JP2015201348A - Battery conveyance device and battery rank sorting conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery conveyance device which reduces a device installation space and device cost by improving a throughput of rank sorting based on ranking of batteries.SOLUTION: A plurality of angular batteries each having opposite side faces are accommodated and disposed in a lattice shape within a container while standing up. The battery conveyance device includes a battery holding mechanism which includes a chuck for simultaneously holding opposite side faces of a plurality of battery groups from the container, and includes a plurality of elastic members which are provided in portions of the chuck in contact with the battery groups, are elastically deformed when holding the battery groups, absorbs a dimensional variation of the plurality of battery groups to be simultaneously held, and prevents the plurality of battery groups from falling during holding.

Description

  The present embodiment relates to a battery transport device that transports batteries used for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, power storage applications, and the like, and a battery rank sorting transport device that performs rank sorting according to charge / discharge characteristics of a plurality of batteries.

    In general, in the production of a rectangular secondary battery, a battery element body (power generation element body) is formed by winding a belt-like positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator made of an insulating material interposed therebetween. After the main body is housed in the battery can and the electrode member is joined and insulated, etc., the electrolytic solution is injected to seal the battery can. In particular, in large capacity secondary batteries for automobile power drive, power storage applications, etc., from the viewpoint of increasing the volume efficiency of the power generator, the flat cylindrical battery element body is inserted into a rectangular battery can made of a thin metal plate and sealed. In many cases, the prismatic battery formed by doing so is applied.

    Furthermore, a so-called assembled battery in which a large number of single cells are connected in series is used as a large capacity secondary battery. In the case of an assembled battery, if the charge / discharge characteristics of each single battery constituting the battery are not uniform, the performance of the assembled battery is degraded. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, the charge / discharge characteristics of a single cell are measured, and according to the charge / discharge characteristics, rank sorting (rank selection) is performed to combine single cells having the same charge / discharge characteristics. An assembled battery composed of a single cell is manufactured.

  Further, as a conventional battery rank sorting apparatus, there is one shown in Patent Document 2. The charge / discharge process in the production of the secondary battery is usually performed by transporting a container containing a large number of batteries to the processing unit. At that time, rank setting is performed for each battery based on the measured charge / discharge processing data, and the rank information is managed by the manufacturing management system together with the battery.

  In the battery rank sorting device, before sorting, the battery is composed of a plurality of rank products, the batteries are taken out one by one from the container in which a large number of batteries are stored, and transferred to the battery transfer device. And then one by one. A battery sorting unit having a plurality of rank-specific containers is provided downstream, and the batteries are sequentially taken out from the battery transfer device, and the batteries are sorted and stored in containers corresponding to the ranks of the respective batteries.

JP 2008-235078 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-289729

  In the battery rank sorting apparatus described above, one battery is taken out from an actual container containing a large number of batteries, and sorted and transferred to a plurality of empty containers by rank. Thus, in order to take out one battery from an actual container and transfer it to a plurality of empty containers by rank, the processing capacity is limited due to restrictions on the transfer operation time of the battery.

  In addition, since the empty containers as transfer destinations are arranged for each rank, the installation space for the battery rank sorting apparatus is increased.

    Furthermore, when the production amount is increased due to the limitation of the processing capacity per battery rank sorting device, it is necessary to install a plurality of devices, which increases the installation space for the rank sorting device and increases the cost.

  In the present embodiment, the battery carrying device that ranks the battery set in the manufacturing management system after the charge / discharge processing is ranked based on the rank setting, and the battery transfer device that reduces the device installation space and the device cost; The present invention provides a battery rank sorting / conveying device that transports rank-sorted batteries to an assembled battery assembly process.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of prismatic batteries each having side surfaces facing each other are stored and arranged in a grid in a container in an upright state, and the plurality of battery groups are opposed to each other from the container. Including chucks for simultaneously gripping side surfaces of the chucks, provided on portions of the chuck that come into contact with the battery group, elastically deformed when gripping the battery group, and absorbing and grasping dimensional variations of the plurality of battery groups simultaneously gripped. In this case, the battery transfer device includes a battery gripping mechanism including a plurality of elastic members that do not drop a plurality of battery groups.

  According to the present embodiment, the present embodiment increases the processing capacity for classifying batteries ranked in the manufacturing management system after the charge / discharge process based on the rank setting, and reduces the apparatus installation space and the apparatus cost. It is possible to provide a transport device and a battery rank sorting transport device that transports rank-sorted batteries to the assembled battery assembly process in the subsequent process.

The perspective view which shows the principal part of the rank sorting conveyance apparatus of the battery of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the entire battery rank sorting and conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment. The side view which shows the whole rank classification conveyance apparatus of the battery of Embodiment 1. FIG. The block diagram for demonstrating the relationship between a manufacturing management system, a charging / discharging processing apparatus, and a rank sorting conveyance apparatus, and explaining the receiving method of the rank information of a charging / discharging battery. The figure for demonstrating the setting method of the rank value and conveyance sorting row | line | column in FIG. The perspective view which shows the principal part of FIG. The perspective view which shows the battery sorting conveyance mechanism 49 of FIG. The perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the battery sorting conveyance mechanism 49 of FIG. The perspective view of the real container which accommodated the square battery. The perspective view which shows arrangement | positioning of the rib inside a container. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the square battery of the conveyance object of embodiment. The exploded perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the square battery of FIG. FIG. The top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the square battery and rib in a real container. The side view which shows arrangement | positioning of the square battery and rib in a real container. The top view shown for demonstrating the holding | grip mechanism of a battery taking-out mechanism. The sectional side view which shows the state in which the holding | grip mechanism of a battery taking-out mechanism hold | grips the square battery in a container. The top view of a battery sorting conveyance mechanism. The side view of a battery sorting conveyance mechanism. The side view for demonstrating operation | movement of a battery sorting conveyance mechanism. The top view which shows operation | movement of the battery disconnection mechanism 73. FIG. The side view which shows operation | movement of the battery disconnection mechanism 73. FIG. The top view which shows operation | movement of the battery disconnection mechanism 73. FIG. The side view which shows operation | movement of the battery disconnection mechanism 73. FIG. The perspective view which shows the state before the holding | grip operation | movement of the battery transfer mechanism 102, specifically, the chuck mechanism 113 moves to a horizontal direction, and the three batteries 9 are separated (with a space | interval) and a battery is inserted in a container. The perspective view which shows the holding | grip operation | movement of the battery transfer mechanism 102, specifically, the 3 batteries 9 were hold | gripped from on the sorting conveyor 70 (a state without a clearance gap between the 3 batteries 9). The side view for demonstrating the holding mechanism 110 of a battery. The side view for demonstrating the holding | grip operation | movement of the holding mechanism 110 of a battery. The perspective view which shows the structure of the chain conveyor link 63 and the free rotation roller 64. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the battery rank sorting and conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment. The top view which shows the whole rank classification conveyance apparatus of the battery of Embodiment 2. FIG. The side view which shows the whole rank classification conveying apparatus of the battery of Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery rank sorting and conveying device in the present embodiment includes an actual container conveying conveyor 29, a battery take-out mechanism 30, a battery sorting and conveying mechanism 49, an empty container conveying conveyor 95, a rank sorting and storing unit 100, And a control unit.

  2 is a plan view showing the entire battery rank sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the whole battery rank sorting apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the main part of the battery rank sorting apparatus. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an actual container in which the prismatic battery 9 is stored, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the ribs 22 inside the container, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a stacked state of the actual containers 83.

    Here, the square battery 9 which is a conveyance target of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the battery 9 has a battery element (power generation element) 1 formed by winding a belt-like positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator made of an insulating material interposed between stainless steel and aluminum. The positive and negative electrode members 3 housed in a metal square battery can 2 and joined to each of the positive and negative electrode plates are provided for the holes 5 and the lid member 6 of the sealing member 4 for ensuring the airtightness of the battery can 2. In this structure, the hole 7 is penetrated and the electrode portion 8 is exposed to the outside, whereby the electric charge of the battery element 1 can be taken out. The lid member 6 or the battery can 2 has a small hole (injection port) for pouring (not shown), and after pouring the electrolyte into the battery can from the pouring port, the pouring port, the battery can 2 and the lid material 6 are injected. The fitting portion 10 is sealed by laser welding or the like, and finally, as shown in FIG. 11, a rectangular battery 9 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed.

  A plurality (for example, 24 in this case) of battery groups manufactured as described above are stored and arranged in a matrix 21 of, for example, 8 in the column direction and 3 in the row direction in the container 21 shown in FIGS. ing. The container 21 is a container having a bottomed rectangular tube shape and a ridge 20 formed in the upper opening, and as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a plurality of containers 21 that are perpendicular to the bottom surface in the container and extend in the column direction. Column-direction partitions 19 are formed, and a plurality of row-direction partitions 18 that are perpendicular to the bottom surface of the container 21 and extend in the row direction are formed, and each of the partitions 19 and 18 has a height dimension of the battery 9. And serves as a guide when each battery 9 is inserted and is positioned at the center of the battery 9, and has a tapered portion (wedge shape) at the tip with respect to the bottom surface in the container 21. Part) 23 is formed. Each battery 9 is inserted between ribs 22 attached to each partition 19, 18, and each battery 9 is placed on the bottom surface in the container 21 so that the electrode portion 8 attached to the lid member 6 faces upward. It is supposed to be placed. The outer peripheral surface 26 of the container 21 is formed with convex portions 27 at corners intersecting the bottom surface, and the convex portions 27 are stacked on top of each other when the containers 21 are stacked as shown in FIG. The convex portion 27 is fitted into the upper surface opening 28 of the container 21 below.

Next, the rank sorting and conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9, the battery take-out mechanism 30 simultaneously takes out a group of nine batteries (eight in this case) stored (arranged) in the row direction in the container 21, and sends them to a battery sorting mechanism 49 described later. It is to be transferred. As shown in FIGS. 1, 16, and 17, the battery take-out mechanism 30 includes a gripping mechanism main body 36 that is horizontally supported by the gantry, and a drive that can be protruded in the horizontal direction from the opposing side surfaces of the gripping mechanism main body 36. Parts, for example, two pistons 35 that can be inserted and removed by compressed air filled in an air cylinder, two gripping arms 34 connected to the tip of each piston 35, and two gripping arms 34 respectively connected to each gripping arm 34 The chuck 38, the surface of each chuck 38 that contacts the battery 9, for example, eight elastically deformable members 39 fixed at positions corresponding to each battery 9, and the surface of each chuck 38 that contacts the battery 9 A plurality of convex-shaped portions 37 each having an inclined surface 40 fixed to each other between the elastically deformable members 39 and to the end portions of the array of the batteries 9 and formed at the corners of the respective tip portions. It is provided.

  The elastic deformation member 39 is preferably a rubber material such as urethane rubber as a material having elastic characteristics and frictional properties of the contact surface, and the shape is preferably a plate-like material from the viewpoint of securing a contact surface during pressurization.

  The battery removal mechanism 30 includes a gripping mechanism 31 that grips the plurality of batteries 9, a horizontal movement mechanism 32 that moves the gripping mechanism 31 in the horizontal direction, and a vertical movement mechanism 33 that moves in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the gripping mechanism 31 includes two gripping arms 34 that simultaneously open and close in the horizontal direction to grip the battery 9, a drive unit 35 that operates the gripping arms 34, and a vertical movement mechanism. A gripping mechanism main body 36 fixed to the lower end of 33 and a gripping arm 34 are connected to the gripping arm 34, and are constituted by two chucks 38 each having a convex portion 37 for positioning the rectangular battery 9 in the horizontal direction by a gripping operation.

  The chuck 38 has a lattice shape in the container 21 and is a short side surface including the rectangular short side of the rectangular battery upper surface in FIG. 41 and the opposite upper side surfaces can be gripped.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the chuck 38 grips simultaneously the upper portions 41 of the short side surfaces of a plurality (eight in this case) of the batteries 9 of the batteries 9. An elastic deformation member 39 is provided between the convex portions 37 arranged. When the chuck 9 grips the battery 9, the battery 9 moves along the inclined surface 40 of the convex portion 37 along the side surface of the battery 9, is positioned between the convex portions 37 of the chuck 38, and is elastically deformed. The upper part 41 of the short side surface of the battery 9 abuts on 39.

  Even when the gripping mechanism 31 has manufacturing variations in the external dimensions of the plurality of batteries 9 that are gripped at the same time, the elastic deformation member 39 is elastically deformed, so that the upper portions 41 on the short side surfaces of the plurality of batteries 9 that are gripped simultaneously. All can be brought into contact with the elastic deformation member 39 in a pressurized state, and at the same time, the battery 9 to be gripped can be prevented from falling.

  In the charge / discharge process in the pre-rank sorting process, a large number of batteries are housed and transported in a transport container, and a resin container 21 is used as the transport container. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 from the charge / discharge treatment step, a large number of prismatic batteries 9 are placed vertically and stored in the container 21, and the container 21 is transported by a transport device. 10, 14, and 15, ribs 22 for positioning the batteries in the container 21 are provided at the inner lower portion of the container 21, and the ribs 22 for arranging the square batteries 9 in a lattice shape are included in the ribs 22. An inclined portion 23 is provided to facilitate the insertion of the battery, and a clearance 25 is provided between the battery side surface 24 and the rib 22. The rib 22 may be integrally formed with the outer peripheral surface 26 of the container 21 when the container 21 is manufactured, or the rib 22 may be inserted into the container 21 as a separate member.

  The bottom surface of the container 21 has a step and the bottom surface has a convex shape 27. When a plurality of containers 21 are stacked as shown in FIG. 8, the convex shape 27 on the bottom surface and the container upper surface opening 28 are fitted. In this structure, the stacked containers 21 are not displaced.

  From the charge / discharge treatment step, as described above, the battery 21 is transported on the actual container transport conveyor 29 in a state where the battery is stored in the container 21 (hereinafter referred to as the actual container 83). The actual container transfer conveyor 29 is a roller conveyor, a chain conveyor, or the like, and has a positioning mechanism for the container 21 (not shown) at the transfer end portion. The positioning mechanism of the actual container 83 is such that the outer periphery of the actual container 83 is pressed against the fixed guide from the side of the container, the positioning mechanism is raised from the lower part of the actual container 83, and a pin is inserted into the positioning hole on the bottom surface of the container. Any mechanism may be used as long as the part is positioned by the positioning guide. By positioning the actual container 83 in this way, the battery 9 in the actual container 83 is positioned.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 18, 7, 8, 19, and 20, the battery sorting / conveying mechanism 49 includes a sorting transfer mechanism 50, a battery pushing mechanism 51, and a sorting conveyor 52. The sorting and transporting mechanism 50 is configured to place a plurality of prismatic batteries 9 thereon by the transfer of the battery take-out mechanism 30 and to reciprocate between the battery transfer unit 53 and the battery push-out mechanism 51. A battery transfer jig 56 for placing a plurality of batteries 9 is disposed on the transfer mechanism main body 55 on the apparatus base 54. The battery transfer jig 56 is provided with a free rotation roller 57 and a mountain-shaped partition plate 58 in each row for the number of batteries transferred simultaneously. The battery extruding mechanism 51 includes an extruding mechanism main body 59, a guide shaft 60 for extruding operation, an extruding head 61 for extruding the battery 9, and a mechanism support frame 62, each of which has a number of rank sorting sequences. When the extrusion head 61 individually performs the back-and-forth operation, the square battery 9 on the transfer jig is pushed out to the sorting conveyor 52. When the free rotation roller 57 on the transfer jig freely rotates during the extrusion operation, the square batteries 9 can smoothly transfer to the sorting conveyor 52.

  The sorting conveyor 52 arranges the number of rank sorting conveyors in parallel, transports the loaded square batteries 9 by the operation of the battery push-out mechanism 51, and puts the square batteries 9 by rank into the downstream rank sorting storage apparatus 100. It is to be conveyed. As a mechanism of the conveyor, a chain conveyor with a top roller shown in FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 is preferable. This conveyor is provided with a free rotating roller 64 at the upper part of each link 63 of the chain conveyor, and the bottom surface 65 of the square battery 9 is placed on the top roller 64 and conveyed. In a state where the square battery 9 being transported is stopped by a stopper, the free rotation roller 64 freely rotates on the bottom surface 65 of the square battery 9, so that the operation of the chain conveyor is not stopped, and a large number of square shapes are obtained. The battery 9 is continuously conveyed. This conveyor may be a top chain conveyor or a belt conveyor including a plate material that receives the bottom surface of the square battery 9 instead of the free rotating roller 64. On the left and right sides of the conveyor, there are guides 66 for preventing the fall of the square battery 9, and the square battery 9 is conveyed in the long side direction in a state where the square battery 9 is set up vertically. As described above, the battery 9 can be stably transported without being tilted or caught in a state in which the square battery 9 is erected without using a transport jig used to transport the battery 9. Since no conveying jig is used, the apparatus cost is low and the apparatus saves space.

    At the downstream end 70 of each row of the sorting conveyor 52 shown in FIG. 6, a separating mechanism 73 is provided for sorting the rank from the battery 71 being conveyed on the conveyor and separating the battery 72 transferred to the actual container 83. Prepare. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the battery disconnecting mechanism 73 includes a battery pressing mechanism 74 and a battery position changing mechanism 75 that hold the battery by pressing from both sides of the side of the battery being conveyed on the sorting conveyor 52. The battery presser mechanism 74 opens and closes the presser chuck 79 by the rotation of the shaft 78 arranged vertically by the rod moving mechanism body 76 moving the rod 77 back and forth. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, when the rod 77 is in the extended position, the presser chuck 79 is opened and the battery 71 moves on the sorting conveyor 52. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, when the rod 77 is in the return end position, the presser chuck 79 is closed and the battery 71 is gripped, so that the battery 71 stops moving on the sorting conveyor 52. During this time, the sorting conveyor 52 continues to carry and the other batteries continue to carry. The material of the presser chuck is preferably a rubber material such as Teflon (registered trademark) rubber because of the necessity of frictional force on the contact surface in order to prevent the battery from being damaged and to stop the battery transport. The battery pressing mechanism 74 may be a mechanism that can press the side surface of the battery transported in the long side direction of the prismatic battery by the operation of the chuck, other than the example of this mechanism.

  The battery position changing mechanism 75 is a mechanism in which the rod moving mechanism main body 80 moves the rod 81 back and forth. The stop position of the battery 72 is changed by a stopper 82 at the tip of the rod moving mechanism main body 80, and the battery 71 is moved to the actual container 83. The battery 72 to be mounted is cut off.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the empty container transfer conveyor 95 takes out the battery 9 from the container 21 by the battery take-out mechanism 30 and transfers the empty empty container 90 to the rank sorting storage unit 100. is there. After removing the battery 9 from the actual container 83 conveyed from the previous process, the lower part of the battery sorting / conveying mechanism 49 is conveyed, and the conveyor 92 arranged in parallel with the sorting conveyor 52 and the right-angle transfer arranged in front of each rank sorting unit. The loading machine 93 is configured by an empty container buffering device 94 that stacks and temporarily stores surplus empty containers and takes out the empty container 90 to the outside of the device when necessary. The empty container buffering device 94 includes a stacking mechanism 94a of the empty container 90 and a buffer conveyor 94b for storing the stacked containers. In the process of the upstream process, for example, when the defective battery 9 is discharged from the real container 21 and the battery 9 arrangement in the real container 83 is missing (where the battery 9 is not present), the battery take-out mechanism 30 The container after removing all the batteries 9 from the actual container 83 is supplied downstream as an empty container 90, and the rank-sorted storage unit 100 loads the batteries 9 after rank-sorting without any missing teeth. Is repeated, an excess empty container 90 is generated in the apparatus and needs to be discharged. In addition, the empty container needs to be supplied from the empty container buffering device 94 at a timing when the empty container 90 cannot be supplied to the rank sorting storage device side, for example, while the battery 9 is being removed from the actual container 83. The empty container buffering device 94 discharges or re-supplys the surplus empty container 90 as described above, thereby enabling unattended operation of the entire rank sorting device.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the rank sorting storage unit 100 includes a battery storage unit conveyor 101, a battery transfer mechanism 102, an actual container stacker 103, a transport carriage 104, and a post-process discharge conveyor 105. Configure. A plurality of battery storage unit conveyors 101, battery transfer mechanisms 102, and actual container stackers 103 are installed according to the number of ranks sorted, and in this embodiment, eight units are arranged.

  The battery storage unit conveyor 101 includes a container buffer unit 101a and a battery transfer storage unit 101b. The container buffer unit 101a temporarily waits the empty container 90 carried from the right-angle transfer machine 93 of the empty container transfer device, and after the actual container 83 of the battery transfer storage unit 101b is discharged to the downstream side, the battery transfer storage unit 101b. It functions as buffering so that the empty container 90 is transported to the battery transfer storage unit 101a so as not to wait for empty container supply. In the battery transfer and storage unit 101b, the empty container 90 is positioned and fixed by a positioning mechanism (not shown), and a plurality of batteries 9 are simultaneously grasped from the sorting conveyor 52 by the battery transfer mechanism 102 and transferred and stored in the empty container 90. .

As shown in FIGS. 25, 26, 27, and 28, the battery transfer mechanism 102 includes a gripping mechanism 110 of the battery 9, a vertical movement mechanism 111 that moves the gripping mechanism in the vertical direction, and a gripping mechanism that moves in the front-rear horizontal direction. The moving horizontal moving mechanism 112 is used. Further, the gripping mechanism 110 includes a chuck mechanism 113 for gripping the battery 9, a guide 114 for supporting the chuck mechanism and moving in the horizontal direction, a horizontal moving device 115 for horizontally moving the chuck mechanism, and a jig for attaching the chuck mechanism 113 to the guide 114. 116 is provided. The chuck mechanism 113 includes two plate-like chucks 113b that sandwich and hold the upper part of the side surface of the battery 9, and a chuck body 113a that operates the chuck 113b. The chuck horizontal moving device 115 includes a moving rod 115b that is connected to the jig 116 and performs a moving operation, and a chuck horizontal moving mechanism main body 115a that operates the moving rod 115b. In this embodiment, the three batteries 9 are gripped at the same time, and in order to make the interval of the three batteries 9 gripped by the chuck mechanism 113 after ascending the same as the storing interval in the container, the chuck is held on the gripping mechanism. The space between the mechanisms 113 is widened, and the battery 9 is transferred to and stored in a container. Depending on the number of rows of batteries 9 in the container (three rows in this embodiment) and the required processing capacity, the number of batteries 9 to be simultaneously transferred by the battery transfer mechanism 102 is plural.
Next, the operation will be described.

In the charge / discharge treatment step of the previous step, the rectangular batteries 9 are arranged in a grid pattern in the container 21 and the charge / discharge treatment is performed in the charge / discharge treatment device 130 shown in FIG. Each container 21 has a container number 130a for identifying and managing the container 21, and the container number 130a is added to the container 21 by a method of sticking a barcode label on the side of the container. The container 21 has a container internal address 130b where each battery 9 is stored, and the charge / discharge processing data 130c of each battery 9 measured by the charge / discharge processing device 130 is associated with the container number 130a and the container internal address 130b. Management is performed, and charge / discharge processing data 130c is transmitted to the manufacturing management system 131 when the charge / discharge processing is completed. The manufacturing management system 131 performs rank setting for each battery 9 based on the charge / discharge processing data 130c. When the real container 83 is transported to the rank sorting and transporting device 132, the rank sorting and transporting device 132 recognizes the container number 132a of the real container 83 and makes an inquiry to the manufacturing management system 131. When the rank sorting transport device 132 receives the container internal address 131a of the container number 132a and the rank information 131b from the manufacturing management system 131, the battery 9 in the container internal address 131a is sorted and transported according to the rank.

  On the display of the rank sorting and conveying apparatus 132, as shown in FIG. 5, the correspondence of the sorting column 134 (A to H in this example) corresponding to the rank value 133 (ranks 1 to 10 in this example). Setting is performed by the operator. A circle 135 indicates the setting result display. With this setting, based on the rank value of each battery 9, the rank sorting / conveying device 132 transports the battery 9 to the container 83 of each sorting destination. Hereinafter, the operation of the rank sorting and conveying apparatus will be described.

  The actual container 83 containing the square battery 9 is transported on the actual container transport conveyor 29 from the charge / discharge process step of the previous process, and the actual container 83 is stopped and positioned at the transport end portion by a bar code reader (not shown). The bar code label attached to the side of the container is read, and the rank sorting and conveying device 132 recognizes the container internal address 131a. The rank sorting / conveying device 132 reports the container number 132a to the manufacturing management system 131, and as a response, the rank sorting / conveying device 132 receives the rank information 131b for each container internal address 131a. As described above, the rank sorting and conveying device 132 recognizes rank information for each battery 9 stored in the actual container 83.

  The gripping mechanism 31 of the battery take-out mechanism 30 descends to the actual container 83 with the gripping arm part 34 opened. The gripping arm portion 34 of the gripping mechanism 31 is closed, and the chuck 38 grips simultaneously a plurality of (eight in this example) short-side side upper portions 41 of one row of the square batteries 9 arranged in a grid pattern in the container 21. The vertical movement mechanism 33 raises the gripping mechanism 31 and the horizontal movement mechanism 32 moves horizontally. A battery transfer jig 56 that moves on the sorting transfer mechanism 50 stands by on the battery take-out mechanism side, and the eight square batteries 9 held by the battery take-out mechanism 30 are transferred to the battery transfer jig 56. . The gripping mechanism 31 of the battery take-out mechanism 30 moves back in order to take out the next battery to the actual container transport conveyor side after the square battery 9 is transferred.

  Based on the rank information of the square batteries 9 transferred to the battery transfer jig 56 on the sort transfer mechanism 50, the sort transfer mechanism 50 moves and stops before the sort conveyor 52 corresponding to the set sort row. The battery pushing mechanism 51 advances the pushing head 61 to sort the square batteries 9 from the battery transfer jig 56 to each row of the sorting conveyor 52. If the positions of the plurality of batteries 9 coincide with the sorting row at the position where the sorting and transporting mechanism is stopped, an operation of pushing and sorting the plurality of batteries 9 simultaneously by the plurality of extrusion heads is performed. When the extrusion head 61 moves backward, the battery transfer jig 56 moves to the next sorting position and stops. The extrusion head 61 moves forward again and sorts the batteries 9 into each row of the sorting conveyor 52. The same operation is repeated, and when all the square batteries 9 on the battery transfer jig have been sorted to the sorting conveyor side, the battery transfer jig returns to the battery transfer portion 53.

  When the sorted square batteries 9 move onto the sorting conveyor 52, they are conveyed to the downstream end 70 of each sorting conveyor by the operation of the sorting conveyor 52. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the three rectangular batteries 72 are carried in and stopped when the stopper 82 a of the battery position changing mechanism 75 is at the extended position. At this time, the sorting conveyor 52 continues to rotate and continuously conveys the square battery 9 from the upstream side. However, the free rotation roller 64 is in contact with the bottom surface of the square battery 72 and the free rotation roller 64 rotates to form the square shape. The conveyance force to the battery 72 decreases. When the fourth square battery 71 is conveyed to the downstream end 70, the load sensor on the conveyer (not shown) detects the load of the fourth square battery 71, the presser chuck 79 is closed, and the square battery 71 is closed. By holding the both side surfaces, the fourth square battery 71 is held and stopped. Next, when the stopper 82 of the battery position changing mechanism 75 is moved to the position of the return end 82b, the three square batteries 72 are moved to the stopper 82b by the conveying force of the sorting conveyor 52 that is operating continuously, and are square. It waits until it is disconnected from the battery 71 and gripped by the battery transfer mechanism 102 and transferred. Although the example in which the number of separations of the prismatic battery 72 is three is shown, one or a plurality other than three may be used.

  The square battery 9 is taken out by the battery take-out mechanism 30 on the actual container carrying conveyor 29, and the empty container 90 is carried by the conveyor 92. In each row of the rank sorting storage unit 100 that needs to supply an empty container, the empty container 90 is conveyed to the battery storage unit conveyor 101 by the right-angle transfer conveyor 93. The empty container 90 is positioned and stopped in the battery transfer storage unit 101b and waits for the transfer of the square battery 72.

  Next, at the downstream end portion 70 of the sorting conveyor, the battery transfer mechanism 102 holds the three rectangular batteries 72 that are separated and waiting, and the positioning is stopped at the battery transfer storage portion 102b. Transfer and store in empty container 90. When transferring, as shown in FIG. 27, the gripping mechanism is opened in the state where the chuck 113b is opened above the three rectangular batteries 72 that are cut off at the downstream end 70 of the sorting conveyor 52 and are waiting. 110 is lowered by the operation of the vertical movement mechanism 111, the chuck 113b is closed at the lowering end, the square battery 72 is gripped, and the gripping mechanism 110 is lifted. As shown in FIG. 28, at the rising end, the gripping mechanism 110 widens the interval between the three chuck mechanisms 113 to be equal to the storage interval of the batteries in the container by the operation of the chuck horizontal moving device 115. In this state, the battery is transferred and stored in the container positioned in the battery transfer storage unit 101b by the horizontal movement operation of the gripping mechanism by the horizontal movement mechanism 115 and the vertical movement operation of the vertical movement mechanism 115. The full containers 83 that contain the batteries after rank sorting and are full are transported downstream on the conveyor and stacked by the operation of the actual container stacker 103. As shown in FIG. 2, the stacked actual containers 106 are transferred to the transport cart 104, transported downstream by the travel of the transport cart 104, and transported from the transport cart 104 to the post-process discharge conveyor 105. Is transferred to the subsequent process by the transport of the post-process discharge conveyor.

  According to the first embodiment described above, a plurality of battery groups are simultaneously removed from the actual container by the battery gripping mechanism, transferred onto the battery transfer jig, and the battery on the battery transfer jig is used as the battery push-out mechanism. Rank sorting is performed by a short operation that pushes it out to the sorting conveyor, and the battery transport after rank sorting is carried out simultaneously by a plurality of transfer mechanisms for each rank, so the processing capacity per rank sorting and conveying device is large. There is no need to install a plurality of devices in order to secure the required production volume, and there is a space saving effect.

  In addition, since the conventional battery is mounted and fixed and transported on the transport device without using the transport jig, the battery is transported directly on the transport device in a state where the square battery is set up. Compared with the case of using a jig, the apparatus cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the battery is taken out from the actual container transported from the previous process, the empty container is used as a storage container after the battery is sorted, and the battery storage container is supplied by automatically transporting it to each rank sorting storage unit. There is no manual work on

  In the present embodiment, the battery 9 ranked in the manufacturing management system 131 after the charge / discharge process is improved in rank processing capacity based on the rank setting, the apparatus cost and the apparatus installation space are reduced, and the assembled battery assembly in the subsequent process is performed. The present invention provides a battery sorting and conveying apparatus that conveys rank-sorted batteries to a process.

  Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 31 and FIG. FIG. 31 is a plan view of a battery rank sorting and conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 32 is a side view. In the second embodiment, the stacked container 106 in which the rectangular batteries 9 are sorted and stored is temporarily stored in the automatic warehouse 120. The automatic warehouse 120 includes a storage shelf 121, a stacker crane 122, a travel rail 123 of the stacker crane, an upper rail 124, and a support 125. The stacker crane 122 travels horizontally on the traveling rail 123 and is supported by a guide roller 126 that freely rotates on the upper rail. The stacker crane 122 has a carriage 127 that moves in the vertical direction. The stacker container 106 is placed on a slide fork 128 on the carriage and transported.

  The stacking container 106 is picked up by the operation of the slide fork 128 on the stacker crane 122 from the stacker 103, moved to the front of the empty storage shelf, and the stacking container 106 is stored by the operation of the slide fork 128. Lower to shelf 121. Similarly, the stacked containers 106 are picked up from the storage shelf 121 and are carried out to the post-process discharge conveyor 105. In the manufacturing management system 131 of FIG. 4, the manufacturing information as a unit cell such as the position and rank information of each storage shelf 121 of the stacked container 106 sorted in rank, the warehousing time, and the manufacturing lot information is managed. The necessary stacked containers 106 are automatically discharged from the storage shelves at the necessary timing. Otherwise, the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the assembled battery assembly process in the subsequent process, generally, a plurality of unit cells of the same rank are housed in a module package to produce an assembled battery. It is possible to automatically supply cells of the required rank and production lot to the assembled battery manufacturing process according to the manufacturing timing of the assembled battery. This has the effect of saving labor and saving storage space. An increase in the cell selection performance at the time of assembly has the effect of improving the product quality of the assembled battery.

  Although several embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to be limited thereto. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are all described in the claims and are included in the scope of the invention corresponding to each claim.

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery element, 2 ... Battery can, 3 ... Positive / negative electrode member, 4 ... Seal member, 5 ... Hole, 6 ... Cover material, 7 ... Hole, 8 ... Electrode part, 9 ... Square battery, 10 ... Fitting part , 18 ... row direction partition, 19 ... column direction partition, 20 ... ridge, 21 ... container, 22 ... rib, 23 ... rib inclined part, 24 ... battery side surface, 25 ... clearance, 26 ... outer peripheral surface of container 21, 27 ... Convex-shaped part, 28 ... Container top opening, 29 ... Real container conveyor, 30 ... Battery take-out mechanism, 31 ... Grip mechanism, 32 ... Horizontal movement mechanism, 33 ... Vertical movement mechanism, 34 ... Grip arm part, 35 ... Grip Drive unit of mechanism, 36: gripping mechanism main body, 37: convex portion of chuck, 38 ... chuck, 39 ... elastic deformation member, 40 ... inclined surface, 41 ... upper part of short side surface of rectangular battery, 49 ... battery sorting Mechanism, 50 ... Sorting and transferring mechanism, 51 ... Battery extrusion Mechanism: 52 ... Sorting conveyor, 53 ... Battery transfer section, 54 ... Device mount, 55 ... Transfer mechanism body, 56 ... Battery transfer jig, 57 ... Free rotating roller, 58 ... Partition plate, 59 ... Extrusion mechanism body, 60 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Guide shaft, 61 ... Extrusion head, 62 ... Mechanism support frame, 63 ... Chain conveyor link, 64 ... Freely rotating roller, 65 ... Square battery bottom surface, 66 ... Fall-down prevention guide, 70 ... Sorting conveyor downstream end, 71 ... Square battery, 72 ... Square battery, 73 ... Separation mechanism, 74 ... Battery holding mechanism, 75 ... Battery position changing mechanism, 76 ... Rod moving mechanism body, 77 ... Rod, 78 ... Shaft, 79 ... Presser chuck, 80 ... Rod moving mechanism body, 81 ... Rod, 82 ... Stopper, 83 ... Real container, 90 ... Empty container, 92 ... Conveyor, 93 ... Right angle transfer machine, 94 ... Empty Tenter buffering device, 95 ... Empty container transport conveyor, 100 ... Rank sorting storage unit, 101 ... Battery storage unit conveyor, 102 ... Battery transfer mechanism, 103 ... Actual container stacker, 104 ... Transport cart, 105 ... Post process Discharge conveyor 106 ... Real stacking container 110 ... Gripping mechanism 111 ... Vertical movement mechanism 112 ... Horizontal movement mechanism 113a ... Chuck mechanism body 113b ... Chuck 114 ... Guide 115a ... Horizontal movement mechanism body 115b Moving rod, 116 ... Mounting jig, 120 ... Automatic warehouse, 121 ... Storage shelf, 122 ... Stacker crane, 123 ... Traveling rail, 124 ... Upper rail, 125 ... Post, 126 ... Guide roller, 127 ... Carriage, 128 ... Slide Fork, 130 ... charge / discharge treatment device, 131 ... manufacturing management system, 1 32: Rank sorting and conveying device, 133: Display of rank value, 134: Display of sorting row, 135: Display of sorting setting result

Claims (8)

  A plurality of prismatic batteries each having opposite side surfaces are stored and arranged in a grid in a container in an upright state, and the opposite side surfaces of the plurality of battery groups are simultaneously grasped from the container. Each of the chucks is provided in contact with the battery group, elastically deforms when gripping the battery group, absorbs the dimensional variation of the plurality of battery groups gripped simultaneously, and a plurality of batteries when gripping A battery transfer device including a battery gripping mechanism including a plurality of elastic members that do not drop a group.     It sorts and conveys batteries in a standing state, and sorts and transports a plurality of batteries placed and transported, a plurality of sorting conveyors arranged in parallel, and a battery on a sorting and transporting mechanism that is temporarily stopped The battery transfer mechanism is configured to be transferred to the sorting conveyor, and the battery transfer mechanism for loading the battery is temporarily stopped before the carry-in portion of the sorting conveyor, and the battery push mechanism pushes the side surface of the battery on the transfer mechanism. By transferring the battery to the sorting conveyor corresponding to the sorting, and further moving the sorting transfer mechanism and stopping at another position, and similarly transferring the battery to the sorting conveyor correspondingly, A battery transporting device for sorting and transporting batteries.   When transferring and storing a large number of batteries that are continuously transported on a conveyor in a storage container, a plurality of batteries to be transferred are separated from other batteries on the conveyor, and a plurality of batteries to be transferred The battery is gripped by the gripping mechanism, and the gap between the gripped batteries is widened by the operation of the gripping mechanism so as to match the spacing of the battery arrangement stored in the container, and the battery is inserted into the container. Battery transport device. A battery take-out mechanism, a battery sorting / conveying mechanism, and a rank sorting storage unit are provided. The battery take-out mechanism stores batteries in a standing state, and simultaneously holds and takes out a plurality of batteries from a container arranged in a grid. The battery is transferred onto the battery transfer jig of the sorting mechanism,
The battery sorting and transporting mechanism performs sorting and transporting in a state where the battery is set up. The sorting and transporting mechanism for sorting and transferring a plurality of batteries on a battery transporting jig that performs a reciprocating operation. It is equipped with a plurality of sorting conveyors arranged in parallel according to rank, a battery pushing mechanism for transferring the batteries on the battery transfer jig to the extrusion sorting conveyor, and the battery transferring jig for placing the batteries is temporarily placed in front of the carrying section of the sorting conveyor. Stop and push the side of the battery with the battery push-out mechanism to transfer the battery to the sort conveyor corresponding to the rank sort, and the sort transfer mechanism moves and stops at another position. The battery is sorted and conveyed by repeating the transfer to the corresponding sorting conveyor,
The rank sorting storage unit is configured to hold a battery transferred to the sorting conveyor by a battery transfer mechanism, and transfer and store the battery from an empty container transfer conveyor to an empty container.
The battery removal mechanism removes the battery from the container containing the battery, transfers it onto the battery transfer jig, and ranks the battery by pushing out the battery on the battery transfer jig to the sorting conveyor by the battery extrusion mechanism. A battery rank sorting / conveying device, wherein a plurality of rank-specific transport mechanisms simultaneously perform transport processing for subsequent battery transport.   The battery is taken out from the container in which the battery is stored by the battery take-out mechanism, the empty empty container is transported to the rank sorting storage unit for storing the battery after rank sorting, and the battery after rank sorting is transferred and stored. The battery rank sorting and conveying device according to claim 4.   When transporting empty containers to the rank sorting storage unit, empty container buffers that stack and store surplus empty containers and take out empty containers from the apparatus or supply empty containers to the rank sorting storage unit 6. The battery rank sorting and conveying device according to claim 5, further comprising a ring device.   The container which stored the battery classified by rank according to rank is stacked and stored, and the stacked container is transported to a subsequent process by a transport cart. Battery rank sorting and conveying device.   It is characterized by stacking containers containing rank-sorted batteries by rank, storing the stacked containers in an automatic warehouse, and transporting them to the subsequent process according to the timing of the transport request of the subsequent process The battery rank assortment conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claims 4 thru | or 6.

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