JPH0737575A - Electrolyte injecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate control of injecting an electrolyte and to improve injecting efficiency. CONSTITUTION:In an electrolyte injecting device, a battery jar 12 is received respectively to many conveying jigs and continuously conveyed by a conveyer 11. During this conveyance, in respective positions of a plurality of injecting stations 13 set up so as to be scattered in a suitable spot in a side part of the conveyer 11, while running an injection nozzle 18 synchronously with the conveyer 11 relating to the respective battery jar 12 passing by, a prescribed amount of electrolyte is injected. Thus without temporarily stopping the conveyer 11 for injecting the electrolyte, while continuously operating the conveyer, a prescribed amount of the electrolyte is injected to be divided little by little into each battery jar 12, so as to feed it in a condition well infiltrating the electrolyte into the battery jar 12 to the next process, and the electrolyte can be efficienly injected to a large number of the battery jars 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention continuously conveys a large number of electrolytic cells by a single conveyer conveyor, while at the same time dividing a required amount of electrolyte into each electrolytic cell at a plurality of injection stations. The present invention relates to an electrolyte solution injecting device that injects a necessary amount of electrolyte solution in a completely permeated form when each battery case passes through a conveyor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an apparatus for injecting an electrolytic solution into a large number of small secondary batteries has a structure as shown in FIG. That is, it has a carry-in conveyor 3 for carrying in the carrying jig 2 accommodating the battery case 1 in the direction of arrow a from the previous step, and a conveyor width that allows a plurality of carrying-in conveyors 3 to be lined up from the carrying-in conveyor 3, and carries it in the direction of arrow b. The carrying conveyor 4 and the carrying jigs 2 arranged from the carrying conveyor 4 are indicated by arrows c.
As shown in FIG. 5, a carrying path is formed by the carry-out conveyor 5 that carries out to the next process.

Above the transport conveyor 4, a predetermined amount of electrolytic solution is simultaneously supplied to each of the n battery cases 1 accommodated on the transport jig 2 in a state where the n transport jigs 2 are lined up. For injection, n injection nozzles 7 are supported and fixed to the nozzle fixing plate 6 at a position corresponding to a predetermined injection position. In addition, when a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution is injected into the battery case 1, it takes time for the electrolytic solution to permeate into the battery case, so that even if all of the predetermined amount is injected at one time, it overflows. It is necessary to take a method of injecting a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution little by little into m times, injecting the electrolytic solution for the next time into the battery case 1 completely, and then injecting the electrolytic solution for the next time. Nozzle fixing plates 6 that support and fix the nozzles 7 are installed on the conveyer conveyor 4 with intervals of m rows.

The number m of divisions and the number n of each row of the transfer jig 1 are such that after the line tact and the jth injection of the electrolytic solution, the electrolytic solution permeates into the battery case 1 and the j + 1th injection is possible. It is determined by the time required to become. Therefore, 1
The number n of battery cases 1 for a row is required to be equal to (line takt × n) which is the minimum required minimum interval for the j-th and the j + 1-th injection, and the injection nozzle fixing plate 6 and the n injection nozzles 7 are required. With respect to the number m of rows of the injection heads to be configured, it is necessary that the number of the nozzles 7 in each row is such that each battery case 1 can completely inject a predetermined amount of electrolytic solution.

Next, the operation of injecting the electrolytic solution into each battery case 1 will be described. At the time when one row of n battery cells 1 sequentially sent from the carry-in conveyor 3 are prepared, the injection heads in the first row are operated. An electrolytic solution is supplied by an electrolytic solution supply pump (not shown), and the electrolytic solution is discharged from each nozzle 7 to be injected into each battery case 1. At this time, if the battery case group 1 exists in the second and subsequent rows, the injection operation is performed at the same time.

When this injection is completed, the first-row battery case group 1 is conveyed to the second-row position by the conveyor 4, so that the electrolyte solution injected during that time is completely permeated into the battery case 1. Then, when the second row is reached, the conveyor 4 is stopped. At this time, the empty first row waits for the battery case 1 to be sequentially fed from the carry-in conveyor 3 to form n rows. In the meantime, the second group of battery cases in the second and subsequent rows is on standby, and at the time when the first row has newly prepared n pieces, the injection operation is simultaneously performed in the first group of battery cases in each row.

After that, the electrolytic solution is sequentially injected into each group of the battery cases in the same manner. In addition, the group of battery cases 1 in which the injection in the final row has been completed is sequentially carried out to the next step by the carry-out conveyor 5 until n new battery cases 1 are prepared in the first row.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional electrolytic solution injecting apparatus, a large number of nozzles and pumps are required to synchronize the injecting operation of the electrolytic solution with the line tact, and the apparatus itself is large-scaled. There was a problem that it became a thing. Also, if there is a product type change that changes the battery size, it will not be possible to deal with it because the nozzle interval will be different, and the flexibility will be poor, and it will be difficult to manage the discharge amount of multiple nozzles to be constant. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to perform the injection of the electrolytic solution without being affected by the line tact, and the injection timing and the ejection operation in each injection operation can be arbitrarily performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrolytic solution injecting device that can be set, is highly flexible in line control, and can control the discharge amount of a nozzle with respect to a small number of nozzles, and the management thereof is easy. .

[0010]

The electrolytic solution injecting device of the present invention is installed so that it is scattered at appropriate places on the side portions of a transfer conveyor in which a plurality of transfer jigs each contain a battery case and are continuously transferred. An injection station, a nozzle support member provided in each injection station, an injection nozzle supported by the nozzle support member, the tip is set to a position where the electrolyte can be injected into the battery case on the transfer jig, Nozzle driving means for moving the nozzle support member in the same direction at the same speed as the transfer conveyor, a sensor for detecting the arrival of the battery case being conveyed to the position of the injection station, and connected to the injection nozzle of each injection station, Where the electrolytic solution can be completely penetrated into the container by the time when the container arrives at the next injection nozzle on the downstream side of the container that is conveyed below the injection nozzle. An injection pump for injecting a certain amount of electrolytic solution, a conveyor drive control means for continuously driving a conveyor, and a battery cell arrival detection signal from a sensor of each injection station to start the nozzle drive means of the injection station. So that each injection nozzle injects a predetermined amount of electrolyte solution, and an injection station drive control means for controlling the injection nozzle to travel a predetermined distance together with the nozzle support member and returning to the original position after traveling the predetermined distance. And an injection control means for controlling each infusion pump connected thereto.

[0011]

In the electrolytic solution injecting device of the present invention, the battery container is housed in each of a number of transfer jigs and continuously transferred by the transfer conveyor. Then, during this transportation, at each position of the plurality of injection stations installed so as to be scattered at appropriate places on the side of the conveyor, the sensor detects that the battery case has arrived in front of the injection station. Due to
While moving the nozzle support member and the injection nozzle supported by the nozzle drive means in the same direction as the transfer conveyor in the same direction, a predetermined amount of electrolytic solution is supplied to the battery tank that is being transported below the injection nozzle. It is injected from the injection nozzle into the battery case by the injection pump. Then, when one injection by this injection nozzle is completed, the nozzle support member and the injection nozzle are returned to the original position of the injection station.
The amount of electrolyte injected by this one injection nozzle is
The electrolyte should be such that the electrolytic solution can completely permeate into the container by the time the container arrives at the next injection nozzle on the downstream side.

Then, even when one battery case reaches the position of the next injection station, a predetermined amount of electrolytic solution is similarly injected into the battery case from the injection nozzle installed in the injection station. To do.

In this way, each time the container arrives at the position of each injection station in sequence, a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution is repeatedly injected into the container by the injection nozzle that runs in synchronization with the conveyor, so that the conveyor is injected. Therefore, it is possible to inject a predetermined amount of electrolytic solution into each cell while operating continuously without being temporarily stopped so that it can be sent to the next process, and to efficiently inject the electrolytic solution into many cell cases. Be able to do well.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one pouring station in a conveyor, and FIG. 3 shows a layout of a part of the conveyor. There is.

First, as shown in FIG.
Is set to a length such that a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution is completely permeated into the electrolytic cell 12 at the end by injecting the electrolytic solution into one electrolytic cell 12 little by little.
The injection stations (ST1, ST2, ..., ST) are arranged so as to be scattered at a plurality of locations on the side of the conveyor 11.
n) 13 is installed. The installation location of each injection station 13 varies depending on the speed of the conveyor 11. However, when the electrolytic solution is injected once into the battery tank 12, it is injected while the battery tank 12 reaches the position of the next injection station 13. The electrolytic solution is separated by a distance sufficient to allow the electrolytic solution to completely penetrate into the battery case 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, each injection station 1
3, a pulse motor 14 is attached, and a pinion gear 15 driven by this pulse motor 14
And the conveyer 11 that meshes with the pinion gear 15.
The rack 16 that travels at the same speed as above and a nozzle support head 17 that is integrated with the rack 16 are provided.

The nozzle support head 17 has an injection nozzle 18
Is attached, and the tip portion of the nozzle 18 is set at a position where the electrolytic solution can be injected into the battery case 12 which is accommodated in the transport jig 19 and transported on the transport conveyor 11. In addition, the nozzle support head 17 is also provided with battery compartment sensors 21 and 22 for non-contact detection of the passage of an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or other objects in front and rear of the nozzle support head 17 with a space slightly larger than the width of the container 12 in the transport direction. is set up.

Next, the control system will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a conveyor controller 23 for controlling the conveyor 11 and the pulse motor 14 of each pouring station 13 are provided.
An injection station controller 24 for controlling the rotation of the injection tank, an injection controller 25 for controlling an injection pump for discharging the electrolyte from the injection nozzle, and an overall controller 26 for performing overall control of each controller. There is.

Next, the operation of the electrolytic solution injecting device having the above structure will be described.

The conveyor control unit 23 continuously drives the transfer conveyor 11 at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow b.
Then, from the carry-in conveyor (not shown), a large number of battery containers 12 are housed in the carrying jig 19 and continuously fed onto the carrying conveyor 11.

The battery case 12 is used for each injection station 1
3, when the front side sensor 22 provided on the nozzle support head 17 of the injection station 13 and the next delivery side sensor 21 detect the battery case 12, the injection station control unit 24 causes the injection station control unit 24 to operate. Battery case 1 in position
It is determined that one of the two has arrived, and the pulse motor 14 is activated.

When the pulse motor 14 is started, the pinion gear 15 starts to rotate, and the rack 16 meshing with the pinion gear 15 is driven at the same speed as the transport conveyor 11 in the transport direction b of the transport conveyor 11, and at the same time, the nozzle support head is also driven. The injection nozzle 17 and the injection nozzle 18 supported by the injection nozzle 17 attach to the battery case 12 at the same speed as the transfer conveyor 11 and start traveling.

In this way, the injection nozzle 18 has the conveyor 1
When the traveling in synchronization with 1 is started, during the traveling of the injection nozzle 18, the liquid injection control unit 25 activates the liquid injection pump (not shown) to inject a predetermined amount of electrolyte from the injection nozzle 18. Then, it is injected into the battery case 12. When the injection of a predetermined one injection amount is completed, the injection station control unit 24
Gives a reverse rotation command to the pulse motor 14, reversely rotates the pinion gear 15, and returns the nozzle support head 17 to the original position via the rack 16.

Battery case 12 in which a single injection of the electrolytic solution was made
In the time it takes for the electrolyte to reach the next injection station 13 which is separated by a predetermined interval,
When it has completely penetrated into 2 and arrives at the next injection station 13, it is ready to receive the next injection of the electrolytic solution.

Then, at the next injection station 13,
Similarly, when the arrival of the battery case 12 is detected by the sensors 21 and 22, one more injection of the electrolytic solution is performed.

In this way, with respect to each of the large number of battery cases 12 accommodated in the transfer jig 19 and transferred on the transfer conveyor 11, each time they reach the position of each pouring station 13, they are synchronized with the transfer conveyor 11. While the nozzle support head 17 and the nozzle 18 are running at the same speed as the battery case 12, the electrolyte solution is gradually injected into the battery case 12, and the electrolyte solution injected at each injection station 13 is A large number of battery containers are operated while continuously operating the conveyer 11 so that the battery reaches the next injection station 13 in a state of completely penetrating the battery container 12 to receive a new injection of the electrolyte solution. The electrolytic solution is injected into each of the 12 in a predetermined amount.

When the battery case 12 side is stopped during transportation due to the stagnation of the path, catching of the transportation jig 19, or other causes, the nozzle 18 of the nozzle support head 17 is used.
Since only the sensor 22 on the sending side no longer detects the battery case 12 that has been detected until then, only the sensor 22 on the front side detects the battery case 12, Immediately after the injection station control unit 24 identifies a change in the detection mode of the sensors 21 and 22, the pulse motor 14 is detected.
The operation of the nozzle support head 17 is stopped by stopping the above, and only the operation of injecting the electrolytic solution by the injection controller 25 is continued. And after this stop, battery case 1
When the transport of 2 is restarted, the detection of the battery case 12 is transferred again from the sensor 22 on the front side to the sensor 21 on the delivery side, and the change in the detection mode is identified to identify the change in the detection station.
4 restarts the driving of the pulse motor 14 and restarts the feeding operation of the nozzle support head 17.

Further, when the type of battery is different, it can be dealt with by changing and setting the amount of one injection of the electrolytic solution by the injection pump in the injection control unit, and the type of electrolytic solution for the battery of different type can be dealt with. It will be possible to respond flexibly to injection.

In this way, with respect to each of the large number of battery cases 12 accommodated in the transfer jig 19 and transferred on the transfer conveyor 11, each time the position of each injection station 13 is reached,
While the nozzle support head 17 and the nozzle 18 are running at the same speed as the battery case 12 in synchronism with the transfer conveyor 11, the electrolytic solution is gradually injected into the battery case 12, and moreover, at each injection station 13. While the electrolytic solution for one batch has completely penetrated into the battery case 12, it arrives at the next injection station 13 and receives a new injection of electrolytic solution for one batch, while continuously operating the conveyor 11. The electrolytic solution is injected into each of the many battery cases 12 by a predetermined amount.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the traveling drive system of the nozzle supporting head is not particularly limited as long as it can travel at the same speed as the conveyor.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a battery container is housed in each of a large number of transfer jigs and continuously transferred by a transfer conveyor, and during this transfer, the battery is placed at a proper position on a side portion of the transfer conveyor. At a position of each of a plurality of injection stations installed so as to be scattered, a predetermined amount of electrolytic solution is injected while running the injection nozzles in synchronization with the transport conveyor for each battery case passing therethrough. Therefore, without temporarily stopping the transfer conveyor for injecting the electrolytic solution, a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution was injected little by little into each battery cell while continuously operating, and it penetrated well into the battery cell. It can be sent to the next step after being put in a state, and the electrolytic solution can be efficiently injected into many battery cases.

Further, the injection nozzles are simply installed on the transfer conveyor so as to be scattered along the transfer direction, and a large number of nozzles are fixed in a row by nozzle fixing plates as in the conventional case. Further, it is not necessary to install the nozzle rows over many rows, the number of nozzles can be significantly reduced, the injection amount can be controlled easily, and the control can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a layout of a conveyor according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the injection station of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Transport Conveyor 12 Battery Case 13 Injection Station 14 Pulse Motor 15 Pinion Gear 16 Rack 17 Nozzle Support Head 18 Injection Nozzle 19 Transfer Jig 21 Sensor 22 Sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An injection station installed so as to be scattered at an appropriate position on a side portion of a transfer conveyer for accommodating a battery case in each of a large number of transfer jigs and continuously transferring it, and an injection station provided in each of the injection stations. A nozzle support member, an injection nozzle that is supported by the nozzle support member, and has a tip set at a position where the electrolytic solution can be injected into the battery container on the transfer jig, and the nozzle support member is moved at the same speed as the transfer conveyor. Nozzle driving means for traveling in the same direction, a sensor for detecting the arrival of a battery case conveyed to the position of the pouring station, and a pouring nozzle connected to each pouring nozzle of the pouring station and being conveyed below the pouring nozzle. Inject the predetermined amount of electrolytic solution into the battery case where the electrolytic solution can completely permeate into the battery tank until the battery tank reaches the next injection nozzle on the downstream side. An input pump, a conveyor drive control means for continuously driving the conveyor, and a battery arrival detection signal of a sensor of each of the injection stations, and the nozzle drive means of the injection station is activated to nozzle the injection nozzle. An injection station drive control means for controlling the vehicle to travel a predetermined distance together with the support member and returning to the original position after the travel of the predetermined distance, and each of the injection nozzles connected thereto so as to inject a predetermined amount of the electrolytic solution. And a liquid injection control means for controlling each of the injection pumps.