Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus and a sorting method using the same, and more particularly to a cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus capable of measuring the voltages of cylindrical battery cells and sorting the cylindrical battery cells by set zone value and a sorting method using the same.

With technological development of mobile devices, such as mobile phones, laptop computers, camcorders, and digital cameras, and an increase in demand therefor, research on secondary batteries, which are capable of being charged and discharged, has been actively conducted. In addition, secondary batteries, which are energy sources substituting for fossil fuels causing air pollution, have been applied to an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (P-HEV), and therefore there is an increasing necessity for development of secondary batteries.

There are a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydride battery, a nickel-zinc battery, and a lithium secondary battery as currently commercialized secondary batteries. Thereamong, the lithium secondary battery is in the spotlight, since the lithium secondary battery has little memory effect, whereby the lithium secondary battery is capable of being freely charged and discharged, has a very low self-discharge rate, and has high energy density, compared to the nickel-based secondary batteries.

Meanwhile, in the case in which the above secondary battery is used in a device that requires large capacity and high voltage, such as an electric vehicle, the secondary battery is used in the form of a battery cell assembly or a battery pack having a structure in which a plurality of battery cells is arranged.

At this time, the plurality of battery cells is connected to each other in series and/or in parallel in order to provide desired voltage or capacity. Consequently, it is the most ideal that all battery cells have the same voltage. However, there is limitation in manufacturing all battery cells so as to have the same voltage. For this reason, battery cells are manufactured so as to have minimum deviation in voltage.

In connection therewith, <CIT> discloses a battery cell sorting apparatus including a lifting member configured to lift or lower a battery cell, a voltage measurement member configured to measure the voltage of the battery cell, and a rotating member configured to rotate the lifting member such that the battery cell is placed in any one of a plurality of set zones according to a range belonging to the measured voltage thereof, wherein, when the battery cell arrives at any one of the plurality of set zones, the battery cell is separated from the lifting member and thus sorted.

According to the above prior art document, it has advantages in that battery cells can be sorted by set zone voltage value using the battery cell sorting apparatus, whereby it is possible to minimize deviation in voltage to thus maximize capacity at the time of manufacture of secondary batteries.

However, the battery cell sorting apparatus of the above prior art document is an apparatus for sorting pouch-shaped battery cells each having a large surface. In sorting cylindrical battery cells, therefore, it is not possible to utilize main components of the above prior art document, such as the lifting member and the voltage measurement member, without change. Furthermore, in the case in which a lifting plate is curved or an electrode needle is bent even to a slight degree, an electrode portion of each battery cell cannot come into contact with the electrode needle, which is configured to perform voltage measurement, whereby it is not possible to measure the voltage of the battery cell.

(Patent Document <NUM>) <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a robot performing a number of tests on a battery cell. <CIT> discloses an apparatus for automatically sorting notebook battery cells.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus capable of sorting cylindrical battery cells by set zone voltage value, whereby it is possible to minimize deviation in voltage at the time of manufacture of secondary batteries.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus including a voltage measurement unit configured to stably contact terminals of a cylindrical battery cell.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cylindrical battery cell sorting method of sorting cylindrical battery cells by set zone voltage value.

In order to accomplish the above objects, a battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) configured to move a battery cell (B) to a desired position and a guide member (<NUM>) configured to guide the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) in a horizontal direction, wherein the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) includes a pickup body portion (<NUM>), a magnet (<NUM>) located at the lower surface of the pickup body portion (<NUM>), the magnet being configured to lift the battery cell (B), and a voltage measurement unit (<NUM>) located at the lower surface of the magnet (<NUM>), the voltage measurement unit being configured to measure the voltage of the battery cell (B).

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) may be provided with a plurality of magnets (<NUM>) configured to lift a plurality of battery cells (B).

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) may be provided with voltage measurement units (<NUM>) equal in number to the magnets (<NUM>), the voltage measurement units being configured to individually measure the voltages of the plurality of battery cells (B).

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the magnets (<NUM>) may be electromagnets.

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) may be further provided with controllers (<NUM>) configured to supply power to the electromagnets or to interrupt the supply of power to the electromagnets and to determine whether the measured voltages correspond to a predetermined range.

Also, the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention may further include a battery cell supply member (<NUM>) configured to supply battery cells (B) to be sorted by voltage, wherein the battery cell supply member (<NUM>) may include a conveyor (<NUM>) and at least one battery cell loading box (<NUM>) configured to receive a plurality of battery cells (B), the at least one battery cell loading box (<NUM>) being located on the conveyor (<NUM>).

Also, the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention may further include a battery cell receiving member (<NUM>) configured to temporarily receive battery cells (B), the voltage of each of which has been measured.

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the battery cell receiving member (<NUM>) may be provided in a plurality of numbers, and battery cells (B) corresponding to the predetermined range may be received in a receiving portion having an identical space.

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the battery cell receiving member (<NUM>) may be a conveyor.

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the voltage measurement unit (<NUM>) may be a pad type flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

Also, in the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the battery cell may be cylindrical.

In addition, a battery cell sorting method according to the present invention, using a battery cell sorting apparatus defined above, includes a first step of supplying a battery cell to be sorted based on the voltage thereof; a second step of lifting the supplied battery cell; a third step of measuring the voltage of the battery cell and determining the position of a receiving portion corresponding to the battery cell; and a fourth step of moving the battery cell and placing the battery cell in the determined receiving portion.

Also, in the battery cell sorting method according to the present invention, in the second step and the fourth step, the battery cell may be lifted or placed in the receiving portion using electromagnetic force.

Also, in the battery cell sorting method according to the present invention, the first step to the fourth step may be repeatedly performed.

Also, in the battery cell sorting method according to the present invention, the battery cell may be cylindrical.

A cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention and a sorting method using the same have an advantage in that battery cells are moved by magnetic force and the voltages of the battery cells are measured while moving the battery cells, whereby it is possible to sort cylindrical battery cells by set zone voltage value.

In addition, the cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention and the sorting method using the same have an advantage in that a voltage measurement unit constituted by a pad type flexible printed circuit board is located under a magnet, whereby the voltage measurement unit stably contacts a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell, whereby it is possible to improve reliability in measured voltage.

Hereinafter, a cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention and a sorting method using the same will be described.

<FIG> is a plan view of a cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described first with reference to <FIG>. The cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus includes a battery cell pickup member, a guide member <NUM>, a battery cell supply member <NUM>, and a battery cell receiving member <NUM>.

Specifically, the battery cell pickup member <NUM> is configured to measure the voltage of each cylindrical battery cell B that is continuously or discontinuously supplied and to transfer the battery cell B to a predetermined position based on the measured voltage thereof. The battery cell pickup member is movable in a longitudinal direction of the guide member <NUM> and at the same time can be driven in a vertical direction. The construction of the battery cell pickup member related therewith will be described below in detail.

The guide member <NUM> is configured to cross above the battery cell receiving member <NUM>, and is also configured to support the battery cell pickup member <NUM> such that the battery cell pickup member <NUM> can be safely moved in a leftward-rightward direction or in a horizontal direction.

The battery cell supply member <NUM> is configured to supply a plurality of cylindrical battery cells B, the voltage of each of which is necessary to be measured, and includes a conveyor <NUM> and a battery cell loading box <NUM>.

Specifically, at least one battery cell loading box <NUM> is located on the conveyor <NUM>, which is configured to be continuously or discontinuously moved in one direction. A plurality of battery cells B is received in the battery cell loading box <NUM>.

Here, each of the battery cells B is received in the battery cell loading box <NUM> in an erected state such that a positive electrode terminal of the battery cell faces upwards. The reason for this is that it is possible to measure the voltage of the battery cell B, as will be described below.

It is preferable that the conveyor <NUM> be moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide member <NUM>. A plurality of battery cell loading boxes <NUM> is seated on the conveyor <NUM> such that continuous work is possible.

Meanwhile, although a plurality of battery cells B is shown as being supplied in the state of being received in each battery cell loading box <NUM> in the figure, it is possible to supply the plurality of battery cells in the state of being placed on the upper surface of the conveyor <NUM> without the battery cell loading box <NUM>.

The battery cell receiving member <NUM> is a member configured to temporarily receive cylindrical battery cells B, the voltage of each of which has been measured. Voltages of all battery cells B are measured using the battery cell pickup member <NUM>, the battery cells B are sorted into a plurality of zones based on the measured voltages thereof, and battery cells B having similar voltage ranges are received in the same zone.

For example, the battery cell receiving member <NUM> may include four battery cell receiving portions. A first battery cell receiving portion <NUM> may receive battery cells B having a voltage of higher than <NUM>. 580V and lower than or equal to <NUM>. 583V, a second battery cell receiving portion <NUM> may receive battery cells B having a voltage of higher than <NUM>. 583V and lower than or equal to <NUM>. 586V, a third battery cell receiving portion <NUM> may receive battery cells B having a voltage of higher than <NUM>. 586V and lower than or equal to <NUM>. 589V, and a fourth battery cell receiving portion <NUM> may receive battery cells B having a voltage of higher than <NUM>. 589V and lower than or equal to <NUM>. However, this configuration is merely an example. The number of receiving portions and the voltage range for each of the receiving portions may be changed without limit.

Here, the first battery cell receiving portion <NUM> to the fourth battery cell receiving portion <NUM> may be conveyors configured to be continuously or intermittently moved, or may be boxes each having a shape similar to the shape of the battery cell supply member.

Next, the battery cell pickup member <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view of the battery cell pickup member of the cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a sectional view of the battery cell pickup member taken along line A-A' of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a sectional view of the battery cell pickup member of the cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front.

The battery cell pickup member <NUM> constituting the cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a pickup body portion <NUM>, a magnet <NUM>, a voltage measurement unit <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a lifting portion <NUM>.

The pickup body portion <NUM> is configured to fix or seat the magnet <NUM>, the voltage measurement unit <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> in order to provide an integrated battery cell pickup member <NUM>. The lifting portion <NUM>, which is configured to move the pickup body portion <NUM> upwards and downwards, is connected to the pickup body portion <NUM> at a predetermined position thereof.

The pickup body portion <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of magnets <NUM>, more specifically four magnets <NUM>, which is the same number as the battery cell receiving portions described above. The magnets <NUM> are located at the lower surface of the pickup body portion <NUM> so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. When the pickup body portion <NUM> comes into tight contact with cylindrical battery cells B received in the battery cell loading box <NUM> or approaches the cylindrical battery cells, therefore, the cylindrical battery cells B cling to the pickup body portion <NUM> by magnetic force.

Here, it is preferable that the magnet <NUM> be an electromagnet configured to be magnetized when current flows therein and to be demagnetized when no current flows therein. The reason for this is that it is possible to conveniently lift the cylindrical battery cell B and to place the lifted cylindrical battery cell at a desired position.

Meanwhile, in the figures, protrusions <NUM> of the magnet <NUM> are shown as being exposed outwards from the upper surface and the lower surface of the pickup body portion <NUM>, and a bridge <NUM> configured to connect the pair of protrusions <NUM> to each other is shown as extending through the pickup body portion <NUM>. However, this configuration is merely an example. It is obvious that the shape of the magnet <NUM> can be variously changed, for example, the magnet is embedded in the pickup body portion <NUM>, as long as the magnet can be magnetized and demagnetized depending on whether or not current is supplied thereto.

The voltage measurement unit <NUM>, which is configured to measure the voltage of the cylindrical battery cell B, is located under the magnet <NUM>. The voltage measurement unit <NUM> will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>, which is an enlarged plan view of the voltage measurement unit of the cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The voltage measurement unit is a pad type flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and includes a tight contact portion <NUM> configured to contact the outer end surface of the upper part of the battery cell B and an extension portion <NUM> extending along the outer surface of the pickup body portion <NUM> so as to be connected to the controller <NUM>.

In addition, a first via hole <NUM>(a) configured to electrically contact a positive electrode terminal of the battery cell B is located at the center of the tight contact portion <NUM>, and a circular negative electrode line <NUM>(b) configured to contact a negative electrode terminal of the battery cell B is provided at the outer circumference of the first via hole <NUM>(a).

The first via hole <NUM>(a) is electrically connected to a second via hole <NUM>(a) of the extension portion <NUM>. A positive electrode line <NUM>(b), which is connected to the second via hole <NUM>(a), is connected to the controller <NUM>. The circular negative electrode line <NUM>(b) extends to the extension portion <NUM> and is then connected to the controller <NUM> in the same manner.

That is, when the magnet <NUM> is located above the cylindrical battery cell B, the magnet <NUM> comes into tight contact with the battery cell B in the state in which the voltage measurement unit <NUM> is interposed therebetween by magnetic force. At this time, the controller <NUM> measures and determines the voltage of the battery cell B.

Conventionally, the movement of the battery cell and the measurement of the voltage of the battery cell are performed as separate processes, whereby productivity is low. In the present invention, however, there is an advantage in that the cylindrical battery cell B is moved by magnetic force and the voltage of the battery cell is measured while the battery cell is moved, whereby it is possible to reduce overall production time.

Meanwhile, the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), which is the voltage measurement unit <NUM>, is technology widely applied to other technical fields, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, in the present invention, the voltage measurement unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, was described by way of example. However, this is merely an example. The voltage measurement unit is not particularly restricted as long as the voltage measurement unit has a structure capable of electrically contacting the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the cylindrical battery cell B and transmitting a corresponding signal to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> will be described with reference back to <FIG>. The controller <NUM> supplies power to the magnet <NUM> or interrupts the supply of power to the magnet. The controller <NUM> measures the voltage of the battery cell B, and determines to which range the measured voltage corresponds.

Specifically, when the pickup body portion <NUM> is located above the battery cell B supplied through the conveyor <NUM>, the controller supplies power to the magnet <NUM> such that the magnet can lift the battery cell B, measures the voltage of the battery cell B from a signal transmitted from the voltage measurement unit <NUM>, and determines in which zone of the battery cell receiving member <NUM> the battery cell B is to be located.

In addition, when the battery cell pickup member <NUM> is moved to the battery cell receiving member <NUM> along the guide member <NUM> and arrives at the receiving portion in which the battery cell B is to be received, i.e. one of the first battery cell receiving portion <NUM> to the fourth battery cell receiving portion <NUM>, current supplied to the battery cell B is interrupted such that the battery cell B is dropped. The movement of the remaining battery cells B and the interruption of supply of power to the magnets corresponding thereto are repeatedly performed such that the battery cells are sorted to the determined receiving portions.

One side of the lifting portion <NUM> is connected to the pickup body portion <NUM>, and the other side of the lifting portion extends to the guide member <NUM>. The lifting portion is configured to move the pickup body portion <NUM> upwards or downwards by a predetermined height. The lifting portion may be a piston. However, the lifting portion is not particularly restricted as long as it is possible to perform the same function as described.

Next, a method of sorting battery cells by voltage range using the cylindrical battery cell sorting apparatus described above will be described.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating a method of sorting battery cells by voltage zone using the battery cell sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

The cylindrical battery cell sorting method according to the present invention includes a first step of supplying a cylindrical battery cell B to be sorted based on the voltage thereof, a second step of measuring the voltage of the supplied cylindrical battery cell B while lifting the cylindrical battery cell, a third step of determining the voltage zone of the cylindrical battery cell B and selecting the receiving portion in which the cylindrical battery cell B is to be received, and a fourth step of moving the cylindrical battery cell B and placing the cylindrical battery cell in the selected receiving portion. The above steps may be repeatedly performed.

First, the first step is a step of supplying cylindrical battery cells B to be sorted by voltage. A predetermined number of cylindrical battery cells B are supplied in the state of being received in a battery cell loading box <NUM>. Of course, only the cylindrical battery cells B may be supplied without being loaded in the box.

The second step is a step of lifting the cylindrical battery cells. In order to lift the battery cells, power must be supplied to the magnets <NUM>. It is preferable that power be supplied to the magnets <NUM> when the pickup body portion <NUM> approaches the cylindrical battery cells B. Alternatively, power may be supplied to the magnets <NUM> after the fourth step.

The third step is a step of measuring the voltage of each of the cylindrical battery cells B and determining the receiving portion in which the cylindrical battery cell B is to be received. As an example, in the case in which the voltages of the cylindrical battery cells B attached respectively to the four magnets <NUM> are <NUM>. 581V, <NUM>. 587V, <NUM>. 588V, and <NUM>. 591V, the battery cell of <NUM>. 581V is determined to be received in the first battery cell receiving portion <NUM>, the battery cells of <NUM>. 587V and <NUM>. 588V are determined to be received in the third battery cell receiving portion <NUM>, and the battery cell of <NUM>. 591V is determined to be received in the fourth battery cell receiving portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in the second step of lifting the cylindrical battery cells B, the measurement of voltages of the cylindrical battery cells B may be completed.

The final fourth step is a step of moving the pickup body portion <NUM> along the guide member <NUM> and dropping the cylindrical battery cell B when the cylindrical battery cell B arrives at the position determined in the third step.

In order to drop the cylindrical battery cell B, the supply of current to the magnet <NUM> corresponding thereto must be interrupted. The position of each battery cell receiving portion may be determined based on the movement distance of the pickup body portion <NUM>. Alternatively, separate position sensors (not shown) may be mounted to the pickup body portion <NUM> and the first battery cell receiving portion <NUM> to the fourth battery cell receiving portion <NUM> such that the supply of current to a corresponding one of the magnets <NUM> is interrupted when the pickup body portion arrives at a predetermined position.

Meanwhile, it is more preferable that power be supplied to the magnets <NUM> in the first step, although power may be supplied to the magnets <NUM> immediately after all of the cylindrical battery cells B attached to the pickup body portion <NUM> are dropped into receiving portions corresponding thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, the cylindrical battery cells received in the first battery cell receiving portion <NUM> to the fourth battery cell receiving portion <NUM> are shown as lying on their sides. Alternatively, the cylindrical battery cells may be disposed upright.

Claim 1:
A battery cell sorting apparatus comprising:
a battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) configured to move a battery cell (B) to a desired position;
wherein
the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) comprises a pickup body portion (<NUM>) and a voltage measurement unit being configured to measure a voltage of the battery cell (B),
the battery cell sorting apparatus being characterized in that
it further comprises a guide member (<NUM>) configured to guide the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) in a horizontal direction,
the battery cell pickup member (<NUM>) further comprises a magnet (<NUM>) located at a lower surface of the pickup body portion (<NUM>), the magnet being configured to lift the battery cell (B), and
the voltage measurement unit (<NUM>) is located at a lower surface of the magnet (<NUM>).