Battery inspection system

Abstract

The battery inspection system (1) has a controller that executes group control, inspection control, and storage control. In group control, a specified number of batteries (B) carried in by the incoming conveyor (2) are managed as the same group. In inspection control, the conveying device (9) is controlled so that the batteries (B) are stored in the inspection device (4) that is not performing inspections, and the conveying device (9) is controlled so that the batteries B that have completed inspections are removed from the inspection device (4). In storage control, the conveying device (9) is controlled so that at least a part of the batteries (B) removed from the inspection device (4) are stored in the storage device (6), and the conveying device (9) is controlled so that the battery pack of the same group is continuously transferred from the inspection device (4) or the storage device (6) to the outgoing conveyor (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a battery inspection system. Background Art

[0002] As an inspection system for inspecting an inspection object carried in from the outside, for example, an inspection system that performs an instrument error test of a plurality of gauges as shown in Patent Document 1 is known. The inspection system described in Patent Document 1 includes: a plurality of inspection devices for inspecting an inspection object; a loading device for loading the inspection object carried in from the outside into each of the plurality of inspection devices; a plurality of storage devices provided corresponding to each of the plurality of inspection devices and temporarily storing the inspection object; and an unloading device for unloading the inspection object from each of the plurality of storage devices to the outside.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-195132 Summary of the Invention

[0006] In such an inspection system, there are cases where it is desired to unload a plurality of batteries simultaneously loaded into an inspection device or a plurality of batteries classified into the same batch (hereinafter, also referred to as "desired battery group") together. However, in the structure of the above-described conventional inspection system in which the inspected batteries are stored from the inspection device to the storage device in the order of inspection completion and the batteries are unloaded from the storage device in the order of storage, the batteries included in the desired battery group do not necessarily exist at the front of the storage device. Therefore, it is necessary to unload batteries other than those included in the desired battery group, and as a result, there are cases where the desired battery group cannot be unloaded together. In addition, the time for waiting for the unloading of the batteries included in the desired battery group in the storage device reduces the operating rate in the inspection device.

[0007] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a battery inspection system that can improve the operating rate in an inspection device and can unload a desired battery group together.

[0008] A battery inspection system according to an aspect of the present invention is a battery inspection system for inspecting batteries, comprising: an inspection device configured to be able to inspect a plurality of batteries simultaneously; a storage device having a plurality of rack portions for storing the batteries that have been inspected in the inspection device; a loading conveyor for loading batteries into the battery inspection system from the outside; an unloading conveyor for unloading batteries from the battery inspection system to the outside; a conveying device for conveying batteries between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, between the inspection device and the storage device, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor; and a controller for controlling the battery inspection system. The controller performs the following controls: group control in which a specified number of batteries loaded by the loading conveyor are managed as the same group; inspection control in which the conveying device is controlled so that the batteries loaded by the loading conveyor are stored in the inspection device that is not performing an inspection, and the conveying device is controlled so that the inspected batteries are unloaded from the inspection device; and storage control in which the conveying device is controlled so that at least a part of the batteries unloaded from the inspection device are stored in the storage device, and the conveying device is controlled so that the battery group of the same group is continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the unloading conveyor.

[0009] In the battery inspection system having this structure, the battery group formed into a group when loaded by the loading conveyor is unloaded together by the unloading conveyor. Thus, the desired battery group can be unloaded together. Further, in the battery inspection system having this structure, since the inspected batteries are immediately unloaded from the inspection device, the next battery can be immediately received. Thus, the operation rate in the inspection device can be improved.

[0010] A battery inspection system according to an aspect of the present invention may also be one that further comprises a stacking device provided in the middle of the path of the unloading conveyor, which forms a stacked body at the time of unloading obtained by stacking batteries. The controller performs stacking control in which the stacking device is controlled so as to form a stacked body at the time of unloading obtained from the battery group of the same group. In this structure, the stacked body at the time of unloading of the battery group of the same group can be unloaded.

[0011] A battery inspection system according to an aspect of the present invention may also be one that further comprises an unstacking device provided in the middle of the path of the loading conveyor, which unloads the batteries of the stacked body at the time of loading obtained by stacking batteries one by one. In the group control, the battery group constituting one stacked body at the time of loading unloaded by the unstacking device is managed as the same group. In this structure, the battery group transported in a stacked state can be individually loaded into the inspection device.

[0012] In a battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, it may further include: a stacking device provided in the middle of the path of the outfeed conveyor to form a stacked body of batteries for outfeed; and an unstacking device provided in the middle of the path of the infeed conveyor to unstack the stacked body of batteries for infeed into individual batteries. In group control, the battery group constituting one stacked body of batteries for infeed unstacked by the unstacking device is managed as the same group. The controller executes stacking control, and in this stacking control, the stacking device is controlled in such a way as to form a stacked body of batteries for outfeed based on the battery groups of the same group. In this configuration, even when the battery group that is carried in as a stacked body of batteries for infeed is individually carried into the inspection device, it is possible to re-form a stacked body of batteries for outfeed based on the battery groups of the same group.

[0013] In a battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, it may be that the conveying device has a transfer unit that can simultaneously transfer a plurality of batteries arranged and stored in the storage device in the horizontal direction. In storage control, the batteries are stored in the storage device in such a way that when a plurality of batteries are simultaneously taken out from the storage device and the taken-out batteries are simultaneously placed on the outfeed conveyor, a stacked body of batteries for outfeed is formed in the stacking order of the stacked body of batteries for infeed or the reverse order thereof. In this configuration, when a stacked body stacked in the same order as the stacked body of batteries for infeed is outfed, high-efficiency control can be achieved, so the processing capacity can be improved.

[0014] In a battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, it may be that in storage control, the conveying device is controlled to store the batteries managed as the same group in adjacent rack parts in the horizontal direction. In this configuration, when a stacked body is formed and outfed with the same battery group that constitutes the stacked body of batteries for infeed, high-efficiency control can be achieved, so the processing capacity can be improved.

[0015] In a battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, it may be that in storage control, the battery groups of the same group are outfed to the above-mentioned outfeed conveyor in the stacking order of the stacked body of batteries for infeed or the reverse order thereof. In this configuration, it is possible to outfeed a stacked body of batteries for outfeed in the stacking order of the stacked body of batteries for infeed or the reverse order thereof.

[0016] In a battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, it may be that an identifier is provided on at least one of the batteries constituting the stacked body of batteries for infeed, and in group control, the same group is managed based on the identifier. In this configuration, it is possible to easily manage the same group.

[0017] In the battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, the transfer device may also have a transfer unit that can transfer a plurality of batteries arranged and stored in a horizontal direction in the storage device at the same time. In the storage control, the transfer device is controlled so that the batteries managed as the same group are stored in the rack units adjacent in the horizontal direction. In this configuration, when a stack is formed and unloaded with the same battery groups that form the stack at the time of loading, efficient control can be achieved, and thus the processing capacity can be improved.

[0018] In the battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention, in the group control, the non-conforming batteries determined to be non-conforming by the inspection device are managed as the same group. In the storage control, the transfer device is controlled so that a specified number of non-conforming batteries are continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the unloading conveyor. In this configuration, the non-conforming batteries can be unloaded together.

[0019] The battery inspection system according to one aspect of the present invention may also further include a transfer conveyor provided between the inspection device and the storage device. The transfer device includes: a first transfer device that transfers batteries between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, and between the inspection device and the transfer conveyor; and a second transfer device that transfers batteries between the transfer conveyor and the storage device, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor. In this configuration, the transfer of batteries between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, between the inspection device and the transfer conveyor, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor, where bottlenecks are likely to occur, is distributed to the two transfer devices. Thereby, a reduction in transfer efficiency can be prevented.

[0020] Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, the operating rate in the inspection device can be increased and the desired battery groups can be unloaded together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 FIG. is a diagram showing the overall structure of a battery inspection system 1 according to one embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2 FIG. is a front view of the battery inspection system as viewed from line II-II.

[0024] Figure 3 In Figure 3 (A) is a diagram showing a method of unloading batteries in the unstacking device, Figure 3 (B) is a diagram showing a method of stacking batteries in the stacking device.

[0025] Figure 4 FIG. is a perspective view of the first transfer device and the second transfer device.

[0026] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the battery inspection system.

[0027] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage control in the battery inspection system.

[0028] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage control in the battery inspection system.

[0029] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage control in the battery inspection system. Detailed implementation manner

[0030] Hereinafter, a battery inspection system 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0031] The battery inspection system 1 is a system that moves a battery B into and out of an inspection device 4 for one process (for example, a charge / discharge inspection process, a voltage / current / resistance value inspection process, and an ageing process, etc.) of an inspection process for a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery. As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the battery inspection system 1 includes a loading conveyor 2, a depalletizing device 3, a transfer device 9, an inspection device 4, a transfer conveyor 5, a storage device 6, an unloading conveyor 7, and a palletizing device 8. In addition, Figure 1 and Figure 2 the left direction, right direction, front direction, rear direction, upward direction, and downward direction defined in Figure 2 are used in the following description. Figure 1 is a front view observed from the arrow direction of

[0032] For the sake of simplicity of explanation, the illustration of the transfer device 9, the loading conveyor 2, and the depalletizing device 3 is omitted. Figure 5 ) is controlled.

[0033] The unstacking device 3 is provided midway along the path of the loading conveyor 2. The unstacking device 3 is a device that unloads the pallets T stacked as the stack S1 at the time of loading one by one. Specifically, through the operations of the unstacking device 3 and the loading conveyor 2, the stack S1 at the time of loading is unloaded into individual pallets T. More specifically, as shown in (A) of Figure 3 , the unstacking device 3 leaves the lowermost pallet T1 and lifts the other pallets T2 to T5. The loading conveyor 2 conveys the lowermost pallet T1 downstream by a certain distance and then stops. Next, after the unstacking device 3 places the lifted pallets T2 to T5 on the loading conveyor 2, it leaves the lowermost pallet T2 and lifts the other pallets T3 to T5. By repeatedly performing such lifting of the pallets T by the unstacking device 3 and intermittent conveyance by the loading conveyor 2, the individual pallets T are conveyed downstream. The unstacking device 3 is controlled by the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ).

[0034] Return Figure 1 and Figure 2 , on the downstream side of the unstacking device 3 in the loading conveyor 2, a first acquisition unit 13 for reading the label TG pasted on the pallet T is provided. The first acquisition unit 13 sends the acquired information to the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ). The label TG acquires information on the battery B stored in the pallet T, is used to confirm that the battery B is in the pre-inspection state, and is used to record the pass / fail of the inspection in the inspection device 4.

[0035] The conveying device 9 conveys the battery B between the loading conveyor 2 and the inspection device 4, between the inspection device 4 and the storage device 6, and between the storage device 6 and the unloading conveyor 7. More specifically, the conveying device 9 has a first conveying device 9A that conveys the battery B between the loading conveyor 2 and the inspection device 4 and between the inspection device 4 and the first conveying conveyor 5A, and a second conveying device 9B that conveys the battery B between the first conveying conveyor 5A and the storage device 6 and between the storage device 6 and the unloading conveyor 7. In Figure 1 , the first conveying device 9A is arranged on the right side and the second conveying device 9B is arranged on the left side. The first conveying device 9A and the second conveying device 9B are controlled by the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ).

[0036] As Figure 4As shown, the first conveying device 9A and the second conveying device 9B are stackers (stacker cranes) that travel along rails 91, 91 disposed on the floor and the ceiling. The first conveying device 9A and the second conveying device 9B have travel parts 92, 92 that travel along the rails 91, 91 disposed on the floor and the ceiling, respectively, a pole 93 connecting the travel parts 92, 92, a lifting part 94 that is provided in a manner that can move along the pole 93, and two transfer parts 95, 95 provided on the lifting part 94.

[0037] The traveling portion 92 includes a rolling portion 92A that supports wheels rolling on the rail 91, and a driving portion 92B such as a motor that rotates at least one wheel provided on the rolling portion 92A. In the present embodiment, the traveling portion 92 that travels along the rail 91 of the floor is configured as a driving wheel, and the traveling portion 92 that travels along the rail 91 of the ceiling is configured as a driven wheel. The lifting portion 94 includes a supporting portion 94A that supports the transfer portions 95, 95, and a driving portion 94B that moves the supporting portion 94A in the up-down direction. The driving portion 94B is provided at the traveling portion 92 at the bottom.

[0038] The transfer unit 95 is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat (enter and retreat) in the front-back direction (direction orthogonal to the traveling direction and the vertical direction), and to deliver the battery B between the in-carrying conveyor 2, the inspection device 4, the first conveyor 5A, the second conveyor 5B, the storage device 6, and the out-carrying conveyor 7. At least the second conveyor 9B of the present embodiment is provided with two transfer units 95, so that a plurality of batteries B arranged and stored in the storage device 6 in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) can be transferred at the same time. That is, the second conveyor 9B of the present embodiment can take out two (plural) batteries B from the storage device 6 at the same time, and place the taken-out batteries B on the out-carrying conveyor 7 at the same time.

[0039] return Figure 1 and Figure 2 The inspection device 4 is an inspection device that implements, for example, a charge and discharge inspection process, a voltage / current / resistance inspection process, and an aging process. The aging process is a process in which the battery B is stored for a fixed period of time, the voltage before and after the aging process is measured, and the pass / fail is determined based on whether it is within a threshold value. The inspection device 4 is configured to be able to inspect multiple batteries B at the same time. The inspection device 4 has inspection units 41 with inspection chambers 42 for accommodating batteries B arranged in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) and the vertical direction (up-down direction). That is, the inspection device 4 has multiple inspection units 41. The inspection device 4 starts the inspection if the battery B is accommodated, and reports to the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ) notifies the subject (notification of inspection completion). In addition, the inspection device 4 notifies the controller 10 of the inspection result (whether there is a failure) (refer to Figure 5) In addition, the charge and discharge inspection or the aging treatment inspection has a variation in the time from when the target battery B is housed in the inspection chamber 42 to when the inspection is completed.

[0040] The conveyor 5 is provided between the inspection device 4 and the storage device 6. The conveyor 5 is a device that supports the bottom surface of the tray T and transports the tray T, such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. The conveyor 5 includes a first conveyor 5A disposed on the inspection device 4 side and a second conveyor 5B disposed below the storage device 6. The conveyor 5 is controlled by a controller 10 (see Figure 5 ) control. A second acquisition unit 14 is provided at the delivery portion A4 of the transport conveyor 5 to read the tag TG attached to the tray T. The second acquisition unit 14 sends the acquired information to the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ).

[0041] The storage device 6 stores the battery B that has been inspected by the inspection device 4. The storage device 6 is arranged above the second conveyor 5B and the carry-out conveyor 7, which are part of the conveyor 5. In this structure, compared with the case where the storage device 6 is not arranged above the second conveyor 5B and the carry-out conveyor 7 but the second conveyor 5B and the carry-out conveyor 7 are arranged along the conveying direction of the first conveyor 9A and the second conveyor 9B with the storage device 6, it is possible to achieve space saving of the entire battery inspection system 1. In addition, the storage device 6 can also be arranged above the carry-in conveyor 2. The storage device 6 has a plurality of racks 61 arranged in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) and the vertical direction (up-down direction). The storage and unloading of the battery B relative to the storage device 6 are performed by the second conveyor 9B. The second transfer device 9B stores the battery B transferred to the loading section A1 of the second transfer conveyor 5B in the storage device 6, and delivers the battery B taken out of the storage device 6 to the unloading section A2 of the outgoing conveyor 7. In addition, the storage control of which shelf section 61 of the storage device 6 the battery B received from the second transfer conveyor 5B is stored will be described in detail later.

[0042] The number of shelves 61 of the storage device 6 is preferably set corresponding to the number of groups to be processed according to the group control described in detail later. For example, when processing N groups, the storage device 6 is preferably provided with (the number of stacks in the stack body S1 when carried in M-1)×N shelves 61. When a number of shelves 61 greater than this number is provided, the storage method of the storage device 6 is flexible, and even if the number of groups to be processed increases, it can be handled without adding equipment.

[0043] The unloading conveyor 7 unloads the battery B to the outside of the battery inspection system 1. In the present embodiment, the battery B is transferred in a state of being housed in the tray T from the second transfer device 9B or the second transfer conveyor 5B. The unloading conveyor 7 is a device such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor that supports the bottom surface of the tray T and conveys it. The unloading conveyor 7 is controlled by the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ).

[0044] The stacking device 8 is provided in the middle of the path of the unloading conveyor 7. The stacking device 8 is a device that stacks the trays T conveyed one by one to form the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading. Specifically, the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading is formed by the operations of the stacking device 8 and the unloading conveyor 7. More specifically, as shown in (B) of Figure 3 , the stacking device 8 lifts the conveyed tray T5. The unloading conveyor 7 conveys the tray T4 downstream by a certain distance and then stops. Next, the unstacking device 3 places the lifted tray T5 on the tray T4. By repeatedly performing such lifting of the tray T by the stacking device 8 and intermittent conveyance by the unloading conveyor 7, the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading is formed.

[0045] The unloading conveyor 7 unloads the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading formed by the stacking device 8 to the outside. In the present embodiment, the stacking order of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading when it is loaded into the loading conveyor 2 is the same as the stacking order of the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading when it is unloaded from the unloading conveyor 7. The stacking order mentioned here refers to the stacking order of the trays T from the bottom up of the stacking body S1 (stacking body S2 at the time of unloading). Specifically, it refers to the order of the trays T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5. The stacking device 8 is controlled by the controller 10 (refer to Figure 5 ).

[0046] Figure 5 The controller 10 shown controls the entire battery inspection system 1. More specifically, the controller 10 controls the loading conveyor 2, the unstacking device 3, the transfer device 9, the inspection device 4, the transfer conveyor 5, the unloading conveyor 7, and the stacking device 8.

[0047] The controller 10 has an input / output interface for performing signal output / input to the outside, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and information for processing, a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and communication lines. The controller 10 stores the input data in the RAM based on the signal output by the CPU, loads the program stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executes various processes by executing the program loaded into the RAM.

[0048] The controller 10 executes group control, inspection control, storage control, and stacking control. Each control will be described in detail below.

[0049] In group control, a specified number of batteries B carried in by the loading conveyor 2 are managed as the same group. In group control, a group of batteries B contained in the trays T unloaded from a single loading stack S1 by the unstacking device 3 are managed as the same group. In the group control of the present embodiment, five batteries B (trays T) formed by a single loading stack S1 are managed as the same group.

[0050] For the management of the same group, one label TG (refer to Figure 3 (A)) among the labels (identifiers) TG pasted on each tray T and pasted on the lowermost tray T of the loading stack S1 at the time of loading is used. The controller 10 manages (stores) the number of trays T constituting the loading stack S1 at the time of loading and the stacking order. Therefore, if the information of the label TG pasted on one tray T (for example, the lowermost tray T) among the trays T constituting the loading stack S1 at the time of loading is obtained, the trays T stacked on the upper part of this tray T can be stored in association with this label TG, that is, managed (stored) as the same group. The controller 10 also manages which inspection chamber 42 of the inspection device 4 each of these trays T (batteries B) that are group-managed is carried into. Therefore, the controller 10 can also manage information such as which group the trays T (batteries B) that are out of the inspection chamber 42 after the inspection in the inspection device 4 belong to and which position they are stacked in the loading stack S1 at the time of loading.

[0051] In the present embodiment, in order to record the pass / fail inspection results of the inspection in the inspection device 4, labels TG are pasted on all trays T constituting the loading stack S1 at the time of loading. However, if only for implementing group management, a structure in which one label TG is provided on one loading stack S1 is sufficient. If such a structure is adopted, the cost of pasting the label TG can be reduced. In addition, an example of using the label TG pasted on the lowermost tray T of the loading stack S1 at the time of loading to manage the group is given here, but for example, the label TG pasted on the uppermost tray T or the label TG pasted on the tray T at the center in the stacking direction can also be used.

[0052] In addition, in the group control of the present embodiment, the nonconforming batteries determined to be nonconforming by the inspection device 4 are managed as the same group. The storage control for the battery B determined to be nonconforming will be described in detail in the following section.

[0053] In the inspection control, the first transfer device 9A is controlled in such a way that the battery B carried in by the loading conveyor 2 is stored in the inspection device 4 that is not performing inspection, and the first transfer device 9A is controlled in such a way that the battery B after inspection is taken out of the inspection device 4. The controller 10 monitors the operating status of each inspection chamber 42 based on the inspection completion signal and the like sent from the inspection device 4. Based on the above operating status, the controller 10 stores the battery B in the inspection chamber 42 that is an empty chamber, and based on the inspection completion signal, takes out the battery B after inspection from the inspection chamber 42. In the inspection control of the present embodiment, the first transfer device 9A is controlled in such a way that the battery B taken out of the inspection chamber 42 is handed over to the first transfer conveyor 5A.

[0054] In the storage control, the transfer device 9 is controlled in such a way that at least a part of the battery B taken out of the inspection device 4 is stored in the storage device 6. In the storage control of the present embodiment, four of the five battery Bs managed as a group according to the group control are stored in the storage device 6. In addition, all five battery Bs managed as a group may be stored in the storage device 6.

[0055] In addition, in the storage control, the second transfer device 9B is controlled in such a way that the battery Bs managed as the same group are stored in the adjacent shelf parts 61. In the storage control, when the second transfer device 9B takes out two battery Bs from the storage device 6 at the same time and places the taken-out battery Bs on the unloading conveyor 7 at the same time, the storage is performed in the storage device 6 in such a way that the stacking order of the unloading stacking body S2 is the same as the stacking order of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading. In addition, the details of this control will be described in detail in the following section.

[0056] In addition, in the storage control, at least one of the following situations is used as a condition: all the battery Bs managed as the same group have been taken out of the inspection device 4 (condition example 1), all the battery Bs managed as the same group have been stored in the storage device 6 (condition example 2), and the last battery among the battery Bs managed as the same group has reached the second transfer conveyor 5B (condition example 3). The second transfer device 9B, the second transfer conveyor 5B, and the unloading conveyor 7 are controlled in such a way that all the battery Bs of the same group are continuously handed over from the inspection device 4 to the unloading conveyor 7 or continuously handed over from the transfer conveyor 5 to the unloading conveyor 7. In addition, in the storage control, the situation where a specified number (for example, five) of non-conforming batteries have been taken out of the inspection device 4 is set as a condition, and the second transfer device 9B, the second transfer conveyor 5B, and the unloading conveyor 7 are controlled in such a way that the specified number of non-conforming batteries are continuously handed over from the inspection device 4 to the unloading conveyor 7 or continuously handed over from the second transfer conveyor 5B to the unloading conveyor 7.

[0057] Next, the operation of the battery inspection system 1 will be described. Here, as shown in (A) of Figure 3 , a case where the incoming stacked body S1 obtained by stacking in the order of the tray T1, tray T2, tray T3, tray T4, and tray T5 from the bottom up is conveyed by the incoming conveyor 2 will be described as an example.

[0058] If the incoming stacked body S1 is conveyed by the incoming conveyor 2, the unstacking device 3 unloads the trays T one by one. At this time, the controller 10 manages (group control) the battery B groups accommodated in the plurality of trays T unloaded from one incoming stacked body S1 by the unstacking device 3 as the same group. The unloaded trays T are respectively conveyed by the incoming conveyor 2 to the downstream transfer section A3.

[0059] The first transfer device 9A picks up the battery B from the incoming conveyor 2 at the transfer section A3. The first transfer device 9A confirms the vacant state in the inspection device 4 and stores the battery B in the vacant inspection chamber 42. The first transfer device 9A stores the batteries B successively conveyed by the incoming conveyor 2 in the vacant inspection chamber 42. In the inspection device 4, when the battery B is stored in the inspection chamber 42, the inspection starts, and when the inspection is completed, a inspection completion notification is sent to the controller 10. The first transfer device 9A takes the inspected battery B out of the inspection chamber 42 and transfers the battery B to the transfer conveyor 5. The controller 10 controls the storage and removal of such battery B with respect to the inspection device 4 (inspection control).

[0060] The first transfer conveyor 5A picks up the battery B from the first transfer device 9A at the upstream transfer section A4 and conveys it to the loading section A1. The second transfer device 9B picks up the battery B conveyed to the loading section A1 and stores the battery B in the rack section 61 of the storage device 6. The second transfer device 9B places the battery B taken out of the rack section 61 of the storage device 6 on the unloading section A2 of the outgoing conveyor 7 and transfers the battery B to the outgoing conveyor 7. The controller 10 stores the battery B in the rack section 61 of the storage device 6 and takes the battery B out to the outgoing conveyor 7 under specified conditions. The controller 10 controls the storage and removal of such battery B with respect to the storage device 6 (storage control).

[0061] The second transfer device 9B of the present embodiment is as shown in Figure 6As shown, the battery B managed as the group G1 is stored in the four rack parts 61 adjacent in the horizontal direction. More specifically, the second transfer device 9B stores the pallets T5, T4, T3, and T2 in the rack parts 61 forming the storage spaces 62A, 62B, 62C, and 62D arranged from the downstream side to the upstream side of the unloading conveyor 7. That is, the second transfer device 9B stores the pallet T containing the battery B disposed above the stacking body S1 at the time of loading in the rack part 61 closer to the downstream side of the unloading conveyor 7. In addition, the battery pack managed as another group G2 is also stored in the four rack parts 61 adjacent in the horizontal direction in the same manner as the group G1. The order of storing the above-mentioned pallet T in the four rack parts 61 is an example and is not limited thereto. For example, the pallets T1, T2, T3, and T4 may be stored in the rack parts 61 forming the storage spaces 62A, 62B, 62C, and 62D respectively.

[0062] In such a storage state in the storage device 6, if the fifth battery B in the group G1 is unloaded from the inspection device 4 (all the batteries B belonging to the group G1 are unloaded from the inspection device 4), the second transfer device 9B or the second transfer conveyor 5B continuously transfers all the batteries B in the group G1 to the unloading conveyor 7.

[0063] More specifically, as Figure 7 shown, the two transfer parts 95, 95 of the second transfer device 9B simultaneously take out the batteries B, B stored in the two pallets T5, T4 from the rack part 61 forming the storage space 62A and the rack part 61 forming the storage space 62B of the storage device 6, and simultaneously place the taken-out batteries B, B on the unloading conveyor 7. Next, as Figure 8 shown, the two transfer parts 95, 95 of the second transfer device 9B simultaneously take out the batteries B, B stored in the two pallets T3, T2 from the rack part 61 forming the storage space 62C and the rack part 61 forming the storage space 62D of the storage device 6, and simultaneously place the taken-out batteries B, B on the unloading conveyor 7. Thus, the batteries B are arranged on the unloading conveyor 7 in the order opposite to the stacking order of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading. That is, these pallets are arranged in the order of pallet T5, pallet T4, pallet T3, pallet T2, and pallet T1 in sequence from the downstream side of the unloading conveyor 7.

[0064] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the pallet T1 or the pallet T5 is finally conveyed by the first conveying conveyor 5A has been described, but there is also a case where another pallet T (for example, the pallet T3) is finally conveyed. In this case, in the above method, there is no rack portion 61 that accommodates the pallet T (the pallet T1 or the pallet T5) assumed to be finally conveyed. In this case, the second conveying device 9B can temporarily accommodate the pallet T (the pallet T1 or the pallet T5) in another rack portion 61 and perform a sorting process at an appropriate time so as to form the above-described arrangement.

[0065] The stacking device 8 stacks the batteries B accommodated in the pallet T conveyed by the unloading conveyor 7 as described in (B) of Figure 3 to form a stacking body S2 at the time of unloading. The stacking device 8 forms a stacking body S2 at the time of unloading obtained by stacking in the order of the pallet T1, the pallet T2, the pallet T3, the pallet T4, and the pallet T5 from the bottom up in sequence. That is, in the battery inspection system 1 of the present embodiment, the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading obtained by stacking in the same order as the stacking body S1 at the time of loading is unloaded.

[0066] The operation and effect in the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment will be described. In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the battery packs grouped when being loaded by the loading conveyor 2 are unloaded together by the unloading conveyor 7. Thereby, the desired battery packs can be unloaded together. In addition, in the battery inspection system 1 having such a structure, since the inspected batteries B are immediately shipped out from the inspection device 4, the next battery B can be immediately received. Thereby, the operation rate in the inspection device 4 can be improved.

[0067] In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, since the stacking device 8 is provided, it can be unloaded as a stacking body S2 at the time of unloading of the battery packs of the same group. In the group control of the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, since the battery packs constituting one stacking body S1 at the time of loading unloaded by the unstacking device 3 are managed as the same group, the batteries B of the battery packs conveyed in a stacked state can be unloaded and individually unloaded to the inspection device 4. Moreover, in the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, even when the battery packs loaded as the stacking body S1 at the time of loading are unloaded and individually inspected, the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading can be formed again by the same battery packs and unloaded. In addition, without the storage device 6, in the case of managing N groups, stacking devices 8 corresponding to the number of groups (N) are required, but in the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, by combining the storage device 6 and the stacking device 8, it is possible to cope with a smaller number of stacking devices 8 than N.

[0068] In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, tags TG are respectively provided on the pallets T constituting the stacking body S1 at the time of loading. Based on these tags TG, the same group is managed. Thus, since the battery packs are unloaded onto the unloading conveyor 7 in the stacking order of the battery packs constituting one stacking body S1 at the time of loading or in the reverse order thereof, the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading in the stacking order of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading can be obtained again and unloaded. As a result, the battery B (pallet T) can be unloaded under the "same data / conditions" as before the inspection process is loaded, and the occurrence of data deviation and other failures can be reduced.

[0069] In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of batteries B are simultaneously taken out from the storage device 6 and the taken-out batteries B are simultaneously placed on the unloading conveyor 7, they are stored in the storage device 6 in such a way that the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading having a stacking order is formed in the stacking device 8. Thus, when the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading stacked in the same order as the stacking body S1 at the time of loading is unloaded, efficient control can be achieved, and thus the processing capacity can be improved.

[0070] In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the batteries B managed as the same group are stored in the adjacent shelf portions 61 in the horizontal direction. Thus, when the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading is formed from the same battery packs constituting the stacking body S1 at the time of loading and unloaded, efficient control can be achieved, and thus the processing capacity can be improved.

[0071] In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the non-conforming batteries determined to be non-conforming by the inspection device 4 are managed as the same group. When a specified number of non-conforming batteries are taken out from the inspection device 4, the specified number of non-conforming batteries are continuously transferred from the inspection device 4 or the storage device 6 to the unloading conveyor 7. Thus, the non-conforming batteries can be unloaded together. The non-conforming pallets accommodating the non-conforming batteries are conveyed to a cleaning conveyor (not shown) outside. Compared with the case where the non-conforming pallets are removed from the battery inspection system 1 one by one, the load on the conveying device (not shown) up to the cleaning conveyor outside can be reduced when the non-conforming pallets are unloaded together. In addition, usually, an operator takes out the non-conforming pallets unloaded to the end of the cleaning conveyor, and the number of operations of the operator can be reduced when the non-conforming pallets are unloaded together.

[0072] In the battery inspection system 1 of the above-described embodiment, the conveyance of the battery B between the loading conveyor 2 and the inspection device 4, between the inspection device 4 and the first conveying conveyor 5A, between the second conveying conveyor 5B and the storage device 6, and between the storage device 6 and the unloading conveyor, which are prone to bottlenecks, is dispersed to the two conveying devices, i.e., the first conveying device 9A and the second conveying device 9B. Thus, a reduction in conveying efficiency can be prevented.

[0073] As described above, one embodiment has been explained, but one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the case where the stacking number of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading carried in by the loading conveyor 2 is five is taken as an example for explanation, but it is not limited thereto. It can also be two or more and four or less, or six or more. Similarly, for the stacking number of the stacking body S carried to the unloading conveyor 7.

[0075] In the above embodiment and the modification example, the example of forming a group of a plurality of batteries B carried as the stacking body S1 at the time of loading has been explained, but it can also be in a form where the batteries B are carried one by one by the loading conveyor 2 instead of the form of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading. For example, every prescribed number (for example, five) are grouped in the order of arrival. That is, it can also be a battery inspection system 1 that does not include the unstacking device 3 and the stacking device 8. In this case, the production unit (batch) of the products manufactured under the same conditions can also be set as the above prescribed number. In this structure, the batteries B can be grouped under desired conditions, and the grouped batteries B can be taken out together from the unloading conveyor 7.

[0076] In the above embodiment and the modification example, the example of not loading the battery B that is finally taken out of the inspection device 4 in the group into the rack portion 61 of the storage device 6 has been explained, but all the taken-out batteries B can also be stored in the storage device 6. In this case, the second transfer device 9B can sort the batteries B stored in the rack portion 61 at an appropriate timing. In addition, not only the battery B that is finally taken out of the inspection device 4 in the group but also a plurality of batteries B can be not stored in the rack portion 61 of the storage device 6.

[0077] In the above embodiment and the modification example, as Figure 4 shown, the first transfer device 9A and the second transfer device 9B having two transfer portions 95, 95 provided in one lifting portion 94 are taken as an example for explanation, but it can also be configured, for example, to have a structure in which the first transfer device 9A and the second transfer device 9B each having one transfer portion 95, 95 provided in two lifting portions 94, 94 arranged with a column rod 93 therebetween. In the case of this structure, the controller 10 can control the second transfer device 9B, for example, in such a manner that the batteries B managed as the same group are stored in the rack portions 61 adjacent in the vertical direction. In addition, it can also be that the controller 10 stores the batteries B in the rack portions 61 adjacent in the vertical direction in such a manner that when a plurality of batteries B are taken out from the rack portion 61 at the same time and the taken-out batteries B are placed on the unloading conveyor 7 at the same time, in order to form the stacking order of the stacking body S1 at the time of loading or the reverse order of the stacking body S2 at the time of unloading.

[0078] In the above-described embodiments and variations, an example in which labels TG are pasted on all the batteries B (trays T) has been described. However, for example, the label TG may be pasted only on one battery B (e.g., the lowermost arranged battery B) that forms the stack S1 at the time of loading.

[0079] In the above-described embodiments and variations, a structure having two transfer devices 9, i.e., the first transfer device 9A and the second transfer device 9B, has been described as an example. However, it may also be a structure having only one transfer device. In this case, the structure may be such that the transfer conveyor 5 is omitted and the transfer device 9 directly transfers the battery B from the inspection device 4 to the storage device 6. In this case, instead of the structure of the above-described embodiments and variations in which the inspection device 4 and the storage device 6 are separately arranged, the inspection device 4 and the storage device 6 (as a row of racks) may be arranged in a line.

[0080] In the unstacking device 3 of the above-described embodiments and variations, as Figure 3 shown in (A), an example in which the batteries B arranged below the stack S1 at the time of loading are sequentially sent out has been described. However, the unstacking device 3 may also be one that sequentially sends out the batteries B arranged above the stack S1 at the time of loading. Similarly, in the stacking device 8, an example in which the earlier delivered battery B is stacked above the stack S2 at the time of unloading has been described. However, the stacking device 8 may also be one in which the earlier delivered battery B is stacked below the stack S2 at the time of unloading. In these cases, the order of the batteries B discharged to the storage device 6 and the unloading conveyor 7 becomes the reverse of the order described above.

[0081] In the above-described embodiments and variations, an example in which the battery B housed in the tray T is transferred has been described. However, the battery B may also be directly transferred by the loading conveyor 2, the transfer device 9, the transfer conveyor 5, and the unloading conveyor.

[0082] Description of Reference Numerals

[0083] 1... Battery inspection system, 2... Loading conveyor, 3... Unstacking device, 4... Inspection device, 5... Transfer conveyor, 5A... First transfer conveyor, 5B... Second transfer conveyor, 6... Storage device, 61... Rack portion, 7... Unloading conveyor, 8... Stacking device, 9... Transfer device, 95... Transfer portion, 9A... First transfer device, 9B... Second transfer device, 10... Controller, B... Battery, S... Stack, T... Tray, TG... Label (identifier).

Claims

1. A battery inspection system for inspecting batteries, comprising: An inspection device configured to be able to inspect a plurality of batteries simultaneously; A storage device having a plurality of rack portions for storing the batteries that have completed inspection in the inspection device; A loading conveyor for loading the batteries into the battery inspection system from the outside; An unloading conveyor for unloading the batteries from the battery inspection system to the outside; A transfer device for transferring the batteries between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, between the inspection device and the storage device, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor; And A controller for controlling the battery inspection system, The controller performs the following controls: Group control, in which a specified number of the batteries loaded by the loading conveyor are managed as the same group; Inspection control, in which the transfer device is controlled so that the batteries loaded by the loading conveyor are stored in the inspection device that is not performing the inspection, and the transfer device is controlled so that the batteries that have completed the inspection are taken out of the inspection device; And Storage control, in which the transfer device is controlled so that at least a part of the batteries taken out of the inspection device are stored in the storage device, and the transfer device is controlled so that the battery group of the same group is continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the unloading conveyor, The battery inspection system further includes a stacking device provided in the middle of the path of the unloading conveyor, which forms a stacked body for unloading the stacked batteries, The controller performs stacking control, in which the stacking device is controlled to form the stacked body for unloading based on the battery group of the same group.

2. The battery inspection system according to claim 1, wherein The transfer device has a transfer portion that can simultaneously transfer a plurality of the batteries arranged and stored in the horizontal direction in the storage device, In the storage control, the transfer device is controlled so that the batteries managed as the same group are stored in the adjacent rack portions in the horizontal direction.

3. The battery inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein In the group control, the unqualified batteries determined to be unqualified by the inspection device are managed as the same group, In the storage control, the transfer device is controlled so that the specified number of unqualified batteries are continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the unloading conveyor.

4. The battery inspection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A transfer conveyor is further provided between the inspection device and the storage device, The transfer device has: A first transfer device for transferring the batteries between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, and between the inspection device and the transfer conveyor; And A second conveying device that conveys the battery between the conveying conveyor and the storage device, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor.

5. A battery inspection system for inspecting batteries, comprising: An inspection device configured to be able to inspect multiple batteries simultaneously; A storage device having a plurality of rack portions for storing the batteries that have been inspected in the inspection device; A loading conveyor that conveys the batteries into the battery inspection system from the outside; An unloading conveyor that conveys the batteries out of the battery inspection system to the outside; A conveying device that conveys the battery between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, between the inspection device and the storage device, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor; And A controller that controls the battery inspection system, The controller performs the following controls: Group control, in which a specified number of the batteries conveyed by the loading conveyor are managed as the same group; Inspection control, in which the conveying device is controlled so that the batteries conveyed by the loading conveyor are stored in the inspection device that is not performing the inspection, and the conveying device is controlled so that the inspected batteries are taken out of the inspection device; And Storage control, in which the conveying device is controlled so that at least a part of the batteries taken out of the inspection device are stored in the storage device, and the conveying device is controlled so that the battery group of the same group is continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the unloading conveyor, The battery inspection system further includes a depalletizing device provided in the middle of the path of the loading conveyor, which unloads the batteries of the loading pallet stacked with the batteries one by one, In the group control, the battery group constituting one of the loading pallets unloaded by the depalletizing device is managed as the same group.

6. The battery inspection system according to claim 5, wherein In the storage control, the battery group of the same group is unloaded onto the unloading conveyor in the stacking order of the loading pallet or the reverse order thereof.

7. The battery inspection system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein An identifier is provided on at least one of the batteries constituting the loading pallet, In the group control, the same group is managed based on the identifier.

8. The battery inspection system according to claim 5, wherein The conveying device has a transfer unit that can simultaneously transfer a plurality of the batteries arranged and stored in the horizontal direction in the storage device, In the storage control, the conveying device is controlled so that the batteries managed as the same group are stored in the adjacent rack portions in the horizontal direction.

9. The battery inspection system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein In the group control, the defective batteries determined to be defective by the inspection device are managed as the same group. In the storage control, the transfer device is controlled in such a manner that the specified number of defective batteries are continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the outfeed conveyor.

10. The battery inspection system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a transfer conveyor is further provided between the inspection device and the storage device. The transfer device includes: a first transfer device that transfers the battery between the infeed conveyor and the inspection device, and between the inspection device and the transfer conveyor; and a second transfer device that transfers the battery between the transfer conveyor and the storage device, and between the storage device and the outfeed conveyor.

11. A battery inspection system for inspecting batteries, comprising: an inspection device configured to be able to inspect a plurality of batteries simultaneously; a storage device having a plurality of rack portions for storing the batteries that have been inspected by the inspection device; an infeed conveyor that feeds the batteries into the battery inspection system from the outside; an outfeed conveyor that feeds the batteries out of the battery inspection system to the outside; a transfer device that transfers the battery between the infeed conveyor and the inspection device, between the inspection device and the storage device, and between the storage device and the outfeed conveyor; and a controller that controls the battery inspection system, The controller performs the following controls: Group control, in which a specified number of the batteries fed by the infeed conveyor are managed as the same group; Inspection control, in which the transfer device is controlled so that the batteries fed by the infeed conveyor are stored in the inspection device that is not performing the inspection, and the transfer device is controlled so that the inspected batteries are taken out of the inspection device; and Storage control, in which the transfer device is controlled so that at least a part of the batteries taken out of the inspection device are stored in the storage device, and the transfer device is controlled so that the battery group of the same group is continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the outfeed conveyor. The battery inspection system further includes: a stacking device provided in the middle of the path of the outfeed conveyor to form a stacked body for outfeed by stacking the batteries; and a unstacking device provided in the middle of the path of the infeed conveyor to unstack the stacked body for infeed formed by stacking the batteries into individual batteries. In the group control, the battery group constituting one stacked body for infeed unstacked by the unstacking device is managed as the same group. The controller performs stacking control, in which the stacking device is controlled to form the stacked body for outfeed based on the battery group of the same group.

12. The battery inspection system according to claim 11, wherein the conveying device has a transfer unit that can simultaneously transfer a plurality of the batteries arranged and stored in the storage device in a horizontal direction, in the storage control, when simultaneously taking out the plurality of batteries from the storage device and simultaneously placing the taken-out batteries on the unloading conveyor, the storage device stores the batteries in a stacking order of the stacking body at the time of loading or in a reverse order of the stacking body at the time of unloading.

13. The battery inspection system according to claim 12, wherein in the storage control, the conveying device is controlled in such a way that the batteries managed as the same group are stored in the rack portions adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

14. The battery inspection system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein in the storage control, the battery packs of the same group are unloaded onto the unloading conveyor in the stacking order of the stacking body at the time of loading or in a reverse order thereof.

15. The battery inspection system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein an identifier is provided on at least one of the batteries constituting the stacking body at the time of loading, in the group control, the same group is managed based on the identifier.

16. The battery inspection system according to claim 11, wherein the conveying device has a transfer unit that can simultaneously transfer a plurality of the batteries arranged and stored in the storage device in a horizontal direction, in the storage control, the conveying device is controlled in such a way that the batteries managed as the same group are stored in the rack portions adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

17. The battery inspection system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein in the group control, the non-conforming batteries determined to be non-conforming by the inspection device are managed as the same group, in the storage control, the conveying device is controlled in such a way that the specified number of non-conforming batteries are continuously transferred from the inspection device or the storage device to the unloading conveyor.

18. The battery inspection system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a conveying conveyor is further provided between the inspection device and the storage device, the conveying device has: a first conveying device that conveys the batteries between the loading conveyor and the inspection device, and between the inspection device and the conveying conveyor; and a second conveying device that conveys the batteries between the conveying conveyor and the storage device, and between the storage device and the unloading conveyor.

Images