KR20160046496A - Apparatus for Producing Battery Pack Comprising Jig Having Ball Plunger - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for producing a battery pack including a jig having a ball plunger. The apparatus for producing the battery pack includes: a base plate having plunger shafts, which protrude from both ends of one surface of a plate-shaped main body by a predetermined height; and a jig rotatably positioned between the plunger shafts while being spaced apart by a predetermined interval from one surface of the base plate, and having a structure in which at least one outer circumferential surface excluding both side surfaces facing the plunger shafts is open to allow a battery cell array including a plurality of battery cells to be fixedly inserted into the jig. A fixing groove is formed in the inside surface of the plunger shafts facing the both side surfaces of the jig. A plurality of plunger grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the fixing groove. Fixing protuberances are formed at the both side surfaces of the jig facing the inside surface of the plunger shafts, respectively, such that the fixing protuberances can be fixedly inserted into the fixing grooves, and at least one ball plunger is formed at the outer circumference of the fixing protuberance and inserted into the plunger grooves.

Description

[0001] Apparatus for Producing Battery Pack Comprising Jig Having Ball Plunger [0002]

The present invention relates to a battery pack manufacturing apparatus including a jig having a ball plunger.

In recent years, the demand for environmentally friendly alternative energy sources has become an indispensable factor for the future, as the increase in the price of energy sources due to depletion of fossil fuels and the interest in environmental pollution are amplified. Various researches on power generation technologies such as nuclear power, solar power, wind power, and tidal power have been continuing, and electric power storage devices for more efficient use of such generated energy have also been attracting much attention.

Particularly, as technology development and demand for mobile devices increase, the demand for batteries as energy sources is rapidly increasing. Recently, the use of secondary batteries as a power source for electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) In addition, the use area has been expanded for use as a power auxiliary power source through a grid, and accordingly, a lot of researches on a battery that can meet various demands have been conducted.

Lithium ion batteries having a high demand for a pouch-type secondary battery that can be applied to products such as mobile phones and the like in terms of the shape of the battery, and high energy density, discharge voltage, and output stability, There is a high demand for a lithium secondary battery such as a lithium ion polymer battery.

Also, the secondary battery is classified according to the structure of the electrode assembly having the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Typically, the long battery- A stacked (stacked) electrode assembly in which a plurality of positive electrodes and negative electrodes cut in a predetermined size unit are sequentially stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, the jelly-roll type (wound type) electrode assembly having a structure in which a separator is interposed; In recent years, in order to solve the problems of the jelly-roll type electrode assembly and the stack type electrode assembly, an electrode assembly having an advanced structure, which is a combination of the jelly-roll type and the stack type, A stack / folding type electrode having a structure in which unit cells stacked with a separator interposed between an anode and a cathode are sequentially wound while being placed on a separation film Developed body lip.

The secondary battery includes a cylindrical battery and a prismatic battery in which the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical or rectangular metal can according to the shape of the battery case, and a pouch type battery in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch-shaped case of an aluminum laminate sheet .

Such a secondary battery may be used in the form of a single battery or in the form of a battery pack in which a plurality of unit cells are electrically connected to each other depending on the type of the external equipment. For example, a small device such as a cell phone can be operated for a predetermined time with a single battery output and capacity, while in the case of a notebook computer, a small-sized PC, etc., a plurality of cylindrical batteries can be connected in parallel and in series It is necessary to use a battery pack connected by a method.

In general, the cylindrical battery is preferable to a square type or a polymer battery in terms of capacity and output.

Accordingly, a battery pack used in a notebook computer, a small-sized PC, or the like includes a protection circuit module (PCM) or a BMS connected to a battery cell array having a plurality of cylindrical batteries connected in parallel or in series, And is mounted inside the member.

At this time, the battery cell array is formed by arranging a plurality of cylindrical battery cells in a multi-array structure, and can be mounted inside the pack case. Specifically, the battery cells and the battery cells and the BMS And is fixed by soldering.

In this case, the soldering is performed in a state in which a plurality of cylindrical battery cells are aligned and mounted on a predetermined jig.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing a jig used for a conventional soldering operation.

1, the jig 110 includes a lower plate 111 and a rear plate 111 adjacent to the lower plate 111 at predetermined angles so that the cylindrical battery cell array 120 can be mounted thereon. (112).

The cylindrical battery cell array 120 includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 121 arranged in a multi-array structure and a cylindrical battery cell array 120 on the bottom plate 111 and the back plate 112 In the mounted state, each cylindrical battery cell 121 is connected to each other by a wire 130, and the wire 130 is bonded and fixed by soldering.

However, the soldering operation for the wire 130 is not performed at the same site, while the jig 110 for mounting and supporting the cylindrical battery cell array 120 is fixed in shape and position, The position of the cylindrical battery cell array 120 can not be changed by hand.

Therefore, the time required for the soldering increases, which causes a delay in the overall process speed and time.

In addition, since the cylindrical battery cell array 120 has a weight of about 2 to 3 kg, it is not easy to manually change the position of the cylindrical battery cell array 120 by soldering, When the cylindrical battery assembly 120 is displaced from the operator's hand when the position of the cylindrical battery cell array 120 is changed, there is a problem that the product may be damaged due to the drop, or the operator may be injured have.

Therefore, there is a high need for a technique capable of fundamentally solving such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and the technical problems required from the past.

The inventors of the present application have conducted intensive research and various experiments and have found that the jig is positioned between the plunger shafts in a state in which the jig is spaced apart from the one surface of the base plate in a rotatable manner, It is possible to more easily rotate the jig by forming the plunger grooves and the plunger grooves corresponding to each other between the opposite side surfaces of the jig facing each other and the inner surface of the plunger shaft to easily perform the work required for the manufacturing process of the battery pack including soldering And the battery cell array is stably fixed in a state where the battery cell array is inserted into the jig. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the breakage of the product due to the detachment of the battery cell array and the injury of the operator And the present invention has been accomplished.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a battery pack,

A base plate including a plunger shaft protruding from both side ends of the plate-like body at predetermined heights; And

A plurality of battery cells arranged in a state rotatable between plunger shafts in a state of being spaced apart from a surface of the base plate by a predetermined distance, A jig having a structure in which at least one outer circumferential surface is opened;

And,

Wherein a plurality of plunger grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the fixing groove, and the plurality of plunger grooves are formed on the inner surface of the plunger shaft,

At least one or more ball plungers inserted into the plunger grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the fixing protrusions, respectively. The ball plungers are inserted into the fixing grooves, . ≪ / RTI >

Therefore, it is possible to more easily rotate the jig, and the work necessary for the manufacturing process of the battery pack including the soldering can be easily performed, thereby improving the process speed, It is possible to prevent the breakage of the product and the injury of the worker.

In one specific example, the battery cell may be a cylindrical battery cell, and the jig may have a hexahedral shape corresponding to the shape of the battery cell array so that the battery cell array can be inserted and fixed. have.

However, the shape of the jig is not limited thereto, and it may be formed in various shapes corresponding to the overall shape of the battery cell arrangement, provided that the battery cell array can be stably inserted and fixed.

The jig may have a structure for fixing the corners of the battery cell array in a state in which all of the outer circumferential surfaces except for both sides facing the plunger axis of the base plate are open.

Therefore, the operator can easily perform operations such as soldering through the open peripheral portion while rotating the jig.

In this case, at least one of the portions of the jig for fixing the corners of the battery cell array may have a structure in which some portions are discontinuously opened.

Specifically, at least one corner of the jig for fixing the corners of the battery cell array may be fixed to one side of the side surface of the base plate facing the plunger shaft, or a corner portion connected to the side surfaces And may be a structure in which some portions are not connected to each other and the portions are opened discontinuously.

In this connection, in the soldering operation performed in a state where the battery cell array is mounted on the jig, in addition to the soldering for the wires connecting a plurality of battery cells constituting the battery cell array, The BMS may be connected to a wire that connects the devices. Accordingly, the BMS may be connected to the battery cell array having a hexahedron shape.

Therefore, the external device such as the BMS may be connected to a portion of the jig that is opened discontinuously among the corner portions of the jig.

Also, when the soldering operation is performed at a corner portion of the battery cell array, the soldering operation may be performed through an open portion formed at an edge portion of the jig.

The height at which the jig is spaced apart from one surface of the base plate may be 70% to 200% of the length of the longest outer circumference among the outer peripheries of both side surfaces of the jig facing the inner surface of the plunger shaft, , May be 100% to 150%, and more particularly, 120% to 130%.

Specifically, the jig is rotatably disposed between plunger shafts in a state of being spaced apart from a surface of the base plate by a predetermined distance, and more specifically, the jig and the plunger shaft are formed at respective portions corresponding to each other By the insertion of the fixing protrusion and the fixing groove.

At this time, the fixing protrusions formed on both side surfaces of the jig are generally located at the central portion in a plane on the both side surfaces of the jig, and accordingly, when the jig is spaced apart from one surface of the base plate at too low a height , And when the jig is rotated, it comes into contact with one surface of the base plate, so that it can not rotate smoothly.

In addition, when the jig is spaced apart from one surface of the base plate excessively high, the size of the battery pack manufacturing apparatus becomes too large to be easily stored, and when the jig is rotated, the base plate stably fixes and supports the jig There is a problem that the battery pack manufacturing apparatus may fall over.

Therefore, the height at which the jig is spaced apart from one surface of the base plate may be 70% to 200% of the length of the longest outer circumference among the outer peripheries of both side surfaces of the jig facing the inner surface of the plunger shaft.

In one specific example, the plurality of plunger grooves may be formed to have the same spacing from each other on a circular outer circumference spaced apart from the center of the fixing groove by a predetermined distance.

In this case, the plurality of plunger grooves may be formed at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the center of the fixing groove in a circular outer circumference spaced apart from the center of the fixing groove by a predetermined distance. , And 15 degrees to 20 degrees.

If the plurality of plunger grooves are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other at an excessively small angle with respect to the center of the fixing groove beyond the above range, the rotation angle is unnecessarily broken down when the jig is rotated, The ball plunger formed on both side surfaces of the jig may cause damage to the ball plunger due to abrasion of the ball plunger in a process of repeatedly inserting and separating the plunger grooves.

When the plurality of plunger grooves are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other at an excessively large angle with respect to the center of the fixing groove, the soldering operation is performed in the battery cell array mounted on the jig It is difficult to precisely rotate and fix the desired portion to be performed, and thus the desired effect of the invention can not be exhibited.

In addition, the angles between the plunger grooves may all be the same, whereby when the jig is rotated, the jig can be rotated at a uniform angle, and work on the battery cell array can be performed more easily .

The plunger grooves may be formed at positions corresponding to each other on the inner surfaces of the plunger shafts facing each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the jig may be uniformly rotated at a predetermined angle, In a structure in which the ball plungers formed on both side surfaces of the jig can be stably inserted and fixed in the rotation process of the jig, the plunger grooves are formed at positions not corresponding to each other on the inner surfaces of the opposed plunger shafts Structure.

In one specific example, the ball plunger may have a structure in which a ball located on one side of the spring flows due to the elasticity of the spring located on the inner surface.

More specifically, the ball plunger is protruded from one side of the ball, and the ball is protruded by the elasticity of the spring located inside, and when the predetermined pressure is applied, As shown in FIG.

Accordingly, when the ball plunger is positioned in the corresponding plunger groove when the jig is rotated, the ball may be inserted into the plunger groove by protruding the ball by elasticity of an inner spring, thereby fixing the jig. When the ball is rotated, the ball is inserted into the ball plunger by the contraction of the spring located inside, so that the jig can be rotated smoothly.

At least one of the fixing grooves of the plunger shafts is configured to penetrate the plunger shaft. The fixing protrusions of the jig inserted in the fixing grooves of the penetrating structure are inserted into the fixing grooves, And may be coupled with a rotating screw located on the outer surface.

In this case, the jig may be configured to rotate around the fixing protrusion by rotating the rotary screw.

In other words, the jig is located between the plunger shafts of the base plate, and the rotary screw located on the outer surface of the plunger shaft is coupled to the fixing protrusion of the jig, so that the jig is rotated about the fixing protrusion Accordingly, the operator can rotate the jig more easily by rotating only the rotary screw without having to manually rotate the jig.

The rotary screw may have a circular plate-like structure. However, the rotary screw is not limited thereto. The rotary screw may be rotated by an operator to rotate the jig. However, the rotary screw is not limited in its shape, May be a polygonal plate-like structure such as a triangle.

At this time, a plurality of recesses may be formed on the outer circumference of the rotary screw so as to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval.

Therefore, when the operator turns the jig by rotating the rotary screw, it is possible to prevent the operator's hand from slipping through the grooves formed in the outer periphery of the rotary screw, and in a state of holding the rotary screw more stably So that it can be easily rotated.

The present invention further provides a battery pack manufactured by the battery pack manufacturing apparatus and a device including the battery pack, wherein the detailed structure and kind of the battery pack and the device are well known in the art, A detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the jig is positioned between the plunger shafts so as to be rotatable in a state where the jig is spaced apart from the one surface of the base plate at predetermined intervals, The jig can be rotated more easily by forming the plunger grooves and the plunger grooves that correspond to each other between the inner surface of the plunger shaft and the inner surface of the plunger shaft so that the work required for the manufacturing process of the battery pack including soldering can be easily performed, The process speed can be improved and the battery cell array can be stably fixed in a state where the battery cell array is inserted into the jig. Therefore, it is possible to prevent breakage of the product due to disconnection of the battery cell array and injury of the worker.

1 is a schematic view schematically showing a jig used for a conventional soldering operation;
2 is a schematic view illustrating a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a schematic view schematically showing the structure of both sides of a jig constituting the battery pack manufacturing apparatus of Fig. 2;
4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a ball plunger formed on both side surfaces of the jig of Fig. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view schematically showing the structure of a base plate constituting the battery pack manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 2; FIG.
6 is a schematic view schematically showing a structure of a base plate of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure of the rotary screw of FIG.
8 is a schematic view schematically showing a structure of a base plate of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings according to the embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view schematically showing a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the battery pack manufacturing apparatus 200 includes a base plate 210 and a jig 220.

The base plate 210 includes two plunger shafts 212 and 213 protruding from both ends of one side of the plate-like body 211, respectively.

The jig 220 is disposed between the plunger shafts 212 and 213 while spaced apart from one surface of the plate-like body 211 of the base plate 210 by a predetermined distance.

The jig 220 corresponds to the shape of the battery cell array and is entirely in a hexahedron shape so that the jig 220 is in contact with the plunger shafts 212 and 213 in a state where the outer surfaces except for the side surfaces 221 and 222, And a structure for fixing the corners of the cell array body.

The portion 223 for fixing one corner among the portions of the jig 220 fixing the corners of the battery cell array is partially opened 224 in a non-continuous manner. Specifically, The portion 223 is connected only to one side 221 of the two side surfaces 221 and 222 facing the plunger shafts 212 and 213 of the base plate 210.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view schematically showing the structure of both side surfaces of a jig constituting the battery pack manufacturing apparatus of Fig.

Referring to FIG. 3, fixing projections 225 and 226 are formed at one side 221 and the other side 222 of the jig, respectively. The fixing projections 225 and 226 are formed on the outer periphery of the fixing projections 225 and 226, Plungers 231 and 232 are respectively formed.

Therefore, when the jig is rotated in a state where the fixing protrusions 225 and 226 are inserted into the fixing grooves of the plunger shaft, the ball plungers 231 and 232 are inserted into the outer circumferences 234 and 236 of the fixing protrusions 225 and 226, The ball plungers 231 and 232 are inserted into plunger grooves formed in the plunger shaft, respectively, so that the jig can be stably fixed.

4 is a schematic view schematically showing a structure of a base plate constituting the battery pack manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 2;

4, the base plate 210 includes a plate-shaped body 211 and two plunger shafts 212 and 213 protruding from opposite ends of the plate-shaped body 211, respectively.

And a fixing groove 212b is formed in the inner surface of one plunger shaft 212 corresponding to one side of the jig to fix and fix the fixing protrusion of the jig.

A plurality of plunger grooves 212a are formed on the outer circumference of the fixing groove 212b to receive and fix the ball plunger 231 formed on one side of the jig.

The plurality of plunger grooves 212a are formed at an angle of 15 degrees with respect to the center 212c of the fixing groove 212b in a circular outer circumference spaced apart from the center 212c of the fixing groove 212b by a predetermined distance have.

Therefore, when the soldering operation is performed on the battery cell array, it is easy to rotate and fix precisely to a desired portion.

It goes without saying that the structure of the fixing grooves 212b and the plurality of plunger grooves 212a formed on the inner surface of the plunger shaft 212 may be formed on the inner surface of the opposite plunger shaft 213 as well.

A plate support member 214 is positioned near each corner of the lower surface of the base plate 211 so as to prevent the base plate 211 from flowing due to the rotation of the jig.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the insertion structure of a plunger formed on both side surfaces of the jig of Fig. 3 and a plunger groove formed on a plunger shaft of the base plate of Fig.

5, the ball plunger 231 has a structure in which a spring is disposed on the inner side 221a of one side 221 of the jig 220 and a ball 231a is disposed on one side of the spring 231b .

Therefore, when the ball 231a is pressed by the inner surface of the plunger shaft 212, the spring 231b is contracted so that the ball 231a is located inside the one side 221 of the jig 220 And the ball 231a is inserted into one side of the jig 220 by the elasticity of the spring 231b when the ball plunger 231 is located in the plunger groove 212a of the plunger shaft 212 221, so that the jig 220 can be stably fixed by being inserted into the plunger groove 212a.

6 is a schematic view schematically showing a structure of a base plate of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the base plate 610 includes two plunger shafts 612 and 613, each protruding from both ends of one side of the plate-like body 611.

A rotation screw 614 is coupled to the outer surface of the plunger shaft 613 corresponding to the other side surface of the jig.

The rotary screw 614 has a circular plate-like structure, and eight grooves 614a are formed on the outer periphery of the rotary screw 614 so as to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval.

The remaining structure except for the rotating screw 614 is the same as that of the base plate of Fig. 4, and a description thereof will be omitted.

7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a coupling structure of the rotary screw of FIG.

7, the fixing groove 613b of the plunger shaft 613 is configured to penetrate the plunger shaft 613, and the fixing protrusion 626 of the jig 620 is inserted into the fixing groove 613b And is coupled with the rotating screw 614 in the state of FIG.

Therefore, the operator can easily rotate the jig 620 by operating only the rotating screw 614 without directly holding the jig 620 and holding it.

8 is a schematic view schematically showing a structure of a base plate of a battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8, the base plate 810 includes a plate-shaped body 811 and two plunger shafts 812 and 813 protruding from opposite ends of the plate-shaped body 811, respectively.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the base plate of Fig. 2 except that the fixing projections 812b and 813b are formed on the inner surfaces of the plunger shafts 812 and 812 facing the opposite side surfaces of the jig.

When the fixing protrusions 812b and 813b are formed on the inner surfaces of the plunger shafts 812 and 812, the fixing protrusions 812b and 813b are inserted and fixed to both sides of the facing jig, Respectively, can be formed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (17)

A base plate including a plunger shaft protruding from both side ends of the plate-like body at predetermined heights; And
A plurality of battery cells arranged in a state rotatable between plunger shafts in a state of being spaced apart from a surface of the base plate by a predetermined distance and having opposite side surfaces facing the plunger shaft for inserting and fixing a battery cell array including a plurality of battery cells, A jig having a structure in which at least one outer circumferential surface is opened;
And,
Wherein a plurality of plunger grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the fixing groove, and the plurality of plunger grooves are formed on the inner surface of the plunger shaft,
At least one or more ball plungers inserted into the plunger grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the fixing protrusions, respectively. The ball plungers are inserted into the fixing grooves, Wherein the battery pack is a battery pack. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig has a hexahedral shape as a whole. 2. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig has a structure for fixing the corners of the battery pack in a state in which all of the outer circumferential surfaces except for both sides facing the plunger shaft of the base plate are open. 5. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the portions of the jig for fixing the corners of the battery cell array is fixed at a portion where the portions are discontinuously opened. The jig according to claim 1, wherein the height of the jig spaced from one surface of the base plate is 70% to 200% of the length of the longest outer circumference of the outer peripheries of both side surfaces of the jig facing the inner surface of the plunger shaft Wherein the battery pack is a battery pack. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of plunger grooves are formed to have the same spacing on a circular outer circumference spaced apart from a center of the fixing groove by a predetermined distance. The plunger according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of plunger grooves are formed at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees with respect to a center of the fixing groove in a circular outer circumference spaced apart from the center of the fixing groove by a predetermined distance Battery pack manufacturing apparatus. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein angles between the plunger grooves are all the same. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plunger grooves are formed at positions corresponding to each other on the inner surface of each of the plunger shafts facing each other. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ball plunger has a structure in which a ball located at one side of the spring flows due to the elasticity of the spring located on the inner surface. The plunger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the fixing grooves of the respective plunger shafts has a structure that passes through the plunger shaft, and the fixing protrusions of the jig inserted into the fixing grooves of the penetrating structure are inserted into the fixing grooves, And is coupled to a rotating screw located on an outer surface of the battery pack against the inner surface. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the jig is rotated around the fixing protrusion by rotating the rotary screw. 13. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rotating screw has a circular plate-like structure. 15. The battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the rotary screw so as to be spaced apart from each other with a predetermined space therebetween. A battery pack manufactured by the battery pack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1. A device comprising a battery pack according to claim 16.

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