Battery pack assembly system and battery pack assembly method using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack assembly system and a battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system, the battery pack assembly system comprising: a battery cell supply unit for arranging and supplying a plurality of battery cells; a robot arm for moving the plurality of battery cells; a plasma processing unit for performing plasma processing on the plurality of battery cells; and an assembly unit in which a battery pack housing for accommodating the plurality of battery cells is provided, wherein the battery pack assembly system can obtain excellent plasma processing effects on the plurality of battery cells and can easily assemble the battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2020-0113155, filed on September 4, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack assembly system and a battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system, and more particularly, to a battery pack assembly system that performs plasma treatment to increase the bonding force between a battery pack and a heat sink and a battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged have an advantage of a long life of a battery cell, and are used in a form in which the secondary batteries are detachably attached to a device or built in a device. The types of devices using secondary batteries as energy sources are increasing.

[0004] In particular, lithium secondary batteries that are charged and discharged due to the migration of lithium ions have been used not only in the field of small battery cells for mobile devices or small electronic products, but also in the field of medium or large battery cells used as power sources for electric vehicles or power storage systems requiring high output and high voltage, because lithium secondary batteries have the advantages of high energy density and high discharge voltage.

[0005] Based on the shape of the battery case, lithium secondary batteries are classified into cylindrical secondary batteries having an electrode assembly installed in a cylindrical metal can, square secondary batteries having an electrode assembly installed in a square metal can, or soft-pack secondary batteries having an electrode assembly installed in a soft-pack case made of an aluminum laminate. Among them, the cylindrical secondary battery has the advantages that the capacity of the cylindrical secondary battery is relatively large and the cylindrical battery is structurally stable.

[0006] To manufacture a battery pack including a cylindrical secondary battery as a unit cell, a process may be performed of placing a plurality of cylindrical battery cells in a pack case in a compact state, adding a heat dissipating member such as a heat sink, and hermetically sealing the pack case.

[0007] To increase the bonding force between the heat sink and the plurality of battery cells, an adhesive is applied therebetween. To increase the bonding force of the adhesive, surfaces of the heat sink and the battery cells where the heat sink and the battery cells are bonded to each other may be treated with plasma.

[0008] In connection with this, Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a process of treating the bottom surface of a conventional cylindrical battery cell with plasma.

[0009] like Figure 1 As shown, the pack case 100 includes an upper case 110 and a lower case 120 , and a plurality of battery cells 200 are disposed in the pack case 100 at predetermined intervals.

[0010] A frame 130 configured to stably fix the battery cells 200 may be added to the inside of each of the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 .

[0011] The plurality of battery cells 200 are arranged with their upper surfaces 201 facing upward in a state where the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 are combined with each other. In order to treat the lower surfaces 202 of the plurality of battery cells 200 with plasma, the battery pack is rotated 180 degrees based on the X-axis, and then the lower case 120 is removed, so that the lower surfaces 202 of the plurality of battery cells 200 are exposed.

[0012] In this state, the lower surfaces 202 of the plurality of battery cells 200 are treated with plasma, the lower case 120 is added again, and the battery pack is rotated 180 degrees based on the X-axis to return to its original state.

[0013] In the case of treating the lower surface of the battery cell with plasma using the above method, a process of mounting the battery cell in a battery pack case and then rotating the battery pack, and a process of removing and mounting the upper case are required, which makes the entire process complicated.

[0014] In addition, in plasma processing, the plasma processing effect varies greatly depending on the distance between the target and the plasma device. For this reason, it is necessary to maintain a uniform distance. However, in the above process, it is difficult to maintain a uniform distance between the target and the plasma device.

[0015] Therefore, there is a great need for a battery pack assembly system that can simply perform plasma treatment on a plurality of battery cells to improve productivity and continuously achieve the plasma treatment effect. Summary of the invention

[0016] Technical issues

[0017] The present invention is proposed in view of the above-mentioned technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack assembly system and a battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system, wherein the battery pack assembly system is configured to treat the bottom of multiple battery cells with plasma when the multiple battery cells are aligned in a side-by-side manner, thereby continuously and excellently exhibiting the plasma treatment effect of the multiple battery cells.

[0018] Technical Solution

[0019] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a battery pack assembly system according to the present invention includes: a battery cell supply unit, which is configured to supply a plurality of battery cells in an aligned state; a robot arm, which is configured to move a plurality of battery cells; a plasma processing unit, which is configured to process a plurality of battery cells with plasma; and an assembly unit, in which a battery pack housing is provided, and the battery pack housing is configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells therein.

[0020] The battery pack assembly system according to the present invention may further include a heat sink provided in the battery pack case.

[0021] In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the adhesive may be applied to the first surface of the heat sink.

[0022] In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the adhesive may be applied to the first surface of the heat sink in a state in which the first surface of the heat sink is treated with plasma.

[0023] In the battery pack assembling system according to the present invention, the robot arm may be controlled so that plasma processing is performed in a state in which a plurality of battery cells are disposed above the plasma processing unit to be spaced apart from the plasma processing unit by a prescribed distance.

[0024] In the battery pack assembling system according to the present invention, the prescribed distance may be 1 mm.

[0025] In the battery pack assembling system according to the present invention, the plasma processing unit may be provided between the battery cell supply unit and the assembling unit.

[0026] In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the robot arm may include a gripper configured to hold or put down a plurality of battery cells.

[0027] In the battery pack assembling system according to the present invention, a frame member may be installed in the battery pack case, and a plurality of battery cells may be disposed at the frame member.

[0028] In addition, the present invention provides a battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system. Specifically, the battery pack assembly method includes the following steps: step (a) aligning a plurality of battery cells in a battery cell supply unit; step (b) transferring the plurality of battery cells to a plasma processing unit while holding the plurality of battery cells; step (c) treating the plurality of battery cells with plasma; and (d) placing the plurality of battery cells in step (c) in a battery pack housing.

[0029] In the battery pack assembly method according to the present invention, in step (c), the distances between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma processing unit may be equal.

[0030] The battery pack assembly method according to the present invention may further include: preparing a heat sink to be disposed in the battery pack case; treating a first surface of the heat sink with plasma; and applying an adhesive to the first surface of the heat sink treated with plasma.

[0031] Beneficial Effects

[0032] As is apparent from the above description, the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention is capable of supplying a plurality of battery cells in an aligned state, and is capable of moving the plurality of battery cells in an aligned state by holding the plurality of battery cells using a robot arm, whereby the battery cells can be treated with plasma in an aligned state.

[0033] Therefore, an even distance between the plasma processing unit and the bottom of the battery cell can be maintained, thereby obtaining a uniform plasma processing effect.

[0034] Furthermore, it is possible to ensure conditions under which the effect of the plasma treatment can be obtained to the maximum extent, thereby making it possible to significantly increase the bonding force of the adhesive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a process of treating the bottom surface of a conventional cylindrical battery cell with plasma.

[0036] Figure 2 is a plan view of a battery pack assembly system according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to the present invention.

[0038] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Side view of the robotic arm.

[0039] Figure 5 is the front view of the gripper.

[0040] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing plasma processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Now, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, when describing the operating principle of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, when the detailed description of the known functions and configurations incorporated herein may obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] In addition, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to represent components that perform similar functions or operations. Throughout the specification, where a component is described as being connected to another component, not only may the component be directly connected to the other component, but the component may be indirectly connected to the other component via the other component. In addition, the inclusion of a specific element does not mean the exclusion of other elements, but means that these elements may be further included unless otherwise specified.

[0043] Furthermore, unless otherwise limited, the description embodying elements by limitation or addition is applicable to all inventions and is not limited to a specific invention.

[0044] Furthermore, in the description of the present invention and the claims of this application, unless otherwise stated, the singular form is intended to include the plural form.

[0045] Furthermore, in the description and claims of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "or" includes "and." Therefore, "including A or B" means three cases, namely, the case including A, the case including B, and the case including A and B.

[0046] Furthermore, all numerical ranges include the lowest value, the highest value and all intermediate values ​​therebetween unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 2 is a plan view of a battery pack assembly system according to the present invention.

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, a battery pack assembly system according to the present invention includes: a battery cell supply unit 300 configured to supply a plurality of battery cells in an aligned state; a robot arm 400 configured to move a plurality of battery cells; a plasma processing unit 500 configured to treat a plurality of battery cells with plasma; and an assembly unit 600, in which a battery pack housing 610 is provided, and the battery pack housing 610 is configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells therein.

[0050] According to the battery pack assembly system of the present invention, the battery pack assembly system is used to accommodate multiple battery cells in a battery pack housing to assemble a battery pack, and is characterized in that the battery pack assembly system includes a plasma processing unit, which is configured to modify the lower surfaces of the multiple battery cells to improve the adhesion of the adhesive used to fix the multiple battery cells.

[0051] The plasma treatment of the lower surfaces of the plurality of battery cells may be performed in a state where the plurality of battery cells are held by the robot arm 400. In order to quickly perform the plasma treatment of the battery cells and the assembly process of the battery pack, the plasma treatment unit 500 may be provided on a path along which the battery cells supplied from the battery cell supply unit 300 are transferred to the assembly unit 600.

[0052] That is, the plasma processing unit 500 may be disposed between the battery cell supply unit 300 and the assembling unit 600 .

[0053] The assembly unit 600 may include a transfer unit configured to transfer the battery pack case 610 such that the battery pack case 610 is located adjacent to the robot arm 400 .

[0054] For example, a conveyor belt or a rail may be used as the conveying unit.

[0055] In a specific embodiment, the adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the lower surface of the pack case in which the battery cell is mounted, and the lower surface of the pack case and the battery cell are bonded to each other by the adhesive.

[0056] In order to increase the adhesive force of the adhesive, the lower surface of the battery pack housing is treated with plasma, and the adhesive is applied to the lower surface of the battery pack housing. In addition, the lower surface of the battery cell can be treated with plasma. That is, the inner surface of the battery pack housing and the lower surface of the battery cell, which are adjacent to each other through the adhesive, can be modified to be hydrophilic, thereby improving the adhesiveness of the adhesive.

[0057] For example, each battery cell may be a cylindrical battery cell.

[0058] The battery pack case may include an upper case and a lower case having similar heights. Alternatively, the battery case may include a case body consisting of a lower surface and four side surfaces, and a case cover.

[0059] The battery cell supply unit 300 includes a mounting portion 310 in which a plurality of battery cells are mounted in an aligned state, and the bottom of the mounting portion is flat. Therefore, the plurality of battery cells can be aligned so that no height difference occurs therebetween.

[0060] Thereafter, the mounting portion 310 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in a state in which the battery cell is mounted therein so as to be located adjacent to the robot arm 400 .

[0061] The robot arm 400 transfers the battery cells aligned in the mounting portion 310 to the upper side of the plasma processing unit 500 while holding the battery cells unchanged. At this time, the alignment of the battery cells is maintained, thereby maintaining a uniform distance between the bottom of the battery cells and the plasma device.

[0062] A frame member may be installed in the pack case, and a plurality of battery cells may be disposed at the frame member, whereby the plurality of battery cells may be stably fixed.

[0063] In another specific example, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to the present invention.

[0064] Reference Figure 3 , the battery pack includes an upper case 111 and a lower case 121 , and frame members 131 and 132 configured to stably mount the battery cells 211 are disposed inside the upper case 111 and the lower case 121 , respectively.

[0065] In order to ensure that the heat generated from the plurality of battery cells 211 can be quickly dissipated, Figure 3 The battery pack further includes a heat sink 140 .

[0066] The heat sink 140 may be disposed between the inner surface of the lower surface of the lower case 121 and the battery cell 211. In order to stably mount the battery cell in this structure, an adhesive is preferably applied between the heat sink 140 and the lower surface of the battery cell 211. The adhesive may be applied to the first surface 141 of the heat sink 140 at which the battery cell 211 is disposed.

[0067] At this time, in order to increase the adhesion of the adhesive with respect to the first surface 141 of the heat sink, the adhesive may be applied to the first surface 141 of the heat sink in a state in which the first surface is treated with plasma.

[0068] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Side view of the robotic arm.

[0069] like Figure 4 As shown, the robot arm 400 is configured to be rotatable along a direction a on the ground, and includes three rotatable joint structures 401 , 402 and 403 .

[0070] Furthermore, the robot arm 400 includes a gripper 410 configured to hold or put down a plurality of battery cells 211 .

[0071] Therefore, the robot arm can perform a process of moving to the plasma processing unit while holding a plurality of battery cells 211 supplied from the battery cell supply unit while the joint structures 401, 402 and 403 are unfolded or folded, and installing the battery cells 211 in the battery pack housing after plasma processing.

[0072] Furthermore, the robot arm 400 may be controlled such that plasma processing is performed in a state in which the plurality of battery cells 211 are disposed above the plasma processing unit so as to be spaced a prescribed distance from the plasma processing unit.

[0073] Therefore, all the battery cells transferred by the robot arm are treated with plasma in a state of being equally spaced apart from the plasma device, whereby all the battery cells can be modified to the same level.

[0074] Figure 5 is the front view of the gripper.

[0075] Reference Figure 5 , shows one of two clamps 410 configured to surround the side surfaces of the cylindrical battery cells, wherein the clamps are configured to surround approximately 50% of the side surface of each cylindrical battery cell.

[0076] The holder 410 is provided with recessed portions 411 respectively corresponding to side surfaces of the cylindrical battery cells so that the cylindrical battery cells can be stably mounted.

[0077] The outer surface of each recess 411 may be subjected to an anti-slip treatment to prevent the corresponding cylindrical battery cell from slipping.

[0078] Alternatively, the clamper 410 may be configured to perform vacuum adsorption so as to stably fix the cylindrical battery cells while maintaining the aligned state of the cylindrical battery cells.

[0079] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing plasma processing.

[0080] Reference Figure 6 The battery cell 211 moves to the plasma processing unit 500 while being mounted on the holder 410 , and stops above the plasma device 510 .

[0081] The effect of the plasma treatment is affected by the distance H between the plasma device 510 and the lower surface of the battery cell 211. In order to achieve the same effect of the plasma treatment for all the battery cells, the distance H must be kept uniform.

[0082] In case of using the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the battery cells are transferred using a robot arm capable of performing precise and minute control, and thus a uniform plasma treatment effect can be achieved for all the battery cells.

[0083] That is, in the case of using the robot arm 400, the distance H may be kept uniform. For example, the distance H may be 1 mm.

[0084] A battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system may include: (a) a step of aligning a plurality of battery cells in a battery cell supply unit; (b) a step of transferring the plurality of battery cells to a plasma processing unit while holding the plurality of battery cells; (c) a step of treating the plurality of battery cells with plasma; and (d) a step of placing the plurality of battery cells of step (c) in a battery pack housing.

[0085] At this time, the distances between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma processing unit can be kept equal.

[0086] In addition, in the case where the battery pack includes a heat sink, the battery pack assembly method may further include a step of treating a first surface of the heat sink on which the battery cells are disposed using plasma, and a step of applying an adhesive to the first surface treated with plasma to increase the bonding strength of the adhesive added between the heat sink and the battery cells.

[0087] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples, which are provided for easier understanding of the present invention, and the category of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0088] Example

[0089] A heat sink disposed in a battery pack case is prepared, and a first surface of the heat sink is treated with plasma.

[0090] An adhesive is applied to the first surface of the heat sink treated with the plasma to increase the adhesion of the adhesive to the heat sink.

[0091] use Figure 2 The battery pack assembly system shown in the figure supplies a plurality of battery cells to a battery cell supply unit in an aligned state, and uses a robot arm to transfer the plurality of battery cells to a plasma treatment unit. The distance between the bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and the plasma device is set to be 1 mm, and the bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells are treated with plasma.

[0092] The plurality of battery cells treated with plasma as described above are disposed on the adhesive applied to the first surface of the heat sink.

[0093] Plasma treatment was performed using 3D+iZET from Applied Plasma Inc.

[0094] Comparative Example

[0095] A heat sink disposed in a battery pack case is prepared, and an adhesive is applied to a first surface of the heat sink.

[0096] use Figure 2 The battery pack assembly system shown supplies a plurality of battery cells in an aligned state to a battery cell supply unit, and transfers and disposes the plurality of battery cells on an adhesive applied to a first surface of a heat sink using a robot arm.

[0097] In order to examine the adhesive force of the battery cells installed in the battery pack case in each of the examples and comparative examples, the tensile force when each individual battery cell was separated from the heat sink was measured. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0098] [Table 1]

[0099] Tensile force (KGF) Example 186.6 Comparative Example 99.6

[0100] As shown in Table 1 above, it can be seen that the tensile force of the example subjected to plasma treatment is about 87% higher than the tensile force of the comparative example not subjected to plasma treatment.

[0101] In particular, it can be seen that when the plasma treatment is performed in a state where the distance between the plasma device and the bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells is maintained at 1 mm, as shown in the embodiment, a significant effect of improving adhesion can be obtained.

[0102] Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention are possible based on the above description.

[0103] [Description of Reference Numerals]

[0104] 100: Battery pack housing

[0105] 110, 111: Upper shell

[0106] 120, 121: Lower housing

[0107] 130: Framework

[0108] 131, 132: Frame components

[0109] 140: Radiator

[0110] 141: First surface

[0111] 200, 211: Battery cells

[0112] 201: Upper surface

[0113] 202: Lower surface

[0114] 300: Battery cell supply unit

[0115] 310: Installation

[0116] 400: Robotic Arm

[0117] 401, 402, 403: Joint structure

[0118] 410: Gripper

[0119] 411: concave part

[0120] 500: Plasma treatment unit

[0121] 510: Plasma Device

[0122] 600: Assembly unit

[0123] 610: Battery pack housing

[0124] H: The distance between the plasma device and the lower surface of the battery cell

[0125] Industrial Applicability

[0126] As is apparent from the above description, the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention is capable of supplying a plurality of battery cells in an aligned state and moving the plurality of battery cells while maintaining the aligned state of the plurality of battery cells using a robot arm, thereby allowing the battery cells to be treated with plasma while the battery cells are aligned.

[0127] Therefore, a uniform distance between the plasma processing unit and the bottom of the battery cell can be maintained, thereby obtaining a uniform plasma processing effect.

[0128] Furthermore, it is possible to ensure conditions under which the effect of the plasma treatment can be obtained to the maximum extent, whereby the bonding force of the adhesive can be significantly increased.

Claims

1. A battery pack assembly system, comprising: a battery cell supply unit configured to supply a plurality of battery cells in an aligned state; a robotic arm configured to move the plurality of battery cells; a plasma processing unit configured to treat the plurality of battery cells with plasma; an assembly unit in which a battery pack housing is disposed, the battery pack housing being configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells therein; as well as a radiator, the radiator being disposed in the battery pack housing, wherein the robot arm is controlled to perform plasma processing in a state where the plurality of battery cells are disposed above the plasma processing unit and are spaced a specified distance from the plasma processing unit, so as to increase the bonding force between the battery pack and the heat sink, Wherein, the specified distance is 1 mm.

2. The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein: An adhesive is applied to the first surface of the heat sink.

3. The battery pack assembly system according to claim 2, wherein: The adhesive is applied to the first surface of the heat sink in a state in which the first surface of the heat sink is treated with the plasma.

4. The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein: The plasma processing unit is disposed between the battery cell supply unit and the assembling unit.

5. The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein: The robotic arm includes a gripper configured to hold or place the plurality of battery cells.

6. The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein: A frame member is installed in the battery pack housing, and The plurality of battery cells are disposed at the frame member.

7. A battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the battery pack assembly method comprising the following steps: Step (a) aligning the plurality of battery cells in the battery cell supply unit; Step (b) transferring the plurality of battery cells to the plasma processing unit while holding the plurality of battery cells; Step (c) treating the plurality of battery cells with the plasma; as well as Step (d) disposing the plurality of battery cells of step (c) in the battery pack housing.

8. The battery pack assembly method according to claim 7, wherein: In the step (c), the distances between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma processing unit are equal.

9. The battery pack assembly method according to claim 7, further comprising: preparing a heat sink to be disposed in the battery pack housing; treating a first surface of the heat sink with the plasma; as well as An adhesive is applied to the first surface of the heat sink treated with the plasma.

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