JP2964612B2 - Positioning method and apparatus for cylindrical battery - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing or packaging a cylindrical battery, which automatically detects the phase of the external appearance design of the battery in order to pack the batteries in the same direction. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus provided.

The conventional method of aligning cylindrical batteries in the same phase is to detect a reference mark or a bonding line of the exterior member, which is provided in advance on the battery exterior member by printing or the like, by rotating the battery with a detection sensor. The way was being taken.

The advantage of the former method using the fiducial mark is that it can be applied to various exterior methods such as metal cans, labels, and tubes, and the advantage of the latter method using the joining line is that the fiducial mark is placed on the exterior surface. Since there is no need, there is no restriction on the exterior design.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the latter method, in the case of a metal exterior member such as a can, it is possible to detect a joining line with a sensor, but in the case of a nonmetal exterior component. Was difficult to detect with a sensor and had low reliability. For this reason, in the related art, in a battery packaged with a nonmetallic package member, a method using a reference mark has been used, and there has been a problem that the package design is restricted.

An object of the present invention is to perform phase alignment of a battery appearance without using a reference mark.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention, in order to achieve the above object, as a method for simultaneously aligning the orientation of a plurality of cylindrical batteries in a predetermined direction,
Two or more cylindrical shafts including a rotation drive shaft and a seam detection shaft are arranged in parallel on the side of the battery, and the battery is rotated in both forward and reverse directions with this shaft, so that the seam of the battery exterior member matches the shaft. At this point, the outer periphery of the battery and the shaft slip, stopping the rotation of the battery and keeping its direction constant. If necessary,
Thereafter, the battery can be reversed by a certain amount.

The above two or three shafts constitute one unit, and a large number of the shafts are arranged in parallel and linearly at a predetermined pitch so that the postures of the batteries are aligned at the same time. A plurality of batteries can be taken out at the same time by magnets or vacuum suction in substantially matching recesses.

Also, a magnet for attracting a battery is provided at a position close to the outer diameter surface of the battery supported by the two or three shafts, and a number of units for rotating the battery in both forward and reverse directions to align the posture of the battery are circular. A car-shaped rotary drum is provided, and a star-shaped rotary supply board for supplying a cylindrical battery and a star-shaped rotary take-out board for take-out are arranged in close proximity to each other, and each is rotated synchronously. The battery can be supplied and taken out continuously.

According to the present invention, the external appearance of a cylindrical battery using an exterior member having a joint on the side surface can be easily and automatically aligned. Furthermore, since the step is used for the phase detection without using the reference mark, there is no restriction on the exterior design of the battery.

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a posture alignment method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a first embodiment,
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a battery position detecting shaft, and reference numeral 2 denotes a battery supporting shaft that is paired with the shaft. The axes of 1 and 2 are arranged in parallel, and support a cylindrical battery 4 covered with a label-shaped package member 3. 5 is a support for these parts,
The bearings of the first and second shafts are also used. Further, in order to strongly hold the battery 4, a magnet 6 is provided at a lower portion between both shafts.

The shaft 2 is used for supporting the battery, but is designed so that the seam of the battery exterior member hits when the battery rotates, so that the rotation of the battery is not erroneously stopped at a position other than the alignment position. FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 show an actual example. Fig. 2
Fig. 3 shows a shaft whose surface is lined with a soft material such as rubber. FIG. 3 shows a shaft provided with a ring-shaped protruding step so as to reduce the contact resistance with the battery, and FIG. 4 shows a shaft provided with a ring-shaped rubber or the like to reduce the resistance. is there.

Next, the operation will be described. 5 to 7 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation. Cylindrical battery 4 and shaft 2 covered with label 3 having seams supported on shafts 1 and 2
Rotates as the shaft 1 rotates, as shown in FIG.
While the battery 4 is rotating, the seam of the label 3 hits the shaft 2,
As described above, since the shaft 2 is designed so as not to stop the rotation of the battery, the rotation is continued as it is. Battery 4
Is stopped when the seam of the label 3 coincides with the position detecting shaft 1, and the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. Where axis 1
If the surface of the battery 4 is made smooth, the battery 4 and the shaft 1 slip. Therefore, when the shaft 1 is rotated at least by an amount corresponding to one rotation of the battery, the battery 4 always stops at a position where the joint of the label 3 and the shaft 1 coincide with each other, so that the directions of the batteries can be aligned. .

If necessary, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to reverse the direction of rotation of the battery and reverse it by an arbitrary amount of the battery so that certain parts of the exterior design are up.

In this embodiment, the battery 4 is rotated by the shaft 1, but the battery 2 is rotated by the shaft 1.
Use as a rotary drive shaft and use shafts 1 and 2 at the same time,
It is also possible to rotate the battery 4.

Next, a second embodiment of the posture alignment method will be described.

This embodiment is particularly effective when the postures are aligned in a state where a plurality of batteries are brought close to each other, or in the case of a small-diameter cylindrical battery in which it is difficult to arrange the shafts as in the first embodiment. Is the way. FIG. 8 shows an external view of this embodiment. The three shafts 11, 12 and 13 are arranged at equal intervals in parallel with each other, and support two cylindrical batteries 16 and 17 covered with labels 14 and 15. The shaft 11 is for detecting the position of the battery 16, and the shaft 12 supports the battery 16 and also functions as the shaft for detecting the position of the battery 17. The shaft 13 supports the battery 17. In the first embodiment, the axis for detecting the position and the axis for supporting the battery are distinguished from each other. However, in this embodiment, the axis 12 has both functions. And the shafts 11, 12, and 13 are all in the same shape.

Further, magnets 18 and 19 are provided below the batteries 16 and 17 to increase the holding power of the batteries. The above components are supported by the support base 20.

Next, the operation will be described. 9 to 16 are schematic sectional views showing the operation. Battery 1 supported on shafts 11, 12, and 13
The shafts 6 and 17 are rotated by the rotation of the shaft 12, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the joint between the outer labels 14 and 15 is
In the case where the height is higher than 12, 13 as shown in FIG. 10, the batteries and the shaft slip so that the joints of the outer labels 14 and 15 coincide with the shafts 11 and 12, respectively. And stops, and the directions of the batteries 16 and 17 become the same. First if necessary
The battery is reversed by an arbitrary amount as shown in FIG. 1 to complete the alignment of the posture. However, in the state where the battery is actually mounted, the joint of the label with respect to the shafts 11, 12, and 13 as described above,
There are cases where it comes up and cases where it comes down. Therefore, the correction operation is performed so that the posture can be aligned regardless of the state in which the battery is mounted. FIG. 12 shows labels 14, 15 for 11, 12, 13.
Are installed in the lower and upper states, respectively. If A ゜ is the center of each of axis 11, battery 16 and axis 12,
As shown in FIG. 12, when the shaft 12 is rotated so that the batteries 16, 17 rotate at least 360 ° -A °, as shown in FIG. Stop at the point where it coincides with axis 12. Thereafter, the rotation of the shaft 12 is reversed, and the battery 1
When 6, 17 is rotated in the opposite direction by more than A 継 ぎ, the seams of the labels 14, 15 come out above the shafts 11, 12, 13 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the battery is rotated again by an amount equal to or more than the amount rotated immediately before, the state shown in FIG.
16,17 directions are aligned. Thereafter, the battery can be further rotated by an arbitrary amount as shown in FIG. 16 as described above. Table 1 summarizes the above operations. In this table, the rotation direction of the battery is the case where the outer label is wound around the unit cell as in the example shown in the figure, and when the label winding direction is reversed, the rotation direction is also It needs to be reversed. The shaft 12 was used as a rotary drive shaft for rotating the battery, and the shafts 11 and 13 were used as driven rotation shafts.
Can be used as a rotary drive shaft, and a shaft used as a rotary drive shaft can be combined as necessary.

Next, a first embodiment of the posture aligning apparatus will be described. FIG. 17 is an external view of the device, in which two batteries are regarded as one set, and the three sets, that is, a device for aligning the postures of a total of six batteries. Reference numeral 32 denotes an apparatus main body, on which six batteries 36 are mounted. Numeral 31 denotes a device for attaching and detaching the battery 36, as shown in the figure.
Can move up and down and back and forth. Reference numeral 33 denotes a motor as a drive source, the rotation of which is transmitted to the main body 32 by a pulley 34 and a belt 35 to rotate a shaft 37. FIG. 18 is a schematic sectional view of the main body. As shown in the first embodiment of the attitude alignment method, one unit is used, and a total of six units are arranged in a horizontal line while keeping parallel with each other.
Is a shaft for detecting battery rotation and position, 38 is a shaft for supporting the battery,
39 is a magnet for holding the battery.

The batteries 36 mounted on the shafts 37 and 38 of the apparatus main body 32 are all aligned in the same direction by the operation described in the first embodiment of the attitude alignment method. And while maintaining that state,
The battery 36 is delivered to the desorption device 31 and sent to the next step.
As a method of transferring the battery 36 from the main body 32 to the attaching / detaching device 31, a method of attracting the battery 36 by applying a magnetic force stronger than the holding force of the battery 36 by the magnet 39 to the device 31 or applying vacuum suction means to the device 31 side. I can take it.

Next, a second embodiment of the posture aligning apparatus will be described. FIG. 19 is an external view of an apparatus for that purpose. In the figure 41
Is a cage-type rotary drum in which the axes for aligning the orientation are arranged in a circle, and 42 is a star-shaped rotary supply board that continuously supplies the batteries to the rotary drum 41. 43 is the battery whose posture has been aligned
This is a star-shaped rotary take-out board for taking out 46 from the rotary drum 41.
The star-shaped rotary supply board 42 and the star-shaped rotary take-out board 43 are both provided in contact with the rotary drum 41, and rotate in synchronization with the rotation of the rotary drum 41. In both cases, a plurality of concave portions are provided on the outer peripheral portion in accordance with the shape of the battery 45, forming a star shape. 44 is a conveyor belt, 46, 47, and 48 are axes for aligning the posture, and 49 is a holding magnet.

FIG. 20 is a schematic plan view of this device. In the present embodiment, as the method of aligning the postures of the batteries, the method described in the second embodiment is used, and the postures of the two batteries are aligned as a set.

The rotating drum 41 has three shafts as one set for aligning the postures of the batteries, and a large number of such units are arranged on the outer peripheral portion at equal intervals. The three shafts 46, 47, and 48 support two batteries 45, and each battery is held upright by a magnet 49 disposed at the back.

The three shafts 46, 47, and 48 are arranged such that all the batteries are oriented in a predetermined direction after the supporting batteries 45 are positioned on the same circumference and the postures are aligned. Further, the pitch of the batteries 45 on the rotating drum 41 is the same as the pitch of the concave portions of the star-shaped rotation supply board 42 and the star-shaped rotation extraction board 43.

The operation will be described below. In FIG. 20, the battery 45
Is supplied to the star-shaped rotary supply board 42 in the direction of the arrow from the left side of the figure, and the rotary drum 41 is sent by the star-shaped rotary supply board 42 as one or a plurality of sets. On the rotating drum 41,
By the time the battery 45 reaches the star-shaped rotary take-out board 43, the posture is aligned by the operation described in the second embodiment of the posture alignment method. The rotational force for this operation can be obtained by mounting a small motor directly on the individual shaft to be rotated, or by a cam and a cal follower. On the rotating drum, the battery 45 is held in contact with the shaft by the magnetic force of the magnet 49, but the magnet 50 embedded in the recess of the star-shaped rotary take-out board 43 has a stronger magnetic force than the magnet 49. Because
The battery 45 keeps its aligned posture, and the rotating drum 41
Then, transfer to the star-shaped rotary take-out board 43. Star-shaped rotary take-out board 43
Rotates, and the battery 45 is separated from the star-shaped rotary take-out board 43 at the position where the battery 45 meets the stripper 51, and is transferred to the next step after being transferred to the transport belt 44.

In the present embodiment, the second method is used as a method of aligning the battery posture.
Although the method described in the first embodiment is used, the present invention can be implemented by using the method in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the present invention, cylindrical batteries can be individually or plurally aligned in the same phase at the same time. The orientation of the battery can be automatically and efficiently adjusted without the necessity of connecting the members.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus used in a first embodiment of a method for aligning the posture of a battery according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are views showing a shaft used, and FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus used in a second embodiment of the posture alignment method, FIGS. 9 to 16 are explanatory diagrams of the posture alignment method, and FIG. FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a battery orientation adjusting device, FIG. 18 is a schematic sectional view thereof, FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the battery orientation adjusting device, and FIG. 20 is a schematic plan view thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Axis for position detection, 2 ... Axis for battery support, 3 ... Outer label, 4 ... Cylindrical battery, 5 ... Support base, 6 ... Magnet, 11,12,13 ... Axis, 14 , 15 …… Exterior label, 16,17 ……
Battery, 18, 19 ... magnet, 20 ... support base, 31 ... detachable device, 32 ... device body, 33 ... motor, 34 ... pulley, 35
…… Belt, 36 …… Cylindrical battery, 37 …… Position detection axis,
38: Battery support shaft, 39: Magnet, 41: Rotating drum,
42 ... Star-shaped rotary feeder, 43 ... Star-shaped rotary extractor, 44 ...
Belt conveyor, 45… Battery, 46 …… Axis, 47 …… Axis, 48
... shaft, 49 ... magnet, 50 ... magnet, 51 ... stripper.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-70331 (JP, A) JP-A-52-67298 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01M 2/10 B65G 47/00-47/20 B65C 1/00-11/06

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for simultaneously aligning a plurality of cylindrical batteries, each of which has a unit cell packaged with a package member having a seam, in a predetermined direction, the method comprising: rotating a battery arranged in parallel with an axial direction of each cell. The outer periphery of each of the cylindrical batteries is supported by two shafts including a drive shaft and a joint detection shaft, and the battery is rotated forward and reverse by rotating the rotary drive shaft in both forward and reverse directions. A method for aligning the attitude of a cylindrical battery, wherein when the seam portion of the exterior member matches the detection shaft, the outer periphery of the battery and the shaft slip to stop the rotation of the battery. 2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein two or three shafts arranged in parallel for supporting and rotating the cylindrical battery are defined as one unit, and a plurality of shafts are arranged in parallel and linearly at a predetermined pitch. In a state where the postures of the cylindrical batteries are aligned at the same time, and the postures of the plurality of batteries having the aligned postures are maintained, a plurality of detachable devices provided with magnets or vacuum suction means at the bottoms of the depressions substantially corresponding to the battery shapes are used. A method for aligning the attitude of a cylindrical battery, comprising taking out two batteries at the same time. 3. An outer diameter of the battery is supported by a parallel axis, and the battery is sucked at a position close to a surface of the outer diameter of the battery supported at an intermediate position of the axis so that the battery is within a predetermined range of the axis. A cage-type rotating drum, in which a large number of shafts for rotating the battery in both forward and reverse directions and aligning the position of the joint of the battery exterior member, are arranged in a circular shape, Proximity, a star-shaped rotary supply board that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating drum and supplies batteries at regular intervals, and also rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating drum, also in proximity to the rotating drum,
An alignment position of a cylindrical battery, which is equipped with a star-shaped rotating disk having a cylindrical battery holding function for taking out a battery with a uniform orientation while maintaining its attitude.