Inspection apparatus for the side of a cylindrical battery

Abstract

An inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a conveyor; an imaging housing; an illumination unit located inside the imaging housing and configured to emit light as the cylindrical battery product is conveyed along a conveyor path; a line scan camera module located outside the imaging housing and configured to continuously capture images of the cylindrical battery product; and a reflector module configured to reflect blind spots of the cylindrical battery product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery. This application is a result of the "Materials and Components Technology Development (R&D)" project under the supervision of the Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) (titled "Development of an Integrated Optical System and an AI-Based Vision Inspection System for Inspection and Measurement of Next-Generation Cylindrical Batteries (Type 4680 to Type 46200), Project No. RS-2024-00418621)). Background Technology

[0002] A secondary battery is a battery that converts chemical energy into electrical energy to supply power, and during discharge, it receives external power and converts the electrical energy back into chemical energy for storage. With the advancement of electronic devices, secondary batteries are used in a wide range of devices.

[0003] These secondary batteries are manufactured in various forms, and among them, the commonly used cylindrical battery is still widely used. Cylindrical secondary batteries have a cylindrical structure with curved sides, therefore 360-degree rotation inspection is a standard visual inspection method.

[0004] On the other hand, during the visual inspection of secondary batteries, area scanning cameras are typically used to capture images of the battery's surface. When using an area scanning camera to capture images of the secondary battery's surface, the cylindrical battery to be inspected needs to be temporarily stopped during transport to achieve proper imaging. Furthermore, when using an area scanning camera, the mounting position and specifications of the optical system need to be appropriately adjusted according to the length of the cylindrical battery.

[0005] One aspect of this disclosure is to provide an inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery, which images the cylindrical battery while it is being transported without stopping.

[0006] Another aspect of this disclosure is to provide an inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery, which is capable of performing side inspections regardless of the length of the cylindrical battery.

[0007] The problems disclosed herein are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned above may become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to embodiments of this disclosure, an inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery includes: a conveyor configured to convey a cylindrical battery product; an imaging housing including a through opening and a slit, the through opening being formed to allow the cylindrical battery product conveyed by the conveyor to enter and exit an internal space of the imaging housing, the slit being formed perpendicular to a conveying path along which the cylindrical battery product passes through the internal space; an illumination unit located inside the imaging housing and configured to emit light toward the cylindrical battery product while it is being conveyed along the conveying path; a line scan camera module located outside the imaging housing and configured to continuously capture images of the cylindrical battery product visible externally through the slit while it is being conveyed along the conveying path; and a reflector module located inside the internal space such that a reflective surface of the reflector module is configured to be visible externally through the slit, and the reflective surface reflects blind spots of the cylindrical battery product that are not visible through the slit.

[0009] As the cylindrical battery product is conveyed along the transport path, the line scan camera module can capture images of both the cylindrical battery product and the reflective surface of the mirror module, which are visible through the slit.

[0010] The reflector module may include: a first reflector having a reflective surface arranged on a first side facing the cylindrical battery product; and a second reflector having a reflective surface arranged on a second side facing the cylindrical battery product.

[0011] The first reflector may include a reflective surface having a width corresponding to the slit and extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport path.

[0012] The reflector module may also include an angle adjustment actuator configured to adjust the angle of the first reflector relative to the cylindrical battery product.

[0013] The reflector module may also include a horizontal drive unit configured to move the first reflector to adjust the distance between the first reflector and the transport path.

[0014] The reflector module may also include a vertical drive unit configured to move the first reflector to adjust the distance between the first reflector and the slit.

[0015] The line scan camera module may include: a main line scan camera, the angle of which is set to capture an image of a cylindrical battery product visible through a slit; a first secondary line scan camera, the angle of which is set to capture an image of the reflective surface of a first reflector; and a second secondary line scan camera, the angle of which is set to capture an image of the reflective surface of a second reflector.

[0016] The inspection equipment may also include a camera lifter configured to move the line scan camera module to adjust the distance between the line scan camera module and the slit.

[0017] The imaging housing may include a slit baffle that can move between an open position where the slit is fully open and a closed position where the slit is fully blocked.

[0018] The imaging housing may include an opening and closing baffle configured to operate synchronously with the illumination unit and to open and close the through opening.

[0019] The inspection equipment may also include a flipper configured to flip a cylindrical battery product that has passed through an imaging housing.

[0020] Other details of this disclosure are included in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of an inspection apparatus for the side of a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic exploded perspective view of the main components of the first side inspection unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a lighting unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating a cylindrical battery product imaged by a line scan camera module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 4 Images of portions of cylindrical battery products with and without imaging.

[0026] Figure 6a This is a diagram showing the open position of a slit shutter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 6b This is a diagram showing the middle position of a slit baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 6c This is a diagram showing the closed position of a slit baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 7a This is a diagram showing the open state of the opening / closing baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 7bThis is a diagram showing the closed state of the opening and closing baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 8 This illustrates an inspection device based on the side of a cylindrical battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in a manner similar to... Figure 4 The image shows a cylindrical battery product imaged using a specific imaging method. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The advantages and features of this disclosure, as well as the methods for achieving these advantages and features, will become more apparent from the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but can be implemented in various different ways. The embodiments are provided only to complete this disclosure and to enable those skilled in the art to understand its scope. This disclosure is defined by the scope of the claims.

[0033] Furthermore, embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to cross-sectional views and / or schematic diagrams as idealized exemplary illustrations. Therefore, the shapes illustrated may vary depending on manufacturing techniques, tolerances, etc. Additionally, for ease of description, elements in the drawings may be relatively enlarged or reduced. The same reference numerals always denote the same elements.

[0034] The term “cylindrical battery products” mentioned below can be collectively referred to as finished cylindrical batteries or semi-finished products, such as cylindrical battery cans before jelly roll insertion.

[0035] Furthermore, the up / down / left / right / front / back directions mentioned below are used only to describe this disclosure relative to a specific reference point, and this disclosure is not to be construed as limited to such directions. In other words, it is apparent that in practical use, installation and use can be carried out in directions different from those described herein, and this disclosure should be construed as including such embodiments.

[0036] The inspection device 1 for the side of a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of an inspection apparatus for the side of a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the side inspection device 1 for a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first side inspection unit 100, a second side inspection unit 200, and a conveying unit 300. In this case, the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200 may be substantially the same or similar. Therefore, to avoid redundancy, the following description will focus on the first side inspection unit 100, and redundant descriptions of the second side inspection unit 200 will be omitted.

[0038] Each of the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200 can be configured to acquire an image of a region greater than 180 degrees on the side of the cylindrical battery product 1000. For this purpose, the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200 may include a reflector.

[0039] When passing through the interior of the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200, the cylindrical battery product 1000 can be in a horizontal position. In this case, the horizontal position can refer to the state where the side of the cylindrical battery is facing down and its circular top surface and circular bottom surface face forward and backward, respectively. The first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200 can be configured to inspect opposite portions of the side of the cylindrical battery product 1000 when the side is divided into two parts. In this case, in order to ensure that no part of the side is missed during the visual inspection, the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200 can each be configured to capture an image of an area exceeding half of the side. In this case, the areas inspected by the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200 can partially overlap.

[0040] A cylindrical battery product 1000 that has passed through the first side inspection unit 100 in a first orientation can be flipped from the first orientation to a second orientation by a first flipper 340 (described later) and then conveyed to the second side inspection unit 200. Thereafter, the cylindrical battery product 1000 is inspected in the second side inspection unit 200 for the area including the remaining area not photographed in the first side inspection unit 100.

[0041] A conveying unit 300 can be configured to convey cylindrical battery products 1000. The conveying unit 300 may include multiple conveyors 310, 320, and 330, as well as multiple flippers 340 and 350. In this case, the multiple conveyors 310, 320, and 330 may be configured as a single conveyor 310, 320, or 330 under certain circumstances.

[0042] Each of conveyors 310, 320, and 330 may include a track and / or belt for conveying the cylindrical battery product 1000 mounted thereon in one direction. For example, the cylindrical battery product 1000 may be conveyed via conveyors 310, 320, and 330 while mounted on a shuttle configured to convey the cylindrical battery product 1000. In another example, the cylindrical battery product 1000 may be conveyed while being held by a mounting device formed on conveyors 310, 320, and 330. Although not shown, each of conveyors 310, 320, and 330 may include a guardrail formed to prevent the cylindrical battery product 1000 from falling off during conveying.

[0043] In the following text, conveyors 310, 320, and 330 will be referred to as first conveyor 310, second conveyor 320, and third conveyor 330, respectively, according to the paths they are responsible for. Furthermore, among tilters 340 and 350, tilter 340 located between first conveyor 310 and second conveyor 320 will be referred to as first tilter 340, and tilter 350 located between second conveyor 320 and third conveyor 330 will be referred to as second tilter 350.

[0044] A first conveyor 310 can be configured to convey a cylindrical battery product 1000 to a first flipper 340 via the interior of a first side inspection unit 200. A second conveyor 320 can be configured to receive a cylindrical battery product 1000 whose orientation has been flipped from the first flipper 340, and convey the received cylindrical battery product 1000 to a second flipper 350 via the interior of a second side inspection unit 200. A third conveyor 330 can be configured to receive a cylindrical battery product 1000 from the second flipper 350, and convey the received cylindrical battery product 1000 to an external inspection device that subsequently inspects the cylindrical battery products.

[0045] A first flipper 340 may be disposed between the first side inspection unit 100 and the second side inspection unit 200, and configured to change the orientation of the cylindrical battery product 1000 such that the front and rear portions of the cylindrical battery product 1000 can be flipped relative to their previous states. For example, the first flipper 340 may be configured to hold the front end of the cylindrical battery product 1000 with a conventionally known gripper, rotate it 180 degrees, and then release the gripper from the cylindrical battery product 1000. When the gripper releases its grip on the cylindrical battery product 1000, the cylindrical battery product 1000 can be placed on the second conveyor 320 located directly below it. Therefore, the forward-facing surface of the cylindrical battery product 1000 on the first conveyor 310 can face backward on the second conveyor 320. In this case, the gripper of the first flipper 340 can be disposed outside the cylindrical battery product 1000 along the width direction at the end of the first conveyor 310, and the cylindrical battery product 1000 can be flipped about an axis parallel to the width direction.

[0046] The second flipper 350 can rotate the cylindrical battery product 1000 in the vertical direction, allowing the cylindrical battery product 1000, which has already undergone side inspection, to have an orientation for inspecting the upper and / or lower surfaces. The second flipper 350 can be configured the same as or similarly to the first flipper 340. In this case, unlike the first flipper 340, the gripper of the second flipper 350 can be positioned at the end of the second conveyor 320 along the height direction outside the cylindrical battery product 1000, and allows the cylindrical battery product 1000 to rotate 90 degrees about an axis parallel to the height direction.

[0047] Although not shown, the inspection device 1 for the side of a cylindrical battery according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include an image processing unit that receives images acquired by a first side inspection unit 100 and / or a second side inspection unit 200. The image processing unit may be configured to process the acquired images to determine whether a defect exists. For example, the image processing unit may be implemented as a program for determining the presence of a non-temporarily stored defect, a recording medium, or an information processing apparatus having such a program stored thereon. The image processing unit may identify defects present on the surface based on the captured images. Programs for identifying defects based on images are well known, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, multiple inspection images may be acquired based on various lighting combinations of an illumination unit (described later), and the image processing unit may be programmed to determine defects in each inspection image and ultimately determine whether a detection is present.

[0048] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 2 The following describes the detailed configuration of the first side inspection unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 This is a schematic exploded perspective view of the main components of the first side inspection unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, the first side inspection unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a line scan camera module 110, an imaging housing 130, an illumination unit 140, and a reflector module 150.

[0050] The line scan camera module 110 can be disposed outside the imaging housing 130 and is configured to continuously capture images of the cylindrical battery product as it moves along the transport path. The line scan camera module 110 may include: a line scan camera that acquires images of the object in rows of pixels arranged in a straight line; and a frame for housing the line scan camera inside the device. The line scan camera module 110 can use an image sensor (charge-coupled device (CCD), complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), etc.) arranged in a linear configuration to continuously acquire pixel images of a line.

[0051] In this configuration, the line scan camera module 110 can capture an image of the cylindrical battery product passing through the interior of the imaging housing 130 from above the imaging housing 130 via a slit 130a formed in the imaging housing 130.

[0052] On the other hand, the line scan camera module 110 can be configured to move up and down in the height direction via a camera lift 120. The camera lift 120 can use various conventional drive mechanisms capable of driving objects to reciprocate in a straight line, and therefore its detailed description will be omitted. Through the camera lift 120, the line scan camera module 110 can adjust its relative linear distance to the cylindrical battery product according to various sizes of the cylindrical battery product. Using this lifting operation, the line scan camera module 110 can appropriately focus on cylindrical battery products of different diameters (where the height of the horizontally positioned cylindrical battery product varies according to its diameter).

[0053] The imaging housing 130 may be a generally arched housing providing an internal space through which a cylindrical battery product conveyed by the first conveyor 310 passes. The imaging housing 130 may be configured to minimize the influence of external light when capturing images of the cylindrical battery product 1000 located within the internal space. To function similarly to a darkroom, the imaging housing 130 may be configured to minimize light entering from the outside. The imaging housing 130 may include side walls 131, an inlet wall, and an outlet wall 134.

[0054] The sidewall 131 can be formed as a curved surface extending approximately in the circumferential direction around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical battery product 1000 passing through the internal space. In this case, the internal space can refer to the space located below the sidewall 131 and surrounded by the sidewall 131 at its lower side. Furthermore, in this case, the transport path of the cylindrical battery product 1000 can be formed between the inlet wall and the outlet wall 134, and configured as a straight path parallel to the length direction of the cylindrical battery product 1000.

[0055] A slit 130a through which light can pass can be formed at the center of the top of the sidewall 131. The slit 130a can extend in a direction perpendicular to the transport path of the cylindrical battery product 1000. Since the transport path is parallel to the length direction of the cylindrical battery product 1000, the slit 130a can be formed parallel to the width direction of the cylindrical battery product 1000.

[0056] The inlet wall is generally flat and is configured to close the rear end of the side wall 131. The outlet wall 134 is generally flat and configured symmetrically with the inlet wall to close the front end of the side wall 131. Here, the term "front" may refer to the direction in which the cylindrical battery product 1000 moves along the transport path. On the other hand, the inlet wall and the outlet wall 134 may form through openings 135 facing each other. The through openings 135 can be formed by cutting the portions of the inlet wall and the outlet wall 134 located along the transport path.

[0057] On the other hand, the first conveyor 310 can be disposed below the imaging housing 130 along the conveying path. The first conveyor 310 can be configured to pass through the inlet and outlet walls 134 of the imaging housing 130 and convey the cylindrical battery product 1000 along the conveying path. In this case, the first conveyor 310 may include means for holding the cylindrical battery product 1000 in a horizontal position and conveying the cylindrical battery product 1000 while holding it. Alternatively, the cylindrical battery product 1000 can be conveyed by the first conveyor 310 while mounted on a dedicated shuttle device. Here, the shuttle device can be a housing for conveying the cylindrical battery product 1000 without damage. For example, the shuttle device may have a concave shape on its upper surface to accommodate the convex side of the cylindrical battery product 1000, thereby supporting the side of the cylindrical battery product 1000 thereon.

[0058] The illumination unit 140 can be mounted on the inner surface of the side wall 131 of the imaging housing 130. In this case, the illumination unit 140 may include multiple illumination modules arranged at different positions in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, each illumination module can be configured to operate selectively. The illumination unit 140 can operate multiple illumination modules in various combinations. For example, all illumination modules can operate according to a preset mode, or illumination modules spaced apart from each other can operate independently.

[0059] On the other hand, in order to ensure that the lighting unit 140 does not obstruct the slit 130a, an lighting slit 140a extending in the same direction as the slit 130a can be formed in the area where the lighting unit 140 is located directly below the slit 130a. With the lighting unit 140 mounted on the inner surface of the side wall 131, the size of the lighting slit 140a can be set so that the lighting unit 140 is not exposed to the outside through the slit 130a.

[0060] The reflector module 150 may have a reflective surface that is visible from the outside through the illumination slits 140a and 130a. The reflector module 150 may be configured to reflect a blind spot in the lower part of the cylindrical battery product 1000 that is not visible through the slits 130a as the cylindrical battery product 1000 mounted on the first conveyor 310 passes through the internal space. Therefore, the line scan camera module 110 can simultaneously capture images of both the portion of the cylindrical battery product 1000 facing the slits 130a and the portion illuminated by the reflector module 150. For this purpose, the width and length of the slits 130a and 140a may be at least large enough to make the reflective surface of the reflector module 150 visible from the outside.

[0061] The reflector module 150 may include a first reflector 151, a second reflector 153, an angle adjustment actuator 152, a horizontal drive unit 154, and a vertical drive unit 156. In this configuration, the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153 are symmetrically mounted on the left and right sides relative to the first conveyor 310. Furthermore, an angle adjustment actuator 152, a horizontal drive unit 154, and a vertical drive unit 156 may be provided for each of the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153.

[0062] The first reflector 151 can be arranged to face the lower left portion of the cylindrical battery product 1000. The reflective surface of the first reflector 151 can face the lower left portion of the cylindrical battery product 1000, and is positioned directly below slits 130a and 140a. The second reflector 153 can be arranged to face the lower right portion of the cylindrical battery product 1000. The reflective surface of the second reflector 153 can face the lower right portion of the cylindrical battery product 1000, and is positioned directly below slits 130a and 140a.

[0063] The reflective surfaces of the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153 may have a width corresponding to the slit 130a and extend in a direction perpendicular to the transport path. In this case, the width may be a length measured based on the transport direction and / or the length direction.

[0064] An angle adjustment actuator 152 can be mounted on each of the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153 to adjust the angle of the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 relative to the cylindrical battery product 1000. The angle adjustment actuator 152 can be connected to the opposite side of the reflective surface of the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 and can be implemented using various conventional devices capable of rotating the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153. In this case, the angle adjustment actuator 152 can adjust the angle of the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 about an axis parallel to the transport path. For example, the angle adjustment actuator 152 may include a motor and an angle-adjustable frame powered by the motor.

[0065] The horizontal drive unit 154 can be based on various conventional linear motion drive devices capable of moving the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 by adjusting the angle of the actuator 152 in the horizontal direction. For example, the horizontal drive unit 154 may include an electric motor and / or a hydraulic / pneumatic actuator and a linearly movable frame powered therefrom. The horizontal drive unit 154 can adjust the relative distance between the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 and the transport path. In other words, the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 can be moved along the width direction by the horizontal drive unit 154.

[0066] Similarly, the vertical drive unit 156 can be based on various conventional linear motion drive devices capable of moving the horizontal drive unit 154 in the height direction to move the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153. For example, the vertical drive unit 156 may include an electric motor and / or a hydraulic / pneumatic actuator and a linearly movable frame powered therefrom. The vertical drive unit 156 can adjust the relative height between the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 and the transport path. In other words, the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153 can be moved along the height direction by the vertical drive unit 156.

[0067] In this case, the angle adjustment actuator 152, the horizontal drive unit 154, and the vertical drive unit 156 may be configured differently from those described above. That is, the angle adjustment actuator 152, the horizontal drive unit 154, and the vertical drive unit 156 according to embodiments of this disclosure are configured to adjust the angle, horizontal distance, or height of the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153, respectively, and are not limited to the configuration of any particular embodiment.

[0068] The reason why the reflector module 150 is configured to adjust the angle or position of the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153 can be to appropriately change the position of the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153 of cylindrical battery products 1000 of various sizes.

[0069] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 3 The lighting unit 140 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is further described. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a lighting unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] like Figure 3 As shown, the lighting unit 140 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include multiple rows of light-emitting modules arranged on an inner surface in a front-rear direction. Each row of light-emitting modules is arranged in an arch shape along the inner wall of the lighting unit, and each row is configured to operate independently. In this case, the controller can select the light-emitting modules 142 that are to be operated and the light-emitting modules 141 that are not to be operated.

[0071] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 4 and Figure 5 This description includes a portion of a cylindrical battery product 1000 to be imaged by a line scan camera module 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating a cylindrical battery product imaged by a line scan camera module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this respect, Figure 5 It is shown Figure 4 Images of portions of cylindrical battery products with and without imaging.

[0072] Reference Figure 4 The line scan camera module 110 can be configured to adjust the focus, and can be configured to adjust the focus based on the difference between the optical path when directly capturing an image of the cylindrical battery product 1000 and the optical path when capturing an image of the cylindrical battery product 1000 via the first reflector 151 and / or the second reflector 153. On the other hand, Figure 4 The object 170 disposed on the first conveyor 310 serves as a transport unit 170 for transporting the cylindrical battery product 1000, and may be the aforementioned shuttle device or holding device disposed on the first conveyor 310.

[0073] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 as well as Figure 2When the line scan camera module 110 captures an image of the internal space through the slit 130a, it can image the arc portion A2 of the cylindrical battery product 1000, which has a central angle of 180 degrees or more and is observed through the slit 130a. In this case, the arc portion A2 may refer to a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical battery product 1000 in a horizontal position, including the upper part of the top plate facing the imaging housing 130. The central portion of the arc portion A2 can be directly imaged by the line scan camera module 110. On the other hand, indirect imaging can be performed on the two ends of the arc portion A2, which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the line scan camera module 110, based on reflections from the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153, respectively.

[0074] In this configuration, the width of the transport unit 170 can be defined as the area less than 150 degrees of the circumference of the cylindrical battery product 1000, so as not to interfere with the optical path of the line scan camera module 110 when capturing images of the first reflector 151 and the second reflector 153. Therefore, the transport unit 170 does not appear in the images captured by the line scan camera module 110.

[0075] On the other hand, the arc portion A1 located in the blind spot facing the transport unit 170 and / or the first conveyor 310 may not be photographed by the first side inspection unit 100. After changing the orientation of the cylindrical battery product 1000, the arc portion A1 can be photographed by the second side inspection unit 200.

[0076] According to embodiments of this disclosure, as the cylindrical battery product 1000 moves along the transport path, the line scan camera module 110 can continuously capture images of the arc portion A2 exposed through the slit 130a. Therefore, as the cylindrical battery product 1000 passes through the first side inspection unit 100, an image of the area formed by connecting the arc portion A2 exposed through the slit 130a can be acquired. For example, the image initially acquired by the line scan camera module 110 may be a two-dimensional planar image of the cylindrical battery product 1000, wherein the area directly captured by the line scan camera module 110 is located in the middle, and the areas captured based on reflections on mirrors 151 and 153 are located on both sides. The method for acquiring images of a surface having multiple pixel lines is the same as or similar to conventional methods using a line scan camera, and therefore its description will be omitted.

[0077] The first side inspection unit 100 can send the captured images to an external data processing device.

[0078] In the following text, reference will be made to Figures 6a to 6c A slit baffle 1310 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described.

[0079] Figure 6aThis is a diagram showing the open position of the slit baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. On the other hand, Figure 6b This is a diagram showing the intermediate position of the slit baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, Figure 6c This is a diagram showing the closed position of the slit baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this case, when viewed from above, Figures 6a to 6c The sidewall 131 and slit baffle 1310 of the imaging housing 130 are shown conceptually.

[0080] Reference Figures 6a to 6c According to embodiments of this disclosure, a slit baffle 1310 may be additionally installed in the sidewall 131. The slit baffle 1310 is movable between an open position and a closed position, thereby fully opening the slit 130a in the open position and fully covering the slit 130a in the closed position. In this case, the intermediate position can be a position between the open and closed positions. When the slit baffle 1310 is installed, it is advantageous that the slit 130a can be formed with a wider width, which can then be adjusted as needed.

[0081] The slit baffle 1310 may include a baffle housing 1311 mounted on a side wall 131 and symmetrical drive doors 1312 driven inside the baffle housing 1311. The baffle housing 1311 may have an opening in the middle through which the slit 130a is exposed, and the baffle housing 1311 may be mounted on the side wall 131 such that the opening can be positioned above the slit 130a.

[0082] A symmetrically driven door 1312 is embedded in the baffle housing 1311 and serves as a door for opening and closing. The symmetrically driven door 1312 can be connected to a drive mechanism (e.g., an electric motor, actuator, etc.) for opening and closing operations. The symmetrically driven door 1312 may include two plate-like members symmetrically arranged within the baffle housing 1311. The two plate-like members operate symmetrically such that the areas of the two plate-like members blocking the slit 130a can be equal or similar to each other.

[0083] In this case, such as Figure 6a As shown, the two plate-like members of the symmetrical drive door 1312 can be completely accommodated within the baffle housing 1311 in the open position. Figure 6b As shown, when the symmetrical drive door 1312 moves to the intermediate position, the two plate-like members can approach each other at the same or similar distance. Therefore, the central axis of the slit 130a exposed between the symmetrical drive doors 1312 can always be constant. When the symmetrical drive doors 1312 are fully close to each other, the following can be achieved: Figure 6c The state shown. However, Figure 6cThis is merely an example, and the slit 130a may not be completely blocked even when the symmetrically driven door 1312 is moved to the fully closed position.

[0084] The adjustable width structure of the slit 130a, implemented by the slit baffle 1310, can correspond to the vertical movement of the line scan camera module. That is, the slit baffle 1310 can be used to adjust the width of the slit 130a by taking into account the changing angle of view according to the height of the line scan camera module.

[0085] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 7a and Figure 7b The opening and closing baffle 1320 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described. Figure 7a This is a diagram showing the open state of the opening / closing baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. On the other hand, Figure 7b This is a diagram showing the closed state of the opening and closing baffle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] like Figure 7a and Figure 7b As shown, the opening / closing baffle 1320 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be installed in the inlet wall 132 and / or the outlet wall 134, and can be operated to open / close the through opening 135.

[0087] The opening / closing baffle 1320 may include a guide rail 1321 and a movable plate 1322. The guide rail 1321 may be coupled to the inlet wall 132 and / or the outlet wall 134 and is positioned above the through opening 135. Furthermore, the guide rail 1321 may extend linearly, allowing the movable plate 1322 to operate between a closed position and an open position.

[0088] The movable plate 1322 can be coupled to the guide rail 1321 and slide along the extending direction of the guide rail 1321. The movable plate 1322 can be powered by an electric motor or similar device to slide between one end and the other end of the guide rail 1321. In this case, as... Figure 7a As shown, when the movable plate 1322 is in close contact with the end of the guide rail 1321 that is away from the through opening 135, the opening / closing baffle 1320 can be opened. On the other hand, as... Figure 7b As shown, when the movable plate 1322 is in close contact with the other end of the guide rail 1321 adjacent to the through opening 135, the opening / closing baffle 1320 can be closed. In the closed state of the opening / closing baffle 1320, the through opening 135 can be blocked by the main body of the movable plate 1322, thereby separating the internal space and the external space of the imaging housing 130.

[0089] On the other hand, the movable plate 1322 can be controlled by the lighting unit (140; see also) Figure 3The movable plate 1322 is controlled by a controller to operate synchronously with the lighting unit 140. In this case, controlling the movable plate 1322 to operate synchronously with the lighting unit 140 may mean controlling the movable plate 1322 to move to the closed position before the lighting unit 140 operates to make the first light-emitting modules 141, 142 emit light, and controlling the movable plate 1322 to move to the open position after all the light-emitting modules 141, 142 have finished emitting light.

[0090] This operation of opening and closing the baffle 1320 can have the effect of minimizing the influence of external light during the imaging process performed by the illumination unit 140.

[0091] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the inspection device for the sides of cylindrical batteries performs inspections while continuously capturing images of the sides of the cylindrical battery product without stopping the unidirectional conveying operation, thereby minimizing the time required to inspect a single product. Furthermore, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the inspection device for the sides of cylindrical batteries employs a line scan camera to maximize imaging efficiency of moving objects and shorten inspection time, thereby ensuring high-resolution images even when the object is continuously moving.

[0092] In particular, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the inspection device for the sides of a cylindrical battery continuously captures images of the cylindrical battery product while it moves in one direction, thus having the advantage of being unaffected by the length of the cylindrical battery product. For example, according to the present disclosure, even in the extreme case where the cylindrical battery product in a horizontal position is longer than the imaging casing, the sides of the cylindrical battery product can be scanned and inspected.

[0093] Furthermore, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery minimizes the influence of external light by minimizing the width of the slit. Additionally, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery has the advantage of reducing the cost of the reflector because the reflector only needs to correspond to the width of the slit.

[0094] In the following text, based on the foregoing description, reference will be made to... Figure 8 This invention describes an inspection apparatus for the side of a cylindrical battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. To avoid redundancy, content identical to that in the previous embodiments will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences from the previous embodiments. Figure 8 This illustrates an inspection device based on the side of a cylindrical battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in a manner similar to... Figure 4 The image shows a cylindrical battery product imaged using a specific imaging method.

[0095] Unlike the previous embodiments, the line scan camera module 2110 according to this embodiment may include multiple line scan cameras. More specifically, the line scan camera module 2110 may include a main line scan camera 2111 and two secondary line scan cameras 2112 and 2113.

[0096] Unlike the aforementioned line scan camera, the main line scan camera 2111 can be configured to primarily focus on the portion to be directly imaged through the slit 130a (see [link]). Figure 2 Instead of being set to clearly capture the portion reflected by the first reflector 151 or the second reflector 153, the main line scan camera 2111 can be set to primarily focus on the portion of the arc portion A2 directly exposed through the slit 130a. Similar to the aforementioned embodiments, the main line scan camera 2111 can be configured to be vertically adjustable.

[0097] Sub-line scan cameras 2112 and 2113 may include a first sub-line scan camera 2112 and a second sub-line scan camera 2113. The angle of the first sub-line scan camera 2112 is set to primarily capture the reflective surface of the first reflector 151, and the angle of the second sub-line scan camera 2113 is set to primarily capture the reflective surface of the second reflector 153. The focus of the first sub-line scan camera 2112 can be set to clearly capture the reflection on the reflective surface of the first reflector 151, and the focus of the second sub-line scan camera 2113 can be set to clearly capture the reflection on the reflective surface of the second reflector 153.

[0098] For this purpose, the secondary line scan cameras 2112 and 2113 can be adjustable in terms of vertical height, viewing angle, and horizontal distance. For example, each of the secondary line scan cameras 2112 and 2113 can be adjusted to have an optical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the corresponding reflectors 151 and 153. In this case, the means for adjusting the height / horizontal distance of the main line scan camera 2111 and the secondary line scan cameras 2112 and 2113, as well as the means for adjusting the angle of the secondary line scan cameras 2112 and 2113, can be implemented by various conventionally known means, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.

[0099] It will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains that this disclosure may be implemented in other specific forms without altering the technical spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the above embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents are to be construed as falling within the scope of this disclosure.

[0100] According to embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following effects are achieved.

[0101] Compared to area scanning methods, the number of optical system mounting points can be reduced relative to the total battery production.

[0102] A comprehensive inspection of the sides of a cylindrical battery can be performed in the shortest possible time.

[0103] It is compatible with cylindrical batteries of various sizes.

[0104] When inspecting the sides of cylindrical batteries, improved inspection accuracy can be achieved based on the good MTF of the line scan camera.

[0105] During the inspection of the sides of cylindrical batteries, the inspection accuracy can be improved based on the good modulation transfer function (MTF) of the line scan camera.

[0106] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and various other effects are included in the foregoing description.

[0107] [Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures] 1: Inspection equipment for the sides of cylindrical batteries 100: First side inspection unit 110, 2110: Line scan camera module 120: Camera lift; 130: Imaging housing 130a: Slit; 131: Sidewall 132: Entrance wall; 134: Exit wall 135: Through opening 140: Lighting unit 140a: Illumination slit; 150: Reflector module 151, 153: Reflectors 152: Angle Adjustment Actuator 154: Horizontal drive unit; 156: Vertical drive unit 170: Transport Unit 200: Second side inspection unit 300: Conveying unit; 310, 320, 330: Conveyor 340, 350: Flipper 1000: Cylindrical battery products 1310: Slit baffle 1311: Baffle housing 1312: Symmetrical Drive Gate 1320: Opening and closing baffle 1321: Guide rail; 1322: Movable plate 2111: Mainline Scan Camera 2112, 2113: Sub-line scanning cameras

Claims

1. An inspection device for the side of a cylindrical battery, the inspection device comprising: A conveyor configured to convey cylindrical battery products; An imaging housing includes a through opening and a slit, the through opening being formed to allow the cylindrical battery product conveyed by the conveyor to enter and exit the interior space of the imaging housing, and the slit being formed perpendicular to the conveying path along which the cylindrical battery product passes through the interior space; An illumination unit is located inside the imaging housing and is configured to emit light toward the cylindrical battery product as it is conveyed along the transport path; A line scan camera module, located outside the imaging housing, is configured to continuously capture images of the cylindrical battery product visible externally through the slit while the cylindrical battery product is being conveyed along the transport path. as well as A reflector module is located inside the internal space, such that the reflective surface of the reflector module is configured to be visible externally through the slit, and the reflective surface reflects blind spots of the cylindrical battery product that are not visible through the slit. When the cylindrical battery product is conveyed along the conveying path, the line scan camera module captures images of both the cylindrical battery product and the reflective surface of the mirror module, which are visible through the slit.

2. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein, The reflector module includes: a first reflector having a reflective surface facing a first side of the cylindrical battery product; and a second reflector having a reflective surface facing a second side of the cylindrical battery product.

3. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein, The first reflector includes a reflective surface having a width corresponding to the slit and extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport path.

4. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein, The reflector module also includes an angle adjustment actuator configured to adjust the angle of the first reflector relative to the cylindrical battery product.

5. The inspection device according to claim 4, wherein, The reflector module further includes a horizontal drive unit configured to move the first reflector to adjust the distance between the first reflector and the transport path.

6. The inspection device according to claim 4, wherein, The mirror module further includes a vertical drive unit configured to move the first mirror to adjust the distance between the first mirror and the slit.

7. The inspection device according to claim 2, wherein, The line scan camera module includes: A main line scanning camera, the angle of which is set to capture an image of the cylindrical battery product visible through the slit; A first secondary line scan camera, the angle of which is set to capture an image of the reflective surface of the first reflector; and A second sub-line scan camera is used, and the angle of the second sub-line scan camera is set to capture an image of the reflective surface of the second reflector.

8. The inspection apparatus of claim 1 further includes a camera lifter configured to move the line scan camera module to adjust the distance between the line scan camera module and the slit.

9. The inspection device according to claim 8, wherein, The imaging housing includes a slit baffle that can move between an open position where the slit is fully open and a closed position where the slit is fully blocked.

10. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein, The imaging housing includes an opening and closing baffle configured to operate synchronously with the illumination unit and to open and close the through opening.

11. The inspection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flipper configured to flip the cylindrical battery product that has passed through the imaging housing.

Images