WO2024172551A1

WO2024172551A1 - Electrode plate alignment apparatus and electrode plate alignment method

Info

Publication number: WO2024172551A1
Application number: PCT/KR2024/095194
Authority: WO
Inventors: 양지원; 박수연; 김윤재; 박상준
Original assignee: 에스케이온 주식회사
Priority date: 2023-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-15
Publication date: 2024-08-22

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an electrode plate alignment apparatus and an electrode plate alignment method. The electrode plate alignment apparatus and the electrode plate alignment method inspect and correct the alignment state of electrode plates so that electrode plates being stacked in order to manufacture a battery cell are aligned in a pre-set state.

Description

Electrode plate alignment device and electrode plate alignment method

The present disclosure relates to an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method, and more particularly, to an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method for aligning electrode plates supplied to manufacture an electrode assembly of a battery cell.

A secondary battery cell is formed by laminating a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate and immersing them in an electrolyte solution, and the electrode assembly included in such a battery cell is formed by alternately laminating positive and negative electrode plates with a separator in between.

Specifically, when the electrode plate supply device supplies electrode plates composed of a positive plate or a negative plate to the lamination table, the electrode plates and separator are laminated on the lamination table by the electrode plate lamination device to form an electrode assembly.

Meanwhile, the electrode plates supplied through the electrode plate supply device are transported to the stacking table by a mechanism for transporting the electrode plates. At this time, in order to prevent defects in the battery cell manufactured using the electrode plates stacked on the stacking table, the alignment state of the electrode plates transported from the electrode plate supply device to the stacking table must have a preset alignment state.

However, since the alignment state of the electrode plate may change during the process of being transported by the electrode plate supply device, the alignment state of the electrode plate may be different from the preset alignment state.

In this way, if a battery cell is manufactured by stacking electrode plates whose alignment state is different from the preset alignment state, defects in the battery cell may occur as described above. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method capable of inspecting and correcting the alignment state of the electrode plates.

One object of the present disclosure is to inspect and correct the alignment state of electrode plates so that the electrode plates laminated for manufacturing a battery cell have a preset alignment state.

Another object of the present disclosure is to prevent defects in battery cells by preventing electrode plates having an alignment state different from a preset alignment state from being used in the manufacture of battery cells.

The electrode plate alignment device and the electrode plate alignment method of the present disclosure can be widely used in green technology fields using batteries such as electric vehicles. In addition, a battery cell manufactured through the electrode plate alignment device and the electrode plate alignment method of the present disclosure can be used in eco-friendly electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc. to prevent climate change by suppressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

As a technical means for solving the above technical problem, an electrode plate alignment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an electrode plate transporting unit that transports an electrode plate formed of a positive plate or a negative plate, an electrode plate stacking unit in which the electrode plates are stacked, an electrode plate transporting unit that transports the electrode plates transported by the electrode plate transporting unit to the electrode plate stacking unit, and an alignment inspection unit that inspects whether the electrode plates are in a preset reference alignment state when they are positioned at a preset transport position to be held by the electrode plate transporting unit, and the alignment inspection unit calculates correction information, which is information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plates so that the alignment state of the electrode plates becomes the reference alignment state, and transmits the information to the electrode plate transporting unit, and the electrode plate transporting unit can hold the electrode plates, correct the alignment state of the electrode plates based on the correction information, and then transport the electrode plates to the electrode plate stacking unit.

In addition, the correction information may be information for moving the electrode plate so that at least two corners among the plurality of corners of the electrode plate are respectively positioned at positions where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, or so that at least two corners among the plurality of vertices of the electrode plate are respectively positioned at positions where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state.

Additionally, the correction information may be information for moving the electrode plate so that each of the plurality of corners of the electrode plate is positioned at a position where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, or so that each of the plurality of vertices of the electrode plate is positioned at a position where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state.

In addition, the correction information may include at least one of information for moving the electrode plate in a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate in a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for rotating the electrode plate so that the electrode plate rotates while maintaining one side parallel to the horizontal direction.

In addition, the electrode plate transport unit can change its state in advance before gripping the electrode plate so that the state of the electrode plate transport unit becomes a preset origin state when the state of the electrode plate transport unit changes by moving the electrode plate based on the correction information.

Additionally, the electrode plate transport unit can change its state in advance based on the correction information before transporting one of the electrode plates to the electrode plate stacking unit and then gripping another electrode plate.

Additionally, the alignment inspection unit can be installed at a preset installation location spaced a predetermined distance from the transport location.

Additionally, the alignment inspection unit can be installed in the electrode plate transport unit.

In addition, the electrode plate transport unit may include a main body, an extension module connected to the main body and extending in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction from the main body, and a gripping module coupled to the extension module so as to be positioned at a lower portion of the extension module and configured to contact the electrode plate and grip the electrode plate.

Additionally, at least one of the alignment inspection units may be installed in the extension module.

Additionally, at least one of the alignment inspection units may be installed in the phage module.

Additionally, the alignment inspection unit may include a photographing means for photographing the electrode plate.

In addition, the electrode plate laminate may further include a laminate alignment inspection unit that inspects whether the alignment state of the electrode plates laminated on the electrode plate laminate is a preset laminate alignment state.

As a technical means for solving the above-described technical problem, an electrode plate alignment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first step of transporting an electrode plate formed of a positive plate or a negative plate to an electrode plate transport unit, a second step of inspecting, by an alignment inspection unit, whether the electrode plate transported to the electrode plate transport unit is in a preset reference alignment state when positioned at a preset transport position to be gripped by the electrode plate transport unit, a third step of calculating, by the alignment inspection unit, correction information, which is information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate so that the alignment state of the electrode plate becomes the reference alignment state, and transmitting the correction information to the electrode plate transport unit, a fourth step of correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate based on the correction information by gripping the electrode plate with the electrode plate transport unit, a fifth step of transporting the electrode plate to an electrode plate stacking unit, and a sixth step of inspecting, by a stacking unit alignment inspection unit, whether the alignment state of the electrode plates stacked in the electrode plate stacking unit is in a preset stacking alignment state.

In addition, the correction information may include at least one of information for moving the electrode plate in a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate in a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for moving the electrode plate so that the electrode plate rotates while maintaining one side parallel to the horizontal direction.

Specific details of other embodiments for solving the problem are included in the description and drawings of the invention.

According to the solution to the problem of the present disclosure described above, the electrode plate alignment device and electrode plate alignment method according to the present disclosure provide an effect of allowing electrode plates to be laminated for manufacturing a battery cell to have a preset alignment state by inspecting the alignment state of the electrode plates with an alignment inspection unit and correcting the alignment state of the electrode plates with an electrode plate transport unit.

In addition, it provides the effect of preventing defects in the battery cell by ensuring that the electrode plates laminated for manufacturing the battery cell have a preset alignment state.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an example of an electrode plate alignment device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating another example of an electrode plate alignment device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 is a drawing illustrating an electrode plate in a reference alignment state being transported through an electrode plate transport unit.

Figure 4 is a drawing illustrating an electrode plate being transported through an electrode plate transport unit when the alignment state is not the standard alignment state.

Figure 5 is a drawing showing the positions where the edges of the electrode plates should be positioned when the alignment state is the reference alignment state and the positions of the edges of the electrode plates when the alignment state is not the reference alignment state.

Figure 6 is a drawing showing the positions where the edges of the electrode plates should be positioned when the alignment state is a stacked alignment state and the positions of the edges of the electrode plates when the alignment state is not a stacked alignment state.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an electrode plate alignment device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating an example of an electrode plate transport unit.

Figure 9 is a drawing showing an electrode plate transport unit having an alignment inspection unit installed in an extension module.

Figure 10 is a drawing showing an electrode plate transport unit having an alignment inspection unit installed in a phage module.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an electrode plate alignment method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail so that those with ordinary skill in the art can easily practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to clearly describe the present invention in the drawings, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are assigned similar drawing reference numerals throughout the specification.

Throughout this specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly connected" but also the case where it is "electrically connected" with another element in between.

Throughout this specification, when it is said that an element is “on” another element, this includes not only cases where the element is in contact with the other element, but also cases where there is another element between the two elements.

Throughout this specification, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise specifically stated. The terms "about," "substantially," and the like, as used throughout this specification, are used to mean at or near the numerical values inherent in the stated meanings, when manufacturing and material tolerances are presented, and are used to prevent unscrupulous infringers from unfairly exploiting disclosures that state precise or absolute values to aid the understanding of this specification. The terms "step of doing" or "step of" as used throughout this specification do not mean "step for."

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings and the contents described below. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, an electrode plate alignment device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, the electrode plate alignment device (2) may include an electrode plate transport unit (140), an alignment inspection unit (145), an electrode plate transport unit (150), an electrode plate lamination unit (160), and a lamination unit alignment inspection unit (165).

First, the electrode plate transfer unit (140) will be described.

As shown in Fig. 1, the electrode plate transport unit (140) can perform the function of transporting the electrode plate (122).

This electrode plate transport unit (140) may be configured as a conventional object transporting mechanism including a conveyor belt, but the configuration of the electrode plate transport unit (140) is not limited thereto.

Next, the alignment inspection unit (145) will be described.

The alignment inspection unit (145) may include a photographing means for photographing the electrode plate (122), and may be configured as a conventional vision sensor capable of photographing a predetermined object and identifying the shape and form of the predetermined object, but the configuration of the alignment inspection unit (145) is not limited thereto.

This alignment inspection unit (145), as shown in FIG. 1, can be installed at a preset first installation position spaced a predetermined distance from the transport position to inspect the alignment status of the electrode plate (122).

Meanwhile, the alignment inspection unit (145) may be installed at a preset second installation location located at a predetermined distance from the transport position but below the electrode plate transport unit (140), as shown in Fig. 2, to inspect the alignment status of the electrode plate (122).

At this time, a plurality of holes (141) may be formed in the electrode plate transport unit (140) at the portion where the corner of the electrode plate (122) is positioned when the electrode plate (122) is positioned at a preset transport position to be gripped by the electrode plate transport unit (150) so that the alignment inspection unit (145) located at the lower portion of the electrode plate transport unit (140) can detect the position of the corner of the electrode plate (122).

In this way, by forming a plurality of holes (141) in the electrode plate transfer unit (140), the alignment inspection unit (145) can detect the position of the edge of the electrode plate (122) exposed by the plurality of holes (141) and inspect the alignment state of the electrode plate (122).

Specifically, the alignment inspection unit (145) can inspect whether the electrode plate (122) transported by the electrode plate transport unit (140) is in a preset reference alignment state when it is positioned at a preset transport position to be gripped by the electrode plate transport unit (150).

And, except in cases where the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) is the reference alignment state, the alignment inspection unit (145) can calculate correction information, which is information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) so that the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) becomes the reference alignment state, and transmit the information to the electrode plate transport unit (150).

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, if the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) located at the transport position (P1) is the reference alignment state, the alignment inspection unit (145) may not produce correction information to be transmitted to the electrode plate transport unit (150).

However, if the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) located at the transport position (P1) as shown in FIG. 4 is not the reference alignment state, the alignment inspection unit (145) can produce correction information to be transmitted to the electrode plate transport unit (150).

The correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate (122) so that each of the plurality of corners of the electrode plate (122) is positioned at a position where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state.

For example, referring to FIG. 5, the correction information may include information for making the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) the reference alignment state by moving the electrode plate (122) such that the first edge of the electrode plate (122) whose alignment state is not the reference alignment state is moved from the first position (C1) to the first' position (C1'), the second edge is moved from the second position (C2) to the second' position (C2'), the third edge is moved from the third position (C3) to the third' position (C3'), and the fourth edge is moved from the fourth position (C4) to the fourth' position (C4').

In addition, the correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate (122) so that at least two corners among the plurality of corners of the electrode plate (122) are positioned at positions where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state.

This is because when at least two corners among the multiple corners of the electrode plate (122) are positioned at positions where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state, the remaining corners are also positioned at positions where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state.

Meanwhile, the correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate (122) so that at least two of the plurality of vertices of the electrode plate (122) are positioned at positions where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state.

At this time, the correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate (122) so that each of the plurality of vertices of the electrode plate (122) is positioned at a position where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state.

Such correction information may include at least one of information for moving the electrode plate (122) in a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate (122) in a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for rotating the electrode plate (122) so that the electrode plate (122) rotates while maintaining one side parallel to the horizontal direction.

At this time, the horizontal direction can be the direction perpendicular to the direction in which gravity acts.

Therefore, based on the correction information produced by the alignment inspection unit (145), the electrode plate transport unit (150) described later can correct the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) to a reference alignment state by moving the electrode plate (122) horizontally or rotating it while moving it horizontally.

Next, the electrode plate transport unit (150) will be described.

The electrode plate transport unit (150) can perform the function of transporting the electrode plate (122) transported by the electrode plate transport unit (140) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160) to be described later.

The electrode plate transport unit (150) may be composed of a conventional machine including a P & P (Pick and Place) machine and a SCARA robot, but the configuration of the electrode plate transport unit (150) is not limited thereto.

The electrode plate transport unit (150) can transport the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160) by moving it in the vertical and horizontal directions. At this time, the vertical direction may be a direction parallel to the direction in which gravity acts.

In addition, the electrode plate transport unit (150) moves the electrode plate (122) in the vertical and horizontal directions, and can also transport the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160) while rotating the electrode plate (122).

In addition, the electrode plate transport unit (150) can move the electrode plate (122) based on the correction information received from the alignment inspection unit (145) so that the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) that has been ground becomes a reference alignment state, and then transport the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160).

That is, the electrode plate transport unit (150) can move the electrode plate (122) that has been gripped in at least one of the first alignment direction and the second alignment direction so that at least two or more of the plurality of edges of the electrode plate (122) are positioned at positions where the electrode plate (122) should be positioned when the electrode plate (122) is in a reference alignment state based on the correction information, and can also rotate the electrode plate (122).

Meanwhile, the electrode plate transport unit (150) can change the state in advance before the electrode plate (122) is gripped so that the state of the electrode plate transport unit (150) becomes the preset origin state when the state of the electrode plate transport unit (150) is changed by moving the electrode plate (122) based on the correction information.

At this time, the electrode plate transport unit (150) can change the state in advance based on the correction information before transporting one electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160) and then gripping another electrode plate (122).

That is, the electrode plate transport unit (150) transports the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160), then changes the state in advance based on the correction information, holds the electrode plate (122) in the changed state, moves the electrode plate (122) so that the state of the electrode plate (122) becomes a reference alignment state, and then moves the electrode plate (122) to a preset origin state, and then the process of transporting the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160) can be repeated.

Next, the electrode plate laminate (160) will be described.

An electrode plate (122) transported by an electrode plate transport unit (150) is laminated on the electrode plate stacking unit (160).

For example, in the electrode plate stacking unit (160), positive and negative plates, which are transported by the electrode plate transport unit (150) and moved so that the alignment state becomes the reference alignment state, can be alternately stacked with the separator in between.

The electrode plate stack (160) may be configured as a table on which a predetermined object can be placed, but the configuration of the electrode plate stack (160) is not limited thereto.

Next, the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) will be described.

The laminate alignment inspection unit (165) may include a photographing means for photographing the electrode plate (122), and may be configured as a conventional vision sensor capable of photographing a predetermined object and identifying the shape and form of the predetermined object, but the configuration of the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) is not limited thereto.

This laminated portion alignment inspection unit (165), as illustrated in FIG. 1, is installed at a preset third installation location spaced a predetermined distance from the electrode plate laminated portion (160) and can inspect the alignment status of the electrode plates (122) laminated on the electrode plate laminated portion (160).

Specifically, the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) can inspect whether the electrode plates (122) laminated on the electrode plate laminate unit (160) are in a preset laminate alignment state.

For example, referring to FIG. 6, when the electrode plates (122) are in a laminated alignment state, the edges of the electrode plates (122) should be located at the first "position (C1"), the second "position (C2"), the third "position (C3"), and the fourth "position (C4"), respectively.

At this time, the laminated alignment inspection unit (165) can determine that the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) is not a laminated alignment state if the first edge of the electrode plate (122) that should be positioned at the first "position (C1") is positioned at the first position (C1), the second edge of the electrode plate (122) that should be positioned at the second "position (C2") is positioned at the second position (C2), the third edge of the electrode plate (122) that should be positioned at the third "position (C3") is positioned at the third position (C3), or the fourth edge of the electrode plate (122) that should be positioned at the fourth "position (C4") is positioned at the fourth position (C4).

In this way, when the alignment state of the electrode plates (122) laminated on the electrode plate laminate (160) is determined to be not in a laminated alignment state by the laminated portion alignment inspection unit (165), the electrode plates (122) laminated on the electrode plate laminate (160) can be discharged outside the electrode plate laminate (160).

Meanwhile, the stacking alignment inspection unit (165) can inspect the alignment status of the electrode plate (122) immediately after the electrode plate transport unit (150) transports the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160).

At this time, in order to prevent a part of the electrode plate transport unit (150) from being located between the electrode plate (122) and the laminated portion alignment inspection unit (165) and thus preventing the electrode plate (122) from being inspected by the laminated portion alignment inspection unit (165), the electrode plate transport unit (150) may be formed to have a shape that does not prevent the electrode plate (122) from being inspected by the laminated portion alignment inspection unit (165).

Hereinafter, an electrode plate alignment device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7, the electrode plate alignment device (3) includes an electrode plate transfer unit (140), an alignment inspection unit (145), an electrode plate transport unit (150), an electrode plate stacking unit (160), and a stacking unit alignment inspection unit (165).

First, the electrode plate transfer unit (140) will be described.

The electrode plate transfer unit (140) is configured identically to the electrode plate transfer unit (140) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) described above.

Next, the alignment inspection unit (145) will be described.

The alignment inspection unit (145) is configured identically to the alignment inspection unit (145) of the electrode plate alignment device (2), except that it is configured to be installed in the electrode plate transport unit (150), as shown in FIG. 7.

Next, the electrode plate transport unit (150) will be described.

The electrode plate transport unit (150) of the electrode plate alignment device (3) is configured in the same manner as the electrode plate transport unit (150) of the electrode plate alignment device (2).

However, since an alignment inspection unit (145) is installed in the electrode plate transport unit (150) of the electrode plate alignment device (3), the specific configuration of the electrode plate transport unit (150) for installing the alignment inspection unit (145) will be described.

Referring to FIG. 8, the electrode plate transport unit (150) may include a main body (151), an extension module (152), and a gripping module (153).

The main body (151) can be formed to support the electrode plate transport unit (150).

The extension module (152) is connected to the main body (151) and can be formed to extend in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction from the main body (151).

The phage module (153) is coupled to the extension module (152) so as to be placed at the bottom of the extension module (152) and can come into contact with the electrode plate (122) to phage the electrode plate (122). For example, the phage module (153) may be configured so that one surface in contact with the electrode plate (122) sucks in air, and may be configured to phage the electrode plate (122) in contact with the one surface by utilizing the suction force of the air.

Meanwhile, in order to be able to grip the electrode plate (122) positioned on the electrode plate transport section (140) by the gripping module (153) or to correct the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) gripped by the gripping module (153), at least one of the extension module (152) and the gripping module (153) may be configured to be able to move in at least one of the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the main body (151), and the gripping module (153) may be configured to be able to rotate the gripped electrode plate (122).

An alignment inspection unit (145) is installed at a predetermined position of the electrode plate transport unit (150) formed in this manner, so that the alignment status of the electrode plate (122) located at the transport position (P1) of the electrode plate transport unit (140) can be inspected.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, at least one alignment inspection unit (145) is installed in the extension module (152) of the electrode plate transport unit (150), so that the alignment status of the electrode plate (122) located at the transport position (P1) of the electrode plate transport unit (140) can be inspected.

As another example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, at least one alignment inspection unit (145) is installed in the phage module (153) of the electrode plate transport unit (150) so as to inspect the alignment status of the electrode plate (122) located at the transport position (P1) of the electrode plate transport unit (140).

Next, the electrode plate laminate (160) will be described.

The electrode plate lamination part (160) is configured in the same manner as the electrode plate lamination part (160) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) described above.

Next, the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) will be described.

The laminate alignment inspection unit (165) is configured in the same manner as the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) described above.

Hereinafter, a method for aligning electrode plates according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

Referring to FIG. 11, the electrode plate alignment method includes a first step (S100) of transporting an electrode plate (122) to an electrode plate transport unit (140), a second step (S200) of checking the alignment state of the electrode plate (122), a third step (S300) of calculating correction information of the electrode plate (122) and transmitting it to an electrode plate transport unit (150), a fourth step (S400) of correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate (122), a fifth step (S500) of transporting the electrode plate (122) to an electrode plate stacking unit (160), and a sixth step (S600) of checking the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) stacked on the electrode plate stacking unit (160).

First, Step 1 (S100) will be explained.

Step 1 (S100) is a step of transporting an electrode plate (122) formed as a positive or negative plate to an electrode plate transport unit (140).

At this time, the configuration of the electrode plate transfer unit (140) is the same as the configuration of the electrode plate transfer unit (140) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) and electrode plate alignment device (3) described above.

Next, the second step (S200) will be described.

The second step (S200) is a step in which the alignment inspection unit (145) checks whether the electrode plate (122) being transported by the electrode plate transport unit (140) is in a preset reference alignment state when it is positioned at a preset transport position (P1) to be gripped by the electrode plate transport unit (150).

At this time, the configuration of the alignment inspection unit (145) and the electrode plate transport unit (150) is the same as the configuration of the alignment inspection unit (145) and the electrode plate transport unit (150) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) and the electrode plate alignment device (3) described above.

Next, the third step (S300) will be described.

Step 3 (S300) is a step in which correction information, which is information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) so that the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) becomes the reference alignment state, is generated by the alignment inspection unit (145) and transmitted to the electrode plate transport unit (150) except in cases where the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) is the reference alignment state.

At this time, the correction information is the same as the correction information of the alignment inspection unit (145) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) and electrode plate alignment device (3) described above.

Next, the fourth step (S400) will be described.

Step 4 (S400) is a step of correcting the alignment status of the electrode plate (122) based on correction information by holding the electrode plate (122) with the electrode plate transport unit (150).

At this time, the configuration for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) by the electrode plate transport unit (150) is the same as the configuration for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate (122) by the electrode plate transport unit (150) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) and electrode plate alignment device (3) described above.

Next, the fifth step (S500) will be described.

Step 5 (S500) is a step of transporting the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate lamination unit (160).

In the fourth step (S400), the electrode plate transport unit (150) corrects the alignment state by holding the electrode plate (122), and then in the fifth step (S500), the electrode plate transport unit (150) transports the electrode plate (122) to the electrode plate stacking unit (160).

At this time, the configuration of the electrode plate lamination part (160) is the same as the configuration of the electrode plate lamination part (160) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) and electrode plate alignment device (3) described above.

Next, step 6 (S600) will be described.

Step 6 (S600) is a step for checking whether the alignment state of the electrode plates (122) laminated on the electrode plate laminate (160) is in a preset laminate alignment state using the laminate alignment inspection unit (165).

At this time, the configuration of the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) is the same as the configuration of the laminate alignment inspection unit (165) of the electrode plate alignment device (2) and electrode plate alignment device (3) described above.

In this way, the electrode plate alignment device and electrode plate alignment method according to the present disclosure provide an effect of allowing electrode plates to be laminated for manufacturing a battery cell to have a preset alignment state by inspecting the alignment state of the electrode plates with an alignment inspection unit and correcting the alignment state of the electrode plates with an electrode plate transport unit.

The above description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single component may be implemented in a distributed manner, and likewise, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined manner.

The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims which follow rather than the detailed description above, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

An electrode plate transport unit for transporting electrode plates formed of a positive plate or a negative plate;

An electrode plate lamination portion in which the above electrode plates are laminated;

An electrode plate transport unit that transports the electrode plate transported by the electrode plate transport unit to the electrode plate stacking unit; and

Including an alignment inspection unit that inspects whether the electrode plate is in a preset reference alignment state when positioned at a preset transport position to be gripped by the electrode plate transport unit;

The alignment inspection unit calculates correction information, which is information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate so that the alignment state of the electrode plate becomes the reference alignment state, and transmits the information to the electrode plate transport unit, except in cases where the alignment state of the electrode plate is the reference alignment state.

The electrode plate transport unit is an electrode plate alignment device that corrects the alignment state of the electrode plate based on the correction information by holding the electrode plate, and then transports the electrode plate to the electrode plate stacking unit.
In the first paragraph,

The above correction information is,

An electrode plate alignment device, which is information for moving the electrode plate so that at least two corners among a plurality of corners of the electrode plate are respectively positioned at positions where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, or so that at least two vertices among a plurality of vertexes of the electrode plate are positioned at positions where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state.
In the second paragraph,

The above correction information is,

An electrode plate alignment device, which is information for moving the electrode plate so that each of a plurality of corners of the electrode plate is positioned at a position where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, or so that each of a plurality of vertices of the electrode plate is positioned at a position where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state.
In the second paragraph,

The above correction information is,

An electrode plate alignment device comprising at least one piece of information from among information for moving the electrode plate in a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate in a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for rotating the electrode plate so that the electrode plate rotates while maintaining one side parallel to the horizontal direction.
In paragraph 4,

The electrode plate transport unit moves the electrode plate based on the correction information so that when the state of the electrode plate transport unit changes, the state of the electrode plate transport unit becomes the preset origin state.

The above electrode plate transport unit is an electrode plate alignment device that changes the state in advance before the electrode plate is ground.
In paragraph 5,

An electrode plate alignment device in which the electrode plate transport unit changes a state in advance based on the correction information before transporting one of the electrode plates to the electrode plate stacking unit and then gripping another electrode plate.
In Article 6,

The above alignment inspection unit is an electrode plate alignment device installed at a preset installation location spaced a predetermined distance from the transport position.
In Article 6,

The above alignment inspection unit is an electrode plate alignment device installed in the electrode plate transport unit.
In Article 8,

The above electrode plate transport unit,

entity;

An extension module connected to the main body and extending from the main body in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and

An electrode plate alignment device, comprising a gripping module coupled to the extension module so as to be placed at a lower portion of the extension module and contacting the electrode plate to grip the electrode plate.
In Article 9,

An electrode plate alignment device, wherein at least one of the alignment inspection units is installed on the extension module.
In Article 9,

An electrode plate alignment device, wherein at least one of the alignment inspection units is installed on the phage module.
In any one of claims 1 to 11,

An electrode plate alignment device, wherein the alignment inspection unit includes a photographing means for photographing the electrode plate.
In Article 12,

An electrode plate alignment device further comprising a laminate alignment inspection unit that inspects whether the alignment state of the electrode plates laminated on the electrode plate laminate is a preset laminate alignment state.
A first step of transporting an electrode plate formed of a positive plate or a negative plate to an electrode plate transport unit;

A second step of using an alignment inspection unit to check whether the electrode plate being transported to the electrode plate transport unit is in a preset reference alignment state when positioned at a preset transport position to be gripped by the electrode plate transport unit;

A third step of generating correction information, which is information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate so that the alignment state of the electrode plate becomes the reference alignment state, by the alignment inspection unit and transmitting the correction information to the electrode plate transport unit, except in cases where the alignment state of the electrode plate is the reference alignment state;

A fourth step of correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate based on the correction information by holding the electrode plate with the electrode plate transport unit;

A fifth step of transporting the electrode plate to the electrode plate lamination section; and

An electrode plate alignment method, comprising a sixth step of using a laminate alignment inspection unit to inspect whether the alignment state of the electrode plates laminated on the electrode plate laminate is a preset laminate alignment state.
In Article 14,

The above correction information is,

An electrode plate alignment method, wherein the electrode plate is information for moving the electrode plate so that at least two corners among a plurality of edges of the electrode plate are respectively positioned at positions where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, or so that at least two vertices among a plurality of points of the electrode plate are respectively positioned at positions where the electrode plate should be positioned when the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state.
In Article 15,

The above correction information is,

An electrode plate alignment method comprising at least one of information for moving the electrode plate in a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate in a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for moving the electrode plate so that the electrode plate rotates while maintaining one side parallel to the horizontal direction.
In Article 16,

The electrode plate transport unit moves the electrode plate based on the correction information so that when the state of the electrode plate transport unit changes, the state of the electrode plate transport unit becomes the preset origin state.

An electrode plate alignment method in which the electrode plate transport unit changes its state in advance before the electrode plate is ground.
In Article 17,

An electrode plate alignment method, wherein the alignment inspection unit is installed at a preset installation location spaced a predetermined distance from the transport location.
In Article 17,

An electrode plate alignment method, wherein the above alignment inspection unit is installed in the electrode plate transport unit.