Code reader and code reading method using same

Abstract

The technical idea of the present invention provides a code reader comprising: a vision device configured to identify an identification code of an article; a lower frame disposed below the vision device and providing a passage through which the article moves; an alignment jig detachably mounted on the lower frame and accommodated in the passage of the lower frame; and a fixation holder positioned at a reference position, in which the alignment jig is inserted and thus aligns the vision device at the reference position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a code reader and a code reading method using the same.

[0002] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0126166, filed on September 21, 2023, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable and can be manufactured to have a small size and a large capacity, and thus have been researched and developed many times recently. As technologies of electric vehicles, mobile devices, and the like are developed, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is increasing.

[0004] A secondary battery production process can be performed by various types of equipment, such as a slotting apparatus for performing a slotting process, a laminating apparatus for performing a laminating process, a stacking apparatus for performing a stacking process, and a packaging apparatus for performing a packaging process. When a problem occurs in a battery cell of a secondary battery, each battery cell of the secondary battery should be individually managed in each secondary battery production process to designate a cause of the problem. Therefore, a method of uniquely designating each battery cell of a secondary battery in a secondary battery production process and effectively identifying the battery cell of the secondary battery in each process is required. SUMMARY

[0005] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0006] The present application provides a code reader and a code reading method using the same.

[0007] TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0008] One aspect of the present application provides a code reader, the code reader comprising: a vision device configured to recognize an identification code of an article; a lower frame disposed below the vision device and configured to provide a passage through which the article moves; an alignment jig detachably installed in the lower frame and accommodated in the passage of the lower frame; and a fixed holder located at a reference position, wherein the vision device is aligned to the reference position by inserting the alignment jig into the fixed holder.

[0009] In an example embodiment, the passage of the lower frame can extend horizontally across the lower frame.

[0010] In example embodiments, the alignment jig can include a fastening piece extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame, and an alignment column connected to a central portion of the fastening piece and configured to be inserted into the fixed holder.

[0011] In example embodiments, the alignment column can protrude downward from the lower frame.

[0012] In example embodiments, first and second end portions of the fastening piece opposite to each other can be fastened to the lower frame by bolts.

[0013] In example embodiments, the first and second end portions of the fastening piece can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame.

[0014] In example embodiments, the code reader can further include an upper frame configured to accommodate the vision device and disposed on the lower frame, and the lower frame can include an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame, a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communicating with the passage of the lower frame, and a side plate extending from an edge of the upper cover plate to an edge of the lower cover plate.

[0015] In example embodiments, the fastening piece can be detachably fastened to the upper cover plate.

[0016] In example embodiments, the upper frame can be mounted on a vertical movement guide to be movable in a vertical direction.

[0017] In example embodiments, the lower frame and the alignment jig can be moved together with the upper frame in the vertical direction when the upper frame is moved in the vertical direction.

[0018] In example embodiments, the article can be a can accommodating a battery cell.

[0019] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a code reading method including: installing an alignment jig in a passage of a lower frame disposed below a vision device; aligning the vision device to a reference position by inserting the alignment jig into a fixed holder located at the reference position; detaching the alignment jig from the lower frame; placing an article having an identification code into the passage of the lower frame; and identifying the identification code of the article by the vision device.

[0020] In example embodiments, the article can be a can accommodating a battery cell.

[0021] In an example embodiment, the passage of the lower frame can extend horizontally across the lower frame, and the alignment jig can include a fastening piece extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame, and an alignment column connected to a central portion of the fastening piece and configured to be inserted into the fixed holder.

[0022] In an example embodiment, an upper frame accommodates the vision device and is disposed on the lower frame configured to accommodate the vision device, the lower frame can include an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame, a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communicating with the passage of the lower frame, and a side plate extending from an edge of the upper cover plate to an edge of the lower cover plate, and the fastening piece can be detachably fastened to the upper cover plate.

[0023] Advantageous Effects

[0024] According to an example embodiment of the present application, a vision device can be aligned using an alignment jig. Accordingly, the time required to align the vision device can be reduced, and the recognition rate and accuracy of reading codes can be improved by increasing the degree of position alignment of the vision device.

[0025] Effects that can be achieved by the example embodiments of the present application are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not described herein will be clearly derived and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the example embodiments of the present application belong from the following description. That is, those of ordinary skill in the art can derive unintended effects achieved when implementing the example embodiments of the present application from the example embodiments of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 And Figure 2 is a side view of a code reader according to an example embodiment of the present application, for describing a process of aligning a vision device to a reference position.

[0027] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the code reader of Figure 1

[0028] Figure 4 is a bottom view of a lower frame and an alignment jig of the code reader of Figure 1

[0029] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the alignment jig of the code reader of Figure 1

[0030] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a code reading method according to an example embodiment of the present application. ​​​

[0031] Figure 7 is a side view schematically showing a code reading method according to an example embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to describing the embodiments of the present application, the terms or expressions used in the specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to commonly- understood or dictionary-defined meanings and should be interpreted based on the concepts and embodiments disclosed in the present specification to best explain the principles of the present application in accordance with the meaning and concept of the present application.

[0033] Therefore, the embodiments set forth herein and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the present application and do not reflect all technical ideas of the present application, and it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications of alternative configurations will be made on the submission date of the present application.

[0034] Well-known configurations or functions related to the present application are not described in detail since they make the subject matter of the present application obscure due to unnecessary details.

[0035] Since the embodiments of the present application are provided to more fully explain the present application to those having ordinary skill in the art, the shapes, sizes, etc. of the components shown in the drawings can be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown for the sake of clarity. Therefore, the sizes or proportions of the components should not be understood to fully reflect their actual sizes or proportions.

[0036] (FIRST EMBODIMENT)

[0037] Figures 1 to 5 is a diagram showing a code reader 100 according to an example embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a side view showing a process of aligning a vision device 110 of the code reader 100 to a reference position. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a part of the code reader 100. Figure 4 is a bottom view of a lower frame 130 and an alignment jig 150 of the code reader 100. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the alignment jig 150 of the code reader 100.

[0038] Referring to Figures 1 to 5 , the code reader 100 can be configured to read Figure 7The identification code of the product BC. The product BC can be a battery can or a battery cell containing battery cells. In an example embodiment, the product BC can be a cylindrical battery can containing battery cells. The identification code can include information about the product BC. The identification code can be a mark formed on the outer surface of the product BC by a laser marking process. The identification code can include a one-dimensional barcode and / or a two-dimensional barcode. In an embodiment, the identification code can include a quick response (QR) code. The barcode reader 100 can identify and read the identification code of the product BC. The barcode reader 100 can provide the information obtained by reading the identification code to the cell management system. Based on the information provided from the barcode reader 100, the production process of the product BC can be monitored.

[0039] The barcode reader 100 may include a vision device 110, an upper frame 120, a lower frame 130, and an actuator 140.

[0040] The vision device 110 can identify the identification code of the article BC on the stage 101. The vision device 110 may include an image sensor, a camera, or a combination thereof.

[0041] The upper frame 120 can accommodate the vision device 110. The vision device 110 can be mounted in the upper frame 120. The lower frame 130 can be connected to the lower end of the upper frame 120. The lower frame 130 can be located below the vision device 110. The lower frame 130 can provide a vertically extending optical path, and the vision device 110 can capture the identification code of the product BC on the stage 101 through the optical path of the lower frame 130.

[0042] The lower frame 130 may have a generally disc-shaped form and include a channel 139 through which the article BC moves horizontally. The channel 139 of the lower frame 130 may extend horizontally from one side of the lower frame 130 to the other side, while also passing through the lower frame 130 horizontally. When the article BC passes through the channel 139, the vision device 110 may capture an image of the article BC.

[0043] The lower frame 130 can include an upper cover plate 135 connected to a lower portion of the upper frame 120, a lower cover plate 131 facing the upper cover plate 135, and side plates 133 extending from edges of the upper cover plate 135 to edges of the lower cover plate 131. A passage 139 of the lower frame 130 can communicate with the first and second openings in the side plates 133 and extend from the first opening to the second opening. The passage 139 of the lower frame 130 can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame 130 through the first and second openings in the side plates 133. The first opening in the side plates 133 can be an inlet of the passage 139 through which the article BC is introduced, and the second opening in the side plates 133 can be an outlet of the passage 139 through which the article BC is discharged. The passage 139 of the lower frame 130 can also communicate with an opening in the lower cover plate 131. The passage 139 of the lower frame 130 can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame 130 through the opening in the lower cover plate 131.

[0044] The actuator 140 can move the upper frame 120, the vision device 110, and the lower frame 130 in the vertical direction. The actuator 140 can include a linear actuator 140. The upper frame 120 can be mounted on a vertical movement guide 141 of the actuator 140 to be movable in the vertical direction. When the upper frame 120 is moved in the vertical direction by the actuator 140, the vision device 110 and the lower frame 130 fixed to the upper frame 120 can be moved in the vertical direction together with the upper frame 120.

[0045] The code reader 100 can include an alignment jig 150 and a fixed holder 160 for an alignment operation of aligning the vision device 110 to a reference position.

[0046] The alignment jig 150 can be detachably mounted on the lower frame 130. For example, the alignment jig 150 can be fastened to the lower frame 130 by bolts. The alignment jig 150 can be fastened to the lower frame 130 to be accommodated or inserted into the passage 139 of the lower frame 130. When the alignment jig 150 is fastened to the lower frame 130, the alignment jig 150 can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame 130 through the first and second openings in the side plates 133 of the lower frame 130. In addition, when the alignment jig 150 is fastened to the lower frame 130, the alignment jig 150 can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame 130 through the opening in the lower cover plate 131 of the lower frame 130. When the alignment jig 150 is fastened to the lower frame 130, the alignment jig 150 can be moved in the vertical direction together with the lower frame 130 during the movement of the lower frame 130 in the vertical direction.

[0047] The alignment jig 150 can include a fastening piece 151 fastened to the lower frame 130 and an alignment column 155 connected to the fastening piece 151.

[0048] The fastening piece 151 can extend along the passage 139 of the lower frame 130 from one side of the passage 139 of the lower frame 130 to the other side thereof. The fastening piece 151 can have a substantially uniform thickness. When viewed in a plan view, the fastening piece 151 can have a curved shape corresponding to the curved shape of the passage 139 of the lower frame 130. The fastening piece 151 can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame 130 through the first and second openings in the lower frame 130.

[0049] The fastening piece 151 can have first and second end portions 1511 and 1513 opposite to each other. The first and second end portions 1511 and 1513 of the fastening piece 151 can be exposed to the outside of the lower frame 130 through the first and second openings in the sidewall of the lower frame 130, respectively. The first and second end portions 1511 and 1513 of the fastening piece 151 can be detachably fastened to the lower frame 130. For example, the first and second end portions 1511 and 1513 of the fastening piece 151 can be fastened to the upper cover plate 135 of the lower frame 130 by bolts. By fastening the first and second end portions 1511 and 1513 of the fastening piece 151 to the lower frame 130, the fastening piece 151 can be closely fixed to the bottom surface of the upper cover plate 135 of the lower frame 130.

[0050] The alignment column 155 can be connected to the central portion of the fastening piece 151 between the first and second end portions 1511 and 1513 of the fastening piece 151. The alignment column 155 can have a cylindrical or polygonal column shape extending in a vertical direction. When the alignment jig 150 is mounted on the lower frame 130, a portion of the alignment jig 150 can protrude downward from the lower frame 130.

[0051] The fixed holder 160 can be provided on the stage 101 and fixed at a predetermined reference position. The reference position is a position suitable for recognizing the identification code of the article BC in the lower frame 130 by the vision device 110. The fixed holder 160 can include an insertion slot into which the alignment column 155 is inserted. By inserting the alignment column 155 into the insertion slot in the fixed holder 160, the vision device 110 can be aligned to the reference position. The position of the lower frame 130 and / or the position of the upper frame 120 can be adjusted to insert the alignment column 155 into the insertion slot in the fixed holder 160, and when the insertion of the alignment column 155 into the insertion slot of the fixed holder 160 is completed, the vision device 110 can be automatically aligned to the reference position.

[0052] (Second Embodiment)

[0053] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a code reading method according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a side view schematically showing a code reading method according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the code reading method will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7Describe the code reading method using code reader 100.

[0054] refer to Figure 1 The alignment clamp 150 is mounted on the lower frame 130 of the barcode reader 100 (S110). In operation S110, the first end 1511 and the second end 1513 of the fastening piece 151 of the alignment clamp 150 can be fastened to the upper cover plate 135 of the lower frame 130 by bolts.

[0055] refer to Figure 2 After mounting the alignment fixture 150 on the lower frame 130 of the barcode reader 100, the alignment pin 155 of the alignment fixture 150 is inserted into the retainer 160 located at the reference position to align the vision device 110 to the reference position (S120). In operation S120, the actuator 140 moves the lower frame 130 and the alignment fixture 150 downward toward the retainer 160 on the stage 101. When the alignment pin 155 of the alignment fixture 150 is inserted into the insertion slot in the retainer 160, the position of the vision device 110 can be automatically aligned to the reference position.

[0056] After the vision device 110 is aligned to the reference position, the alignment clamp 150 is separated from the lower frame 130 (S130). The bolt can be separated from the first end 1511 and the second end 1513 of the fastening plate 151 to loosen the first end 1511 and the second end 1513 of the fastening plate 151 from the lower frame 130.

[0057] refer to Figure 7 After the alignment fixture 150 is separated from and removed from the lower frame 130, the article BC with the identification code is placed into the channel 139 of the lower frame 130 (S140). Thereafter, the identification code of the article BC placed in the channel 139 of the lower frame 130 is read by the vision device 110 (S150).

[0058] According to the comparative example, vision device 110 can be manually aligned to a reference position by an operator. In this case, when the position of vision device 110 is manually aligned, the position of vision device 110 may change in each operation, and the degree of alignment of the position of vision device 110 may depend on the operator.

[0059] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vision device 110 can be aligned using the alignment fixture 150. Therefore, the time required to align the vision device 110 can be reduced, and the recognition rate and accuracy of the code reading can be improved by increasing the degree of alignment of the vision device 110.

[0060] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations shown in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not reflect all the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications to the alternative configurations will be made as of the date of filing of this application.

Claims

1.A code reader comprising: a vision device configured to recognize an identification code of an article; a lower frame disposed below the vision device and configured to provide a passage through which the article moves; an alignment jig detachably installed in the lower frame and accommodated in the passage of the lower frame; and a fixed holder at a reference position, wherein the vision device is aligned to the reference position by inserting the alignment jig into the fixed holder. 2.The code reader according to claim 1, wherein the passage of the lower frame extends horizontally across the lower frame. 3.The code reader according to claim 1, wherein the alignment jig comprises: a fastening piece extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame; and an alignment column connected to a central portion of the fastening piece and configured to be inserted into the fixed holder. 4.The code reader according to claim 3, wherein the alignment column protrudes downward from the lower frame. 5.The code reader according to claim 3, wherein first and second end portions of the fastening piece opposite to each other are fastened to the lower frame by bolts. 6.The code reader according to claim 5, wherein the first and second end portions of the fastening piece are exposed to the outside of the lower frame. 7.The code reader according to claim 3, further comprising: an upper frame configured to accommodate the vision device and disposed on the lower frame, wherein the lower frame comprises: an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame; a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communicating with the passage of the lower frame; and a side plate extending from an edge of the upper cover plate to an edge of the lower cover plate. 8.The code reader according to claim 7, wherein the fastening piece is detachably fastened to the upper cover plate. 9.The code reader according to claim 7, wherein the upper frame is installed on a vertical movement guide to be movable in a vertical direction. 10.The code reader according to claim 9, wherein when the upper frame moves in the vertical direction, the lower frame and the alignment jig move in the vertical direction together with the upper frame. 11.The code reader according to claim 1, wherein the article is a can accommodating a battery cell. 12.A code reading method comprising the steps of: installing an alignment jig in a passage of a lower frame disposed below a vision device; aligning the vision device to a reference position by inserting the alignment jig into a fixed holder at the reference position; separating the alignment jig from the lower frame; putting an article with an identification code into the passage of the lower frame; and recognizing the identification code of the article by the vision device. 13.The code reading method according to claim 12, wherein the article is a can accommodating a battery cell. ​ ​ 14.The code reading method of claim 12, wherein, the passage of the lower frame extends horizontally across the lower frame, and the alignment jig comprises: a fastening piece extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame; and an alignment column connected to a central portion of the fastening piece and configured to be inserted into the fixed holder. 15.The code reading method of claim 14, wherein, an upper frame accommodates the vision device and is disposed on the lower frame, wherein the lower frame comprises: an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame; a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communicating with the passage of the lower frame; and side plates extending from edges of the upper cover plate to edges of the lower cover plate, and the fastening piece is detachably fastened to the upper cover plate.

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