Abstract:
A battery cell inspection method in which the difference in the measured value in case of normal battery cell insertion and that incase of mistaken battery cell insertion is large to facilitate decision as to whether or not mistaken insertion occurred to enable stable result of decision to be achieved, and in which, if the area of the electrode plate and/or the number of the electrode plates making up a sole battery cell is small, decision as to mistaken insertion can be given easily to assure correct results of decision. To this end, measurement is made of the difference between a measured value of the capacitance across a minus (−) electrode plate  103   a  of a first cell  101   a  and a (−) electrode plate  103   b  of a second cell  101   b  facing the (−) electrode plate  103   a  in case the potential across a plus (+) electrode plate  104   a  of the first cell  101   a  and a (+) terminal plate  102   b  of a second cell  101   b  neighboring to the first cell  101   a  is caused to fall to a ground potential (for an acceptable article) and a measured value of the capacitance across a minus (−) electrode plate  103   a  of the first cell  101   a  and a plus (+) terminal plate  102   b  of the second cell  101   b  neighboring to the minus (−) electrode plate  103   a  of a first cell  101   a  with a minus (−) electrode plate  103   b  of the second cell  101   b  incase the potential across the plus (+) terminal plate  102   a  of the first cell  101   a  and a minus (−) electrode plate  103   b  of the second cell  101   b  (for a reject).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting mistaken insertion of each battery cell in the manufacturing process of a battery having plural battery cells, as in the case of a unit battery. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There has so far been used a battery having plural battery cells enclosed in its casing, for example, a unit lead-acid storage battery. The battery cell of this type of the battery is made up of plural positive electrode plates, connected to an positive electrode terminal, and plural negative electrode plates, connected to a negative electrode terminal. These positive electrode plates are flat-plate-shaped and supported by the positive electrode terminal in parallel with one another. Similarly, the negative electrode plates are flat-plate-shaped and supported by the negative electrode terminal in parallel with one another. These positive electrode and negative electrode plates are alternately combined parallel to one another to make up a battery cell. That is, in this battery cell, each positive electrode plate is sandwiched on its both sides by the negative electrode plate with a gap in-between. Similarly, each negative electrode plate is sandwiched on its both sides by the positive electrode plate with a gap in-between. In the gap between the positive electrode and negative electrode plates is arranged a separator formed of an insulating material. 
     Also, in the above battery cell, the number of the negative electrode plates is larger by one than that of the positive electrode plates. In this battery cell, two of the negative electrode plates are positioned on both outer sides of the battery cell. Each positive electrode plate in the battery cell is positioned inwardly of both outermost negative electrode plates. 
     The respective battery cells are enclosed in the casing and, in this state, are connected in series with one another via connector. That is, the negative electrode terminal of the first battery cell is connected to an positive electrode terminal of the second battery cell, a negative electrode terminal of the second battery cell is connected to an positive electrode terminal of the third battery cell and so forth so that respective negative electrode terminals are sequentially connected to the positive electrode terminals. The positive electrode terminal of the first battery cell and the negative electrode terminal of the last battery cell are connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the entire battery, respectively. 
     Within the casing is charged an electrolytic solution, such as dilute sulfuric acid. This electrolytic solution is intruded into the space between the respective electrode plates for immersing the electrode plates therein. 
     In the manufacturing process for this battery, mistaken insertion of each battery cell into the casing poses a problem. This mistaken insertion is such insertion in which one or more of the battery cells is inserted in an inverted direction into the casing. If the electrode terminals of the respective battery cells are interconnected in such case in a usual fashion, the positive electrode plates and the negative electrode plates are interchanged in their positions insofar as the battery cells inserted in the inverted direction are concerned, so that optimum charging/discharging characteristics cannot be produced. 
     There has so far been proposed a battery cell inspection device for detecting this inverted insertion of the battery cells in the manufacturing process for the aforementioned type battery. In this battery cell inspection device, a low-frequency ac voltage is applied across one of the electrode terminals of one of the battery cells and the electromotive force across the opposite side battery cell is measured and compared to a reference magnitude of the electromotive force to check whether or not this battery cell has not be inserted in an inverted position. 
     In the above-described battery cell inspection device, there is produced only a small difference between a measured value in the correctly inserted battery cell and the incorrectly inserted battery cell to render it difficult to decipher whether the battery cell is inserted in the correct position or in the inverted position. The results of decision in such case tend to be unstable. 
     Also, if, in this battery cell inspection device, the electrode plate has only a small area, or the number of the battery cells making up a sole battery cell is limited, it becomes more difficult to decipher whether or not the battery cell has or has not been inserted incorrectly to render it impossible to obtain accurate results. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a battery cell inspection method and apparatus in which there is a larger difference between the measured value when the battery cells are inserted in the normal fashion and that when the battery cells are inserted in the inverted position so that decisions on whether or not the battery cell is inserted in the incorrect position can be given easily to assure accurate results of decision. 
     The present invention provides a battery cell inspection method and apparatus of the present invention, used in a battery manufacturing process for a battery having enclosed therein a plurality of battery cells, each of the battery cells including a plurality of first electrode plates connected to one of the electrode terminals and at least one second electrode plate connected to the other electrode terminal, in which the first and second electrode terminals are parallel to and facing each other. The first electrode plates are positioned outside of the battery cell in each battery cell, with the second electrode plate being positioned inwardly of the first electrode plates on both sides. 
     In the battery cell inspection method and apparatus of the present invention, a difference between the capacitance in a first state and the capacitance in a second state is detected to detect the fact of mistaken insertion of a given battery cell into the casing. The capacitance in the first state is measured across a first electrode plate of the given battery cell and a first electrode plate of an other battery cell facing the first electrode plate of the given battery cell as a potential of a second electrode plate of the given battery cell and a second electrode plate of the other battery cell neighboring to the given battery cell is caused to fall to the ground potential via each of the electrode terminals. The capacitance in the second state is measured across the first electrode plate of the first battery cell of the given battery cell and the second electrode plate of the other battery cell facing the first electrode plate with the interposition of the second electrode plate of the given battery cell and the first electrode plate of the other battery cell facing the given electrode plate, both of the second electrode plate of the given battery cell and the first electrode plate of the other battery cell being caused to fall in potential to the ground potential, via the respective electrode terminals. 
     In the battery cell inspection method and apparatus of the present invention, the operation of detecting the difference between the capacitance in a first state and the capacitance in a second state to detect the fact of mistaken insertion of the given battery cell into the casing being sequentially performed every two neighboring battery cells. The battery cell inserted erroneously is identified on detection of the battery cell. 
     In the battery cell detection method and device according to the present invention, measurement is made of the difference between the capacitance in a first state and the capacitance in a second state to detect the fact of mistaken insertion of a given battery cell into the casing. The capacitance in the first state is measured across a first electrode plate of the given battery cell and a first electrode plate of an other battery cell facing the first electrode plate of the given battery cell, as the potential of a second electrode plate of the given battery cell and a second electrode plate of the other battery cell neighboring to the given battery cell is caused to fall to the ground potential via each of the electrode terminals, while the capacitance in the second state is measured across the first electrode plate of the first battery cell of the given battery cell and the second electrode plate of the other battery cell facing the first electrode plate, with the interposition of the second electrode plate of the given battery cell and the first electrode plate of the other battery cell facing the given electrode plate, both of the second electrode plate of the given battery cell and the first electrode plate of the other battery cell being caused to fall to the ground potential, via the respective electrode terminals. 
     That is, according to the present invention, the difference in the measured values in case of normal battery cell insertion and that incase of mistaken battery cell insertion is large to facilitate decision as to whether or not mistaken insertion occurred to render the result of decision stable. Moreover, if the area of the electrode plate and/or the number of the electrode plates making up a sole battery cell is small, decision as to whether or not mistaken insertion has been made can be given easily to assure correct results of decision. 
     In the battery cell inspection method and apparatus of the present invention, the operation of detecting, for a battery cell having three or more battery cells enclosed therein, the fact of possible mistaken insertion into the casing of the battery cells, two battery cells at a time, is detected sequentially to identify which battery cell is in a mistaken state of insertion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a battery cell inspection device for carrying out the battery cell inspection method according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the battery cell inspection device. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a battery cell of a battery inspected by the battery cell inspection method and the battery cell inspection device. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a first arraying state of the battery cell in the battery. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the second arraying state of the battery cells in the battery. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the state of carrying out the inspection of the battery cell of an accepted battery by the battery cell inspection device. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the state of carrying out the inspection of the battery cell in a rejected battery by the battery cell inspection device. 
     FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing the state of carrying out the inspection of the battery cell in an accepted battery by the battery cell inspection device. 
     FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the state of carrying out the inspection of the battery cell in a rejected battery by the battery cell inspection device. 
     FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing the state of carrying out the inspection of a battery having battery cells enclosed therein in a first arraying state. 
     FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the state of carrying out the inspection of a battery having battery cells enclosed therein in a second arraying state. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail. 
     The battery cell inspection method and the battery cell inspection device are used for detecting the possible occurrence of mistaken insertion into a casing of a battery cell in the manufacturing process of a battery, such as a layer-built lead battery comprised of plural battery cells. The battery cell inspection device of the present invention is used for carrying out the battery cell inspection method according to the present invention. 
     This battery cell inspection device includes a transporting unit  9  for transporting batteries under inspection being manufactured, as shown in FIG.  1 . This transporting unit  9  is made up of plural rolls arranged in parallel and on which articles being transported are set and driven by a driving motor  10  for being transported horizontally. 
     On top of the transporting unit  9  is arranged a controller  12  having a control circuit  12  enclosed therein. This controller  12  controls the transporting unit  9  and the driving motor  10 . To this controller  12  is connected a display unit  12   a  mounted on the front panel of the controller  12 , as shown in FIG.  1 . On front panel of the controller  12  are mounted an operating unit and an alarm tower  12   b.  The operating unit is used to input a variety of information signals to the controller  12 . The alarm tower  12   b  displays alarm by sound or light based on an alarm signal sent from the controller  12  on accident occurrence. 
     To the controller  12  is connected a relay box  17 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Within this relay box  17  are enclosed plural relays individually controlled by the controller  12 . To this relay box  17  is connected a test probe unit  14  including at least first to fourth contact terminals  1  to  4 . This test probe unit  14  is contacted at a pre-set point of the battery  106  transported by the transporting unit  9  to enable detection of actual occurrence of the incorrectly inserted battery cell(s) in the battery  106 . 
     To the relay box  17  is connected a measurement box  11  which, having a measurement unit, such as a static capacity measurement unit, enclosed therein, is arranged below the transporting unit  9 , as shown in FIG.  1 . This test probe unit  14  performs measurements on the battery  106  via the test probe unit  14  and the relay box  17  controlled by the controller  12 . The measurement box  11  issues signals indicating the results of measurement to the controller  12 . 
     To the relay box  17  is connected a voltage withstand characteristics tester  18  having a measurement unit for detecting possible shorting of the circuitry in the battery  106 . This voltage withstand characteristics tester  18  detects the actual occurrence of the shorting in the battery  106  via the test probe  14  and the relay box  17  controlled by the controller  12 . The voltage withstand characteristics tester  18  issues signals indicating the results of measurement to the controller  12 . 
     To this controller  12  is connected an automatic ejection unit  15  which is in operation under control by the controller  12  to extrude the battery found to be a reject by the test probe  14  in the transporting direction by the transporting unit  9 , that is in a direction offset from the transporting direction by the transporting unit  9  for accepted articles, for displacing the reject articles onto a reject article table  16 . 
     Each cell of the battery under inspection by the present battery cell detection device includes plural positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b,  connected to positive electrode terminals (generally termed positive strap)  102   a ,  102   b,  and plural negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b , connected to negative electrode terminals (generally termed negative strap)  103   a ,  103   b.  The respective positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b  are flat-plate-shaped and are supported by the positive electrode terminals  102   a ,  102   b  respectively, in a parallel state to one another. Similarly, the respective negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  are flat-plate-shaped and are supported by the negative electrode terminals  103   a ,  103   b,  respectively, in a parallel state to one another. These positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b  and the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  are alternately combined to one another in parallel to make up battery cells  101   a ,  101   b . That is, in the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , the positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b  are each sandwiched on both sides by the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  via a gap in-between. Similarly, the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  are each sandwiched on both sides by the positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b  via a gap in-between. In each of the gaps defined between the positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b  and the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b , there is arranged a separator formed of an insulating material, not shown. 
     In the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , the number of the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  is larger by one than that of the positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b . In the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , two of the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  are disposed on both outer sides of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b . In the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , the positive electrode plates  104   a ,  104   b  are disposed inwardly of the negative electrode plates  105   a ,  105   b  arranged on the outermost sides. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, plural battery cells, such as first to sixth battery cells  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ,  101   e ,  101   f , as shown for example in FIG. 4, are enclosed in a row in a casing, not shown. These battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  are connected in tandem to one another via electrode terminals  102   a ,  103   a ,  102   b ,  103   b ,  102   c ,  103   c ,  102   d ,  103   d ,  102   e ,  103   e ,  102   f ,  103   f  to constitute a battery cell  106 . 
     Specifically, the negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  is connected by welding to the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b , the negative electrode terminal  103   b  of which is connected by welding to the positive electrode terminal  102   c  of the third battery cell  101   c,  and so forth until the negative electrode terminals are sequentially connected by welding to the positive electrode terminals. The positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and the negative electrode terminal  103   f  of the sixth battery cell  101   f  as the last battery cell serve as the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the entire battery, respectively. In the respective battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f , the respective electrode plates  104   a ,  105   a ,  104   b ,  105   b , . . .  105   f  are parallel to one another. For assuring facilitated interconnection between the  102   a ,  103   a ,  102   b ,  103   b , . . .  102   f ,  103   f , the respective battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  are enclosed in the casing so that the positive electrode terminals and the negative electrode terminals are arrayed alternately in the casing. That is, in a given cell and another battery cell neighboring thereto, the relative disposition of the positive electrode and negative electrode terminals is reversed from each other. 
     In the casing is charged an electrolytic solution, such as dilute sulfuric acid. This electrolytic solution is intruded into the gap between the respective electrode plates so that the respective electrode plates are immersed in the solution. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the battery  106  may also be constituted by the first to sixth battery cells  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ,  101   e  and  101   f , arranged in an array of two rows by three columns in a casing, not shown, these battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  being interconnected in series with one another by electrode terminals  102   a ,  103   a ,  102   b ,  103   b , . . . ,  102   f ,  103   f.  The negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  is connected by welding to the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second electrode cell  101   b , the negative electrode terminal  103   b  of which is connected by welding to the positive electrode terminal  102   c  of the third electrode cell  101   c . In like manner, the negative electrode terminals are connected by welding to the positive electrode terminals. The positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and the negative electrode terminal  103   f  of the sixth battery cell  101   f  operate as the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery in its entirety. At this time, the electrode plates  104   a ,  105   a ,  104   b ,  105   b , . . .  104   f ,  105   f  of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  all run parallel to one another. Into the casing is charged an electrolytic solution, such as dilute sulfuric acid, which is intruded into interstices between the respective electrode plates to keep the latter in the immersed state. After charging of the electrolytic solution, the casing is heretically sealed to complete the battery. 
     In the manufacturing process for the battery  106 , mistaken insertion into the casing of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  poses a problem. This mistaken insertion is the insertion of one or more of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  in the inverted direction into the casing. If the electrode terminals of the respective battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  are inserted in this state in the usual manner, the positive electrode plates and the negative electrode plates of the battery cells inserted in the mistaken direction are interchanged to render it impossible to realize optimum charging/discharging characteristics. 
     In the battery cell inspection device and method according to the present invention, it is checked, after inserting the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  into the casing and after connection of the electrode terminals  102   a ,  103   a ,  102   b ,  103   b , . . .  102   f ,  103   f,  if each of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  has not been inserted in a mistaken manner into the casing. 
     In inspecting the fact of possible mistaken insertion, first to fourth contact terminals  1  to  4  of the test probe unit  14  are contacted with the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b , positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   b , negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and with the negative electrode terminal  103   b  of the second battery cell  101   b . Of the first to fourth contact terminals  1  to  4  of the test probe unit  14 ,the first and fourth contact terminals  1 ,  2  are connected to a grounding terminal G of a static charge measurement unit  8 ,while the third and fourth contact terminals  3 ,  4  are connected to its plus (+) and a minus (−) terminals, respectively. 
     Therefore, the positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  are connected to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 . The negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  is connected to the plus (+) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8 . The negative electrode terminal  103   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  is connected to the (−) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8 . If this state is shown by an equivalent circuit, a capacitor constituted by the negative electrode plate  105   a  of the first battery cell  110   a  and the negative electrode plate  105   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  is connected across the plus (+) terminal and the (−) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8 , as shown in FIG.  8 . This connection state represents the state of connection in the absence of mistaken connection in the respective battery cells  101   a ,  101   b.    
     If, for example, the second battery cell  101   b  is in the state of mistaken insertion, the positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and the negative electrode terminal  103   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  are connected to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , while the negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  is connected to the plus terminal (+) of the static charge measurement unit  8  and the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  is connected to its minus (−) terminal. If this state is shown by an equivalent circuit, the negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  are connected to the plus (+) terminal  6  and to the minus (−) terminal  7  of the static charge measurement unit  8 , respectively, insofar as the current path across the plus (+) terminal  6  and to the minus (−) terminal  7  is concerned, so that a capacitor made up of the negative electrode plate  105   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  and the positive electrode plate  104   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  is connected in circuit. It is noted that the negative electrode plate  105   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  connected to the grounding terminal G is interposed between the negative electrode plate  105   a  and the positive electrode plate  104   b.    
     In this state of mistaken insertion, the static capacitance of the capacitor having the interposed negative electrode plate  105   b  which has fallen in potential to the ground potential is measured. Thus, as compared to the state free of mistaken insertion, the measured value of the static capacitance exhibits a significant difference. Therefore, the fact of possible mistaken insertion can be reliably comprehended by the relative magnitude of the measured capacitance value. 
     In the present battery cell inspection device, capacitance values of the respective neighboring battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  can be sequentially measured by moving the first to fourth contact terminals  1  to  4  relative to the battery  106 . However, it is also possible to measure capacitance values of the respective neighboring battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  by controlling plural relays in the relay box  17  without moving the test probe unit  14  relative to the battery  106 . 
     That is, in the present battery cell inspection device, the first to twelfth contact terminals of the test probe unit  14  are contacted simultaneously with the electrode terminals  102   a ,  103   a ,  102   b ,  103   b , . . .  102   f ,  103   f  of the first to sixth battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f , as shown in FIG.  10 . These contact terminals are connected via respective relays to the grounding terminal G, plus (+) and the minus (−) terminals of the static charge measurement unit  8 . 
     If, in the battery comprised of a row of battery cells, the first battery cell  101   a  and the second battery cell  101   b  are to be inspected, relays  25 ,  40  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  24 ,  36  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  23 ,  38  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  to the plus (+) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8 , and relays  26 ,  42  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  to the minus terminal (−) of the static charge measurement unit  8 , are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. Similarly, if the second battery cell  101   b  and the third battery cell  101   c  are to be inspected, relays  24 ,  36  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  27 ,  39  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   c  of the third battery cell  101   c  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  26 ,  42  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  103   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  to the minus terminal (−) of the static charge measurement unit  8 , and relays  28 ,  38  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   c  of the third battery cell  101   c  to the plus terminal (+) of the static charge measurement unit  8 , are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. 
     For sequentially inspecting the fifth battery cell  101   e  and the sixth battery cell  101   f  in a similar manner, relays  31 ,  40  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   e  of the fifth battery cell  101   e  to the ground terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  33 ,  36  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   f  of the sixth battery cell  101   f  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  32 ,  38  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   e  of the fifth battery cell  101   e  to the plus (+) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  and relays  34 ,  42  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   f  of the sixth battery cell  101   f  to the minus (−) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. 
     If, in a battery having the battery cells arrayed in three columns, as shown in FIG. 11, the first battery cell  101   a  and the sixth battery cell  101   f , neighboring to each other, are to be inspected, relays  31 ,  40  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  33 ,  36  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   f  of the sixth battery cell  101   f  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  32 ,  38  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   a  of the first battery cell  101   a  to the plus (+) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  and relays  34 , 42  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   f  of the sixth battery cell  101   f  to the minus (−) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. 
     If the second battery cell  101   b  and the fifth battery cell  101   e , neighboring to each other, are to be inspected, relays  27 ,  40  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  29 ,  36  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   e  of the fifth battery cell  101   e  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  28 ,  38  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   b  of the second battery cell  101   b  to the plus (+) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  and relays  30 ,  42  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   e  of the fifth battery cell  101   e  to the plus (+) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. 
     If the third battery cell  101   c  and the fourth battery cell  101   d , neighboring to each other, are to be inspected, relays  25 ,  40  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   c  of the third battery cell  101   c  to the grounding terminal G of the static charge measurement unit  8 , relays  24 ,  36  for connecting the positive electrode terminal  102   d  of the fourth battery cell  101   d  to the grounding terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  and relays  26 ,  42  for connecting the negative electrode terminal  103   d  of the fourth battery cell  101   d  to the minus (−) terminal of the static charge measurement unit  8  are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. 
     In the present battery cell inspection device, a voltage withstand test can also be conducted by controlling the relay box  17  by the controller  12 . This voltage withstand test applies a high electrical voltage across the respective electrode plates to check whether or not shorting has occurred across these electrode plates. Although the actual occurrence of the shorting can be known from the inspection of the actual occurrence of the mistaken insertion, as described above, the voltage withstand test is easier and more reliable if only the fact of actual occurrence of the shorting is to be checked reliably. 
     In conducting the voltage withstand test, relays  19 ,  20 ,  23 ,  24 ,  28 ,  29 ,  32  and  33  for interconnecting the (+) terminal of the voltage withstand tester  18  and the respective electrode terminals of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  and relays  21 ,  22 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  30 ,  31  and  34  interconnecting the (−) terminal of the voltage withstand tester  18  and the respective electrode terminals of the battery cells  101   a ,  101   b , . . .  101   f  are closed, with the remaining relayed being opened. 
     Also, in the present battery cell inspection device, the battery cell inserted erroneously can be identified by sequentially checking the fact of possible mistaken insertion for each of the respective neighboring battery cells in the batteries the battery cells of which have been arrayed in a column. That is, if only one battery cell is inserted erroneously, and the erroneously inserted battery cell is the first battery cell  101   a , inspection of the first battery cell  101   a  and the second battery cell  101   b  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, whilst inspection of the third battery cell  101   b  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     Similarly, if the battery cell in the mistaken state of insertion is the second battery cell  101   b , inspection of the first battery cell  101   a  and the second battery cell  101   b  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, whilst inspection of the third battery cell  101   b  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred and inspection of the third battery cell  101   b  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     Similarly, if the battery cell in the mistaken state of insertion is the second battery cell  101   b , inspection of the first battery cell  101   a  and the second battery cell  101   b  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, and inspection of the second battery cell  101   b  and the third battery cell  101   c  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, while inspection of the third battery cell  101   b  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     Likewise, if the erroneously inserted battery cell is the third battery cell  101   c , inspection of the first battery cell  101   a  and the second battery cell  101   b  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred, and inspection of the second battery cell  101   b  and the third battery cell  101   c  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, while inspection of the third battery cell  101   b  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred and inspection of the fourth battery cell  101   d  and the fifth battery cell  101   e  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     If the erroneously inserted battery cell is the fourth battery cell  101   d,  inspection of the second battery cell  101   b  and the third battery cell  101   c  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred, while inspection of the third battery cell  101   c  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, while inspection of the fourth battery cell  101   d  and the fifth battery cell  101   e  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred and inspection of the fifth battery cell  101   e  and the sixth battery cell  101   f  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     If the erroneously inserted battery cell is the fifth battery cell  101   e , inspection of the third battery cell  101   c  and the fourth battery cell  101   d  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred, and inspection of the fourth battery cell  101   d  and the fifth battery cell  101   e  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred, while inspection of the fifth battery cell  101   e  and the sixth battery cell  101   f  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     If the erroneously inserted battery cell is the sixth battery cell  101   f , inspection of the fourth battery cell  101   d  and the fifth battery cell  101   e  gives the result that no mistaken insertion has occurred, while inspection of the fifth battery cell  101   e  and the sixth battery cell  101   f  gives the result that mistaken insertion has occurred. 
     If more than one battery cell has been inserted erroneously, the above procedure is insufficient to lead to definitive identification of all inserted battery cells. However, the above procedure is sufficient to identify the battery cell(s) suspected to be inserted erroneously.