JP2023182965A - Manufacturing device of battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

To disclose a manufacturing device of manufacturing a battery pack in which a battery cell, a separator and an end plate are laminated.SOLUTION: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of separators and an end plate. The separator includes a frame which is fit to the battery cell on one surface and is laminated with the battery cell alternately one by one. The frame which is fit to the battery cell is also provided on one surface of the end plate. A protrusion is provided within a specific range on a surface on the opposite side of the end plate. The end plate is fit to the battery cell on one end of the laminate of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of separators. A manufacturing device disclosed herein includes: a pedestal base on which the separator or the end plate are placed with the frame facing upward; and a pressing jig which presses the battery cell against the frame of the separator or end plate placed on the pedestal base. The pedestal base is configured such that a movable part corresponding to the specific range where the protrusion of the end plate is provided can be separated from the pedestal base body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to an assembled battery manufacturing apparatus.

An example of an assembled battery is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The assembled battery includes a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of separators, and an end plate. The plurality of battery cells and the plurality of separators are alternately stacked one by one. A frame into which the battery cells fit is provided on one surface of the separator. The end plate is arranged at the end of the stack of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of separators. In the assembled battery of Patent Document 1, the end plate has the same outer shape as the battery cell, and a separator is also sandwiched between the end plate and the battery cell. Like the battery cells, the end plates also fit into the frame of the separator.

International Publication No. 2020/054227

If a frame into which the battery cell fits is provided on one surface of the end plate, there is no need to insert a separator between the battery cell and the end plate. Further, in the process of manufacturing an assembled battery, a plurality of subassemblies in which battery cells are fitted into separators are prepared, and the plurality of subassemblies are stacked and pressurized. It is good to have a manufacturing device that can perform both the process of fitting battery cells into separators and the process of fitting battery cells to end plates. The manufacturing apparatus includes a pedestal on which a separator or an end plate is placed, and a pressing jig that presses a battery cell against the separator or end plate on the pedestal. If there is a protrusion on the other surface of the end plate (the surface opposite to the surface on which the frame is provided), the pedestal cannot be shared. This specification introduces a mechanism that makes the pedestal common for separators and end plates, and performs both the process of fitting the battery cells to the separators and the process of fitting the battery cells to the end plates. We provide manufacturing equipment that can.

This specification discloses an assembled battery manufacturing apparatus. The assembled battery includes a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of separators, and an end plate. The separator has a frame on one surface into which the battery cells fit, and is alternately stacked one by one with the battery cells. A frame that fits into the battery cells is also provided on one side of the end plate. A protrusion is provided in a specific range on the opposite surface of the end plate. The end plate is fitted into a battery cell at one end of a stack of a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of separators.

The manufacturing apparatus disclosed in this specification includes a pedestal on which a separator or an end plate is placed with the frame facing upward, and a pressing jig that presses a battery cell against the frame of the separator or end plate placed on the pedestal. In the pedestal, a movable part corresponding to a specific range where the protrusion of the end plate is provided can be separated from the pedestal main body. When placing the separator, the movable part is combined with the pedestal main body. When placing the end plate, the movable part is separated from the pedestal main body to form a space in which the protrusion is accommodated.

The manufacturing device disclosed in this specification is provided with a movable part in a part of the pedestal on which the separator is placed, and when an end plate having protrusions is placed, the movable part is separated from the pedestal main body to create a space in which the protrusions can fit. ensure that By employing a pedestal having a movable part, this manufacturing apparatus can perform both the process of fitting the battery cell into the frame of the separator and the process of fitting the battery cell into the frame of the end plate.

Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification will be explained in the following "Detailed Description of the Invention".

It is a perspective view of an assembled battery. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a separator. FIG. 2(A) is a perspective view of the separator seen from the front side, and FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view of the separator seen from the back side. It is a perspective view of an end plate. FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view of the end plate seen from the front side, and FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view of the end plate seen from the back side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pedestal of the manufacturing device (in a state where the movable part is combined with the pedestal main body). FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pedestal of the manufacturing device (with the movable part separated from the pedestal main body). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the movement of the manufacturing device when assembling the separator to the battery cell. It is a figure which shows the movement of the manufacturing apparatus when assembling an end plate to a battery cell.

A manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled battery 2. The assembled battery 2 has a structure in which two stacked bodies 3a and 3b are housed in a case 4. Hereinafter, when the two laminates 3a and 3b are expressed without distinction, they will be referred to as laminate 3.

The laminate 3 includes a plurality of battery cells 5, a plurality of separators 10, and end plates 20a and 20b stacked together. In FIG. 1, only one battery cell 5 and one separator 10 included in the laminate 3a are labeled, and the remaining battery cells and separators are not labeled. A frame is provided on one side of the separator 10, and the battery cells 5 are press-fitted into the frame. The plurality of battery cells 5 and the plurality of separators 10 are alternately stacked one by one, and an end plate 20a is stacked on one end in the stacking direction of the stack of battery cells 5 and separators 10, and the end plate 20a is stacked on the other end. An end plate 20b is laminated thereon. Two protrusions 21 are provided on the end plate 20a at one end of the laminate 3a. In FIG. 1, the reference numerals of each component are omitted on the side of the laminate 3b. The stacking direction is the direction in which the plurality of battery cells 5 and the plurality of separators 10 are stacked, and the X direction of the coordinate system in the figure corresponds to the stacking direction. In FIGS. 2 and 3 as well, the X direction of the coordinate system in the figures corresponds to the stacking direction. Further, the +Z direction of the coordinate system in the figure corresponds to the top.

The shape of the separator 10 will be explained in detail. FIG. 2(A) is a perspective view of the separator 10 seen from the front side, and FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view of the separator 10 seen from the back side. Here, the front surface (back surface) refers to a surface facing the +X direction (-X direction) of the coordinate system in the figure. The terms "front surface" and "back surface" are convenient names for distinguishing between the two surfaces.

The separator 10 is a resin plate sandwiched between adjacent battery cells 5 in the stack 3.

The separator 10 includes a partition plate 11, a press-fit frame (press-fit frame 12) provided on the front surface of the partition plate 11, and a guide frame (guide frame 13) provided on the back surface. . A plurality of protrusions 14 are provided on the front surface of the partition plate 11, and lips 15 are provided at four locations. The lip 15 is also provided on the back surface.

The separator 10 is attached to the battery cell 5 so as to face the wide side of the flat battery cell 5. The inner dimension WA of the press-fit frame 12 in the longitudinal direction is slightly narrower than the outer dimension of the battery cell 5 in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, a crush rib is provided inside the press-fit frame 12. Therefore, when the battery cell 5 is strongly pressed against the press-fit frame 12 of the separator 10, the battery cell 5 is press-fit into the press-fit frame 12 of the separator 10, and the battery cell 5 is fixed to the separator 10. When the battery cell 5 is press-fitted into the separator 10, the top surface of the protrusion 14 comes into contact with the wide surface of the battery cell 5. In the subassembly in which the battery cell 5 and the separator 10 are combined, a gap is formed between the wide side of the battery cell 5, the adjacent protrusions 14, and the partition plate 11. The gap becomes a flow path for cooling air.

Another frame (guide frame 13) is provided on the back surface of the partition plate 11 (the surface opposite to the press-fit frame 12). The inner dimension WB of the guide frame 13 in the longitudinal direction is slightly larger than the outer dimension of the battery cell 5. The guide frame 13 is used for positioning the battery cells 5 on the guide frame side.

As described above, in the assembled battery 2, a plurality of battery cells 5 are stacked, and the separator 10 is sandwiched between adjacent battery cells 5. Separator 10 is made of insulating resin. The separator 10 has a function of ensuring insulation between adjacent battery cells 5 and a function of suppressing the temperature of the battery cells 5. The battery cells 5 are cooled by the air flowing through the gaps described above.

The four lips 15 on the front surface are arranged near each corner of the partition plate 11. The lip 15 is made of thin resin and is soft. The height of the lip 15 is slightly higher than the height of the protrusion 14. When the battery cell 5 is press-fitted into the separator 10, the four lips 15 come into contact with the battery cell 5 before the protrusions 14 do. Lips 15 at the four corners of the partition plate 11 make the battery cells 5 parallel to the partition plate 11. When the battery cell 5 is further press-fitted, the battery cell 5 is pressed against the plurality of protrusions 14 while remaining parallel to the partition plate 11. As will be described later, when the battery cell 5 is press-fitted into the separator 10, the back surface of the partition plate 11 is supported by a pedestal so that the partition plate 11 is not deformed when the battery cell 5 is pressed against the lip 15. The pedestal will be explained in detail later.

The end plate 20a will be explained. FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view of the end plate 20a viewed from the front side, and FIG. 3(B) is a perspective view of the end plate 20a viewed from the back side. The shape of the front surface of the end plate 20a is the same as the shape of the front surface of the separator 10. That is, a press-fitting frame 12 into which the battery cell 5 is press-fitted, a protruding strip 14, and a lip 15 are provided on the front surface. When the battery cell 5 is pushed into the press-fit frame 12, the battery cell 5 is fixed to the end plate 20a.

Two protrusions 21 are provided on the back surface of the end plate 20a. In other words, the back surface of the end plate 20a is the surface opposite to the surface facing the battery cell 5 of the two wide surfaces of the end plate 20a. The two protrusions 21 are the final terminals (the final terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode) of the series connection of the plurality of battery cells 5 in the stacked body 3 . For convenience of explanation, the range where the projections 21 are provided on the back surface of the end plate 20a will be referred to as a specific range. Description of the shape of the other end plate 20b will be omitted.

The end plate 20a is also placed on the pedestal when the battery cell 5 is pressed against the press-fit frame 12 of the end plate 20a. Both the separator 10 and the end plate 20a can be placed on the pedestal. However, since the end plate 20a has a protrusion 21 on the back surface, a portion of the base corresponding to a specific range of the end plate 20a is movable.

A manufacturing apparatus 30 for manufacturing the assembled battery 2 will be explained. The manufacturing device 30 includes a pedestal 40 and a pressing jig 50. 4 and 5 show perspective views of the pedestal 40 of the manufacturing apparatus 30. The pedestal 40 can place the separator 10 or the end plate 20a. Although not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing jig 50 presses the battery cell 5 against the separator 10 or the end plate 20a placed on the pedestal 40, and presses the battery cell 5 into the press-fit frame 12 of the separator 10 or the end plate 20a. Fix 5. The pressing jig 50 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 4 shows a situation in which the separator 10 is placed. FIG. 5 shows a situation in which the end plate 20a is placed.

The pedestal 40 includes a pedestal main body 41, a pair of movable parts 42, an actuator 43 that moves each movable part, and a cylinder 44 that connects the movable part 42 and the actuator 43.

The actuator 43 can move the movable part 42 in the Y-axis direction in the figure. In other words, the actuator 43 can move the movable part 42 from a state where it is combined with the pedestal main body 41 to a state where it is separated from the pedestal main body 41. 4 shows a state in which the movable part 42 is combined with the pedestal main body 41, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the movable part 42 is separated from the pedestal main body 41.

As shown in FIG. 4, the separator 10 is placed with the movable part 42 combined with the pedestal main body 41 with the front surface (the surface on which the press-fit frame 12 is formed) facing upward. The upper surface of the overall shape of the base body 41 and the movable portion 42 is exactly fitted into the guide frame 13 on the back surface of the separator 10. In other words, the pedestal 40 (the overall shape in which the movable part 42 is combined with the pedestal main body 41) supports the entire back surface of the separator 10. A lip 15 is provided on the back surface of the separator 10, and a movable portion 42 is located at a location corresponding to the lip 15 on the base 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, when mounting the end plate 20a, the movable part 42 is separated from the pedestal main body 41. When the end plate 20a is placed on the base body 41, the protrusion 21 fits into the space 45 where the movable part 42 was located. The pedestal main body 41 supports the back surface of the end plate 20a without interfering with the protrusion 21.

The movement of the manufacturing apparatus 30 will be explained. FIG. 6 shows how the battery cell 5 is assembled to the separator 10. In the pedestal 40, the actuator 43 is moved to combine the movable part 42 with the pedestal main body 41 (FIG. 6(A)). In FIG. 6, the movable portion 42 is hatched to aid understanding.

Subsequently, the separator 10 is placed on the base body 41 to which the movable part 42 is combined (FIG. 6(B)). The separator 10 is placed on the pedestal 40 (the pedestal main body 41 to which the movable part 42 is combined) with the front surface facing upward (+Z direction). At this time, the back surface (the surface where the guide frame 13 is located) of the separator 10 faces the pedestal main body 41. The guide frame 13 fits into the base body 41 to which the movable part 42 is combined. The lip 15 on the back surface of the separator 10 comes into contact with the movable part 42 .

The pressing jig 50 includes a gripper 51 that grips the battery cell 5 and an actuator 52 that lowers the gripper 51 toward the pedestal 40. The gripper 51 holding the battery cell 5 is lowered toward the pedestal 40, and the battery cell 5 is pressed against the separator 10 (FIG. 6(C)). The battery cell 5 is press-fitted into the press-fit frame 12 on the front surface of the separator 10 . When pressing the battery cell 5 against the separator 10, a load is applied from the battery cell 5 to the lip 15, but the movable part 42 is located below the lip 15, and the movable part 42 receives the load applied to the lip 15.

The above steps are repeated for all separators 10 included in the assembled battery 2, and a subassembly in which the battery cells 5 and separators 10 are combined is manufactured.

FIG. 7 shows how the battery cell 5 is assembled to the end plate 20a. In the pedestal 40, the actuator 43 is moved to separate the movable part 42 from the pedestal main body 41 (FIG. 7(A)). In FIG. 7 as well, the movable portion 42 is hatched to aid understanding.

Subsequently, the end plate 20a is placed on the base body 41 from which the movable part 42 has been separated (FIG. 7(B)). The end plate 20a is placed on the pedestal 40 (the pedestal main body 41 from which the movable part 42 is separated) with the front surface facing upward (+Z direction). The protrusion 21 on the back surface of the end plate 20a is housed in a space 45 formed in the base body 41 by separating the movable part 42. The back surface of the end plate 20a is firmly supported by the upper surface of the pedestal body 41 without the protrusion 21 interfering with the pedestal body 41.

Subsequently, the actuator 52 of the pressing jig 50 is operated to lower the gripper 51 holding the battery cell 5 toward the pedestal 40, and press the battery cell 5 against the end plate 20a (FIG. 7(C)). The battery cell 5 is press-fitted into the press-fit frame 12 on the front surface of the end plate 20a. In this way, a subassembly in which the end plate 20a and the battery cell 5 are combined is manufactured.

Finally, the plurality of sub-assemblies of battery cells 5 and separators 10, the sub-assemblies of end plates 20a and battery cells 5, and end plates 20b (see FIG. 1) are stacked, and while applying pressure to the stack, case 4 (see FIG. (see 1). In this way, the assembled battery 2 is completed.

The manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment includes a pedestal 40 having a pedestal main body 41 and a movable part 42 . When assembling the battery cell 5 to the end plate 20a having the protrusion 21 on the back surface, the movable part 42 is separated from the base body 41 to secure a space 45 in which the protrusion 21 is accommodated. When assembling the battery cell 5 to the separator 10 that has no protrusions on the back surface, the movable part 42 is combined with the pedestal main body 41, and a wide support surface that supports the entire back surface of the separator 10 (the movable part 42 combined with the pedestal main body 41) is assembled. (upper surface of the whole). By employing a pedestal 40 having a movable part 42, this manufacturing apparatus 30 can perform both the process of fitting the battery cell 5 to the separator 10 and the process of fitting the battery cell 5 to the end plate 20a. can.

Points to note regarding the techniques described in the examples will be described. The lip 15 of the separator 10 is provided at a portion corresponding to a specific range (the range where the protrusion 21 is provided) of the end plate 20a on both the front surface and the back surface. Therefore, when the separator 10 is placed on the pedestal 40 (pedestal main body 41 + movable part 42) and the battery cell 5 is pressed against it, the movable part 42 absorbs the reaction force that the lip 15 receives (the reaction generated when the battery cell 5 is pressed). power).

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims as filed. Furthermore, the techniques illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of the objectives has technical utility in itself.

2: Assembled battery 3, 3a, 3b: Laminated body 4: Case 5: Battery cell 10: Separator 11: Partition plate 12: Press-fit frame 13: Guide frame 14: Convex strip 15: Lip 20a, 20b: End plate 21: Protrusion 30: Manufacturing equipment 40: Pedestal 41: Pedestal body 42: Movable part 43, 52: Actuator 44: Cylinder 45: Space 50: Pressing jig 51: Gripper

Claims (1)

It is a manufacturing device for assembled batteries,
The assembled battery is
multiple battery cells;
a plurality of separators having a frame on one surface into which the battery cells fit, and which are alternately stacked one by one with the battery cells;
It has a frame on one side that fits into the battery cell, and a protrusion is provided in a specific range on the opposite side, and has a frame that fits on the battery cell at one end of the stack of the battery cell and the separator. The matching end plate and
It is equipped with
The manufacturing device includes:
a pedestal on which the separator or the end plate is placed with the frame facing up;
a pressing jig that presses the battery cell against the frame of the separator or the end plate placed on the pedestal;
It is equipped with
The pedestal is
A movable part corresponding to the specific range is separable from the pedestal main body,
When placing the separator, the movable part is combined with the pedestal main body, and when placing the end plate, the movable part is separated from the pedestal main body to form a space in which the protrusion fits. ,
Assembled battery manufacturing equipment.

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