Patents by Inventor Kazunari AITA

Kazunari AITA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240014369
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a rechargeable battery by using a doped electrode containing an active material layer doped with an alkali metal. The doped electrode is manufactured by conveying an electrode including the active material layer along a path passing through a doping tank storing (i) a dope solution containing ions of the alkali metal and an aprotic organic solvent and (ii) a counter electrode member. The doped electrode exiting the doping tank is dried such that the doped electrode contains a component of the dope solution of 5 parts by mass or more and 40 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the active material layer. The rechargeable battery is manufactured using the doped electrode dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki YAKUSHIJI, Masahiro YAMAMOTO, Kazunari AITA
  • Patent number: 11811046
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an electrode by doping an active material included a layer of an electrode precursor with alkali metal. The electrode precursor and a counter electrode member are brought into contact with a solution containing an alkali metal ion in a dope bath. The counter electrode member includes a conductive base material, an alkali metal-containing plate, and a member having an opening. The member having the opening is located between the conductive base material and the alkali metal-containing plate. The member having the opening is, for example, a resin film having an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Aita, Masaya Naoi, Kenji Kojima, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230022630
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an electrode by doping an active material included a layer of an electrode precursor with alkali metal. The electrode precursor and a counter electrode member are brought into contact with a solution containing an alkali metal ion in a dope bath. The counter electrode member includes a conductive base material, an alkali metal-containing plate, and a member having an opening. The member having the opening is located between the conductive base material and the alkali metal-containing plate. The member having the opening is, for example, a resin film having an opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari AITA, Masaya NAOI, Kenji KOJIMA, Masahiro YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220302434
    Abstract: A doped electrode is manufactured by an electrode manufacturing method. The doped electrode includes an active material doped with an alkali metal. In the electrode manufacturing method, a dope solution is brought into contact with an electrode. The electrode includes a current collector and an active material layer. The active material layer is formed on a surface of the current collector and includes the active material. The dope solution includes an alkali metal ion and flows. In the electrode manufacturing method, for example, the alkali metal is electrically doped to the active material using a counter electrode member arranged to face the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirobumi SUZUKI, Kenji KOJIMA, Masaya NAOI, Nobuo ANDO, Hiroki YAKUSHIJI, Kazunari AITA, Masahiro YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220158156
    Abstract: An electrode manufacturing system includes: a doping unit; a cleaning unit: and a conveyor unit. The doping unit performs a process of doping an active material in a strip-shaped electrode with an alkali metal, the strip-shaped electrode including an active material layer formed portion in which an active material layer including the active material is formed, and an active material layer unformed portion in which the active material layer is not formed. The cleaning unit cleans the active material layer unformed portion that is adjacent to the active material layer formed portion. The conveyor unit conveys the electrode from the doping unit to the cleaning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya NAOI, Kazunari AITA
  • Publication number: 20220077448
    Abstract: A doping system dopes an active material with an alkali metal, the active material being contained in a layer of a strip-shaped electrode. The doping system includes a doping bath, a conveyor unit, a counter electrode unit, a connection unit, and a recovery unit. The doping bath stores a solution containing alkali metal ions. The conveyor unit conveys the electrode along a path passing through the doping bath. The counter electrode unit is housed in the doping bath. The connection unit electrically connects a conveyor roller provided in the conveyor unit with the counter electrode unit. The recovery unit collects in the doping bath the solution adhered to the electrode having passed through the doping bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya NAOI, Kenji KOJIMA, Kazunari AITA
  • Publication number: 20220037634
    Abstract: An electrode manufacturing apparatus dopes an active material in a strip-shaped electrode precursor having a layer including the active material with alkali metal. The electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a doping bath configured to store a solution including alkali metal ions; a conveyor unit configured to convey the electrode precursor along a path passing through the doping bath; a counter electrode unit housed in the doping bath and comprising a conductive base material and an alkali metal-containing plate arranged on the conductive base material; and a connection unit configured to electrically connect the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit. A distance between the alkali metal-containing plate and the electrode precursor becomes greater as a measurement position of the distance becomes closer to a connection position in which the electrode precursor and the connection unit connect each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari AITA, Masaya NAOI, Tomoya IWAZAKI, Kenji NANSAKA
  • Publication number: 20220020538
    Abstract: The electrode manufacturing method for manufacturing an electrode provided with an active material layer that contains an active material doped with alkali metal. In an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of 1 volume % or more and 18 volume % or less, the active material is doped with alkali metal using a dope solution containing alkali metal ions. In a manufacturing method for a power storage device, a negative electrode active material contained in a negative electrode active material layer of a negative electrode is doped with alkali metal using a dope solution containing alkali metal ions in an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of 1 volume % or more and 18 volume % or less. After the doping with alkali metal, the negative electrode, a separator, and an electrode different from the negative electrode are sequentially stacked to form the electrode cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya OTANI, Kenji NANSAKA, Shintarou AONO, Kouichi FUKUNAGA, Kazunari AITA
  • Publication number: 20210384486
    Abstract: An electrode manufacturing apparatus manufactures a strip-shaped doped electrode by doping an active material contained in a layer of a strip-shaped electrode precursor with alkali metal. The electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect a mark that the electrode precursor has, at least one doping tank that stores a solution that contains alkali metal ions, a conveyer member configured to convey the electrode precursor along a path passing through the doping tank, a counter electrode member that is accommodated in the doping tank, a connector configured to electrically connect the electrode precursor and the counter electrode member, a power source configured to flow an electric current to the counter electrode member via the connector, and a power controller configured to control the power source based on a result of detection by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya IWAZAKI, Kenji NANSAKA, Shinya OTANI, Kazuhide AKIYAMA, Masaya NAOI, Kazunari AITA
  • Patent number: 11170947
    Abstract: Provided is a doping system in which an active material in a strip-shaped electrode precursor having a layer including an active material is doped with alkali metal. The doping system includes a doping tank, a conveying unit, a counter electrode unit, a connection unit, and a porous insulating member. The doping tank accommodates a solution including alkali metal ions. The conveying unit conveys the electrode precursor along a path passing through the inside of the doping tank. The counter electrode unit is accommodated in the doping tank. The connection unit electrically connects the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit. The porous insulating member is disposed between the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit, and is not in contact with the electrode precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Naoi, Yukihiro Kawada, Hiroki Yakushiji, Kazunari Aita, Terukazu Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20210159484
    Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution. A negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on a surface of the negative electrode. The negative electrode is doped with lithium. An aperture ratio of the negative electrode current collector is 0% or higher and 0.1% or lower. A discharge capacity ratio X, which is defined by Formula (1): X=C1/C2, is greater than 0, and 0.9 or less. C1 in the Formula (1) is a discharge capacity of a cell when the cell is charged and discharged at a cell voltage between 2.0 V and 4.3 V. C2 in the Formula (1) is a discharge capacity of the negative electrode when the negative electrode is charged and discharged between 0V vs. Li/Li+ and 3V vs. Li/Li+.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: MUSASHI ENERGY SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki YAKUSHIJI, Kazunari AITA, Tomohiro UTAKA, Masaya NAOI, Kenji KOJIMA, Norihiro YAMAMOTO, Nobuo ANDO
  • Publication number: 20210090818
    Abstract: A power storage device includes: an electrode assembly, including a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode; and an electrolyte solution. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector, and a negative electrode active material layer formed on a surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode is doped with lithium. The power storage device includes first through-holes penetrating the negative electrode current collector in a thickness direction thereof. On at least one side of the negative electrode current collector, the power storage device includes second through-holes penetrating the negative electrode active material layer in a thickness direction thereof. An aperture ratio of the first through-holes on the negative electrode current collector, or an aperture ratio of the second through-holes on the negative electrode active material layer is 0.001% or higher and 1% or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: JM Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari AITA, Hiroki YAKUSHIJI, Hirobumi SUZUKI, Tomohiro UTAKA, Masaya NAOI, Kenji KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20190074143
    Abstract: Provided is a doping system in which an active material in a strip-shaped electrode precursor having a layer including an active material is doped with alkali metal. The doping system includes a doping tank, a conveying unit, a counter electrode unit, a connection unit, and a porous insulating member. The doping tank accommodates a solution including alkali metal ions. The conveying unit conveys the electrode precursor along a path passing through the inside of the doping tank. The counter electrode unit is accommodated in the doping tank. The connection unit electrically connects the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit. The porous insulating member is disposed between the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit, and is not in contact with the electrode precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya NAOI, Yukihiro KAWADA, Hiroki YAKUSHIJI, Kazunari AITA, Terukazu KOKUBO