Device and method for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production

Abstract

Device (10) for positioning battery cells (12) in battery module and battery system production, comprising: a gripper (14) adapted to pick up a battery cell (12), a sensor unit (16) which is designed to detect a terminal distance between the terminals (18) of a battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14), and a control unit (20) which is arranged to: - to control the gripper (14) to pick up a battery cell (12), - to determine a terminal distance between the terminals (18) of a battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) using the sensor unit (16), and - to control the gripper (14) for depositing the battery cell (12) in a deposit position, - wherein the deposit position of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) is determined based on the determined terminal distances of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) and a previously deposited battery cell (12') and its deposit position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production. The battery cells are preferably lithium-ion battery cells, which can be arranged in particular to form a battery cell bar for use in electromobility, particularly in the form of a battery pack.

[0002] Battery packs comprise a large number of battery cell bars (stacks) that are electrically connected to one another to absorb, store, and release electrical energy as needed. The individual battery cell bars are in turn made up of a large number of interconnected battery cells. To electrically contact the battery cells, their terminals of the same polarity are welded to bus bars. In battery module and battery system production, the battery cells positioned in the battery cell bars for welding to the bus bars exhibit tolerance-related positioning differences, which can sometimes result in considerable gaps between the battery cell terminals. However, large gaps are extremely problematic when welding the bus bars to the battery cell terminals. The product requirements resulting from these tolerances are correspondingly high and therefore cost-intensive.

[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the tolerances occurring during battery module and battery system manufacturing in order to reduce or minimize production costs and to improve the welding quality between the terminals and the busbars.

[0004] To reduce tolerances occurring in battery cells, the use of stops is known. These stops allow the battery cells to be aligned flush on one side during assembly into the battery cell stack. Advantageously, the terminals on the flush side of the battery cells can be welded to busbars. However, welding the busbars to the terminals on the side of the battery cells opposite the stop creates significant problems, as significant tolerance-related gaps occur on the side opposite the stop as a result of the positioning at the stop.

[0005] Furthermore, the use of a reference point system (RPS) is familiar from tolerance management. RPS serves to prevent errors and therefore leads to RPS tolerances, which, among other things, take into account the minimum distances required for the positioning and movement of individual parts, assemblies, or entire systems. However, the RPS solution also only offers a rigid option for arranging the battery cells in a battery cell bar, which no longer accurately represents the shape variability of the battery cells, especially during further processing with different storage times and charge states.

[0006] Since the individual tolerances, such as manufacturing, production and RPS tolerances, essentially add up, the high number of RPS tolerances occurring in the state of the art lead to high costs in positioning and manufacturing technology.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of reducing the production costs associated with battery module and battery system manufacturing.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by a device and a method for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production according to the independent claims. Preferred developments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0009] One aspect relates to a device for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production. The device comprises a (first) gripper configured to pick up a battery cell, a sensor unit configured to detect a terminal distance between the terminals, in particular between the outer sides of the terminals, of a battery cell arranged in the gripper, and a control unit. The terminals of the battery cell correspond to the electrical contacts of the battery cell, which are connected in series or parallel in a battery cell bar by means of busbars. In commercially available battery cells such as round cells or prismatic cells, the terminals are arranged on opposite side surfaces. The gripper is preferably configured to pick up the battery cell at its terminal sides.The terminal sides are particularly robust compared to the rest of the battery cell casing.

[0010] The control unit is configured to control the gripper to pick up a battery cell, to determine a terminal distance between the terminals of a battery cell arranged in the gripper using the sensor unit, and to control the gripper to place the battery cell in a placement position. The control unit is further configured to determine the placement position of the battery cell arranged in the gripper based on the determined terminal distances of the battery cell arranged in the gripper and a previously placed battery cell and its placement position. In other words, according to the invention, real-time, tolerance-compensating positioning of the battery cells based on in-line measurement data acquisition is possible. By determining the terminal distances in-line, the number of RPS tolerances required for the production of cell stacks can be reduced, or the production of cell stacks can even be carried out without RPS.Thus, two process steps—namely, gripping the battery cell and determining the terminal distance of the gripped battery cell—are combined into a single process step, resulting in time and cost savings for battery module and battery system production. In other words, the present invention offers, in particular, an integrated gripper solution with measurement technology and measurement data acquisition for calculating a detailed placement position based on the occurring battery cell tolerances.

[0011] The device preferably further comprises a storage unit connected to the control unit, in which the terminal distances and placement positions determined for the received battery cells are stored by the control unit. The control unit is preferably further configured to control the gripper for depositing the battery cell, in particular for directly depositing the battery cell, into a battery cell bar, stack, or block (hereinafter referred to as battery cell bar). The direct placement of the battery cell into the battery cell bar reduces the work steps required for battery module and battery system production and thus reduces production costs.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is further configured to determine the storage position(s) of the battery cell(s) such that the stored battery cells are arranged parallel to one another and centered along an orthogonal center axis. In other words, the centers of the terminal spacings of the stored battery cells are located on the center line orthogonal to the parallel battery cells. In contrast to aligning the battery cells against a stop or using RPS, which only optimizes the tolerances with respect to one terminal side of the battery cells, while the opposite terminal side has excessively large tolerances, an arrangement centered on the center of the battery cells allows the occurring battery cell tolerances to be optimized with respect to both terminal sides.Furthermore, this procedure allows the battery cell arranged in the gripper to be placed directly into a battery cell stack based on the determined terminal spacing. A centered arrangement can improve the welding quality between the terminals and the busbars.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the storage position of the battery cells such that the battery cells are arranged parallel to one another and in ascending or descending order based on the determined terminal spacing. An ascending or descending order of the positioned battery cells has the advantage that the tolerances of the adjacent battery cells are as small as possible to enable problem-free welding of the battery cell terminals. This improves the welding quality between the terminals and the busbars. The ascending or descending order is particularly advantageous when the battery cells are centered along the above-mentioned orthogonal center axis.

[0014] The device preferably comprises a further (second) gripper configured to pick up a battery cell. The control unit is then further configured to deposit the battery cells in a buffer area using the (first) gripper, to determine the ascending or descending order of the battery cells deposited in the buffer area based on the determined terminal distances, and to control the further (second) gripper such that it picks up at least one, preferably a plurality, particularly preferably all, of the battery cells deposited in the buffer area and deposits them according to the determined ascending or descending order, preferably into a battery cell bar, in particular directly into a battery cell bar.The buffer area serves for the temporary storage of the deposited battery cells, whose terminal spacing has been determined, so that an optimized arrangement, for example, the ascending or descending order, of the battery cells deposited in the buffer area can be determined. The additional gripper is preferably configured to pick up one or a plurality of battery cells during a process step.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit is further configured to selectively deposit the battery cells into a plurality of battery cell bars depending on the determined terminal distances, in particular such that each battery cell bar of the plurality of battery cell bars is provided for battery cells with different terminal distance ranges. In other words, a plurality of battery cell bars to be populated with battery cells are provided in an accessible manner for the gripper, each of which is provided for battery cells with a predetermined terminal distance range, wherein the predetermined terminal distance ranges of each provided battery cell bar differ from one another.For example, battery cells whose determined terminal spacings belong to the smallest third of expected terminal spacings can be inserted into a first battery cell stack, battery cells whose terminal spacings belong to the largest third of expected terminal spacings can be inserted into a second battery cell stack, and battery cells whose terminal spacings belong to the middle third between the smallest and largest thirds of expected terminal spacings can be inserted into a third battery cell stack. This allows the battery cells to be inserted directly into the battery cell stacks without the use of a buffer area.Furthermore, the battery cells assigned to the battery cell bars can be inserted into the battery cell bars in an optimized manner such that battery cells whose terminal spacings correspond to the larger half of the expected terminal spacings of the respective third are arranged on a first side of the battery cell bar, while battery cells whose terminal spacings correspond to the smaller half of the expected terminal spacings of the respective third are arranged on the side opposite the first side, in order to achieve a more finely spaced arrangement of the battery cells. Consequently, a more finely spaced arrangement of the battery cells can improve the welding quality between the terminals and the busbars.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the sensor unit is further configured to detect a terminal position of the terminals relative to the side surfaces of the battery cell arranged in the gripper, which side surfaces comprise the terminals, and the control unit is further configured to determine the terminal position of the terminals relative to the side surfaces of the battery cell arranged in the gripper, which side surfaces comprise the terminals. In other words, the relative position of the terminal to a respective cover side of the battery cell can be determined. By comparing the terminal position with a predetermined threshold value, the quality of the battery cells can be determined, thus enabling the detection of parts as OK or not OK. Consequently, battery cells of insufficient quality can be detected in the production line ("in-line") and removed from it using the gripper, in particular automatically.In particular, the control unit is configured to compare the terminal position with a predetermined threshold value and to determine the storage position of the battery cell based on the result of the comparison.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the sensor unit is further configured to detect a surface shape and / or structure of the side surfaces comprising the terminals of the battery cell arranged in the gripper, and the control unit is further configured to determine the surface shape and / or structure of the side surfaces comprising the terminals of the battery cell arranged in the gripper using the sensor unit. Preferably, the control unit is further configured to compare the surface shape and / or structure with a predetermined surface shape and / or structure and to determine the storage position of the battery cell based on a result of the comparison. By means of the comparison, the quality of the battery cells can be determined based on a further criterion, thus enabling part recognition as OK or not OK.Consequently, battery cells of insufficient quality can be detected in the production line and removed from it using the gripper, in particular in an automated manner.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the gripper comprises a pair of opposing gripping jaws configured to grip a battery cell, in particular at its terminal sides. The control unit is preferably configured to use the sensor unit to detect the terminal distance between the terminals of the battery cell arranged in the gripper based on control parameters related to a position of the gripping jaws. Determining the terminal distance from the position of the gripping jaws is particularly simple and cost-effective.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the sensor unit comprises at least one touch sensor and / or at least one optical sensor. By using a touch sensor or an optical sensor, the terminal distance can be determined precisely. By using a plurality of touch sensors and / or optical sensors, conclusions can also be drawn about surface shapes and / or structures of the battery cells arranged in the gripper, in particular in order to determine the quality of the battery cell arranged in the gripper. The optical sensor or the plurality of optical sensors is preferably designed as a laser and / or 3D camera. The sensor unit is preferably arranged on the gripper, in particular on one or both gripping jaws.Preferably, at least one sensor, in particular a plurality of sensors, is arranged on one or both gripper jaws to detect the terminal distance and / or the terminal position of the battery cell. Strictly speaking, the plurality of sensors is each configured to detect a distance between the gripper jaw(s) and the surface(s) of the battery cell. The control unit is then preferably configured to determine the terminal length and / or terminal position of the battery cells from the respectively detected distances and the length of the gripper or a distance between the gripper jaws. By arranging the sensor unit or the sensors of the sensor unit on the gripper, an integrated gripper solution with measuring technology and measurement data acquisition is provided to calculate a detailed deposit position based on the occurring battery cell tolerances.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the sensor unit additionally or alternatively comprises an external measuring unit for detecting the terminal distance between the terminals of the battery cell arranged in the gripper and / or a terminal position relative to the side surfaces of the battery cell arranged in the gripper, which side surfaces comprise the terminals. The external measuring unit preferably comprises one or a plurality of optical sensors, for example a suitable light barrier arrangement, which is configured to determine the terminal distance and / or the terminal position of the battery cell arranged in the gripper when the gripper, with the battery cell arranged therein, passes through a predetermined space. The use of an external measuring unit offers a retrofitting option for conventional devices for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a tool change adapter that can be connected to the gripper and / or the control unit. This allows an integrated gripper solution with measurement technology and measurement data acquisition to calculate a detailed placement position based on the battery cell tolerances occurring in conventional devices to be retrofitted. Furthermore, the existing infrastructure for battery module and battery system production can be used more multifunctionally.

[0022] The control unit is preferably designed as an external control unit. The external control unit is preferably connected to the sensor unit and the gripper via the tool change adapter. This allows for the multifunctional use of existing control units to control the grippers of conventional devices. This can reduce the costs associated with the gripper.

[0023] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the control unit is arranged on the gripper in order to provide a mobile, comprehensive retrofit kit for conventional devices.

[0024] A further aspect relates to a method for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production. In a first step, a first battery cell is picked up with a gripper. Furthermore, a first terminal distance between the terminals of the first battery cell arranged in the gripper is determined. In a further step, the first battery cell is placed in a first storage position. In a yet further step, a second battery cell is picked up with the gripper and a second terminal distance between the terminals of the second battery cell arranged in the gripper is determined. Furthermore, a second storage position of the second battery cell arranged in the gripper is determined based on the determined first and second terminal distances and the first storage position.The optional features and their advantages described with the device can be implemented analogously with the method and can therefore be combined with one another as desired. A repetitive description is therefore omitted.

[0025] The aforementioned control unit of the device is preferably implemented by electrical or electronic components (hardware) or by firmware (ASIC). Additionally or alternatively, the functionality of the control unit is realized by executing a suitable program (software). Likewise, the control unit is preferably implemented by a combination of hardware, firmware, and / or software. For example, individual components of the control unit are designed as separate integrated circuits or arranged on a common integrated circuit to provide individual functionalities.

[0026] The individual components of the control unit are further preferably embodied as one or more processes that run on one or more processors in one or more electronic computing devices and are generated when executing one or more computer programs. The computing devices are preferably designed to cooperate with other components, for example, an assistance system or a motor controller, in order to implement the functionalities described herein. The instructions of the computer programs are preferably stored in a memory, such as a RAM element. However, the computer programs can also be stored in a non-volatile storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or the like.

[0027] It will also be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the functionalities of several computing units (data processing devices) can be combined or combined in a single device or that the functionality of a particular data processing device can be distributed across a plurality of devices in order to implement the functionality of the control unit.

[0028] A further aspect relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, such as a control unit of a device for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production, having a gripper which is configured to receive a battery cell and a sensor unit which is configured to detect a terminal distance of the terminals of a battery cell arranged in the gripper, cause the gripper to carry out the method according to the invention, in particular a method for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production.

[0029] Further preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

[0030] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in the individual case.

[0031] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a device according to an embodiment; Fig. 2a) to d) schematic representations of different storage positions of battery cells; and Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a method according to one embodiment.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device 10 for positioning battery cells 12 in battery module and battery system production according to one embodiment. The device 10 comprises a gripper 14 and a sensor unit 16. The battery cell 12 is shown arranged in the gripper 14 by way of example. The battery cell 12 comprises a terminal 18 for electrical contact at each of its longitudinal ends. The gripper 14 is essentially designed in the shape of a pair of pincers with two opposing gripping jaws 24 that grip the battery cell 12 at the terminals 18, so that the battery cell 12 can be clamped between the gripping jaws 24 and placed in a designated deposit position by means of the gripper 14.

[0033] The sensor unit 16 is configured to detect a terminal distance between the opposing terminals 18 of the battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14. For this purpose, the sensor unit 16 comprises a plurality of sensors on each gripper jaw 24, which are configured to detect the distances between the gripper jaws 24 and the side surfaces 22 of the battery cell 12 comprising the terminals 18, as well as between the gripper jaws 24 and the terminal surfaces of the terminals 18. The terminal distances assigned to the individual battery cell 12 can be calculated from the distances thus detected, as well as the distance between the gripper jaws 24 from one another or a length of the gripper 14 along the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14.

[0034] As in Fig. 1, the sensor unit 16 comprises five optical sensors per gripping jaw 24, three of which are directed at the terminals 18 of the battery cell 12, while the remaining two sensors scan the side surfaces 22 of the battery cell 12 that encompass the terminals 18. Understandably, to detect the terminal distance, it would also be sufficient to arrange the sensors only on one gripping jaw 24 and ensure that the battery cell 12 lies flush against the other gripping jaw 24, or to use a different number of sensors. The use of a plurality of sensors on one or both gripping jaws 24 enables not only detecting a terminal distance of a battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14, but also detecting surface shapes and structures of the battery cell 12 and detecting a terminal position of the terminals 18 relative to the respective side surface 22 encompassing the terminal 18.Consequently, part detection as acceptable or not acceptable can be performed based on the criteria of terminal spacing, surface deformations, and terminal position relative to specified threshold values. Battery cells 12 of inadequate quality can then be detected in the production line ("in-line") and automatically removed from it using the gripper 14.

[0035] To calculate the terminal spacing, surface deformations, and terminal positions, the device 10 comprises a control unit 20 configured to control the gripper 14 to pick up a battery cell 12 and to determine a terminal spacing between the terminals 18, surface deformations, and a terminal position of the terminals 18 of the battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14 using the sensor unit 16. If the comparison performed by the control unit 20 results in an OK part detection, a deposit position for the battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14 is determined. The control unit 20 is configured to control the gripper 14 to deposit the battery cell 12 in the deposit position.Here, the storage position of the battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14 is determined based on the determined terminal distances of the battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14 and a battery cell 12' previously picked up and deposited again by the gripper 14 and its storage position.

[0036] In battery module and battery system production, the battery cells 12 are welded to busbars at the same-pole terminals 18 to obtain a battery cell stack. Since the battery cells 12 generally have tolerance-related differences in terminal spacing, significant gaps occur between adjacent battery cells 12 in the battery cell stack, which are problematic when welding the busbars to the terminals 18 of the battery cells 12. The product requirements resulting from the tolerances are correspondingly high and therefore cost-intensive. In this respect, determining a tolerance-reduced storage position of the battery cells 12 in the battery cell stack plays a special role in reducing production costs and improving the welding quality between the terminals and the busbars in battery module and battery system production. This will be illustrated below using Fig. 2a) to d) are explained in more detail.

[0037] The Fig. 2a) to d) show schematic representations of various storage positions of battery cells 12, 12', for example, for use in a battery cell stack. The battery cells 12, 12' are inserted parallel to one another into the battery cell stack to achieve the most space-saving arrangement possible. Fig. 2a) and Fig. 2b) show known positioning options for the battery cells 12, 12' when inserted into a battery cell bar.

[0038] In Fig. 2a) an axis A orthogonal to the parallel arranged battery cells 12, 12' is shown as a stop solution. The battery cells 12, 12' lie flush against a stop running along the orthogonal axis A, so that welding a busbar on the stop side of the battery cells 12, 12' is unproblematic. However, when welding the busbars to the terminals 18 of the side of the battery cells 12, 12' opposite the stop, considerable problems arise, since as a result of the positioning at the stop on the side opposite the stop, considerable tolerance-related gaps occur (see Fig. 2a) right-hand ends of the battery cells 12, 12').

[0039] In Fig. 2b), however, shows a positioning achieved using a reference point system (RPS). Similar to the Fig. 2a) shows a virtual RPS line along the orthogonal axis A. However, RPS solutions require additional RPS tolerances that are different from the stop solution ( Fig. 2a)) allow small displacements of the battery cells 12, 12' relative to each other. However, the tolerance reduction achieved by the RPS solution is only achieved on one of the two sides of the battery cells 12, 12', while the opposite side has significant gaps, which are problematic when welding the busbars (see Fig. 2b) right-hand ends of the battery cells 12, 12').

[0040] In the Fig. 2c) and 2d) show two positionings of the battery cells 12, 12' that can be achieved according to the invention, in which the orthogonal axis A represents an axis through the respective centers of the battery cells 12, 12' in relation to the terminal distances. This means that the first battery cell 12' is brought into a centered storage position using the gripper 14. A second battery cell 12 is arranged parallel to the first battery cell 12' and with its center point on the orthogonal axis A. The arrangement of further battery cells 12 then takes place in an analogous manner until the battery cell bar is completely populated. Since the device 10 according to the invention detects the terminal distances of the battery cells 12 arranged in the gripper 14 "in-line", the control unit 20 can determine a storage position - such as in Fig. 2c) - and control the gripper 14 to directly deposit the battery cell 12 according to the deposit position.

[0041] Fig. 2d) shows an even further reduced tolerance positioning of the battery cells 12, 12' in a battery cell bar. Compared to the arrangement in Fig. 2c) the arrangement of the battery cells 12, 12' differs in Fig. 2d) by arranging the battery cells 12, 12' in ascending or descending order based on the terminal spacing. This allows the gap differences to be further reduced and the welding quality between the terminals and the busbars to be improved.

[0042] However, the Fig. 2d) cannot be easily achieved by directly fitting a single battery cell bar, since such sorting requires knowledge of the terminal spacing of all battery cells 12, 12' to be inserted before insertion into the battery cell bar.

[0043] However, in order to obtain a Fig. To obtain the arrangement shown in Figure 2d), the battery cells 12, 12' each picked up by the gripper 14 can be placed in a buffer area, wherein the corresponding terminal distances are determined when gripping or placing the battery cells 12, 12'. As soon as a sufficient number of battery cells 12, 12' have been placed in the buffer area, their placement positions in the battery cell stack can be calculated using the control unit 20 and the determined terminal distances. Alternatively, the arrangement can also be approximately achieved in that the gripper 14 can access a plurality of battery cell stacks and the battery cell stacks of the plurality of battery cell stacks are provided for battery cells 12, 12' with predetermined terminal distance ranges, wherein the terminal distance ranges of the individual battery cell stacks differ from one another.Thus, the battery cells 12, 12' can be assigned to a battery cell bar intended for battery cells 12, 12' with the same or similar terminal spacing length on the basis of the terminal spacing determined "in-line".

[0044] As also in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the device 10 comprises a tool change adapter 26, and the control unit 20 is configured as an external control unit. This has the advantage that the gripper 14 of the device 10 can be attached to a conventional device for positioning battery cells in battery module and battery system production, allowing the existing control unit or control electronics of the conventional device to be used. Thus, the integrated gripper solution proposed by the invention can also be retrofitted to conventional devices with measurement technology and measurement data acquisition for calculating a detailed placement position based on the occurring battery cell tolerances.

[0045] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a method according to one embodiment. The method is suitable for positioning battery cells 12 in battery module and battery system production.

[0046] In a first method step 50, a first battery cell 12' is gripped with a gripper 14, for example the one shown in Fig. 1. A first terminal distance between the terminal sides of the first battery cell 12' arranged in the gripper 14 is then determined (second method step 52). In a third method step 54, the first battery cell 12' is placed in a first storage position, for example, in a battery cell stack.

[0047] According to a fourth method step 56, a second battery cell 12 is picked up by the gripper 14. Subsequently, a second terminal distance between the terminal sides of the second battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14 is determined (fifth method step 58). Finally, in the sixth method step 60, a second storage position of the second battery cell 12 arranged in the gripper 14 is determined based on the determined first and second terminal distances and the first storage position. List of reference symbols 10 Device 12, 12' battery cell 14 grippers 16 Sensor unit 18 Terminal 20 Control unit 22 Side surface of the battery cell 24 gripping jaw 26 tool change adapters 50 first procedural step 52 second procedural step 54 third procedural step 56 fourth procedural step 58 fifth procedural step 60 sixth procedural step A orthogonal axis

Claims

[1] Device (10) for positioning battery cells (12) in battery module and battery system production, comprising: a gripper (14) adapted to pick up a battery cell (12), a sensor unit (16) which is designed to detect a terminal distance between the terminals (18) of a battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14), and a control unit (20) which is arranged to: - to control the gripper (14) to pick up a battery cell (12), - to determine a terminal distance between the terminals (18) of a battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) using the sensor unit (16), and - to control the gripper (14) for depositing the battery cell (12) in a deposit position, - wherein the deposit position of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) is determined based on the determined terminal distances of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) and a previously deposited battery cell (12') and its deposit position. [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (20) is configured to determine the storage position of the battery cell (12) such that the stored battery cells (12, 12') are arranged parallel to one another and centered along an orthogonal center axis. [3] Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (20) is configured to determine the storage position of the battery cells (12) such that the battery cells (12) are arranged parallel to one another and in ascending or descending order with respect to the determined terminal distances. [4] Device (10) according to claim 3, further comprising a further gripper adapted to receive a battery cell (12), wherein the control unit (20) is further adapted to - using the gripper (14) to place the battery cells (12) in a buffer area, - to determine the ascending or descending order of the battery cells (12) stored in the buffer area in relation to the determined terminal distances and - to control the further gripper in such a way that it picks up at least one of the battery cells (12) stored in the buffer area and deposits it according to the determined ascending or descending order. [5] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (20) is further configured to deposit the battery cells (12) in a plurality of battery cell bars as a function of the determined terminal distances such that each battery cell bar of the plurality of battery cell bars is provided for battery cells (12) of different terminal distance ranges. [6] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor unit (16) is further configured to detect a terminal position of the terminals (18) relative to the side surfaces (22) comprising the terminals (18) of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14), and the control unit (20) is further configured to determine the terminal position of the terminals (18) relative to the side surfaces (22) comprising the terminals (18) of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) using the sensor unit (16). [7] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripper (14) comprises a pair of opposing gripping jaws (24) and the control unit (20) is configured to detect, using the sensor unit (16), the terminal distance between the terminal sides of the battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) based on a position of the gripping jaws (24). [8] Device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the sensor unit (16) comprises at least one touch sensor and / or at least one optical sensor. [9] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tool change adapter (26) connectable to the gripper (14) and / or the control unit (20). [10] Method for positioning battery cells (12) in battery module and battery system production, comprising the steps: - picking up a first battery cell (12') with a gripper (14), - determining a first terminal distance between the terminals (18) of the first battery cell (12') arranged in the gripper (14), - placing the first battery cell (12') in a first storage position, - Picking up a second battery cell (12) with the gripper (14), - determining a second terminal distance between the terminals (18) of the second battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14), and - Determining a second storage position of the second battery cell (12) arranged in the gripper (14) based on the determined first and second terminal distances and the first storage position.

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