JP2000285889A - Alignment method and alignment jig for cylincrical battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily carryout facing of a battery at a low cost by rotating a plurality of cylindrical batteries in the state where the locking edge of a jig is butted to the respective circumferential surfaces, and stopping the rotation of the batteries in the state where the locking edge is engaged with the steps on the circumferential surface of each cylindrical battery. SOLUTION: A battery placing part 11 has a circularly chamfered part 13 on the other edge opposed to a locking edge 12. The chamfered part 13 assists the rotation of a cylindrical battery 1 by sliding the circumferential surface of the cylindrical battery 1 on its circular surface when the cylindrical battery 1 is rotated on the battery placing part 11. An alignment jig 10 rotates the cylindrical battery 1 in the arrowed direction A on each battery placing part 11. When the cylindrical battery 1 is rotated on the battery placing part 11, the steps on the circumferential surface is engaged with a locking edge 12 to stop the rotation of the cylindrical battery 11. The alignment jig 10 can face and align a plurality of cylindrical batteries 11 having the same positions of a label face and the step and the same mutual interval.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cylindrical battery alignment method and an alignment jig for aligning a plurality of cylindrical batteries in a predetermined direction when packaging the batteries.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of cylindrical batteries are generally packaged in a lump and displayed at a store or the like for sale. At the time of packaging the cylindrical battery, a transparent packaging container whose inside can be visually recognized is used in a portion for housing the battery in consideration of the appearance, aesthetic appearance, ease of distinction from other products, and the like. In a cylindrical battery, a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a label face) on which the type of the battery such as C1 or C2, the name of the manufacturer, or the like is printed is displayed in a store or the like in such a transparent packaging container. When facing, they are aligned and stored in a predetermined direction visible from outside (hereinafter referred to as facing).

Conventionally, the above-described facing of the cylindrical battery is performed by an artificial method of judging and arranging the label face visually by an operator, or by recognizing an image of a character or pattern displayed on the label face, or by using a sensor or the like. There have been mechanical methods for sensing and identifying the colors displayed on the face and aligning them.

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional facing of the cylindrical battery is performed manually by confirming each one by an artificial method, so that the working efficiency is poor. In addition, the artificial method takes time until the operator is technically proficient so that he can work at a certain efficiency.

[0005] Further, when the conventional cylindrical battery is faced by a mechanical method, an apparatus for recognizing an image of a character or a pattern printed on a label face or a sensor for sensing and identifying a displayed color. Ancillary facilities such as are required. In the mechanical method, since such auxiliary equipment is very expensive and complicated in operation, the cost is high and the working efficiency is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cylindrical battery alignment method and an alignment jig which can easily and inexpensively face a cylindrical battery when stored in a storage container. .

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of arranging cylindrical batteries in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are brought into contact with the locking edges of a jig on their outer peripheral surfaces. By rotating the cylindrical batteries in a state, and stopping the rotation of the cylindrical batteries in a state where the locking edge is engaged with the unevenness of the outer peripheral surface of each cylindrical battery, the plurality of cylindrical batteries are aligned in a predetermined direction. It is characterized by being aligned.

In the above-described method for arranging cylindrical batteries according to the present invention, a plurality of cylindrical batteries are aligned in a predetermined direction and aligned using the irregularities on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical batteries. Therefore, according to the method for arranging cylindrical batteries according to the present invention, a plurality of cylindrical batteries can be easily and accurately aligned.

In the cylindrical battery aligning jig according to the present invention, a groove narrower than the outer diameter of the cylindrical battery is formed as a battery mounting portion on which the cylindrical battery is mounted and rotated. In addition, one side edge of the battery mounting portion is a locking edge that comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery and engages with the irregularities on the outer peripheral surface to stop the rotation of the cylindrical battery. It is characterized by.

Further, the cylindrical battery alignment jig according to the present invention has a battery mounting portion provided with a rotating means for rotating the cylindrical battery in contact with the cylindrical battery and for rotating the cylindrical battery. A locking piece having a leading edge that abuts on the outer peripheral surface, engages with the irregularities on the outer peripheral surface, and stops rotation of the cylindrical battery is arranged.

[0011] The cylindrical battery alignment jig according to the present invention has a simple and inexpensive mechanism configuration in which a locking edge or a locking piece is provided to stop at irregularities on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery. Align the batteries. Therefore, according to the cylindrical battery alignment jig according to the present invention, a plurality of cylindrical batteries can be easily and simply arranged at low cost and with high accuracy.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of a cylindrical battery alignment method and an alignment jig according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, prior to the description of the cylindrical battery alignment method and the alignment jig according to the present invention, the configuration of the cylindrical battery 1 to be faced and aligned will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical battery 1 has a columnar shape, and both ends are configured as a positive electrode 2 and a negative electrode 3. In the cylindrical battery 1, an outer label 4 is wound around an outer peripheral surface between the positive electrode 2 and the negative electrode 3. On the outer label 4, a label face 4a indicating the type of the cylindrical battery 1, the name of the manufacturer, and the like is printed.

In the cylindrical battery 1, a step 4d is formed at a position separated by a certain distance from the label face 4a, in which the terminal end portion b of the outer label 4 is overlapped with the winding start portion c to form a joint. The cylindrical battery 1 is formed such that the positions of the label face 4a and the step 4d and the interval between them are constant in batteries having similar specifications.

A plurality of, for example, four, cylindrical batteries 1 are housed in a single housing container 5 as shown in FIG. The storage container 5 has a transparent storage portion 6 formed of a synthetic resin material, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the storage portion 6 is sealed by attaching a cover member 7 such as a cardboard made of cardboard. Thereby, four cylindrical batteries are held. A plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 faced such that the label face 4a is located on the opposite side (hereinafter referred to as the front side) of the transparent housing 6 to which the lid member 7 is attached. Aligned and stored.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method of arranging a plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 in the storage container 5 by arranging them in the storage container 5 and storing the same in the storage container 5 as described above.

As described above, the cylindrical face of the cylindrical battery 1 has the external label 4
Are provided at regular intervals on the outer peripheral surface. In the cylindrical battery 1, facing is performed using such a step 4d on the outer peripheral surface. Specifically, in the cylindrical battery 1, the label faces 4a printed on the plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 are aligned in a certain direction by aligning the respective directions of the positive electrode 2 and the negative electrode 3 and the position of the step 4d. .

In the cylindrical battery 1, the facing of the plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 is performed by the alignment jig 1 shown in FIG.
This is done using 0. The alignment jig 10 is formed with a plurality of grooves in the width direction that are narrower than the outer diameter of the cylindrical battery 1.
This groove is configured as a battery mounting portion 11 on which the cylindrical battery 1 is mounted and rotated. As shown in FIG. 4, one cylindrical battery 1 is mounted on each battery mounting portion 11 of the alignment jig 10.

The battery mounting section 11 has a cylindrical battery 1 having one side edge.
Is formed as a locking edge 12 which comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main body. Locking edge 1
2 engages with a step 4 d on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1 rotated on the battery mounting portion 11.

The other side edge of the battery mounting portion 11 opposite to the locking edge 12 is formed as an arc-shaped chamfered portion 13. The chamfered portion 13 holds the cylindrical battery 1 on the battery mounting portion 11.
When rotating the cylindrical battery 1, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1 is slid on an arc-shaped surface to assist the rotation of the cylindrical battery 1. Note that the chamfered portion 13 does not have to be formed in an arc shape as described above, and may be formed by chamfering at an inclination not engaging with the step 4 d of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the battery mounting portion 11 has
The cylindrical battery 1 is supported and placed by the above-described locking edge 12 and chamfered portion 13.

In the alignment jig 10, each of the battery mounting portions 1
The cylindrical batteries 1 placed on the respective batteries 1 are indicated by arrows A in FIG.
Rotate in the direction. When the alignment jig 10 rotates the cylindrical battery 1 on the battery mounting portion 11, the step 4d on the outer peripheral surface is engaged with the locking edge 12, and the rotation of the cylindrical battery 1 is stopped.
The alignment jig 10 performs the above-described operation on the plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 having the same specifications, specifically, the positions of the label face 4a and the step 4d, and the same interval therebetween, to thereby obtain a plurality of cylindrical batteries 1. The cylindrical battery 1 is faced and aligned.

In the alignment jig 10 described above,
Although one side edge of the battery mounting portion 11 is used as the locking edge as it is, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the one side edge of the battery mounting portion 11 abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1 and a step 4d. The rotation of the cylindrical battery 1 may be stopped by attaching a protrusion or the like that engages with the battery.

The alignment jig 10 engages with the step 4d on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1 and rotates according to the distance between the label face 4a and the step 4d of the cylindrical battery 1 and the direction in which the label face 4a is aligned. By changing the position of the locking edge 12 for stopping the operation, the present invention can be applied to the cylindrical battery 1 having various specifications. For example, the alignment jig 10 is used for aligning the label face 4a toward the bottom surface 11b of the battery mounting portion 11 and, when the distance between the label face 4a and the step 4d is narrow, the side wall 11a.
To lower the locking edge 12 so that the label face 4
In the case where the distance between a and the step 4d is large, the side wall 11a is raised and the locking rim 12 is provided at a high position, for example, to form the cylindrical battery 1
The position of the locking edge 12 which stops the rotation by engaging with the step 4d of the above is adjusted.

After the plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 are faced and aligned on the alignment jig 10 as described above,
Inside the storage section 6 of the storage container 5 which is pushed out of the battery mounting section 11 along the axial direction of the cylindrical battery 1 from either the positive electrode 2 side or the negative electrode 3 side and is installed adjacent to the alignment jig 10. And is stored in the storage unit 6 so as to face the front side in the storage container 5.

In the cylindrical battery 1, the facing of the plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 is also performed by the alignment jig 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the alignment jig 20 includes a battery mounting portion 21 on which the cylindrical battery 1 is mounted on one main surface, and a ceiling plate 22 which is disposed to face the battery mounting portion 21. It is composed of

The battery mounting portion 21 is provided with a plurality of rollers 23 on one main surface on which the cylindrical battery 1 is mounted, and the cylindrical battery 1 is mounted between the rollers 23. Roller 23
Is a rotating means that contacts and rotates the mounted cylindrical battery 1 and rotates the cylindrical battery 1 placed therebetween by rotating in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5 to the direction of arrow C in the diagram. Drive.

The ceiling plate 22 is disposed to face the battery mounting portion 21 with the cylindrical battery 1 mounted on the battery mounting portion 21 interposed therebetween, and protrudes downward from the battery mounting portion 21 side. Locking piece 24
Is provided. The locking piece 24 has a base portion 24 a
, And a free end edge 24b is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1. The same number of the locking pieces 24 as the number of the cylindrical batteries 1 mounted on the battery mounting portion 21 are provided.

In the alignment jig 20 having the above-described configuration, the cylindrical battery 1 is installed between the rollers 23, and the cylindrical battery 1 contacts the roller 23 rotating in the direction of arrow B in FIG. The cylindrical battery 1 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow C in the figure. The alignment jig 20 stops the rotation of the cylindrical battery 1 by engaging the leading edge 24b of the locking piece 24 with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating cylindrical battery 1 and engaging with the step 4d on the outer peripheral surface. The alignment jig 20 performs the above-described operation on the plurality of cylindrical batteries 1 having the same specifications, specifically, the positions of the label face 4 a and the step 4 d, and the same interval therebetween, to thereby obtain a plurality of cylindrical batteries 1. The cylindrical battery 1 is faced and aligned.

Note that the alignment jig 20 has a leading edge 24b of the locking piece 24 depending on the interval between the label face 4a and the step 4d of the cylindrical battery 1 and the direction in which the label face 4a is aligned.
Is applied to cylindrical batteries of various specifications by adjusting the position of the contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery 1.

As in the case of the alignment jig 10 described above, after the plurality of batteries are faced and aligned in the alignment jig 20, the cylindrical battery 1 is cylindrically mounted from either the positive electrode 2 side or the negative electrode 3 side. Battery mounting portion 2 along the axial direction of the battery 1
1 is pushed out from above and dropped into the storage portion 6 of the storage container 5 installed adjacent to the alignment jig 20, and is stored in the storage portion 6 so as to face the front side in the storage container 5. You.

The above-described alignment method and alignment jigs 10, 20
Is applicable to batteries other than the type in which the outer label 4 shown in FIG. 1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the battery as long as the outer peripheral surface has irregularities. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the alignment method and the alignment jigs 10 and 20 are cylinders of a type in which a label face 31 is directly printed on the outer peripheral surface and a concave step 32 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. By engaging the locking edge 12 or the locking piece 24 with the step-shaped battery 30, the cylindrical battery 30 is faced to align a plurality of cells.

[0033]

As described above in detail, the method for aligning cylindrical batteries according to the present invention uses a plurality of cylindrical batteries because the cylindrical batteries are aligned using the unevenness formed on the outer peripheral surface. Can be easily performed with high precision for aligning in a predetermined direction.

Further, in the cylindrical battery alignment jig according to the present invention, a locking edge or a locking piece is provided for rotating the cylindrical battery, stopping at the unevenness on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery and stopping the rotation. Since it is configured with a simple and inexpensive mechanism configuration, it is possible to easily and at low cost align a plurality of cylindrical batteries with high precision as described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a perspective view of a cylindrical battery, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the cylindrical battery, and FIG. 1C is an enlarged plan view of a main part of the cylindrical battery.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where a cylindrical battery is stored in a storage container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alignment jig.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of an alignment jig on which a cylindrical battery is set.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part of an alignment jig according to another embodiment in which a cylindrical battery is set.

FIG. 6A is a front view of another cylindrical battery,
(B) is a plan view of another cylindrical battery.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cylindrical battery, 4 exterior label, 4a label face, 4b terminal part, 4c winding start part, 4d step, 10
Alignment jig, 11 Battery mounting part, 12 Locking edge, 13
Chamfering part, 20 Alignment jig, 21 Battery mounting part, 22
Ceiling plate, 23 rollers, 24 locking pieces, 24a base, 2
4b Tip edge

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kunihiro Tanno 2nd Hinoguchi, Honmiya-cho, Adachi-gun, Fukushima Prefecture Inside Sony Motomiya Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5H020 AA01 BB09 MM11 MM12 MM17

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for rotating a plurality of cylindrical batteries in a state in which a locking edge of a jig is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the plurality of cylindrical batteries. A method of arranging cylindrical batteries, wherein the plurality of cylindrical batteries are aligned in a predetermined direction and aligned by stopping the rotation of the cylindrical batteries in the combined state. 2. The method for arranging cylindrical batteries according to claim 1, wherein the irregularities on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical batteries are seams of an exterior material. 3. A groove having a width smaller than an outer diameter of the cylindrical battery is formed as a battery mounting portion on which the cylindrical battery is mounted and rotated, and one side edge of the battery mounting portion. Is a locking edge that abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery and engages with the irregularities on the outer peripheral surface to stop rotation of the cylindrical battery. Utensils. 4. The cylindrical battery alignment jig according to claim 3, wherein the other side edge of the groove is chamfered in an arc shape. 5. A battery mounting portion provided with a rotating means for contacting and rotating the cylindrical battery and rotating the cylindrical battery. The battery mounting portion contacts an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical battery which is rotationally driven, and has an irregularity on the outer peripheral surface. An alignment jig for a cylindrical battery, wherein a locking piece having a leading edge that engages and stops rotation of the cylindrical battery is arranged.