Electrode plate alignment device and electrode plate alignment method

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method. According to the electrode plate alignment device and the electrode plate alignment method, by checking and correcting the alignment state of the electrode plates, the stacked electrode plates are in a preset alignment state when a battery cell is manufactured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method, and relates to an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method for aligning electrode plates supplied when manufacturing an electrode assembly of a battery cell. Background Art

[0002] A secondary battery cell is formed in the form of a positive electrode plate, a separator, and a negative electrode plate stacked and immersed in an electrolyte solution, and an electrode assembly included in such a cell is formed by alternately stacking positive and negative electrode plates with separators interposed therebetween.

[0003] Specifically, when the electrode plate supply device supplies the electrode plates composed of the positive electrode plates or the negative electrode plates to the stacking stage, the electrode plates and the separators are stacked by the electrode plate stacking device on the stacking stage to form an electrode assembly.

[0004] On the other hand, the electrode plates supplied by the electrode plate supply device are transported to the stacking station by an electrode plate transport mechanism, etc. At this time, in order to prevent defects in battery cells manufactured using the electrode plates stacked on the stacking station, the electrode plates transported from the electrode plate supply device to the stacking station should be aligned in a preset state.

[0005] However, since the alignment state of the electrode plates may change during the process of being transferred by the electrode plate supply device, the alignment state of the electrode plates may also become different from the preset alignment state.

[0006] As described above, if battery cells are manufactured by stacking electrode plates whose alignment state is different from the preset alignment state, battery cell defects may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an electrode plate alignment device and an electrode plate alignment method that can check and correct the alignment state of the electrode plates. Summary of the Invention

[0007] (1) Technical issues to be resolved

[0008] A technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to check and correct the alignment state of electrode plates so that the stacked electrode plates have a preset alignment state when manufacturing battery cells.

[0009] Another technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to prevent defects in battery cells by preventing electrode plates whose alignment states are different from a preset alignment state from being used in the manufacture of battery cells.

[0010] The disclosed electrode plate alignment device and method can be widely used in green technology fields utilizing batteries, such as electric vehicles. Furthermore, battery cells manufactured using the disclosed electrode plate alignment device and method can be used in environmentally friendly electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, which prevent climate change by suppressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

[0011] (2) Technical solution

[0012] As a technical solution to the above-mentioned technical problems, an electrode plate alignment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: an electrode plate transferring part, which transfers electrode plates formed by positive plates or negative plates; an electrode plate stacking part, which stacks the electrode plates on the electrode plate stacking part; an electrode plate conveying part, which conveys the electrode plates transferred by the electrode plate transferring part to the electrode plate stacking part; and an alignment checking part, which checks whether the electrode plates are in a preset reference alignment state when they are located at a preset conveying position held by the electrode plate conveying part. When the alignment state of the electrode plates is not in the reference alignment state, the alignment checking part calculates information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plates so that the alignment state of the electrode plates is in the reference alignment state, i.e., correction information, and sends it to the electrode plate conveying part. The electrode plate conveying part holds the electrode plates and corrects the alignment state of the electrode plates based on the correction information, and then conveys the electrode plates to the electrode plate stacking part.

[0013] In addition, the correction information may be information for moving the electrode plate so that at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate are respectively located at the positions where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state, or at least two of the multiple vertices of the electrode plate are located at the positions where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

[0014] In addition, the correction information may be information for moving the electrode plate so that the multiple corners of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state or the multiple vertices of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

[0015] In addition, the correction information may include any one or more of information for moving the electrode plate along a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate along a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for rotating and moving the electrode plate so that the electrode plate maintains a state in which one side is parallel to the horizontal direction and rotates.

[0016] In addition, when the electrode plate conveying unit moves the electrode plate based on the correction information and causes the state of the electrode plate conveying unit to change, the electrode plate conveying unit can change the state in advance before holding the electrode plate so that the state of the electrode plate conveying unit is in a preset origin state.

[0017] Furthermore, the electrode plate conveying unit may change its state based on the correction information before gripping another electrode plate after conveying one electrode plate to the electrode plate stacking unit.

[0018] In addition, the alignment check portion may be installed at a preset installation position spaced a predetermined distance from the transfer position.

[0019] In addition, the alignment inspection unit may be mounted on the electrode plate conveying unit.

[0020] In addition, the electrode plate transporting part may include: a main body; an extension module, which is connected to the main body and extends from the main body in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and a holding module, which is combined with the extension module and is arranged at the lower part of the extension module, and holds the electrode plate by contacting the electrode plate.

[0021] In addition, the alignment check portion may be installed on at least one of the extension modules.

[0022] In addition, at least one of the alignment inspection parts may be mounted on the holding module.

[0023] In addition, the alignment inspection section may include an imaging device for imaging the electrode plate.

[0024] In addition, the electrode plate alignment device may further include a stacking portion alignment inspection portion for inspecting whether the alignment state of the electrode plates stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion is in a preset stacking alignment state.

[0025] As a technical solution to the above-mentioned technical problems, an electrode plate alignment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a first step, an electrode plate transfer part transfers an electrode plate formed by a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate; a second step, an alignment inspection part checks whether the electrode plate transferred by the electrode plate transfer part is in a preset reference alignment state when it is located at a preset transport position held by an electrode plate conveying part; a third step, when the alignment state of the electrode plate is not in the reference alignment state, the alignment inspection part calculates information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate so that the alignment state of the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, i.e., correction information, and sends it to the electrode plate conveying part; a fourth step, the electrode plate conveying part holds the electrode plate and corrects the alignment state of the electrode plate based on the correction information; a fifth step, conveying the electrode plate to an electrode plate stacking part; and a sixth step, a stacking part alignment inspection part checks whether the alignment state of the electrode plates stacked on the electrode plate stacking part is in a preset stacking alignment state.

[0026] In addition, the correction information may be information for moving the electrode plate so that at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state, or at least two of the multiple vertices of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

[0027] In addition, the correction information may include any one or more of information for moving the electrode plate along a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate along a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for moving the electrode plate so that the electrode plate maintains a state in which one side is parallel to the horizontal direction and rotates.

[0028] In addition, when the electrode plate conveying part can move the electrode plate based on the correction information and cause the state of the electrode plate conveying part to change, the electrode plate conveying part changes its state in advance before holding the electrode plate so that the state of the electrode plate conveying part is in a preset origin state.

[0029] In addition, the alignment check portion may be installed at a preset installation position spaced a predetermined distance from the transfer position.

[0030] In addition, the alignment inspection unit may be mounted on the electrode plate conveying unit.

[0031] Specific matters of other embodiments for solving the technical problems are included in the description and drawings of the invention.

[0032] (3) Beneficial effects

[0033] According to the technical solution of the present disclosure, according to the electrode plate alignment device and the electrode plate alignment method of the present disclosure, the alignment state of the electrode plates is checked by the alignment inspection unit and corrected by the electrode plate conveying unit, thereby providing an effect that the electrode plates stacked when manufacturing battery cells have a preset stacking state.

[0034] In addition, the electrode plates stacked during the manufacture of the battery cell have a predetermined stacking state, thereby providing an effect of preventing defects in the battery cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of an electrode plate alignment device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating another example of the electrode plate alignment device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 3This is a diagram showing a state in which an electrode plate whose alignment state is in a reference alignment state is transferred by an electrode plate transfer unit.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a state in which an electrode plate whose alignment state is not the reference alignment state is transferred by the electrode plate transfer unit.

[0039] Figure 5 The diagram shows the positions of the corners of the electrode plate when the alignment state is the reference alignment state and the positions of the corners of the electrode plate when the alignment state is not the reference alignment state.

[0040] Figure 6 1 is a diagram showing the positions of the corners of an electrode plate whose alignment state is the stacked alignment state and the positions of the corners of an electrode plate whose alignment state is not the stacked alignment state.

[0041] Figure 7 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrode plate alignment device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 8 It is a diagram showing an example of an electrode plate conveying unit.

[0043] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing an electrode plate conveying unit in which an alignment inspection unit is installed in an extension module.

[0044] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing an electrode plate conveying unit in which an alignment inspection unit is installed in a gripping module.

[0045] Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating an electrode plate alignment method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Below, embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to clearly illustrate the present application, parts not related to the description are omitted from the drawings, and similar parts are given similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0047] Throughout this specification, when a certain part is “connected” to another part, this includes not only the case of being “directly connected” but also the case of being “electrically connected” with another element interposed therebetween.

[0048] Throughout the specification of the present application, when a component is located “on” another component, this not only includes a case where the component is in contact with the other component, but also includes a case where another component is present between the two components.

[0049] Throughout this specification, when a section "includes" a component, unless otherwise specified, it means that other components may be further included, not excluded. Degree terms such as "about" and "substantially" are used throughout this specification to indicate a numerical value or a value close to that value when inherent manufacturing and material tolerances exist in the referenced meanings, and are used to prevent unscrupulous infringers from misappropriating disclosures that mention exact or absolute values ​​to aid understanding of this application. Degree terms such as "to the step of" or "the step of" used throughout this specification do not mean "the step of" or "the step of" used to refer to a specific value.

[0050] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following description. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may also be embodied in other forms. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals represent the same components.

[0051] Hereinafter, an electrode plate alignment device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0052] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of an electrode plate alignment device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] Reference Figure 1 In detail, the electrode plate alignment device 2 may include an electrode plate transfer unit 140 , an alignment inspection unit 145 , an electrode plate conveying unit 150 , an electrode plate stacking unit 160 , and a stacking unit alignment inspection unit 165 .

[0054] First, the electrode plate transfer unit 140 will be described.

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrode plate transferring unit 140 can transfer the electrode plate 122 .

[0056] The electrode plate transfer unit 140 may be formed of an existing article transport mechanism including a conveyor belt, but the structure of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 is not limited thereto.

[0057] Next, the alignment inspection unit 145 will be described.

[0058] The alignment inspection unit 145 may include an imaging device for imaging the electrode plate 122 or may be composed of a conventional vision sensor capable of imaging a predetermined object and recognizing its shape and appearance, but the configuration of the alignment inspection unit 145 is not limited thereto.

[0059] like Figure 1As shown, such an alignment inspection portion 145 may be installed at a preset first installation position that is spaced apart from the transfer position by a predetermined distance, thereby inspecting the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 .

[0060] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating another example of the electrode plate alignment device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] On the other hand, Figure 2 As shown, the alignment checker 145 may also be provided at a preset second installation position, which is spaced a predetermined distance from the transport position and located at the lower portion of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 , thereby checking the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 .

[0062] At this time, the electrode plate transfer part 140 can be formed with multiple holes 141, and the multiple holes 141 can be arranged at the part where the corners of the electrode plate 122 are located when the electrode plate 122 is located at the preset transfer position held by the electrode plate conveying part 150, so that the alignment inspection part 145 located at the lower part of the electrode plate transfer part 140 can inspect the position of the corners of the electrode plate 122.

[0063] As described above, by forming the plurality of holes 141 in the electrode plate transfer unit 140 , the alignment inspection unit 145 can inspect the positions of the corners of the electrode plate 122 exposed through the plurality of holes 141 , thereby inspecting the alignment of the electrode plate 122 .

[0064] Specifically, the alignment checker 145 may check whether the electrode plate 122 transferred by the electrode plate transfer unit 140 is in a reference alignment state when it is located at a preset transfer position held by the electrode plate conveying unit 150 .

[0065] In addition, when the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 is not in the reference alignment state, the alignment inspection unit 145 can calculate information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 so that the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 becomes the reference alignment state, that is, correction information, and send it to the electrode plate conveying unit 150.

[0066] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing a state in which an electrode plate whose alignment state is in a reference alignment state is transferred by an electrode plate transfer unit.

[0067] For example, Figure 3 As shown, when the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 located at the transfer position P1 is in the reference alignment state, the alignment checker 145 may not calculate the correction information to be transmitted to the electrode plate transfer unit 150 .

[0068] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a state in which an electrode plate whose alignment state is not the reference alignment state is transferred by the electrode plate transfer unit.

[0069] However, if Figure 4 As shown, when the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 located at the transfer position P1 is not the reference alignment state, the alignment checker 145 may calculate correction information to be transmitted to the electrode plate transfer unit 150 .

[0070] The correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate 122 so that each of the plurality of corners of the electrode plate 122 is located at a position where the electrode plate 122 should be located when the electrode plate 122 is in the reference alignment state. Figure 5 The diagram shows the positions of the corners of the electrode plate when the alignment state is the reference alignment state and the positions of the corners of the electrode plate when the alignment state is not the reference alignment state.

[0071] For example, refer to Figure 5 It is explained that the correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate 122 so that the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 becomes a reference alignment state, by moving the electrode plate 122 so that the first corner of the electrode plate 122 whose alignment state is not the reference alignment state is moved from the first position C1 to the first position C1', the second corner is moved from the second position C2 to the second position C2', the third corner is moved from the third position C3 to the third position C3', and the fourth corner is moved from the fourth position C4 to the fourth position C4'.

[0072] In addition, the correction information may further include information for moving the electrode plate 122 so that at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate 122 are respectively located at positions where the electrode plate 122 should be located when the electrode plate 122 is in the reference alignment state.

[0073] This is because when at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate 122 are located at the positions where the electrode plate 122 should be when it is in the reference alignment state, the remaining corners will also be located at the positions where the electrode plate 122 should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

[0074] On the other hand, the correction information may include information for moving the electrode plate 122 so that at least two vertices among the plurality of vertices of the electrode plate 122 are located at positions where the electrode plate 122 should be located when it is in the reference alignment state.

[0075] At this time, the correction information may further include information for moving the electrode plate 122 so that each of the multiple vertices of the electrode plate 122 is located at a position where the electrode plate 122 should be located when it is in the reference alignment state.

[0076] Such correction information may include any one or more of information for moving the electrode plate 122 along a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate 122 along a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for rotating the electrode plate 122 so that one side of the electrode plate 122 remains parallel to the horizontal direction when it rotates.

[0077] At this time, the horizontal direction may be a direction perpendicular to the direction in which gravity acts.

[0078] Therefore, based on the correction information calculated by the alignment checker 145 , the electrode plate conveying unit 150 described later can correct the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 to the reference alignment state by moving the electrode plate 122 horizontally or moving and rotating the electrode plate 122 horizontally.

[0079] Next, the electrode plate conveying unit 150 will be described.

[0080] The electrode plate conveying unit 150 may convey the electrode plate 122 conveyed by the electrode plate transferring unit 140 to an electrode plate stacking unit 160 to be described later.

[0081] The electrode plate conveying unit 150 may be composed of existing machines including a pick and place (P&P) machine and a selective compliance assembly robot arm (SCARA) robot, but the structure of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 is not limited thereto.

[0082] The electrode plate conveying unit 150 may convey the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160 by moving the electrode plate 122 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Here, the vertical direction may be a direction parallel to the direction in which gravity acts.

[0083] In addition, the electrode plate conveying portion 150 may also convey the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking portion 160 by rotating the electrode plate 122 while moving the electrode plate 122 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0084] In addition, the electrode plate conveying unit 150 may move the electrode plate 122 based on the correction information received from the alignment checker 145 so that the alignment state of the held electrode plate 122 is in the reference alignment state, and then convey the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160 .

[0085] That is, the electrode plate conveying part 150 can move the held electrode plate 122 along at least one of the first alignment direction and the second alignment direction based on the correction information, so that at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate 122 are each located at the position where the electrode plate 122 should be when it is in the reference alignment state, and the electrode plate conveying part 150 can also rotate and move the electrode plate 122.

[0086] On the other hand, when the electrode plate conveying unit 150 moves the electrode plate 122 based on the correction information and causes the state of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 to change, the electrode plate conveying unit 150 changes its state in advance before holding the electrode plate 122 so that the state of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 is in a preset origin state.

[0087] At this time, the electrode plate conveying unit 150 may convey one electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160 and then change the state in advance based on the calibration information before holding another electrode plate 122 .

[0088] That is, the electrode plate conveying unit 150 can repeatedly convey the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160, change the state in advance based on the correction information, hold the electrode plate 122 in the changed state, and move the electrode plate 122 so that the state of the electrode plate 122 is in a reference alignment state while changing to a preset origin state, and then convey the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160.

[0089] Next, the electrode plate stacking unit 160 will be described.

[0090] The electrode plates 122 conveyed by the electrode plate conveying unit 150 are stacked on the electrode plate stacking unit 160 .

[0091] For example, on the electrode plate stacking unit 160 , positive plates and negative plates may be alternately stacked with separators interposed therebetween. The positive plates and negative plates are transported by the electrode plate transporting unit 150 and their alignment is adjusted to the reference alignment state by movement.

[0092] Such an electrode plate stacking part 160 may be constituted by a table on which a predetermined object can be placed, but the configuration of the electrode plate stacking part 160 is not limited thereto.

[0093] Next, the stacking portion alignment inspection section 165 will be described.

[0094] The stacking unit alignment inspection unit 165 may include an imaging device for imaging the electrode plate 122 or may be composed of an existing vision sensor capable of imaging a predetermined object and recognizing its shape and appearance, but the configuration of the stacking unit alignment inspection unit 165 is not limited thereto.

[0095] like Figure 1As shown, the stacking portion alignment inspection portion 165 may be installed at a preset third installation position spaced a predetermined distance from the electrode plate stacking portion 160 , thereby inspecting the alignment of the electrode plates 122 stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion 160 .

[0096] Specifically, the stacking portion alignment inspection portion 165 may inspect whether the electrode plates 122 stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion 160 are in a preset stacking alignment state.

[0097] Figure 6 1 is a diagram showing the positions of the corners of an electrode plate whose alignment state is the stacked alignment state and the positions of the corners of an electrode plate whose alignment state is not the stacked alignment state.

[0098] For example, refer to Figure 6 It is noted that when the electrode plates 122 are in a stacked and aligned state, the corners of the electrode plates 122 should be located at a first position C1 ″, a second position C2 ″, a third position C3 ″, and a fourth position C4 ″, respectively.

[0099] At this time, when the first corner of the electrode plate 122 that should be located at the first position C1'' is located at the first position C1, or the second corner of the electrode plate 122 that should be located at the second position C2'' is located at the second position C2, or the third corner of the electrode plate 122 that should be located at the third position C3'' is located at the third position C3, or the fourth corner of the electrode plate 122 that should be located at the fourth position C4'' is located at the fourth position C4, the stacking portion alignment inspection portion 165 can determine that the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 is not a stacking alignment state.

[0100] As described above, when the stacking portion alignment inspection portion 165 determines that the alignment state of the electrode plates 122 stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion 160 is not the stacking alignment state, the electrode plates 122 stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion 160 can be discharged to the outside of the electrode plate stacking portion 160.

[0101] On the other hand, the stacking unit alignment inspection unit 165 may directly inspect the alignment state of the electrode plates 122 after the electrode plate conveying unit 150 conveys the electrode plates 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160 .

[0102] At this time, the electrode plate conveying part 150 can also be formed into a shape that does not hinder the inspection of the electrode plate 122 by the stacking part alignment inspection part 165, thereby preventing a part of the electrode plate conveying part 150 from being located between the electrode plate 122 and the stacking part alignment inspection part 165 and making it impossible to inspect the electrode plate 122 by the stacking part alignment inspection part 165.

[0103] Hereinafter, an electrode plate alignment device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0104] Figure 72 is a diagram illustrating an electrode plate alignment device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0105] Reference Figure 7 To illustrate, the electrode plate alignment device 3 includes an electrode plate transfer unit 140 , an alignment inspection unit 145 , an electrode plate conveying unit 150 , an electrode plate stacking unit 160 , and a stacking unit alignment inspection unit 165 .

[0106] First, the electrode plate transfer unit 140 will be described.

[0107] The structure of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 is the same as that of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 of the aforementioned electrode plate alignment device 2 .

[0108] Next, the alignment inspection unit 145 will be described.

[0109] like Figure 7 As shown, the configuration of the alignment inspection unit 145 is the same as that of the alignment inspection unit 145 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 described above, except that the alignment inspection unit 145 is mounted on the electrode plate conveying unit 150 .

[0110] Next, the electrode plate conveying unit 150 will be described.

[0111] The configuration of the electrode plate conveying portion 150 of the electrode plate alignment device 3 is the same as that of the electrode plate conveying portion 150 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 .

[0112] However, since the alignment check unit 145 is mounted on the electrode plate conveying unit 150 of the electrode plate alignment device 3 , a specific structure of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 for mounting the alignment check unit 145 will be described.

[0113] Figure 8 It is a diagram showing an example of an electrode plate conveying unit.

[0114] Reference Figure 8 In detail, the electrode plate transporting unit 150 may include a main body 151 , an extension module 152 , and a holding module 153 .

[0115] The body 151 may be formed to support the electrode plate conveying part 150 .

[0116] The extension module 152 may be connected to the main body 151 and formed to extend from the main body 151 in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0117] The holding module 153 can be combined with the extension module 152 to be disposed at the lower portion of the extension module 152 and in contact with the electrode plate 122, thereby holding the electrode plate 122. For example, the holding module 153 can be configured so that the surface in contact with the electrode plate 122 draws in air, and the suction force of the air holds the electrode plate 122 in contact with the surface of the holding module 153.

[0118] On the other hand, in order to be able to hold the electrode plate 122 located on the electrode plate transfer part 140 by the holding module 153 or to correct the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 held by the holding module 153, at least one of the extension module 152 and the holding module 153 can be constructed to be able to move in at least one direction of the horizontal direction or the vertical direction based on the main body 151, and the holding module 153 can be constructed to be able to rotate the held electrode plate 122.

[0119] The alignment inspection unit 145 is installed at a predetermined position of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 formed in this manner, so that the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 located at the conveying position P1 of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 can be inspected.

[0120] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing an electrode plate conveying unit in which an alignment inspection unit is installed in an extension module.

[0121] For example, Figure 9 As shown, at least one alignment inspection unit 145 may be installed on the extension module 152 of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 to inspect the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 located at the conveying position P1 of the electrode plate transferring unit 140 .

[0122] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing an electrode plate conveying unit in which an alignment inspection unit is installed in a gripping module.

[0123] Take another example to illustrate, Figure 10 As shown, at least one alignment inspection unit 145 may be installed on the gripping module 153 of the electrode plate conveying unit 150 to inspect the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 located at the conveying position P1 of the electrode plate transferring unit 140 .

[0124] Next, the electrode plate stacking unit 160 will be described.

[0125] The structure of the electrode plate stacking unit 160 is the same as that of the electrode plate stacking unit 160 of the aforementioned electrode plate alignment device 2 .

[0126] Next, the stacking portion alignment inspection section 165 will be described.

[0127] The structure of the stacking portion alignment inspection unit 165 is the same as that of the stacking portion alignment inspection unit 165 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 described above.

[0128] Hereinafter, an electrode plate alignment method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0129] Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating an electrode plate alignment method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0130] Reference Figure 11 The electrode plate alignment method includes: a first step S100, the electrode plate transfer part 140 transfers the electrode plate 122; a second step S200, checks the alignment status of the electrode plate 122; a third step S300, calculates the correction information of the electrode plate 122 and sends it to the electrode plate conveying part 150; a fourth step S400, corrects the alignment status of the electrode plate 122; a fifth step S500, conveys the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking part 160; and a sixth step S600, checks the alignment status of the electrode plates 122 stacked on the electrode plate stacking part 160.

[0131] First, the first step S100 will be described.

[0132] The first step S100 is a step of transferring the electrode plate 122 formed of a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate by the electrode plate transfer unit 140 .

[0133] In this case, the configuration of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 is the same as the configuration of the electrode plate transfer unit 140 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 and the electrode plate alignment device 3 described above.

[0134] Next, the second step S200 will be described.

[0135] The second step S200 is a step of checking whether the electrode plate 122 transferred by the electrode plate transfer unit 140 is in a preset reference alignment state when it is located at the preset transfer position P1 held by the electrode plate conveying unit 150 by the alignment checking unit 145. In this case, the configuration of the alignment checking unit 145 and the electrode plate conveying unit 150 is the same as that of the alignment checking unit 145 and the electrode plate conveying unit 150 of the aforementioned electrode plate alignment device 2 and electrode plate alignment device 3.

[0136] Next, the third step S300 will be described.

[0137] The third step S300 is a step in which, when the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 is not in the reference alignment state, the alignment inspection unit 145 calculates information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 so that the alignment state of the electrode plate 122 is in the reference alignment state, i.e., correction information, and sends it to the electrode plate conveying unit 150.

[0138] At this time, the correction information is the same as the correction information of the alignment inspection unit 145 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 and the electrode plate alignment device 3 described above.

[0139] Next, the fourth step S400 will be described.

[0140] The fourth step S400 is a step of gripping the electrode plate 122 by the electrode plate conveying unit 150 and correcting the alignment of the electrode plate 122 based on the correction information.

[0141] At this time, the configuration of correcting the alignment of the electrode plates 122 by the electrode plate conveying unit 150 is the same as the configuration of correcting the alignment of the electrode plates 122 by the electrode plate conveying unit 150 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 and the electrode plate alignment device 3 described above.

[0142] Next, the fifth step S500 will be described.

[0143] The fifth step S500 is a step of transporting the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160 .

[0144] In the fourth step S400 , the electrode plate conveying unit 150 holds the electrode plate 122 and adjusts the alignment state. Then, in the fifth step S500 , the electrode plate conveying unit 150 conveys the electrode plate 122 to the electrode plate stacking unit 160 .

[0145] At this time, the configuration of the electrode plate stacking portion 160 is the same as the configuration of the electrode plate stacking portion 160 of the electrode plate alignment device 2 and the electrode plate alignment device 3 described above.

[0146] Next, the sixth step S600 will be described.

[0147] The sixth step S600 is a step of checking whether the alignment state of the electrode plates 122 stacked on the electrode plate stacking part 160 is in a preset stacking alignment state by the stacking part alignment checking part 165 .

[0148] At this time, the configuration of the stacking portion alignment inspection unit 165 is the same as the configuration of the stacking portion alignment inspection unit 165 of the electrode plate alignment apparatus 2 and the electrode plate alignment apparatus 3 described above.

[0149] As described above, according to the electrode plate alignment device and electrode plate alignment method disclosed herein, the alignment state of the electrode plate is checked by the alignment inspection unit and corrected by the electrode plate conveying unit, thereby providing an effect that the stacked electrode plates have a preset alignment state when manufacturing battery cells.

[0150] In addition, by making the electrode plates stacked when manufacturing the battery cell in a predetermined stacked state, an effect of preventing the battery cell from being defective is provided.

[0151] The above description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the art of the present disclosure will appreciate that other specific forms can be easily modified without changing the technical concept or essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. For example, components described in a single form may also be implemented in a dispersed manner, and similarly, components described in a dispersed manner may also be implemented in a combined manner.

[0152] The scope of the present disclosure should be indicated by the claims, rather than the detailed description above, and should be interpreted that all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An electrode plate alignment device, comprising: An electrode plate transfer unit transfers an electrode plate formed of a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate; an electrode plate stacking portion on which the electrode plates are stacked; an electrode plate transporting unit, transporting the electrode plate transferred by the electrode plate transferring unit to the electrode plate stacking unit; as well as An alignment inspection unit is configured to inspect whether the electrode plate is in a preset reference alignment state when the electrode plate is located at a preset conveying position held by the electrode plate conveying unit. When the alignment state of the electrode plate is not in the reference alignment state, the alignment check unit calculates information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate so that the alignment state of the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, i.e., correction information, and sends the information to the electrode plate conveying unit. The electrode plate conveying unit grips the electrode plates, corrects an alignment state of the electrode plates based on the correction information, and then conveys the electrode plates to the electrode plate stacking unit.

2. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 1, wherein: The correction information is information used to move the electrode plate so that at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate are respectively located at the positions where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state, or at least two of the multiple vertices of the electrode plate are located at the positions where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

3. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 2, wherein: The correction information is information used to move the electrode plate so that the multiple corners of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state or the multiple vertices of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

4. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 2, wherein: The correction information includes any one or more of information for moving the electrode plate along a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate along a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for rotating and moving the electrode plate so that the electrode plate maintains a state in which one side is parallel to the horizontal direction and rotates.

5. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 4, wherein: When the electrode plate conveying unit moves the electrode plate based on the correction information and causes the state of the electrode plate conveying unit to change, the electrode plate conveying unit changes its state in advance before holding the electrode plate so that the state of the electrode plate conveying unit is in a preset origin state.

6. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 5, wherein: The electrode plate conveying unit changes its state in advance based on the correction information after conveying one electrode plate to the electrode plate stacking unit and before gripping another electrode plate.

7. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 6, wherein: The alignment check portion is installed at a preset installation position spaced a predetermined distance from the transfer position.

8. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 6, wherein: The alignment inspection unit is mounted on the electrode plate conveying unit.

9. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 8, wherein: The electrode plate transporting unit includes: main body; an extension module connected to the main body and extending from the main body in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction; and The holding module is combined with the extension module and is disposed at the lower portion of the extension module, and holds the electrode plate by contacting the electrode plate.

10. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 9, wherein: The alignment checking portion is mounted on at least one of the extension modules.

11. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 9, wherein: At least one of the alignment inspection parts is mounted on the holding module.

12. The electrode plate alignment device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The alignment inspection section includes an imaging device for imaging the electrode plate.

13. The electrode plate alignment device according to claim 12, further comprising: The stacking portion alignment inspection portion inspects whether the alignment state of the electrode plates stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion is in a preset stacking alignment state.

14. A method for aligning an electrode plate, comprising: In the first step, the electrode plate transfer unit transfers the electrode plate formed of the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate; In a second step, an alignment inspection unit inspects whether the electrode plate transferred by the electrode plate transfer unit is in a preset reference alignment state when the electrode plate is located at a preset transfer position held by the electrode plate conveying unit; In a third step, when the alignment state of the electrode plate is not in the reference alignment state, the alignment check unit calculates correction information for correcting the alignment state of the electrode plate so that the alignment state of the electrode plate is in the reference alignment state, and sends the correction information to the electrode plate conveying unit; In a fourth step, the electrode plate transporting unit holds the electrode plate and corrects the alignment of the electrode plate based on the correction information. The fifth step is to move the electrode plate to the electrode plate stacking part; as well as In a sixth step, the stacking portion alignment inspection portion inspects whether the alignment states of the electrode plates stacked on the electrode plate stacking portion are in a preset stacking alignment state.

15. The electrode plate alignment method according to claim 14, wherein: The correction information is information used to move the electrode plate so that at least two of the multiple corners of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state, or at least two of the multiple vertices of the electrode plate are each located at the position where the electrode plate should be when it is in the reference alignment state.

16. The electrode plate alignment method according to claim 15, wherein: The correction information includes any one or more of information for moving the electrode plate along a first alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction, information for moving the electrode plate along a second alignment direction parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the first alignment direction, and information for moving the electrode plate so that the electrode plate maintains a state in which one side is parallel to the horizontal direction and rotates.

17. The electrode plate alignment method according to claim 16, wherein: When the electrode plate conveying unit moves the electrode plate based on the correction information and causes the state of the electrode plate conveying unit to change, the electrode plate conveying unit changes its state in advance before holding the electrode plate so that the state of the electrode plate conveying unit is in a preset origin state.

18. The electrode plate alignment method according to claim 17, wherein: The alignment check portion is installed at a preset installation position spaced a predetermined distance from the transfer position.

19. The electrode plate alignment method according to claim 17, wherein: The alignment inspection unit is mounted on the electrode plate conveying unit.

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