KR20240025219A - Bolting Apparatus of Battery and Bolting Method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bolt fastening device for a battery and a bolt fastening method using the same, and more specifically, to a bolt fastening part for fastening bolts when assembling a battery; And a guide part consisting of an The present invention relates to a bolt fastening device for a battery, which is equipped with a sensor capable of checking the position of the fastening part, and a bolt fastening method using the same.

Description

Bolting Apparatus of Battery and Bolting Method using the same}

The present invention relates to a bolt fastening device for battery assembly and a bolt fastening method using the same. More specifically, the bolt fastening part movable in the It relates to a battery bolt fastening device that has a displacement sensor that can be checked in real time to determine the position of a bolt to be fastened and controls it, and a bolt fastening method using the same.

Recently, the demand for secondary batteries that can store the generated electrical energy is increasing due to air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels and the development of alternative energy due to energy depletion. Secondary batteries that can be charged and discharged are widely used in mobile devices, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

The capacity required for these secondary batteries is increasing due to increased usage and complexity of mobile devices and the development of electric vehicles. In order to meet user demand, multiple battery cells are deployed in small devices, but battery modules that electrically connect multiple battery cells and battery packs that connect multiple battery modules in series/parallel are used in automobiles, etc. do.

Meanwhile, a battery pack or battery module has an upper and lower housing, and fastening using bolts is mainly used to connect a plurality of battery cells or battery modules provided in the inner space of the housing or to fasten the upper and lower housings to each other.

However, problems such as omission of bolt fastening or misidentification of the fastening location due to operator error may occur, which not only increases manufacturing time but also causes fatal defects such as product defects.

In particular, if a bolt fastening mistake occurs in the process of connecting battery modules through a bus bar and the product is shipped without this being discovered, there is always a risk of a secondary accident such as product damage or explosion. The fastening process is recognized as a very difficult task that requires a high level of skill.

In addition, since battery modules or battery packs take various forms depending on their use, and the bolt fastening process changes frequently accordingly, there is a trend to apply automated processes to prevent operator errors, but the bolt fastening process of battery modules or battery packs Due to the nature of the work process, complete automation is difficult.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2015-0115402

In order to solve the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery bolt fastening device and a bolt fastening method using the same, which can prevent bolts to be fastened from missing when assembling a battery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery bolt fastening device that can accurately fasten bolts in a predetermined order and a bolt fastening method using the same.

Furthermore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery bolt fastening device that can be universally used for battery packs or battery modules with various external shapes and a bolt fastening method using the same.

A battery bolt fastening device according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a bolt fastening part 100 for fastening bolts when assembling a battery; And a guide unit 200 consisting of an At least one of the

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening device according to the present invention, the X-axis guide portion 210 includes an X-axis rail 211 located in the It is provided on one side of the first connection part 213 and the X-axis rail 211 and includes a first sensor 214 for measuring the displacement of the bolt fastening part 100 in the 220) consists of a pair spaced apart so as to be fastened to the pair of first connection parts 213, and each Y-axis guide part 220 includes a Y-axis rail 221 located in the Y-axis direction, and It is provided near one end of the Y-axis rail 221 and includes a second sensor 223 for measuring the Y-axis displacement of the bolt fastening portion 100, and the Z-axis guide portion 230 is configured to It includes a Z-axis rail 231 positioned in the direction and a second connection portion 232 for fastening the Z-axis rail 231 to the X-axis rail 211, wherein the first sensor 214 and the 2 The sensor 223 is characterized as a laser sensor.

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening device according to the invention, the bolt fastening unit 100 includes a bolt fastener 110 that operates by power supply, and a first holder 120 for supporting and fixing the bolt fastener 110. ), and a vertical bar 130 fastened to the Z-axis rail 231 with one side connected to the first holder 120.

In addition, the battery bolt fastening device according to the invention further includes a control unit, wherein the control unit includes a displacement receiver that receives the It is characterized by comprising a data storage unit, a calculation unit that compares the received displacement with the stored bolt fastening information, and a controller that receives a signal from the calculation unit to control the operation of the bolt fastener 110.

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening device according to the invention, the battery bolt fastening information is characterized in that one or more of the number of bolts to be fastened, the position coordinates of the bolts, and the fastening order of the bolts.

Additionally, in the battery bolt fastening device according to the invention, the control unit further includes a display unit that displays the received displacement results, stored data, and calculation results.

In addition, the battery bolt fastening device according to the invention further includes a battery carrying part 300 that requires bolting, wherein the battery carrying part 300 includes a second holder 310 for holding the battery, and the second holder It is characterized in that it includes a motor 320 for rotating the motor 310, and a third connection part 330 that moves in the Z-axis direction while fixing the motor 320.

Additionally, in the battery bolt fastening device according to the invention, the battery is characterized in that it is a battery module or a battery pack.

In addition, the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention includes a first step of storing the coordinates of the position where the bolt will be fastened when assembling the battery; A second step of creating a position of a bolt fastening part for bolt fastening; A third step of comparing the stored position coordinates of the bolt and the position of the bolt fastener; A fourth step of transmitting a signal to a controller that controls the operation of the bolt fastener if the comparison results match; And a fifth step of fastening the bolt by driving the bolt fastener.

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention, the first step is characterized in that at least one information of the bolt fastening order and the number of bolts to be fastened is stored.

Additionally, in the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention, if the comparison results do not match in the fourth step, a second step of moving the position of the bolt fastening part to create a new position of the bolt fastening part is performed.

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention, the second to fifth steps are performed repeatedly, and the third step further includes comparing whether the bolts to be fastened are fastened according to the set order. Do it as

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention, after the fifth step, a sixth step is further performed to determine whether to continue or terminate by comparing the total number of bolts fastened with the total number of bolts scheduled to be fastened. Do it as

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention, the results of the first to fourth steps are displayed on the display unit.

In addition, in the battery bolt fastening method according to the invention, the bolt fastening part moves along the guide part consisting of an It is characterized in that it is generated by a laser sensor provided in each of the unit and the Y-axis guide unit.

As described above, according to the battery bolt fastening device and the bolt fastening method using the same according to the present invention, the bolt fastening part moves in three axes, including the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and the positions of the bolt fastening part are located on two axes. Since there is a sensor that can check, there is an advantage that the bolt to be fastened can be fastened at a designated position without missing.

In addition, according to the battery bolt fastening device and the bolt fastening method using the same according to the present invention, the bolt fastening part moves in three axes, including the Since it is provided, there is an advantage that the bolts to be fastened can be fastened in a designated order.

In addition, the battery bolt fastening device and the bolt fastening method using the same according to the present invention have the advantage of preventing the production of defective products by immediately detecting and providing feedback on operator errors that may occur during the battery assembly process.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a battery bolt fastening device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view of the bolt fastener and the guide part in the bolt fastener shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the front, and is a view to explain how the bolt fastener moves along the X-axis direction.
FIG. 3 is a view of the bolt fastener and the guide part in the bolt fastener shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the front, and is a view to explain how the bolt fastener moves along the Y-axis direction.
FIG. 4 is a view viewed from the side of the bolt fastener and the guide part in the bolt fastener shown in FIG. 1, and is a view to explain how the bolt fastener moves along the Y-axis direction.
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the battery carrying part in the bolt fastening device shown in Figure 1.
FIG. 6 is a diagram to explain how the battery is rotated by the battery carrying unit shown in FIG. 5.
Figure 7 is a flowchart of a method for fastening bolts to a battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a detailed flowchart for controlling the operation of the bolt fastening part in the battery bolt fastening method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, an embodiment by which a person skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention will be described in detail. However, when explaining in detail the operating principle of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

In addition, the same reference numerals are used for parts that perform similar functions and actions throughout the drawings. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only cases where it is directly connected, but also cases where it is indirectly connected through another element in between. Additionally, including a certain component does not mean excluding other components unless specifically stated to the contrary, but rather means that other components may be further included.

Hereinafter, the battery bolt fastening device according to the present invention and the bolt fastening method using the same will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

The battery in the present invention refers to a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are stored, or a battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are stored.

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a bolt fastening device for a battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a view from the front of the bolt fastening part and the guide part in the bolt fastening device shown in Figure 1, where the bolt fastening part is aligned in the X-axis direction. This is a drawing to explain how it moves along. In addition, FIG. 3 is a view of the bolt fastener and the guide part in the bolt fastener shown in FIG. 1 viewed from the front, and is a view to explain how the bolt fastener moves along the Y-axis direction, and FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 1. This is a drawing viewed from the side of the bolt fastening part and the guide part in one bolt fastening device, and is a drawing to explain how the bolt fastening part moves along the Y-axis direction.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the battery bolt fastening device according to the present invention includes a bolt fastening part 100, a guide part 200, a battery carrying part 300, a work table 400, and a control part. It is composed.

First, the bolt fastening unit 100 is used to fasten bolts when assembling a battery, and is composed of a bolt fastener 110, a first holder 120, and a vertical bar 130. The bolt fastener 110 operates to rotate by power supply, and the first holder 120 is configured to support and fix the bolt fastener 110. And the vertical bar 130 is a Z-axis rail with one side connected to the first holder 120 so that the first holder 120 with the bolt fastener 110 mounted thereon can move up and down (Z-axis direction). It is slidably fastened to (231).

Here, the bolt fastener 110 includes a rotation motor, and requires a power supply command from the control unit to operate.

The guide unit 200 is configured to guide the bolt fastening unit 100 to move and includes an X-axis guide unit 210, a Y-axis guide unit 220, and a Z-axis guide unit 230.

The X-axis guide unit 210 is located in the X-axis direction and includes an X-axis rail 211 having a predetermined length, an It may be configured to include (213) and a first sensor (214).

In particular, the first sensor 214 is installed on one side of the X-axis rail 211, more specifically, on the 211) One can be provided on one side.

Here, the first sensor 214 may be composed of various displacement sensors such as a laser sensor, ultrasonic sensor, radar, and infrared sensor, and is preferably a laser sensor, but any other sensor that can perform the same function can be used. possible.

The Y-axis guide unit 220 is located in the Y-axis direction and includes a pair of Y-axis rails 221 having a predetermined length, a pair of Y-axis guide rods 222, and a second sensor 223.

Here, a pair of first connection parts 213 provided at both ends of the above-described X-axis rail 211 are connected to the pair of Y-axis rails 221 in a sliding structure.

The second sensor 223 is one on each side of a pair of Y-axis guide rods 222 or one Y-axis guide rod 222 so as to measure the displacement in the Y-axis direction along which the bolt fastener 100 moves. ), and since it is the same as the first sensor 214 described above, redundant description will be omitted.

Subsequently, the Z-axis guide unit 230 is located in the Z-axis direction and includes a Z-axis rail 231 having a predetermined length, and a Z-axis direction rail ( It consists of a second connection part 232 for fastening 231).

Although the drawing shows the second connection portion 232 as completely surrounding the X-axis rail 211 and the X-axis guide rod 212, this is an example and the Z-axis rail 231 is ) The configuration of the second connection portion 232 is not particularly limited as long as it can slide along the X-axis rail 211 without being separated from it.

When explaining the movement of the bolt fastening device having the above configurations, as shown in FIG. 2, the bolt fastening portion 100 is connected to the Z-axis rail 231 and is connected to the X-axis rail 211 and the X-axis guide rod. It moves horizontally in the X-axis direction along (212).

At this time, a first sensor 214 is provided on one side of the there is.

Also, as shown in Figure 3, the bolt fastening portion 100 can move up and down along the Z-axis direction while connected to the Z-axis rail 231.

Meanwhile, the X-axis rail 211 moves in the Y-axis direction along a pair of Y-axis rails 221, and since the Z-axis rail 231 is connected to the (100) also moves along the Y-axis rail 221 (see Figure 4).

At this time, a second sensor 223 is provided on one side of the Y-axis rail 221 to measure the displacement of the bolt fastener 100 in the Y-axis direction from the position of the X-axis rail 211, that is, the reflected distance. possible.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the battery carrying unit in the bolt fastening device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a view to explain how the battery is rotated by the battery carrying unit shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the battery carrying unit 300 and the work table 400 will be described.

The battery carrying unit 300 includes a second holder 310 for fixing the battery B, a motor 320 for rotating the battery B fixed by the second holder 310, and the second holder 310. and a third connection portion 330 for moving the motor 320 in the vertical direction, that is, the Z-axis direction.

Here, the second holder 310 is shown as having a pincer shape, but it is not necessarily limited to this and can be changed as long as it can be rotated while holding the battery.

In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the third connection part 330 is connected to a support bar (not shown) so as to slide along the vertical direction.

The worktable 400 is configured to support the battery B that requires assembly, and a plurality of third holders 410 are preferably provided on the upper surface of the worktable 400.

Here, the third holder 410 is to prevent the battery (B) from moving or falling due to various causes such as carelessness during work, and has a bent shape so as to surround a portion of each corner of the battery (B). It may be made up of two pieces, but as long as it can perform the purpose and function as described above, it can be changed as much as desired considering the appearance or size of the battery (B).

As described above, the battery transport unit 300 grasps the battery (B) requiring assembly and transfers it to the work table 400, and also performs the function of rotating the battery (B) when there are multiple bolt fastening surfaces. .

Meanwhile, the control unit includes a displacement receiver that receives the It is comprised of a controller that receives signals from the calculation unit and controls the operation of the bolt fastener, and a display unit that displays the received displacement results, stored data, and calculation results.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a battery bolt fastening method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart for controlling the operation of a bolt fastener in the battery bolt fastening method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the battery bolt fastening method according to the present invention includes a first step of storing the position coordinates where the bolt is to be fastened, a second step of generating the position of the bolt fastening part, the stored position coordinates of the bolt and A third step of comparing the position coordinates of the bolt fastener, a fourth step of transmitting a signal to a controller that controls the operation of the bolt fastener according to the comparison result, a fifth step of driving the bolt fastener to fasten the bolt, and fastening the bolt. It consists of a sixth step that determines whether to continue or end the process.

To explain in more detail, in the first step, the position coordinates (X, Y) and fastening order of all bolts to be fastened to the battery transported by the battery transport unit, that is, the battery placed on the workbench, are stored in the control unit.

Of course, it is obvious that an additional step of determining whether the battery body placed on the workbench is seated in a predetermined position may be performed in the step before the first step is performed, and the reference coordinates of the battery body may also be stored in the control unit. do.

In the second step, the bolt fastening part moves to the bolt fastening position along the and transmits it to the control unit in real time.

In the third and fourth steps, the position coordinates of the bolt fastener received from the first sensor and the second sensor are compared to see if they match the position coordinates where the bolt is to be fastened, and if these coordinates match, the control unit operates the bolt fastener. The indicating 'OK' signal is transmitted to the controller, and the subsequent fifth step can proceed.

However, if the position coordinates of the bolt fastener do not match the position coordinates where the bolt will be fastened, a ‘NOK’ signal is sent to the controller to prevent the bolt fastener from operating.

At this time, the comparison results are displayed on the display unit. In particular, if the coordinates do not match, various warning screens are displayed to help the worker respond quickly. If necessary, a separate sound is generated to generate an alarm. Additional parts may be provided.

Meanwhile, in the third step, it is desirable to add a process of comparing not only the position coordinates but also whether they match the preset fastening sequence. For example, when fastening multiple bolts, it is necessary to fasten them in order of fastening. Even if the position coordinates of the bolt fastening part and the coordinates of the position where the bolt is to be fastened are the same, if they are not the fastening position coordinates of the bolt that must be fastened in that order. This is because a 'NOK' signal can be transmitted to the controller to prevent the bolt fastener from operating, preventing subsequent steps from proceeding.

Of course, if the coordinate comparison results or the fastening order comparison results do not match, it is preferable to perform the second step of creating a new position of the bolt fastening part by moving the position of the bolt fastening part.

The fifth step is the step of tightening the bolt using a bolt fastener that receives the 'OK' signal from the controller. At this time, the bolt fastener allows the motor to rotate only when it receives the 'OK' signal in the fourth step described above. Power is supplied.

In the final sixth step, the total number of fastened bolts is compared with the total number of bolts scheduled to be fastened as set in advance, and if they match, the fastening of the battery is completed. If these results do not match, it is considered that there are bolts that have not yet been fastened. Thus, the above-described second to fifth steps are repeatedly performed.

However, if the second stage does not proceed for a long time due to various reasons such as operator misunderstanding or physical abnormality, or the first stage proceeds, it is judged that the work is progressing abnormally, and a warning sound such as an alarm is issued or a warning sound such as an alarm is issued or a display indicates an abnormal state. A warning sign may be displayed.

Of course, it is obvious that when the connection of the relevant battery is completed normally, the first step in which new coordinates are stored for connection of the new battery can begin.

Meanwhile, various information at each stage, such as the position coordinate results stored in the storage unit, the comparison result of the position coordinates of the bolt fastener and the bolt to be fastened, the operating status of the bolt fastener, and the bolt fastening sequence, can be visually expressed through the display unit. there is.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will be able to make various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention based on the above contents.

100: Bolt fastening part
110: bolt fastener
120: first holder
130: vertical bar
200: Guide unit
210: X-axis guide part
211: X-axis rail 212: X-axis guide rod
213: first connection 214: first sensor
220: Y-axis guide part
221: Y-axis rail 222: Y-axis guide rod
223: second sensor
230: Z-axis guide part
231: Z-axis rail 232: second connection part
300: Battery carrying unit
310: second holder
320: motor
330: third connection
400: workbench
410: Third holder
B: battery

Claims (15)

Bolt fastening part for fastening bolts when assembling a battery; and
It includes a guide part consisting of an
A bolt fastening device for a battery, characterized in that at least one of the X-axis guide part and the Y-axis guide part is provided with a sensor that can check the position of the bolt fastening part.
According to paragraph 1,
The X-axis guide unit is provided on an X-axis rail located in the X-axis direction, a pair of first connection parts located at both ends of the It includes a first sensor for
The Y-axis guide part consists of a pair spaced apart so as to be fastened to the pair of first connection parts, and each Y-axis guide part is located on a Y-axis rail located in the Y-axis direction and near one end of the Y-axis rail. It is provided and includes a second sensor for measuring the Y-axis displacement of the bolt fastening part,
The Z-axis guide unit includes a Z-axis rail located in the Z-axis direction, and a second connection part for fastening the Z-axis rail to the X-axis rail,
A battery bolt fastening device, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are laser sensors.
According to paragraph 2,
The bolt fastener includes a bolt fastener that operates by power supply, a first holder for supporting and fixing the bolt fastener, and a vertical bar fastened to the Z-axis rail with one side connected to the first holder. A bolt fastening device for a battery.
According to paragraph 3,
It further includes a control unit, wherein the control unit includes a displacement receiver that receives the A battery bolt fastening device comprising an arithmetic unit and a controller that receives a signal from the arithmetic unit to control operation of the bolt fastener.
According to paragraph 4,
A bolt fastening device for a battery, characterized in that the battery bolt fastening information is one or more of the number of bolts to be fastened, the position coordinates of the bolts, and the fastening order of the bolts.
According to paragraph 4,
The control unit further includes a display unit that displays the received displacement results, stored data, and calculation results.
According to paragraph 1,
It further includes a battery carrying unit that requires bolt fastening, wherein the battery carrying unit includes a second holder for holding the battery, a motor for rotating the second holder, and a third connection unit that moves in the Z-axis direction while fixing the motor. A bolt fastening device for a battery comprising:
According to paragraph 1,
A battery bolt fastening device, wherein the battery is a battery module or a battery pack.
A first step of storing location coordinates where bolts will be fastened when assembling a battery;
A second step of creating a position of a bolt fastening part for bolt fastening;
A third step of comparing the stored position coordinates of the bolt and the position of the bolt fastener;
A fourth step of transmitting a signal to a controller that controls the operation of the bolt fastener if the comparison results match; and
A bolt fastening method for a battery comprising: a fifth step of driving a bolt fastener to fasten a bolt.
According to clause 9,
A bolt fastening method for a battery, characterized in that in the first step, one or more of the bolt fastening order and the number of bolts to be fastened are stored.
According to clause 9,
If the comparison results do not match in the fourth step, a second step is performed to create a new position of the bolt fastener by moving the position of the bolt fastener.
According to clause 10,
The second to fifth steps are performed repeatedly, and the third step further includes comparing whether the bolts to be fastened are fastened according to a set order.
According to clause 12,
After the fifth step, a sixth step is further performed to determine whether to continue or end by comparing the total number of bolts fastened with the total number of bolts scheduled to be fastened.
According to clause 11,
A method of bolting a battery, characterized in that the results of the first to fourth steps are displayed on a display unit.
According to clause 9,
The bolt fastening unit moves along a guide section consisting of an X-axis guide section, a Y-axis guide section, and a Z-axis guide section,
A bolt fastening method for a battery, characterized in that the position of the bolt fastening part in the second step is generated by a laser sensor provided in each of the X-axis guide part and the Y-axis guide part.

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