KR100673941B1 - Apparatus for inspecting charge-collecting foil for a cell - Google Patents

Abstract

An inspection apparatus for a battery current collector according to the present invention includes: imaging means for imaging a shape of a workpiece punched by a press; Illumination means for shining light on the punched workpiece so that imaging by the imaging means is performed smoothly; An image signal processing unit which receives an image signal of a workpiece photographed by the imaging unit and checks a state of a minute hole formed in the workpiece by comparing with the preset reference data; And a main controller which controls the operation of the press according to the signal provided from the image signal processor and outputs a signal informing of an emergency.

According to the present invention, since the state of the hole formed in the workpiece is inspected by the vision system, the inspection accuracy can be increased, and the time required for inspection can be reduced, thereby increasing the reliability and the yield of the product. In addition, as a result of the inspection of the hole, the operation of the press is stopped when an abnormality is detected, so that a large amount of defective products can be prevented in advance.

Description

Apparatus for inspecting charge-collecting foil for a cell}

1 is a schematic system configuration of an inspection apparatus of a current collector for a battery according to the present invention.

2 is a state in which the inspection apparatus of the current collector for batteries according to the present invention is employed in a press.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

101 ... imaging means 102 ... lighting means

103 Video signal processor 104 Main controller

105 ... Encoder 106 ... Light

107 Buzzer W Workpiece (metal foil)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting a current collector for use in secondary cells and the like, in particular, a minute hole (typically 0.5 mm in diameter) of the current collector by press working. The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for a battery current collector capable of directly measuring the presence or absence of an abnormality of a hole and directly measuring the size of the hole by inspecting a state using a vision device.

Secondary batteries, which are free of charge and discharge, are increasingly being used as a power supply source for various electronic devices. The current collector used as the intermediate component of such a secondary battery is usually in the form of a metal foil. The current collector in the form of a metal foil as described above is completed through a punching operation of a press using a mold. At this time, the production amount of the current collector is usually limited to a certain amount according to the machining speed (SPM: stroke per minute) determined by the press.

By the way, in the conventional current collector manufacturing method, the processed current collector was examined by a microscope or the naked eye, there was a problem that the accuracy of the inspection is inferior. This is because the size of the hole is a fine hole having a diameter of 1 mm or less. In addition, the inspection was time-consuming and became another factor to limit the output of the current collector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to improve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an inspection apparatus for a battery current collector that can increase the accuracy of inspection on a processed current collector and further increase the output of the current collector.

In addition, the purpose is to reduce labor costs, increase productivity, and reduce production costs by adopting an automated inspection device.

In order to achieve the above object, an inspection apparatus for a battery current collector according to the present invention includes: imaging means for imaging a shape of a workpiece punched by a press; Illumination means for shining light on the punched workpiece so that imaging by the imaging means is performed smoothly; An image signal processing unit which receives an image signal of a workpiece photographed by the imaging unit and checks a state of a hole formed in the workpiece by comparing with the preset reference data; And a main controller which controls the operation of the press according to the signal provided from the image signal processor and outputs a signal informing of an emergency.

According to the present invention, the inspection state can be improved by inspecting the state of the hole formed in the workpiece by the vision system (up to 10 micrometers can be inspected according to the CCD pixel size used, and in fact, the combination of the imaging optical systems regardless of the hole size) It can measure minute holes up to the size of a unit pixel), and the time required for inspection can be reduced, thereby increasing the reliability and yield of the product. In addition, when the abnormality is detected as a result of the inspection of the hole, the operation of the press is stopped, so that the occurrence of defective products can be prevented in advance.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show an inspection apparatus of a battery current collector according to the present invention, Figure 1 is a schematic system configuration of the device, Figure 2 is a view showing a state in which the device of the present invention is employed in the press.

1 and 2, the inspection apparatus 100 for a battery current collector according to the present invention includes an imaging means 101 for imaging a shape of a workpiece W punched by a press 200, and Illumination means 102 for illuminating the workpiece and the image signal of the workpiece W picked up by the imaging means 101 are inputted so that imaging by the imaging means 101 can be performed smoothly. Controlling the operation of the press 200 in accordance with a signal provided from the image signal processing unit 103 and the image signal processing unit 103 to check the state of the hole formed in the workpiece (W) in comparison with the reference data and to inform the emergency A main controller 104 for outputting a signal is provided.

Here, the imaging means 101 may be a line charge-coupled device (CCD) camera (a 512 to 5000 line CCD camera may be used or more than one line camera may be used), or an area CCD camera may be used. Can be used. In addition, the lighting means 102 can be used as long as the general lighting means, the illumination method is a back light (back light) diffusion method is used. In addition, the memory (not shown) in the image signal processing unit 103 includes a software vision algorithm for comparing an input image signal with a reference signal to determine whether holes are abnormal or not, and measuring the size of holes based on the input data. It is created and stored in advance by the designer. In particular, in the present embodiment, the image signal processing unit 103 and the main control unit 104 are described as separate components, but these two components are one each while maintaining their respective functions when using an industrial computer. It can be integrated into the device element of.

In addition, when the line CCD camera is used as the imaging means 101 in the inspection apparatus of the battery current collector according to the present invention, transfer information of the workpiece to be inspected (for example, the workpiece is constantly transferred by the rotation of the roller) The encoder 105 to provide the rotation information of the roller to the image signal processing unit 103, and a warning light that is turned on or flashes by receiving an emergency notification signal from the main control unit 104. 106 and a buzzer 107 for beeping sound is further provided. In Fig. 1, reference numeral W denotes a workpiece, H denotes a plurality of holes formed in the workpiece W, 108 denotes a roller for transferring the workpiece W, and 109 denotes a motor for driving the roller.

Then, the operation of the inspection apparatus of the battery current collector according to the present invention having the above configuration will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Workpiece W punched by press 200 (the work piece is in the form of a continuous tape as a metal foil, fed from feed reel 201 and rewound through press 200 and the apparatus of the invention (Rewinded by 202) is conveyed by the roller 108 to the position where the imaging means 101 of the inspection apparatus of the battery current collector according to the present invention is installed, the line CCD camera as the imaging means 101. (Set when the line CCD camera is adopted for convenience) captures the shape of the workpiece W. FIG. At this time, of course, the light from the back surface of the workpiece (W) by the illumination means 102 is illuminated. As a result, light passes through the plurality of holes H formed in the workpiece W, and the line CCD camera captures the light.

In this way, the video signal of the workpiece W picked up by the line CCD camera 101 is transmitted to the video signal processor 103. At this time, the feed information of the workpiece W, that is, the rotation information of the roller 108, is also transmitted to the video signal processor 103 as a signal generated by the encoder 105. Accordingly, the image signal processing unit 103 reproduces the input image signal as one continuous image in synchronization with the rotation information of the roller. Based on this, the size of each hole H is measured, and the result is compared with the set reference data to determine whether the hole H is abnormal or not. At the same time, the size of the measured hole for each hole H is compared with the size of the set reference data to measure the size of the relative hole. Here, the above-described series of processes are, of course, performed by the execution of the software program as one algorithm previously created and stored by the system designer.

As a result of performing the above operation by the video signal processing unit 103, when there is an error in the hole H (for example, when the number or size of the holes does not match the set reference value or is outside the tolerance range), The image signal processor 103 transmits a corresponding signal to the main controller 104. Then, the main control unit 104 is a command signal for stopping the operation of the press 200 according to the signal provided from the image signal processing unit 103 and a signal indicating an emergency situation press 200 and the warning light 106 and the buzzer Output to 107 respectively. Accordingly, the operation of the press 200 is once stopped, the beacon 106 is turned on or flashes, and the buzzer 107 sounds a warning sound. This allows the operator (or system operator) to quickly identify the situation and take appropriate action.

On the other hand, when the area camera is used as the imaging means 101 instead of the line CCD camera as described above, transfer information (encoder signal) of the workpiece as in the case where the line CCD camera is used is not required. However, it is only necessary to have a mechanism for transferring the workpiece at regular intervals. Such a mechanism can be easily implemented using, for example, a principle in which a film of a 35 mm camera is automatically wound after photographing a cut of a scene. In addition, unlike the case where a line CCD camera is used (in the case of a line CCD camera, the illumination method also takes a line method), the illumination method requires a certain area of illumination, so that the backlight illumination area is a photographing area of the area CCD camera. Illuminate the workpiece more broadly. Other operations and processes are the same as when a line CCD camera is employed.

As described above, the inspection apparatus for a battery current collector according to the present invention inspects a state of a hole formed in a workpiece by a mechanized device, thereby increasing inspection accuracy and reducing the time required for inspection, thereby improving reliability of a product. And the yield can be increased. In addition, when the abnormality is detected as a result of the inspection of the hole, the operation of the press is stopped, so that the occurrence of defective products can be prevented in advance.

Claims (7)

Imaging means for imaging the shape of a workpiece punched by a press; Illumination means for shining light on the punched workpiece so that imaging by the imaging means is performed smoothly; It is for inspecting the state of the hole formed in the workpiece by receiving the image signal of the workpiece picked up by the imaging means and comparing it with preset reference data, converting the input video signal into digital data, and referring to the converted digital data. An image signal processor which stores a software program as an algorithm for determining whether holes are abnormal or not and comparing the data with the data; And And a main controller outputting a command signal for stopping the operation of the press and an emergency signal informing of an emergency according to a signal provided from the image signal processor. 2. The inspection apparatus of a current collector for a battery according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup means is a line CCD camera. 2. An inspection apparatus for a current collector for a battery according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup means is an area CCD camera. delete The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an encoder for providing transfer information of the workpiece to be inspected to the image signal processing unit when a line CCD camera is used as the imaging means. The inspection apparatus for a current collector of a battery according to claim 1, further comprising a warning lamp which lights on or flashes upon receiving an emergency notification signal from the main controller. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a buzzer which receives an emergency notification signal from the main controller and sounds an alarm.

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