Tray for holding pouch-type batteries

A tray for placing a plurality of pouch-type batteries is provided. The tray includes a frame, at least a drive shaft, a plurality of fixed plates and a plurality of movable plates. The drive shaft is slidably fixed to the frame along a drive axis, where the drive shaft has a positioning device for fixing a relative position of the drive shaft with respect to the frame. The fixed plates are perpendicular to the drive axis, and are arranged in order along the drive axis and fixed within the frame. The movable plates are also perpendicular to the drive axis, and are arranged in order along the drive axis within the frame, and the movable plates are interlaced with the fixed plates. The movable plates are moved together with the drive shaft, and each of the movable plates and each of the fixed plates define a receiving space for receiving the pouch-type battery, and are used for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tray, and in particular to a tray for placing a plurality of pouch-type batteries.

2. Description of the Related Art

Presently, with the rapid development of technology, various electronic products, such as mobile phones, tablet PCs, notebooks, even electric vehicles, need long-lasting batteries to supply power and prolong service time. Due to their high energy storage density and low memory effect, lithium batteries are widely applied in numerous electronic products and are currently a highly anticipated type of battery.

In the manufacturing process of lithium batteries, it is necessary to perform processes in advance such as formation and first-time charging, so that a semi-finished product can become a completed product. In the formation process, electrodes of the semi-finished lithium battery product are energized, so that chemical compositions in a fluid state inside the semi-finished lithium battery product form a chemical structure in a solid state capable of storing electric energy. Before the formation process of a pouch-type battery, the chemical compositions in a fluid state inside the semi-finished product are filled in a soft pouch; so that during the formation process, a uniform force needs to be applied to maintain the shape of the semi-finished product.

However, in the mass production of pouch-type batteries, the method by which a uniform and evenly distributed force can be applied to each pouch-type battery is a topic of significance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a tray for placing a plurality of pouch-type batteries, which can apply a uniform and evenly distributed force on each of the pouch-type batteries.

In order to achieve the objective mentioned above, the tray for placing a plurality of pouch-type batteries of the present invention includes a frame, at least one drive shaft, a plurality of fixed plates and a plurality of movable plates. The drive shaft is slidably fixed to the frame along a drive axis, and has a positioning device for fixing a relative position of the drive shaft with respect to the frame. The fixed plates are perpendicular to the drive axis, and are arranged in order along the drive axis and fixed within the frame. The movable plates are also perpendicular to the drive axis, and are arranged in order along the drive axis within the frame. The movable plates are interlaced with the fixed plates. Therein, the movable plates are moved together with the drive shaft, and each of the movable plates and each of the fixed plates define a receiving space for receiving each of the pouch-type batteries, and are used for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries. The tray of the present invention can apply a uniform and evenly distributed force on each of the pouch-type batteries.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

First, referring toFIG. 1A,FIG. 1B, andFIG. 1C, a tray2in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for placing a plurality of pouch-type batteries1. The tray2includes a frame21, at least one drive shaft22(in the current embodiment, two drive shafts22), a plurality of fixed plates23, and a plurality of movable plates24. Each of the drive shafts22is slidably fixed to the frame21along a drive axis A, wherein each of the drive shafts22has a positioning device221for fixing a relative position of the drive shaft22with respect to the frame21. The fixed plates23are perpendicular to the drive axis A and are arranged in order along the drive axis A and fixed within the frame21. The movable plates24are also perpendicular to the drive axis A and are arranged in order along the drive axis A within the frame21, and the movable plates24are interlaced with the fixed plates23. Further, the movable plates24are moved together with the drive shaft22, and each of the movable plates24and each of the fixed plates23define a receiving space for receiving each of the pouch-type batteries1and are used for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries1.

After semi-finished pouch-type battery1products are placed in the receiving spaces between the movable plates24and the fixed plates23, and before the formation process, a force is applied on the drive shaft22, so that the drive shaft22slides with respect to the frame21to a pre-determined relative position. Then, the movable plates24are driven by the drive shaft22and apply a uniform and evenly distributed force on all the semi-finished pouch-type battery1products clamped between the movable plates24and the fixed plates23. At this time, the relative position of the drive shaft22with respect to the frame21is fixed by the positioning device221, so that a uniform and evenly distributed force is continuously and simultaneously applied on the all the semi-finished pouch-type battery1products during the formation process.

As for the semi-finished pouch-type battery1product, reference can be made toFIG. 4BandFIG. 4C. In addition to a body11and two electrodes13, the pouch-type battery1further has an airbag12in gas communication with the body11. When the electrodes13of the semi-finished products of the pouch-type batteries1are energized to perform the formation process, the airbags12collect gas generated by chemical compositions in the semi-finished pouch-type battery1products. At this time, the tray2of the present invention applies a uniform and evenly distributed force on the semi-finished products of the pouch-type batteries1through the movable plates24. After the formation process is completed, the site where the airbag12of the pouch-type battery1is in communication with the body11is closed and the airbag12is cut out.

Referring toFIG. 2A,FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2C, the tray2of the present invention further includes a plurality of elastic devices25. InFIG. 2C, the relationships between the movable plates24and the elastic devices25can be shown more clearly when the drive shaft22is not shown. Each of the elastic devices25connects the drive shaft22and each of the movable plates24. The drive shaft22drives the elastic devices25, and the elastic devices25further apply a plurality of even elastic forces on the pouch-type batteries1through the movable plates24. Therefore, in the tray2of the present invention, the difference in the forces applied on the different pouch-type batteries1, caused by slight differences in the thickness of individual pouch-type batteries1and the same distance that different movable plates24move with the drive shaft22, can be further reduced by means of the elastic devices25.

The tray2of this embodiment includes two drive shafts22. As shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, the two drive shafts22respectively pass through a left side and a right side of each of the movable plates24, and each of the elastic devices25connects one of the drive shafts22and each of the movable plates24, so as to uniformly apply a force on the pouch-type batteries1. Each of the movable plates24accordingly forms a perforation241corresponding to each of the drive shafts22, and the drive shafts22respectively pass through the corresponding perforations241. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic devices25of the present invention are a plurality of helical springs, and the drive shafts22pass through the corresponding helical springs.

As shown inFIG. 2A,FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2C, the tray2of this embodiment includes a plurality of stop rings26. Each of the stop rings26is respectively disposed between the movable plates24and fixed around one of the drive shafts22to limit a plurality of pitches between the movable plates24, and each of the elastic devices25is received in each of the stop rings26. Each of the elastic devices25is pressed against each of the stop rings26and each of the movable plates24, so that the movable plates24can be driven by the drive shaft22through the elastic devices25and the stop rings26. In a preferred embodiment, each of the stop rings26has a positioning hole261, and each of the stop rings26is locked and fixed with the corresponding drive shaft22through the positioning hole261.

Referring toFIG. 1B,FIG. 1C, andFIG. 3, the tray2of the present invention preferably further includes a drive shaft connector27. A first end of each of the drive shafts22passes out through a corresponding first slide hole211of the frame21along drive axis A, and the drive shaft connector27is used for fixing all the first ends of the drive shafts22and is pressed against a first outer surface of the frame21. Before the formation process, a force may be applied on the drive shaft connector27by using a device such as a cylinder to enable all the drive shafts22to slide with respect to the frame21to a pre-determined relative position, and then the relative position of the drive shafts22with respect to the frame21is fixed by the positioning device221.

Referring toFIG. 1A,FIG. 1C, andFIG. 3, in this embodiment, the positioning device221of each of the drive shafts22includes a nut222. A second end of each of the drive shafts22passes out from a corresponding second slide hole212of the frame21along the drive axis A and forms an external thread223. The nut222of the positioning device221is used for engaging with the external thread223and is pressed against a second outer surface of the frame21, so as to fix the relative position of the drive shafts22with respect to the frame21.

Referring toFIG. 4A, each of the fixed plates23of the present invention includes a plate body231and at least one stop bump232. The plate body231is fixed to the frame21, and the stop bump232is disposed on a side surface of the plate body231for clamping the pouch-type battery1, and contacts with the corresponding movable plate24, so as to limit a pitch between each of the movable plates24and each of the fixed plates23and prevent the pouch-type battery1from being excessively compressed. In this embodiment, each of the fixed plates23includes two stop bumps232, respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the side surface of the plate body231, clamping each of the pouch-type batteries1, so as to uniformly press against and limit the pitch between each of the movable plates24and each of the fixed plates23. The thickness of the stop bumps232is preferably less than the thickness of the stop rings26.

Referring toFIG. 4Aeach of the fixed plates23preferably includes a pouch-type battery positioning rack233, which is disposed on the side surface of the plate body231for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries1, and positions the pouch-type batteries1. The pouch-type battery positioning rack233includes two guide strips233aand a positioning groove233b. The guide strips233aextend vertically and are respectively disposed on the left right sides of the side surface of the plate body231of each of the fixed plates23for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries1. The positioning groove233bis disposed on a bottom side of the side surface of the plate body231of each of the fixed plates23for clamping each of the pouch-type batteries1. Thus, as shown inFIG. 4BandFIG. 4C, when each of the pouch-type batteries1is placed into the tray2of the present invention from the top, the left side, the right side and the bottom side of each of the pouch-type batteries1are respectively positioned in the tray2through the guide strips233aand the positioning groove233b.

Referring toFIG. 3, in this embodiment, the frame21includes a plurality of oil-free bushings213for contacting and slidably fixing the drive shafts22, and the frame21includes a plurality of grooves214for respectively fitting and fixing the fixed plates23.

In this embodiment, as in the preferred embodiment of the frame21, reference can be made toFIG. 1A,FIG. 1B, andFIG. 3. The frame21is formed with a plurality of positioning holes215for positioning the tray2, for example, in a process apparatus for the pouch-type batteries1. The frame21has two hand-grip holes216disposed at a front side and a rear side of the frame21along the drive axis A to facilitate the operation of the tray2of the present invention. The frame21is formed with a direction identification notch217disposed at either the front side or the rear side of the frame21along the drive axis A for identifying a direction of the tray2. Moreover, the frame21has two openings218disposed corresponding to left sides and right sides of the pouch-type batteries1for exposing two electrodes13at the left and right sides of each of the pouch-type batteries1to facilitate the electrical connection between the process apparatus and the electrodes13of the pouch-type battery1, and to help perform the formation process or other charging processes.

When the pouch-type batteries1are placed in the tray2of the present invention, the drive shafts22can drive the movable plates24to move, and the positioning devices221fix the relative position of the drive shafts22with respect to the frame21and thereby apply a uniform and evenly distributed force on all the semi-finished pouch-type battery1products clamped between the movable plates24and the fixed plates23, so as to achieve the objective of the present invention.