JP6292023B2 - Polygon member alignment device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an alignment apparatus that aligns a plurality of polygonal members at a predetermined reference position.

  In rectangular thin secondary batteries such as lithium polymer batteries, in order to remove internal short circuits and other defective products of power generation elements before shipping, all the batteries are charged and the battery voltage and internal resistance are measured after the batteries are manufactured. A charge / discharge inspection (quality inspection) is performed in which the measured value is compared with a reference value to make a pass / fail judgment. In order to efficiently perform this type of exhaustive inspection, a flat battery charge / discharge and inspection system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. This system includes a battery storage container having a bottom plate with an insertion hole into which positive and negative electrodes of a battery are inserted, and a guide part that supports the battery body, and a plurality of batteries that have been manufactured are aligned and aligned in the guide part. (Positioning) In this state, charge / discharge and short circuit inspection are performed.

JP 2004-319334 A

  However, according to the configuration of the above prior art, when the main body of the thin battery is set in a state of being inclined with respect to the guide portion, the end portion of the battery main body comes into contact with and catches on the guide portion, so that a number of battery electrodes May not be inserted into the clip in a short time. In the above prior art, the guide portion is provided with a tapered portion (FIG. 6B). However, since the end portion of the battery body is soft, it is bent even when it hits the tapered surface, and the effect of calling the tapered portion is not sufficiently exhibited.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an alignment apparatus that can align a plurality of polygonal members at a predetermined reference position in a short time even when set in a slightly inclined state.

  The present invention aligns at least a first side of a polygonal member at a predetermined reference position from a state in which a plurality of polygonal members are supported so that their principal surfaces are opposed to each other and movable in a juxtaposed direction and a tilting direction. A first guide portion having a plurality of first alignment recesses for receiving and aligning a first side of a polygonal member at a tip thereof is provided at a tip so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle. The elastic part is provided so as to be movable in a first direction approaching or leaving the first side with respect to the base part and elastically biasing the guide support part in the first direction away from the base part By providing the above, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

  According to the present invention, when aligning the first sides of the plurality of polygonal members, the first guide portion having the plurality of first alignment recesses is brought close to the first side, and the first sides of the plurality of polygonal members are arranged. Are received in the plurality of first alignment recesses. Thereby, the first sides of the plurality of polygonal members are aligned at a predetermined reference position. When some of the polygonal members are inclined with respect to the first alignment recess, the inclined polygons are arranged. The first side of the member is not received in the first alignment recess and abuts on its periphery. By the contact, the first guide portion rotates by a predetermined angle, and when the first guide portion is further moved closer to the first side, the first guide portion is relatively moved in the separation direction against the elastic bias of the elastic portion. fall back. By this relative backward movement, the contact angle between the first side of the polygonal member and the periphery of the first alignment recess becomes small, and the first side starts to slide toward the first alignment recess. When the first side starts to slide toward the first alignment recess, the force by which the first side presses the first guide portion is reduced, and as a result, the first guide portion relatively advances due to the elastic bias of the elastic portion, and The first guide part rotates in the opposite direction. The first side is received in the first alignment recess by the relative advance of the first guide portion and the rotation in the opposite direction. Therefore, even when setting in a slightly inclined state, a plurality of polygonal members can be aligned at a predetermined reference position in a short time.

It is a top view which shows the inspection apparatus of the thin secondary battery to which the alignment apparatus of the polygonal member which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is applied. It is an arrow line view which follows the II-II line of FIG. It is a top view which shows the aligning apparatus of the polygonal member which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. 3B is a front view showing the polygonal member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. FIG. It is the top view to which one 1st alignment convex part of Drawing 3A was expanded. It is a front view which shows operation | movement of the alignment apparatus of the polygon member of FIG. 3A, a left figure shows an unloaded state and a right figure shows a loaded state, respectively. It is a top view (steps 1-4) which shows the basic operation | movement of the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view (steps 5-7) which shows the basic operation | movement of the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view (steps 1-7) which shows the detail of the basic operation | movement of the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 5A and 5B. It is a top view which shows the 1st example (steps 1-4) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the 1st example (steps 5-7) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows a part of 2nd example of the alignment operation | movement by the aligning apparatus of the polygon member of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the 3rd example (steps 1-2) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the 3rd example (step 3-4) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the 3rd example (steps 5-7) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the 4th example (step 1-2) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the 4th example (steps 3-4) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the 4th example (steps 5-7) of the alignment operation | movement by the polygon member alignment apparatus of FIG. 3A. It is the top view and side view which show an example of the thin secondary battery used in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The application of the alignment apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be applied as long as it is necessary to align the polygonal members in a desired form. It can be used in an inspection process for inspecting the presence or absence of an internal short circuit or other defects in a secondary battery in a manufacturing factory. In the following embodiments, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment in which the alignment apparatus 1 of the present example is used for a charge / discharge inspection process of a thin secondary battery.

  The thin secondary battery inspection device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 charges and discharges a finished product of a flat / rectangular lithium ion secondary battery 3 while pressurizing its main surface, thereby causing an internal short circuit and other problems. This is to check for the presence or absence. In this case, the aligning device 1 according to the present invention is used as the pressurizing device 21.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the thin secondary battery 3 used in this example is a power generation element 35 including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator, and an electrolyte. And a pair of exterior members 31, 32 in which the power generation element is housed and sealed at the outer periphery, and one side of the exterior member connected to each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the power generation element (shown in FIG. 10) In the example, it has a positive electrode tab 33 and a negative electrode tab 34 derived from the right side). An upper view of FIG. 10 is a plan view of the thin secondary battery 3, and a lower view is a side view. Note that the shape and structure of the thin secondary battery 3 shown in FIG. 10 are merely examples, and do not limit the alignment apparatus 1 of the present invention. For example, the planar shape of the exterior member is not limited to a rectangle and may be a square or other polygons. The positive electrode tab 33 and the negative electrode tab 34 may be derived from one side of the exterior members 33 and 34 as shown in FIG.

  In this type of thin secondary battery 3, an internal short circuit inspection is performed before shipping to prevent foreign matter from entering the power generation element before sealing the outer periphery of the exterior member and causing an internal short circuit during use. In some cases, the total number manufactured is inspected. Then, in order to reproduce a harsh use environment in which internal short circuit is likely to occur (a kind of accelerated deterioration test), as shown by the arrow in the lower diagram of FIG. 10, the charge / discharge treatment is performed while pressing the main surface of the thin secondary battery 3. In this case, the occurrence of an internal short circuit is inspected by measuring the charge / discharge voltage at this time.

  In particular, since the number of inspections per hour (inspection efficiency) can be increased by pressing the main surface of a large number of thin secondary batteries 3 at one time, such as 100% inspection, the pressure device 21 as shown in FIGS. Is used. In this case, in order to apply a uniform pressure to a large number of thin secondary batteries 3, a spacer 24 (also referred to as a core) made of a plate-shaped rigid body is interposed between adjacent thin secondary batteries 3. As a result, the pressure applied to some of the thin secondary batteries 3 is too small to reproduce the accelerated deterioration of the internal short circuit, or conversely, the pressure applied to some of the thin secondary batteries 3 is too large. This prevents the 31 and 32 from being damaged.

  Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the pressurizing device 21 of this example, a pair of end plates 23a and 23b are fixed to both ends of the base plate 22 as shown in FIG. Four support bars 25 that support the spacer 24 are fixed in the vicinity of the four corners of the end plates 23a and 23b. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable plate 26 penetrates the support bar 25 between the pair of end plates 23 a and 23 b and between the endmost portions of the plurality of spacers 24 and the one end plate 23 a. The movable plate 26 moves between the right end plate 24b and the plurality of spacers 24 by moving the left end drive shaft 26a in FIG. The thin secondary battery 3 interposed between the spacers 24 is pressurized or released.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the spacer 24 is a rectangular flat rigid body having an outer shape larger than the outer shape of the thin secondary battery 3, and C-shaped engaging portions 24a into which four support bars 25 are respectively inserted at the four corners. Is formed. The spacer 24 is not limited to a rectangle, and may be a polygon having sides to be aligned. One C-shaped engagement portion 24a is formed larger than the outer shape of the support bar 25, and when supported by the four support bars 25 as shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the support bar 25, the engagement portion 24a, And a slight gap between the support bar 25 and the base of the C-shaped engagement portion 24a. As a result, in a state where the plurality of spacers 24 are supported by the four support bars 25, the spacers 24 can move in the axial direction of the support bar 25 and can be slightly rotated in the plane of FIG. Also, in the plan view shown in FIG. 1, the upper two engaging portions 24a and the lower two engaging portions 24a in FIG. 1 can be inclined.

  Here, while a screw is formed on the support bar 25, a plurality of spacers 24 are perpendicular to the four support bars 25 by forming a screw that engages with the screw at the engaging portion 24 a of the spacer 24. In this case, it takes time to widen the distance between the spacers 24 to insert the thin secondary battery 3 and to narrow the distance between the spacers 24 to pressurize the thin secondary battery 3. This reduces productivity. Therefore, in the pressurizing apparatus 21 of this example, the spacer 24 is loosely fitted to the support bar 25, and the interval can be widened or narrowed in a short time.

  When the charge / discharge inspection is performed while pressurizing the thin secondary battery 3, the movable plate 26 is moved back to the left end plate 23 b as shown in FIG. In such a state, the plurality of thin secondary batteries 3 to be inspected are inserted one by one between the spacers 24 using a transport robot or the like. When the thin secondary battery 3 is inserted between the spacers 24, the drive shaft 26a is moved rightward, and the spacer 24 and the thin secondary battery 3 are pressurized between the movable plate 26 and the right end plate 23a. At this time, the spacer 24 moves in the juxtaposed direction along the four support bars 25, but the thin secondary battery 3 inserted between them is flexible and its thickness is not uniform over the entire main surface. In addition, since the spacer 24 is loosely fitted to the support bar 25 as described above, the main surface of the spacer 24 and the four support bars 25 may be inclined at right angles at the end of the pressing operation. For example, in the plan view shown in FIG. 1, the upper side of the spacer 24 may be inclined to the right side or the left side with respect to the lower side.

  Even if the final pressure is applied with the spacer 24 tilted in this manner, the pressure applied to the main surface of the thin secondary battery 3 is not uniform over the entire main surface, so that an appropriate accelerated deterioration test can be realized. Inspection accuracy or inspection reliability is reduced. Therefore, in the inspection apparatus 2 of this example, the alignment apparatus 1 for aligning the spacers 24 at right angles to the four support bars 25 is provided. The alignment device 1 of the present example corrects the inclination of the plurality of spacers 24 supported and juxtaposed on the support bar 25 of the pressurizing device 21, and thereby the main body of the thin secondary battery 3 inserted therebetween. The pressure applied to the surface can be made uniform over the entire main surface. In addition, in order to use for the charging / discharging process in the state which pressurized the some thin secondary battery 3 with the pressurization apparatus 21, the moving substrate 27 to which the baseplate 22 was fixed as shown in FIG. Therefore, the drive device 29 such as a fluid pressure cylinder can be moved forward and backward. Although not shown in the figure, positive and negative electrode feeding clips, for example, in the form of sheds, are arranged at the same intervals as the thin secondary battery 3 on the right side of the positive electrode tab 33 and the negative electrode tab 34 of the thin secondary battery 3 in FIG. A plurality of the pressurizing devices 2 are moved forward, so that the positive electrode tab 33 and the negative electrode tab 34 of each thin secondary battery 3 are connected to the positive and negative electrode feeding clips. A check is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the alignment device 1 of this example aligns one side of the spacer 24 of the pressure device 21 at a right angle to the support bar 25. The lower side 24b shown in FIG. The angle and the interval are corrected with respect to the left side 24b shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the side of the spacer 24 to be aligned is also referred to as a first side 24b. Therefore, the alignment apparatus 1 of this example is provided in the base portion 11 that is movable in the first directions X1 and X2 that approach or separate from the first side 24b of the spacer 24, and the base portion 11. The guide support part 12 is provided so as to be movable in the first direction X1, X2 with respect to the base part 11, and the guide support part 12 is elastic with respect to the base part 11 in the separation direction X2 of the first direction X1, X2. A first guide having a biasing elastic portion 13 and a plurality of first alignment recesses 141 provided on the guide support portion 12 so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle and receiving and aligning the first side 24b of the spacer 24 at the tip. Unit 14. 3A is a plan view showing details of the polygonal member alignment apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a front view showing the polygonal member alignment apparatus 1 of FIG. 3A.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base unit 11 drives the fluid pressure cylinder 11a and the like in a direction X1 that is away from the direction X1 that approaches the moving substrate 27 to which the base plate 22 of the pressurizing device 21 is fixed. It can be moved by the device. The original position of the base portion 11 is a position moved in the direction X2 away from the pressure device 21, and moves in the approaching direction X1 when performing the alignment operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the base portion 11 of this example includes a rail mechanism 11b that is slidable in the first directions X1 and X2 with respect to the moving substrate 27, a leg portion 11c that stands up from the rail mechanism 11b, and a leg portion 11c. A plate portion 11d having a horizontal plane fixed to the upper end of the plate, and an angle portion 11e having an L-shaped cross section fixed to the plate portion 11d as shown in FIG. 3B.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the guide support portion 12 connects two leg portions 12a inserted through the vertical wall surface of the angle portion 11e of the base portion 11 and a base end of the leg portion 12a, and will be described later. A restraining portion 12b for restraining the elastic biasing force by the elastic portion 13 made of a coil spring or the like, a plate portion 12d for connecting the tip of the leg portion 12a, and a center portion of the plate portion 12d extending in a C-shaped section. And a shaft support portion 12e to which the moving shaft 12c is attached.

  A first guide portion 14 to be described later is rotatably supported on the shaft support portion 12e of the guide support portion 12 via a rotating shaft 12c. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the plate portion 12d and the first guide 14 are supported. A gap 12f is provided between the bottom surface of the portion 14 and the right side of the bottom surface of the first guide portion 14 is the plate portion even when the first guide portion 14 rotates clockwise about the rotation shaft 12c. Further contact with the right side of 12d is restricted. Similarly, even if the first guide portion 14 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 12c, the left side of the bottom surface of the first guide portion 14 abuts on the left side of the plate portion 12d and further rotation is performed. Be regulated. That is, the left and right end portions of the plate portion 12d that abuts the bottom surface of the first guide portion 14 define a rotation angle about the rotation shaft 12c of the first guide portion 14, and beyond that of the first guide portion 14. The stopper part 12g which blocks | prevents rotation of this is comprised.

  Between the vertical wall surface of the angle portion 11e and the plate portion 12d, which are located on both sides of the leg portions 12a and 12a of the guide support portion 12, elastic portions 13 and 13 made of compression coil springs are provided. The elastic portions 13 and 13 elastically urge the guide support portion 12 in the approach direction X1 in the X-axis direction via the plate portion 12d with respect to the angle portion 11e which is the base portion 11. Since the leg portion 12a of the guide support portion 12 is inserted through the vertical wall surface of the angle portion 11e and the movement in the approaching direction X1 is stopped by the stop portion 12b, the guide support portion 12 including the first guide portion 14 includes the X-axis. In a no-load state where no directional force is applied, the elastic portion 13 moves forward to the approaching direction X1 by the elastic force, and the stop portion 12b comes into contact with the vertical wall surface of the angle portion 11e. FIG. 3A is a view showing a state at a position slightly retracted from the no-load state in order to facilitate understanding of the structure of the guide support portion 12. When a force in the separation direction X2 acts on the first guide portion 14 from the no-load state, the guide support portion 12 also moves in the separation direction X2 against the elastic force of the elastic portion 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the first guide portion 14 pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 12c of the guide support portion 12 receives a plurality of first sides 24b that receive and align the first sides 24b of the plurality of spacers 24 at the tips thereof. It has the alignment recessed part 14a, and has the 1st alignment convex part 14b between the 1st alignment recessed part 14a and the adjacent 1st alignment recessed part 14a. FIG. 3A shows an example in which seven first alignment concave portions 14a and eight first alignment convex portions 14b are formed. FIG. 1 shows five first alignment concave portions 14a and six first alignment convex portions 14b. An example is shown. FIG. 3C is an enlarged plan view of one first alignment convex portion 14a. In the plan view, one first alignment concave portion 14a has a width that is slightly wider than the thickness of the spacer 24 at the bottom portion 14c. It has a tapered surface 14d that expands toward the surface.

  3A and 3B show one unit of the alignment apparatus 1, but when applied to an actual inspection apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. A plurality may be arranged side by side along the installation direction. In the illustrated example, the eight alignment devices 1 are fixed to a common base portion 11, and approach and separate from the pressurizing device 2 by a single fluid pressure cylinder 11 a.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the alignment device 1 of this example further includes a second guide portion 15 fixed to the back surface of the plate portion 11 d of the base portion 11. The second guide portion 15 is fixed at a position away from the first guide portion 14 in the extending direction of the first side 24b of the spacer 24, and has a second alignment recess having the same shape as the first alignment recess 14a at the tip. . That is, in the plan view shown in FIG. 3A, the first alignment recesses 14a and the first alignment protrusions 14b completely overlap with the second alignment recesses 15a and the second alignment protrusions 15b. Accept and align. And the fixed position of the 2nd alignment recessed part 15a of the X-axis direction is an X-axis direction with respect to the 1st alignment recessed part 14a in case the 1st guide part 14 is an original position, as shown in the left figure of FIG. Is fixed to a position retracted by a predetermined distance L toward the separation direction X2. 4, when the first guide portion 14 moves in the approach direction X1 in the X-axis direction and reaches the forward end, the first alignment recess 14a and the second alignment recess 15a are in the X-axis direction. In the same position. That is, in the alignment apparatus 1 of this example, the first guide portion 14 abuts on the upper portion of the first side 24b of the spacer 24, and the second guide portion 15 abuts on the lower portion of the first side 24b at the same time. The spacers 24 are aligned.

Next, the operation of the alignment apparatus 1 of this example will be described.
When the charge / discharge inspection is performed while pressurizing the thin secondary battery 3 using the inspection apparatus 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the movable plate 26 of FIG. 1 is retracted to the left end plate 23b and the distance between the spacers 24 is increased. Is expanded to a size in which the thin secondary battery 3 can be inserted. From this state, a plurality of thin secondary batteries 3 to be inspected using a transfer robot or the like are inserted one by one between the spacers 24. When the thin secondary battery 3 is inserted between the spacers 24, the drive shaft 26a is moved rightward. As a result, the distance between the movable plate 26 and the right end plate 23a is shortened, but the plurality of spacers 24 are aligned using the alignment apparatus 1 of this example before reaching the final pressure position.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, an operation in the case where the number of the spacers 24 is one will be described. 5A and 5B are plan views in which one spacer 24, one thin secondary battery 3 corresponding to the spacer 24, and one unit of the alignment device 1 (particularly the first guide portion 14) are extracted. Is a schematic diagram in which the main points are extracted. When the alignment operation is started, the alignment operation in the case where the spacer 24 is inclined and is displaced from the first alignment concave portion 14a of the first guide portion 14 as shown in the plan view of Step 1 in FIG. 5A will be described.

  First, when the first guide portion 14 is advanced in the X1 direction by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a, the spacer 24 is inclined as shown in the figure and is displaced from the center of the first alignment convex portion 14a. The first side 24b of the spacer 24 comes into contact with 14b (Step 1 in FIGS. 5A and 5C). When the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances in the X1 direction while the first side 24b of the spacer 24 is in contact with the first alignment convex portion 14b, the first guide portion 14 has the rotation shaft 12c as the rotation center, and the contact portion. As a force point, rotation starts in the direction in which the spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 are in contact (counterclockwise in the illustrated example) (step 2 in FIGS. 5A and 5C). When the first guide portion 14 rotates, it abuts against the stopper portion 12g of the plate portion 12d and further rotation is prevented. However, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances, the load is compressed to constitute the elastic portion 13. It is absorbed by the compression of the coil spring (step 2 in FIGS. 5A and 5C).

  When the compression coil spring composing the elastic portion 13 is compressed by a certain amount or more, the first guide portion 14 temporarily stops in that state, and this time by the advancement of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a in the X1 direction with respect to the spacer 24. A load is applied. (Step 3 in FIGS. 5A and 5C). When a load is applied to the spacer 24, the first side 24b of the spacer 24 starts to slide along the side surface of the first alignment convex portion 14b of the first guide portion 14, that is, the tapered surface 14d of the first alignment concave portion 14a (FIG. 5A). And Step 4) of FIG. 5C.

  As the spacer 24 starts to slide in this manner, the contact position between the first side 24b of the spacer 24 and the first alignment recess 14a of the first guide portion 14 is as shown in Step 5 of FIGS. 5B and 5C. The first guide portion 14 approaches the center of the first alignment recess 14a, and accordingly, the first guide portion 14 rotates in the clockwise direction in the opposite direction to return to the original angle (step 5 in FIGS. 5B and 5C). ). Further, once the sliding starts, the friction at the contact portion between the spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 is reduced, so that the spacer 24 is further moved by the restoring force of the elastic portion 13 by the advance of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a. (Step 6 in FIGS. 5B and 5C). Further, the posture of the spacer 24 is corrected by fitting the first side 24b of the spacer 24 into the bottom portion 14c of the first alignment recess 14a of the first guide portion 14 by the restoring force of the elastic portion 13, and the support bar (Step 7 in FIGS. 5B and 5C).

Next, the operation when there are a plurality of spacers 24 will be described.
<< Pattern 1 >> FIGS. 6A and 6B show a case where the spacer 24 located at the left end of the first guide portion 14 is inclined and is most displaced from the center of the first alignment recess 14a. Since the first guide portion 14 has a structure in which the spacer 24 is sandwiched by the first alignment concave portion 14a, when the first guide portion 14 advances in the X1 direction by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a, the first guide portion 14 has the largest amount of displacement. First contact is made with the large spacer 24 (step 1 in FIG. 6A). At this time, the other spacer 24 having a smaller shift amount than the leftmost spacer 24 is not in contact with the first guide portion 14.

  Since only the first guide portion 14 and the leftmost spacer 24 are in contact with each other, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances in the X1 direction, the first guide portion 14 makes contact with the rotation shaft 12c as the center of rotation. The rotation is started in the direction in which the left end spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 are in contact (counterclockwise in the illustrated example) with the portion as a force point (steps 2 to 3 in FIG. 6A). When the first guide portion 14 rotates, it abuts against the stopper portion 12g of the plate portion 12d and further rotation is prevented. However, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances, the load is compressed to constitute the elastic portion 13. It is absorbed by the compression of the coil spring (step 4 in FIG. 6A).

  When the compression coil spring composing the elastic portion 13 is compressed by a certain amount or more, the first guide portion 14 temporarily stops in that state, and this time the left end spacer 24 in the X1 direction of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a. Load due to advancement is applied. (Step 5 in FIG. 6B). When a load is applied to the leftmost spacer 24, the first side 24b of the leftmost spacer 24 slides along the side surface of the first alignment convex portion 14b of the first guide portion 14, that is, the tapered surface 14d of the first alignment concave portion 14a. First, when the leftmost spacer 24 continues to slide, all the first sides 24b of the other spacers 24 come into contact with the first guide portion 14 (step 6 in FIG. 6B). When the first sides 24b of all the spacers 24 are in contact with each other, the first guide portion 14 and the stopper portion 12g are kept in contact with each other. It will be added to the spacer 24, and it will change to the state which the whole begins to slide. At this time, the first guide portion 14 rotates clockwise to return to the original angle every time the spacer 24 slides (step 6 in FIG. 6B).

  Once the sliding starts, the friction at the contact portion between the spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 is reduced, so that the spacer 24 is further centered on the first alignment recess 14a by the restoring force of the elastic portion 13 by the advance of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a. Slip into. Then, the posture of all the spacers 24 is corrected by fitting the first side 24b of the spacer 24 into the bottom portion 14c of the first alignment recess 14a of the first guide portion 14 by the restoring force of the elastic portion 13. It will be aligned at right angles to the support bar 25 (step 7 in FIG. 6B).

  << Pattern 2 >> FIG. 7 shows a case where the spacer 24 located at the center of the first guide portion 14 is inclined and is most displaced from the center of the first alignment recess 14a. As shown in the figure, when the spacer 24 located at the center of the first guide portion 14 is most displaced, the other two spacers 24 in the displaced direction (here, the left side) are also largely displaced in the same manner. . At this time, the first guide portion 14 first comes into contact with any one of the three spacers 24 greatly deviated from a predetermined position, and the other spacers 24 whose deviation amount is smaller than the one spacer 24 are the first guide 24. It is in the state which does not contact the part 14 (step 1 of FIG. 7).

  Since only the first guide part 14 and one of the left three spacers 24 are in contact with each other, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances in the X1 direction, the first guide part 14 moves the rotation shaft 12c. , With the contact portion as a force point, rotation starts in the direction in which the one spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 are in contact (counterclockwise in the illustrated example) (step 2 in FIG. 7). When the first guide portion 14 rotates, it abuts against the stopper portion 12g of the plate portion 12d and further rotation is prevented. However, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances, the load is compressed to constitute the elastic portion 13. Absorbed by compression of the coil spring (same as step 4 in FIG. 6A).

  When the compression coil spring constituting the elastic portion 13 is compressed by a certain amount or more, the first guide portion 14 temporarily stops in that state, and this time, the X1 direction of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a with respect to the one spacer 24 The load due to the forward movement is applied. (Same as step 5 in FIG. 6B). When a load is applied to the one spacer 24, the first side 24b of the spacer 24 slides along the side surface of the first alignment convex portion 14b of the first guide portion 14, that is, along the tapered surface 14d of the first alignment concave portion 14a. First, when the spacer 24 continues to slide, all of the first sides 24b of the other spacers 24 come into contact with the first guide portion 14 (same as step 6 in FIG. 6B). When the first sides 24b of all the spacers 24 are in contact with each other, the first guide portion 14 and the stopper portion 12g are kept in contact with each other. It will be added to the spacer 24, and it will change to the state which the whole begins to slide. At this time, each time the spacer 24 slides, the first guide portion 14 rotates clockwise to return to the original angle (same as step 6 in FIG. 6B).

  Once the sliding starts, the friction at the contact portion between the spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 is reduced, so that the spacer 24 is further centered on the first alignment recess 14a by the restoring force of the elastic portion 13 by the advance of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a. Slip into. Then, the posture of all the spacers 24 is corrected by fitting the first side 24b of the spacer 24 into the bottom portion 14c of the first alignment recess 14a of the first guide portion 14 by the restoring force of the elastic portion 13. It will be aligned perpendicular to the support bar 25 (same as step 7 in FIG. 6B).

  << Pattern 3 >> FIGS. 8A to 8C show a case where the spacer 24 located at the right end of the first guide portion 14 is inclined and most displaced. When the first guide portion 14 moves forward in the X1 direction by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a, the first guide portion 14 first comes into contact with the rightmost spacer 24 having the largest displacement amount (step 1 in FIG. 8A). At this time, the other spacer 24 having a smaller amount of deviation than the rightmost spacer 24 is not in contact with the first guide portion 14.

  Since only the first guide portion 14 and the right end spacer 24 are in contact with each other, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances in the X1 direction, the first guide portion 14 makes contact with the rotation shaft 12c as the center of rotation. The rotation is started in the direction (clockwise in the illustrated example) in which the spacer 24 at the right end and the first guide portion 14 are in contact with each other as a power point (step 2 in FIG. 8A). As soon as this rotation starts, the spacer 24 located at the left end and the first guide portion 14 come into contact with each other, whereby the rotation of the first guide portion 14 stops (step 2 in FIG. 8A). When the first guide portion 14 is further advanced by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a in a state where the rotation is stopped, a load is applied to the spacer 24 which is strongly hit at the left end, and the load is a compression coil spring constituting the elastic portion 13. However, when the fluid pressure cylinder 11a further advances, the first side 24b of the spacer 24 at the left end is a side surface of the first alignment convex portion 14b of the first guide portion 14, that is, the first alignment concave portion 14a. Begins to slide along the tapered surface 14d.

  At this time, a load is also applied to the right end spacer 24, but since it is the rotation reference, no force is generated to slide the right end spacer 24 (step 3 in FIG. 8B). At the same time, since the leftmost spacer 24 starts to slide, the second to fourth spacers 24 adjacent to the left are sequentially pushed toward the rightmost spacer 24 (step 4 in FIG. 8B). .

  As shown in step 4 of FIG. 8B, the spacers 24 are pushed in the right direction sequentially from the left end, so that the first guide portion 14 comes into contact with the first side 24b of each spacer 24 (step 5 of FIG. 8C). . At this time, when viewed from the first guide portion 14, only the right end spacer 24 is largely displaced, so the first guide portion 14 slides the left four spacers 24 into the first alignment recess 14a. Then, the rotation starts again clockwise (step 6 in FIG. 8C). Then, as the first guide portion 14 rotates, the angle between the right end spacer 24 and the tapered portion 14d of the first guide portion 14 becomes sharp, whereby the right end spacer 24 starts to slide (step 6 in FIG. 8C). After all the spacers 24 have been slid until they come into contact with the first guide portion 14, the spacers 24 are fitted into the bottom portion 14c of the first alignment recess 14a of the first guide portion 14 by the load caused by the advance of the fluid pressure cylinder 11a. All the spacers 24 are corrected in posture and aligned at right angles to the support bar 25 (step 7 in FIG. 8C).

  << Pattern 4 >> FIGS. 9A to 9C show a case where the left and right directions of the first guide portion 14 are different. As shown in Step 1 of FIG. 9A, when the left and right spacers 24 are tilted to the left and the right three spacers 24 are tilted to the right, the first guide portion 14 is shifted in the right and left directions. Although 24 is loosely fitted to the support bar 25, its degree of freedom is limited, so that only one of the positions is greatly displaced, and the other is less displaced. Therefore, in this pattern example, as shown in Step 1 of FIG. 9A, the case where the right end spacer 24 is greatly displaced will be described.

  When the first guide portion 14 is advanced in the X1 direction by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a, the first guide portion 14 first comes into contact with the right-side spacer 24 that is largely displaced, and the right-side spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 are in contact with each other. The first guide portion 14 starts rotating clockwise from the contact point (steps 1 and 2 in FIG. 9A). When this rotation is started, the first guide portion 14 comes into contact with the spacer 24 at the left end, which is shifted in the opposite direction, and the rotation of the first guide portion 14 stops (step 3 in FIG. 9B). After the rotation of the first guide portion 14 is stopped, a load is applied to the left and right end spacers 24 by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a while maintaining the state where the first guide portion 14 is in contact with the left and right end spacers 24. (Step 4 in FIG. 9B).

  This load is absorbed by the compression of the compression coil spring that constitutes the elastic portion 13, but when further advanced by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a, the first side 24b of the spacer 24 at the left end with a sharp contact angle with the first guide portion 14 becomes The first guide portion 14 starts to slide along the side surface of the first alignment convex portion 14b of the first guide portion 14, that is, the tapered surface 14d of the first alignment concave portion 14a. Start spinning. As the first guide portion 14 rotates, the contact angle between the right end spacer 24 and the first guide portion 14 becomes sharp, and the right end spacer 24 starts to slide (step 5 in FIG. 9C).

  When the right edge spacer 24 starts to slide, the second and third spacers 24 from the right, which are displaced in the same direction, slide slightly to the left, and the first guide portion 14 is displaced again in the respective directions. The shape returns to contact with the spacer 24. Thereafter, Step 4 in FIG. 9B and Step 5 in FIG. 9C are alternately repeated left and right (Step 6 in FIG. 9C), and all the spacers 24 are fitted into the bottom portion 14c of the first alignment recess 14a of the first guide portion 14. All the spacers 24 are corrected in posture and aligned at right angles to the support bar 25 (step 7 in FIG. 9C).

  When the postures of all the spacers 24 are corrected and aligned at right angles to the support bar 25, the first guide portion 14 is moved back in the separation direction X2 by the fluid pressure cylinder 11a shown in FIGS. The thin secondary battery 3 inserted between the spacers 24 is pressurized with a predetermined pressure by further pushing the driving unit 26a of the pressure device 21. In this pressurized state, the base plate 22 to which the pressure device 21 is fixed is moved by the drive device 29 in the right direction shown in FIG. 2, and the positive electrode tab 33 and the negative electrode tab 34 of each thin secondary battery 3 are illustrated. Do not connect to the positive and negative feeding clips. Thereafter, an internal short-circuit inspection by the charge / discharge process is performed.

  As described above, according to the polygonal member aligning apparatus 1 of this example, the plurality of spacers 24 can be accurately set to predetermined reference positions in a short time by simply moving the first guide portion 14 forward to the spacers 24. Can be aligned. As a result, since the spacer 24 can be set in a slightly inclined state, the pressurizing operation of the spacer 24 can be executed in a short time, and the productivity is improved. Further, when the posture of the spacer 24 is accurately aligned at right angles to the support bar 25, the pressure applied by the pressurizing device 21 acts uniformly on the entire main surface of the thin secondary battery 3, so that the reliability of the accelerated deterioration test is improved. Will improve.

  Further, according to the polygonal member alignment apparatus 1 of the present example, the rotation range of the first guide portion 14 is restricted by the stopper portion 12g, and the rotation of the first guide portion 14 is stopped by the stopper portion 12g. Thus, the first guide portion 14 is retracted by the elastic portion 13, thereby reducing the contact angle of the spacer 24 and facilitating sliding into the first alignment recess 14 a. Since such an operation is constituted only by a mechanical structure, the alignment apparatus 1 can be manufactured at low cost.

  Further, according to the polygonal member aligning apparatus 1 of this example, the first side 24b of the spacer 24 is aligned by the second guide part 15 in addition to the first guide part 14, so that the first sides 24b are separated from each other. By aligning at two locations, the alignment accuracy to the reference position is improved better.

  The spacer 24 corresponds to a polygonal member according to the present invention, the pressure device 21 corresponds to a pressure base and a pressure holding unit according to the present invention, and the fluid pressure cylinder 11a corresponds to a moving unit according to the present invention. Equivalent to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Alignment apparatus 11 ... Base part 11a ... Fluid pressure cylinder 11b ... Rail mechanism 11c ... Leg part 11d ... Plate part 11e ... Angle part 12 ... Guide support part 12a ... Leg part 12b ... Stop part 12c ... Rotating shaft 12d ... Plate Part 12e ... Shaft support part 12f ... Gap 12g ... Stopper part 13 ... Elastic part 14 ... First guide part 14a ... First alignment concave part 14b ... First alignment convex part 14c ... Bottom part 14d ... Tapered part 15 ... Second guide part 151 ... 2nd alignment part 152 ... 2nd alignment convex part 2 ... Inspection apparatus 21 ... Pressurization apparatus 22 ... Base plate 23a, 23b ... End plate 24 ... Spacer 24a ... Engagement part 24b ... 1st side 25 ... Support bar 26 ... Movable plate 26a ... Drive shaft 27 ... Moving substrate 28 ... Base 29 ... Drive device 3 ... Thin battery 31, 32 ... Exterior member 33 ... Positive electrode tab 34 ... Negative Tab 35 ... power-generating element

Claims (5)

A plurality of polygonal members are arranged with their principal surfaces facing each other, and at least one side of the polygonal member is supported from a state in which the plurality of polygonal members are supported so as to be movable in at least the juxtaposed direction and the tilting direction. In an aligning device for aligning to a predetermined reference position,
A base portion movably provided in the X-axis direction approaching or moving away toward the one side;
A guide support portion provided on the base portion and movably provided in the X-axis direction with respect to the base portion;
An elastic portion that elastically urges the guide support portion in the approaching direction in the X-axis direction with respect to the base portion;
The guide support portion is provided with a plurality of first alignment recesses that are provided so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle about a rotation axis and that receive and align the one side of the plurality of polygonal members at the tip. 1 guide part,
An apparatus for aligning polygonal members.   The said guide support part has a stopper part which prevents the further rotation of the said 1st guide part when the said 1st guide part rotates only a predetermined angle centering | focusing on the said rotating shaft. The polygonal member alignment apparatus according to claim 1. A plurality of second parts fixed to a position of the base part away from the first guide part in the extending direction of the one side and receiving and aligning the one side of the plurality of polygonal members at the tip. A second guide portion having an alignment recess;
The second alignment recess is fixed at a position retracted by a predetermined distance toward the separation direction side in the X-axis direction with respect to the first alignment recess when the first guide portion is in the original position. The polygon member alignment apparatus according to 1 or 2. A pressure base that supports the plurality of polygonal members so as to be movable in a juxtaposed direction and a tilting direction;
A pressure holding portion that is provided on the pressure base and presses and holds the plurality of polygonal members in the principal surface direction;
A moving part that is provided on the pressure base and moves the base part toward and away from the one side of the polygonal member pressed by the pressing holding part in the X-axis direction;
The apparatus for aligning polygonal members according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:   The polygon member alignment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a thin secondary battery subjected to a predetermined process is set in the same direction between each of the plurality of polygon members. .