element comprising dielectric oxide film layer, semiconductor layer and conductor layer on the surface of the metal foil as claimed in claim 27.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-264878 |
Sep 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-324088 |
Oct 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-324089 |
Oct 2000 |
JP |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a) claiming benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) of the filing date of Provisional Applications 60/263,752, 60/263,754 and 60/263,755 filed on Jan. 25, 2001 pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §111(b).
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/JP01/07542 |
8/31/2001 |
WO |
|