Patent Description:
In general, a secondary battery refers to a rechargeable battery unlike a primary battery which is non-rechargeable, and is widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptop computers, camcorders, or the like or electric vehicles. In particular, a lithium secondary battery has an operating voltage of about <NUM> V to <NUM> V, that is, a greater capacity than a nickel-cadmium battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery which are frequently used as a power source for electronic equipment, and also has a relatively high energy density per unit weight, and thus the extent of using the lithium secondary battery is rapidly increasing.

The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to insulate the positive electrode from the negative electrode. The lithium secondary battery is formed by performing a formation process and an aging process, and due to various reasons, defects frequently occur during the processes, and thus, it is important to sort out the defects accurately. Recently, to sort out a defect in a secondary battery, a method of sorting out a low-voltage defect of a secondary battery during an activation process has been used.

However, even though a secondary battery was graded as normal in the activation process, over a storage period to a point when the secondary battery is assembled into a battery module after the activation process, a defect may additionally be generated in the secondary battery. In addition, a product that is to be determined to have a low-voltage defect may be incorrectly determined as normal and be assembled into a battery module.

A battery module is configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series and in parallel, and when the performance and capacity of the battery cells vary, the quality of the battery module may be decided by the performance of a battery cell of the lowest grade. The battery module as above has a short lifespan and has varying, irregular performance, degrading the product reliability.

As disclosed in <CIT>, the applicant has introduced a battery cell grade classification system that allows classifying battery cells according to capacity, in which battery cells mounted in a certain battery module are controlled to have substantially the same capacity.

The battery cell grade classification facility includes, as illustrated in <FIG>, a cell supply line <NUM>, an open circuit voltage testing equipment <NUM>, and a plurality of cell discharge lines <NUM> through <NUM> for classifying battery cells according to grade.

As illustrated in <FIG>, battery cells <NUM> are classified into first to fourth grades and a defective category based on open voltage values thereof. The battery cells according to the respective grades, which have undergone the battery cell grade classification facility, are loaded into a separate loading tray and transported to a location where a battery module assembly process facility is located.

However, recently, research into the improvement of the battery cell process efficiency has become an issue, and as part of that, development of a facility into which a battery cell classification process and a battery module assembly process, which are essential processes of a battery cell process, can be integrated is required.

Example of a full-automatic all-in-one machine for sorting battery cells and putting the battery cells into a module support is described in <CIT>. Example of a test fixture for testing a plurality of longitudinal battery cells is described in <CIT>. Example of an inspection system for a cell battery assembly is described in <CIT>.

The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present invention is directed to providing a process automation system, in which a process device for grading of battery cells and a process device for inserting qualified battery cells into a module frame of a battery module are integrated.

The present invention is defined in the independent claim <NUM>.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a process automation system including: a cell transfer unit configured to transfer battery cells; a cell inspection unit configured to measure an open circuit voltage of each battery cell in units of a preset number of battery cells and sort out qualified battery cells and defective battery cells; a frame transfer unit configured to transfer module frames of a battery module to insert the qualified battery cells; a cell discharging unit configured to load and discharge the defective battery cells; and a gripper unit configured to pick up one or more battery cells from any one device among the cell transfer unit, the cell inspection unit, the frame transfer unit, and the cell discharging unit, and transport the one or more battery cells to another device.

Each of the battery cells may include a QR code, and the cell inspection unit may be configured to scan the QR code and transmit an open circuit voltage value of each battery cell to a server.

The cell inspection unit may include: a voltage measuring device configured to measure the open circuit voltage of each battery cell; and a QR code scanner of each battery cell.

The cell inspection unit may further include a turntable including cell holders arranged at an edge of the turntable in a circumferential direction, the turntable being configured to be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, wherein the voltage measuring device and the QR Scanner are arranged opposite to each other with the turntable therebetween.

The battery cells may include cylindrical battery cells, and the cell inspection unit may further include a cell inverter arranged above one side edge of the turntable and configured to invert, up and down, one or more battery cells inserted into the cell holders.

The cell inverter may include: a clamp configured to hold at least one of the battery cells inserted into the cell holders; a rotator configured to rotate the clamp by ±<NUM> degrees; and a moving block connected to the rotator and configured to be movable in a vertical direction.

Four cell holders may be arranged on the turntable in a square composition, and the process automation system may be configured such that, as the turntable is rotated, measurement of voltages of the battery cells respectively mounted in the cell holders, scanning of a QR code of the battery cells, vertical inversion of the battery cells are performed.

The frame transfer unit may include a first frame transfer unit and a second frame transfer unit extending and arranged in parallel with each other, and the cell inspection unit may be arranged between the first frame transfer unit and the second frame transfer unit.

The cell inspection unit may include a control unit configured to determine battery cells having the open circuit voltage of a value falling within a preset first set range, as first qualified battery cells, and determine battery cells having the open circuit voltage of a value falling within a preset second set range, as second qualified battery cells.

The process automation system may further include a temporary loading unit configured to temporarily load the first qualified battery cells or the second qualified battery cells.

The control unit may be further configured to control the gripper unit such that the first qualified battery cells are supplied to the first frame transfer unit and the second qualified battery cells are supplied to the second frame transfer unit.

The cell discharging unit may include discharge trays provided to load the defective battery cells and a conveyor for moving the discharge trays.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a process automation system, in which a process device for grading each battery cell and a process device for inserting qualified battery cells into a module frame of a battery module are integrated, may be provided.

For example, as in the method according to the related art, when battery cells are classified by grade at the location where a cell classification facility is located, and the battery cells graded as qualified are moved from the location to another location where a battery module assembly facility is located, and then inserted into a module frame of a battery module, time and effort are required to transport the battery cells. In addition, establishing each process facility requires high equipment investment costs.

However, according to the present disclosure, by establishing a process automation system, grade classification of battery cells, assembly of a battery module, and discharging of defective battery cells may be integrally performed, thereby remarkably improving the facility efficiency and logistics transportation.

The effects of the present disclosure will be clearly understood by the following examples of the present disclosure. It will also be readily apparent that the present disclosure can be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims of the present disclosure.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and together with the detailed description of the disclosure given below, serve to provide further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure, and thus, the present disclosure is not construed as being limited to the drawings.

The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the present disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art. In the drawings, shapes and sizes of components may be exaggerated or omitted or schematically illustrated for clear description. Thus, the size or ratio of each component does not perfectly reflect an actual size.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a battery cell process automation system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cell transfer unit <NUM>, a cell inspection unit <NUM>, a frame transfer unit <NUM>, a gripper unit <NUM>, and a cell discharging unit <NUM>.

The battery cell process automation system <NUM> according to the present embodiment to be described below may be applied to performing of a process of inserting the battery cells <NUM> into a module frame <NUM> in a process of grading and classification of the battery cells <NUM> and assembling into a battery module.

The battery cells <NUM> refer to cylindrical battery cells in the present embodiment. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the cylindrical battery cell. For example, the battery cells <NUM> may be prismatic or pouch-shaped, and in this case, the shape of a tray or module frame for accommodating the battery cells <NUM> may be configured differently from the present embodiment according to the type of battery cells.

The cell transfer unit <NUM> may be implemented as a conveyor as a means for moving the battery cells <NUM>. The battery cells <NUM> may be accommodated in a tray <NUM> and moved along the conveyor to be positioned adjacent to the cell inspection unit <NUM>. The conveyor may also be replaced by other means of logistics transportation. That is, any logistics transportation means for stably transporting the battery cells <NUM> may be applied instead of a conveyor.

The cell inspection unit <NUM> may be configured to receive the battery cells <NUM> from the cell transfer unit <NUM>, measure open circuit voltages (OCV) of the battery cells <NUM>, and grade each battery cell <NUM> based on a preset range of the open circuit voltages.

In addition, the cell inspection unit <NUM> may be configured to additionally inspect management indicators such as internal resistance (IR), K-value, etc. in addition to the open circuit voltage when grading each battery cell.

In addition, the cell inspection unit <NUM> may be configured to identify each battery cell <NUM> through a QR code 20a provided for each battery cell <NUM>, and transmit information such as the open circuit voltage (OCV) and the internal resistance (IR) of the identified battery cells <NUM>, or the like, to a server.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cell inspection unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment may include a turntable <NUM>, a voltage measuring device <NUM>, a QR code scanner <NUM>, a cell inverter <NUM>, and a control unit (not shown).

The turntable <NUM> may be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise by a combination of a rotation shaft 210a coupled to a center thereof and a servomotor (not shown) connected to the rotation shaft 210a. The servomotor may be controlled by the control unit.

Cell holders <NUM> may be provided at an edge of the turntable <NUM> at certain intervals in a circumferential direction. The cell holders <NUM> may be provided in the form of sockets into which a certain number of battery cells <NUM> may be respectively inserted.

In the present embodiment, four cell holders <NUM> are arranged on the turntable <NUM> in a square composition, and each cell holder <NUM> is configured to mount seven battery cells <NUM> in a row thereof. When necessary, the cell holder <NUM> may also be configured to have one or more rows and mount six or less or eight or more battery cells <NUM> in each row thereof.

The turntable <NUM> may be rotated by a certain angle such that each cell holder <NUM> is sequentially positioned at positions where the voltage measuring device <NUM>, the QR code scanner <NUM>, and the cell inverter <NUM> are respectively located. For example, the turntable <NUM> may be controlled such that, when a certain operation on the battery cells <NUM> is completed in units of each cell holder <NUM>, the turntable <NUM> may be rotated so that a next operation is performed.

The turntable <NUM> enables to perform various operations simultaneously while rotating a certain number of battery cells <NUM>, and thus may be useful in effectively implementing a space-efficient facility.

The voltage measuring device <NUM> is a means for measuring the open circuit voltage of the battery cells <NUM>, and may include upper measuring pins <NUM> and lower measuring pins <NUM> and a measuring device driving member <NUM> for moving the upper and lower measuring pins <NUM> and <NUM> up and down or forward or backward.

The battery cells <NUM> supplied from the cell transfer unit <NUM> may be respectively mounted in the cell holders <NUM>, and as illustrated in <FIG>, according to operation of the voltage measuring device <NUM>, the upper measuring pins <NUM> and the lower measuring pins <NUM> may contact upper and lower ends of each battery cell <NUM> to measure an open circuit voltage of each battery cell <NUM>, and a value of the measured open circuit voltage of each battery cell <NUM> may be transmitted to the control unit to determine whether the battery cell <NUM> is qualified and grade the battery cell <NUM>.

Here, the upper measuring pins <NUM> and the lower measuring pins <NUM> may be configured to operate integrally or individually. Accordingly, the open circuit voltage of all battery cells <NUM> mounted in the cell holder <NUM> may be simultaneously measured, or open circuit voltages of some battery cells <NUM> may be measured and open circuit voltages of the remaining battery cells <NUM> may not be measured.

The battery cell <NUM> includes the QR code 20a. The QR code 20a may store product information such as the manufacturing date, capacity, specification, and a unique number of each battery cell <NUM>. Here, the QR code 20a may be replaced with a barcode.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the QR code scanner <NUM> may include, as a means for scanning the QR code 20a of each battery cell <NUM>, a transparent screen <NUM> and a camera <NUM> for scanning the QR code 20a of each battery cell <NUM>, and may be configured to be connected to a data storage server (not shown) provided for management of a history of each battery cell <NUM> and to the control unit in a wired or wireless manner.

The QR code scanner <NUM> identifies each battery cell <NUM> through a unique number stored in the QR code 20a of each battery cell <NUM> and transmits an open circuit voltage value of each battery cell <NUM> to the data storage server.

The QR code scanner <NUM> may be arranged opposite to the voltage measuring device <NUM> with the turntable <NUM> therebetween. This may be regarded as an arrangement structure for increasing the working space efficiency according to the arrangement of a plurality of frame transfer units <NUM> to be described later. Therefore, to add an inspection item on the arrangement of transfer units of the module frame <NUM> or the turntable <NUM>, the positions of the voltage measuring device <NUM> and the QR code scanner <NUM> may be adjusted differently from present embodiment.

The cell inverter <NUM> is a means for performing an operation of changing a polarity of certain battery cells <NUM> so that the battery cells <NUM> may be directly inserted into the module frame <NUM> of the battery module after a voltage test and storing a test result. The cell inverter <NUM> may be arranged above one side edge of the turntable <NUM> and configured to invert, up and down, one or more of the battery cells <NUM> inserted into the cell holders <NUM>.

For reference, in the case of a battery module consisting of cylindrical battery cells <NUM>, in order to facilitate series and parallel connection between the battery cells, the battery cells may be inserted into the module frame <NUM> such that top caps of a group of battery cells <NUM>, which function as a positive electrode, face upward, and top caps of another group of battery cells face downward. As described above, the cell inverter <NUM> may be used when it is necessary to selectively invert battery cells up and down before inserting the battery cells into a module frame.

In detail, the cell inverter <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a clamp <NUM> configured to selectively hold each battery cell <NUM>, a rotator <NUM> that rotates the clamp <NUM> by ±<NUM> degrees, and a moving block <NUM> connected to the rotator <NUM> and configured to be movable in a vertical direction.

An example of inverting a battery cell by the cell inverter <NUM> will be briefly described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The clamp <NUM> is positioned above the cell holder <NUM> and then descends to hold only the battery cells <NUM> required to be inverted, and then is lifted up again. Here, the clamp <NUM> may be configured to individually clamp each battery cell <NUM> so as to selectively hold those battery cells required to be inverted.

Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, the clamp <NUM> is rotated <NUM> degrees by the rotator <NUM>. Accordingly, the battery cells <NUM> held by the clamp <NUM> are inverted such that a top cap thereof faces downward. In this state, the moving block <NUM> operates and the clamp <NUM> descends to place the inverted battery cells <NUM> back to be seated in the cell holders <NUM>.

As described above, by selectively inverting the battery cells up and down in advance by using the cell inverter <NUM> and then picking up all of the battery cells later from the cell holders <NUM> by using the gripper unit <NUM> and inserting the battery cells into the module frame <NUM> as they are, the assembling may be easy.

Here, the module frame <NUM> is a component of the battery module and refers to a structure for fixing the battery cells <NUM> and protecting the same from external impact. The battery module may be manufactured in a form in which, after the battery cells <NUM> are inserted into and arranged in the module frame <NUM>, the battery cells <NUM> are electrically connected to each other by using a metal plate (not shown) and a BMS or the like is assembled thereto, and a housing cover (not shown) may be coupled to an upper portion of the module frame <NUM>. The module frame <NUM> may be transferred using the frame transfer unit <NUM> to be supplied.

The frame transfer unit <NUM> is a means for supporting and moving the module frames <NUM>, and may be implemented using, for example, a conveyor. The frame transfer unit <NUM> may also be replaced with any other device that stably performs logistics transportation, than the conveyor.

The frame transfer unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) may include a first frame transfer unit <NUM> and a second frame transfer unit <NUM> extending and arranged in parallel with each other, with the cell inspection unit <NUM> therebetween.

As described above, by providing a plurality of frame transfer units <NUM>, there is an advantage that a transportation line is dualized, and in particular, capacity deviation of a battery module may be further reduced by inserting the qualified battery cells <NUM> and <NUM> of different grades into the module frames <NUM> on the first frame transfer unit <NUM> and the module frames <NUM> on the second frame transfer unit <NUM>, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the process automation system according to the present disclosure (see <FIG>), the cell inspection unit <NUM> may include a control unit to determine whether battery cells are defective or not. The control unit may be configured to compare an open circuit voltage value of each battery cell <NUM>, measured by the voltage measuring device <NUM>, with a preset range of a preset open circuit voltage, and when the measured open circuit voltage value of each battery cell <NUM> falls within the preset range, the control unit may be configured to grade the battery cells <NUM> as qualified battery cells <NUM> and <NUM> and allow the same to be directly mounted in the module frame <NUM> of the battery module, and determine, as defective ones, those battery cells <NUM> having open circuit voltage values which are not in the preset range.

Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to divide the preset range into a first set range and a second set range again, and to classify the qualified battery cells <NUM> and <NUM> such that the first qualified battery cells <NUM> falling within the first set range are distinguished from the second qualified battery cells <NUM> falling within the second set range.

For example, when a preset range of an open circuit voltage value of the lithium ion cylindrical battery cell <NUM> is <NUM>. 58V to <NUM>. 50V, the preset range may be divided again such that the first set range may be set to <NUM>. 58V to <NUM>. 54V, and the second set range may be set to <NUM>. 5399V to <NUM>. In this case, the first qualified battery cells <NUM> refer to battery cells <NUM> having an open circuit voltage value within <NUM> V to <NUM> V, and the second qualified battery cells <NUM> refer to battery cells <NUM> having an open circuit voltage value within <NUM> V to <NUM> V.

In addition, the control unit may be configured to control the gripper unit <NUM> such that the first qualified battery cells <NUM> are supplied to the first frame transfer unit <NUM> and the second qualified battery cells <NUM> are supplied to the second frame transfer unit <NUM>.

By assembling battery cells into the module frame <NUM> by distinguishing the grades of the qualified battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>, there is hardly a capacity difference between the battery cells <NUM> constituting each battery module, and thus, the quality and lifespan of the battery modules may be improved.

Defective battery cells <NUM> having an open circuit voltage value determined to be outside the preset range are not assembled into the module frame <NUM> and are managed to be separately discharged. To this end, the battery cell process automation system <NUM> according to the present disclosure further includes the cell discharging unit <NUM> for loading and discharging the defective battery cells <NUM>.

The cell discharging unit <NUM> is arranged between the first frame transfer unit <NUM> and the second frame transfer unit <NUM>, and may include a conveyor configured to move the discharge tray <NUM> provided to accommodate the defective battery cells <NUM>.

In addition, the battery cell process automation system <NUM> according to the present embodiment may further include a temporary loading unit <NUM> to temporarily load the first qualified battery cells <NUM> or the second qualified battery cells <NUM> after classifying the first qualified battery cells <NUM> and the second qualified battery cells <NUM> and supply the same into the first frame transfer unit <NUM> or the second frame transfer unit <NUM> as described above. The temporary loading unit <NUM> will be described later.

The gripper unit <NUM> is a means for transporting the battery cells <NUM> between the cell transfer unit <NUM>, the cell inspection unit <NUM>, the frame transfer unit <NUM>, and the cell discharging unit <NUM> described above, and may be configured to be in conjunction with the cell inspection unit <NUM> and pick up and transport one or more of the battery cells <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the gripper unit <NUM> may be configured with a combination of a plurality of fingers <NUM> for picking up the battery cell <NUM>, a plurality of link arms <NUM> connected to the plurality of fingers <NUM> such that the plurality of fingers <NUM> are moved along the X-Y-Z axes, and a cylinder and a linear motor which are used for driving but are not shown for convenience of illustration, and a sensor for recognition of objects.

In the present embodiment, each of the seven fingers <NUM> may be configured to individually perform a grip operation. In other words, the seven fingers <NUM> may be configured to be able to select and transport, for example, only two or three battery cells <NUM>, in addition to picking up and transporting seven battery cells <NUM> at a time.

Next, the process of classifying, according to grades, the battery cells <NUM> according to the process automation system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and inserting the classified battery cells <NUM> into the module frame <NUM> will be further described in detail again with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> below.

Seven battery cells <NUM> are picked up by the gripper unit <NUM> from the tray <NUM> on the cell transfer unit <NUM>, and are inserted into the cell holders <NUM> on the turntable <NUM> on the side where the voltage measuring device <NUM> is located. (Hereinafter, a portion of the turntable <NUM> at the voltage measuring device <NUM> will be referred to as a first region, and each region at every <NUM> degrees in a clockwise direction from the first region will be referred to as a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, respectively.

Next, open circuit voltages of the seven battery cells <NUM> mounted in the cell holders <NUM> in the first region are measured by the voltage measuring device <NUM>, and grades of the seven battery cells <NUM> are determined based on measured open circuit voltage values of the battery cells <NUM> and a preset voltage range.

When the grades of the battery cell <NUM> are determined as described above, the process automation system <NUM> may be operated as follows.

First, as a result of voltage measurement, all of the battery cells <NUM> may be the first qualified battery cells <NUM>. In this case, the turntable <NUM> is sequentially rotated clockwise by <NUM> degrees and processes of measuring open circuit voltages, scanning the QR code 20a, storing the open circuit voltage of each battery cell <NUM> in the server, inverting some battery cells <NUM>, and inserting the first qualified battery cells <NUM> into the module frame <NUM> of the first frame transfer unit <NUM> may be repeatedly performed.

For reference, in the cell holders <NUM> located in the fourth region where a cell inverting operation is performed, all the first qualified battery cells <NUM> are picked up from the fourth region and transferred to the first frame transfer unit <NUM>, and thus, when the turntable <NUM> is rotated to return to the first region, the cell holders <NUM> are empty.

As a result of voltage measurement, when all the battery cells <NUM> are the second qualified battery cells <NUM>, the same operations are performed in the same order as with respect to the first qualified battery cells <NUM> except for inserting the second qualified battery cells into the module frame <NUM> of the second frame transfer unit <NUM>.

Second, there may be a case where, as a result of voltage measurement, the qualified battery cells <NUM> and <NUM> and the defective battery cells <NUM> are mixedly included. In this case, only the defective battery cells <NUM> are picked out using the gripper unit <NUM> and loaded into the cell discharging unit <NUM>. In addition, new battery cells <NUM> are filled in portions from which the defective battery cells <NUM> are picked out, and voltage measurement is performed only on the above newly filled battery cells <NUM>. As a result of voltage measurement, when the newly filled battery cells <NUM> are graded as qualified battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>, the turntable <NUM> is rotated to perform the subsequent operations as in the first case.

Third, as a result of voltage measurement, there may be a case where the first qualified battery cells <NUM>, the second qualified battery cells <NUM>, and the defective battery cells <NUM> are mixedly included. In this case, the defective battery cells <NUM> are loaded into the cell discharging unit <NUM> by using the gripper unit <NUM>, and the second qualified battery cells <NUM> are temporarily loaded into the temporary loading unit <NUM>.

New battery cells <NUM> are filled in the cell holders <NUM> after the defective battery cells <NUM> and the second good battery cells <NUM> are picked out, and voltage measurement is performed only on the above newly filled battery cells <NUM>. The above process may be repeated until all of the battery cells <NUM> filled in the cell holders <NUM> are the first qualified battery cells <NUM>. When the cell holders <NUM> in the first region are completely filled with the first qualified battery cells <NUM>, the turntable <NUM> is sequentially rotated to perform the subsequent operations.

By continuously repeating the above pattern, the number of second qualified battery cells <NUM> in the temporary loading unit <NUM> is increased. Therefore, after the second qualified battery cells <NUM> of a sufficient number are filled in the temporary loading unit <NUM>, and when the cell holders <NUM> return in an empty state to the first region after one rotation of the turntable <NUM>, the second qualified battery cells <NUM> are transferred to the cell holders <NUM> from the temporary loading unit <NUM>, instead of the cell transfer unit <NUM>, to perform the process.

Also, the first qualified battery cells <NUM> may be temporarily loaded into the temporary loading unit <NUM> instead of the second qualified battery cells <NUM>, and only the first qualified battery cells <NUM> may be transferred to the turntable <NUM>.

According to the configuration and operation of the battery cell process automation system <NUM> according to the present disclosure as described above, the grading of the battery cells <NUM> and the assembly operation of the battery module may be performed using a single facility, thereby significantly improving process efficiency and logistics transportation.

As described above, while the present disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains within the scope of the present disclosure and the claims.

Claim 1:
A process automation system (<NUM>) comprising:
a cell transfer unit (<NUM>) configured to transfer battery cells (<NUM>);
a cell inspection unit (<NUM>) configured to measure an open circuit voltage of each battery cell (<NUM>) in units of a preset number of battery cells (<NUM>) and sort out qualified battery cells (<NUM>, <NUM>) and defective battery cells (<NUM>);
a frame transfer unit (<NUM>) configured to transfer module frames (<NUM>) of a battery module to insert the qualified battery cells (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a cell discharging unit (<NUM>) configured to load and discharge the defective battery cells (<NUM>);
characterized in that the process automation system (<NUM>) comprises a gripper unit (<NUM>) configured to pick up one or more battery cells (<NUM>) from the cell transfer unit (<NUM>), the cell inspection unit (<NUM>), the frame transfer unit (<NUM>), and the cell discharging unit (<NUM>), and transport the one or more battery cells (<NUM>) to another device.