Conveying method and conveying device

Abstract

To provide a conveying method of a battery module in which an occurrence of deformation or damage of an upper surface cell is suppressed.SOLUTION: A conveying method comprises the steps of: Including a suction pad 11 that adheres to a battery module 2 through suction (see FIG. 1), an electrolyte injection port pressing part 12 that presses an electrolyte injection port 22, and a negative pressure generating part 13 that generates a negative pressure in the electrolyte injection port pressing part 12, and generating the negative pressure in the electrolyte injection port pressing part 12 according to an operation of the negative pressure generating part 13 in a state in which the electrolyte injection port 22 is pressed by the electrolyte injection port pressing part 12 and sucking out an air in the battery module 2 through the electrolyte injection port 22; and conveying the battery module 2 with the suction pad 11 adhering to the battery module 2 through suction in the state in which a pressure inside the battery module 2 is reduced by sucking out the air while pressing the electrolyte injection port 22 by the electrolyte injection port pressing part 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transport method and a transport device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the use of suction pads has been considered for transporting large lithium (Li) battery modules. Patent Document 1 describes a method in which a suction pad is pressed against the contents via the wrapping paper, and suction is initiated to hold the contents by suction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-194745 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When transporting a battery module using only suction pads, it is possible to suction the top surface of the lithium battery module before electrolyte injection. In this case, a mechanism can be provided to cover the injection port with an elastic sheet to prevent deformation or damage to the top cell located on the top surface of the battery module due to air being sucked in through the injection port. However, if the injection port is not precisely shaped, it may not be possible to completely block it with the elastic sheet, which may result in air being sucked in or the top cell may be deformed or damaged due to the influence of air remaining in the battery module.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a method and device for transporting a battery module that suppresses deformation and damage to cells arranged on the upper surface side of the battery module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A transport method according to the present disclosure is a method for transporting a battery module having an electrolyte injection port, the method comprising: a suction pad that adsorbs to the battery module; a liquid injection port holder that presses against the electrolyte injection port; and a negative pressure generating unit that generates negative pressure in the liquid injection port holder; the method comprising the steps of: generating negative pressure in the liquid injection port holder in accordance with the operation of the negative pressure generating unit while the liquid injection port holder is pressing against the electrolyte injection port, thereby sucking out air from within the battery module through the electrolyte injection port; and transporting the battery module while the liquid injection port holder is pressing against the electrolyte injection port and while the pressure inside the battery module is reduced by the air suction, the suction pad adsorbs to the battery module. This allows negative pressure to be applied to the electrolyte injection port, allowing air to be sucked out of the battery module while it is being transported.

[0007] Furthermore, a transport device according to the present disclosure is a transport device for transporting a battery module having an electrolyte injection port, and includes a suction pad that adsorbs to the battery module, a liquid injection port holder that presses against the electrolyte injection port, and a negative pressure generating unit that generates negative pressure in the liquid injection port holder, wherein the negative pressure generating unit generates negative pressure in the liquid injection port holder that presses against the electrolyte injection port to suck out air from inside the battery module through the electrolyte injection port, and the suction pad adsorbs to the battery module while the liquid injection port holder presses against the electrolyte injection port, in a state where the pressure inside the battery module is reduced by the sucking out of the air, thereby transporting the battery module. This allows negative pressure to be applied to the electrolyte injection port, allowing air to be sucked out of the battery module while it is being transported. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a method and device for transporting a battery module that suppresses deformation and damage to cells arranged on the upper surface side of the battery module. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transport device and a battery module according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer process according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Embodiment 1 A conveying device 1 and a conveying method according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, the object to be conveyed by the conveying device 1 is a battery module 2 of a large lithium battery. FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are diagrams showing an example of the arrangement and configuration of the conveying device 1 and the battery module 2, with FIG. 1(a) being a top view, and the up and down directions in FIG. 1(a) being the front-to-back directions of the battery module 2, and the left and right directions being the left-to-right directions of the battery module. FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1(a). Also, FIG. 1(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1(a).

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the conveying device 1 includes an adsorption pad 11 that adsorbs onto the upper surface of the battery module 2, a liquid injection port holding portion 12 that holds down the liquid injection portion provided on the side of the battery module 2 (described later), and a negative pressure generating portion 13 that generates negative pressure in the liquid injection port holding portion 12.

[0012] 1, the battery module 2 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above and has a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction. The battery module 2 includes a battery module main body 21 and a liquid filling port 22 provided on a side surface of the battery module main body 21. The upper surface of the battery module main body 21 is referred to as upper surface 21a.

[0013] The transport direction of the battery module 2 is assumed to be upward as shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(c). In the following, the battery module 2 may be referred to as a work. Here, an example of the configuration of the battery module 2 will be described first.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1(a), the battery module main body 21 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above, and includes a plurality of battery cells 23 stacked vertically (see Figs. 1(b) and 1(c)). When the battery module 2 is used as a battery, an electrolyte is poured into the battery module main body 21 through a liquid filling port 22.

[0015] The liquid filling port 22 is an opening provided on the side surface of the battery module main body 21 (the rear side in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c)), and is an electrolyte filling port for filling an electrolyte into the battery module main body 21. As will be described in detail later, when the battery module 2 is transported, the liquid filling port 22 is in a state in which the liquid filling port holder 12 is pressed, and the entry and exit of air to and from the outside is suppressed between the liquid filling port holder 12 and the liquid filling port 22 and at the boundary between them. In other words, by maintaining a state in which the liquid filling port holder 12 is under negative pressure, the state in which air is sucked out from inside the battery module main body 21 via the liquid filling port 22 is maintained.

[0016] Next, we will explain each component of the transport device 1. The suction pad 11 adheres to the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21. Here, the suction pad 11 is a vacuum suction pad that has a structure that creates a negative pressure inside the pad and adsorbs the workpiece.

[0017] 1(a), for example, four suction pads 11 are arranged at four locations near the four corners of the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21, which is rectangular in top view. This allows the four suction pads 11 to maintain balance when the battery module 2 is lifted, and prevents the battery module 2 from tilting. Note that the number of suction pads 11 and their arrangement on the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21 are not limited to this and can be changed as desired.

[0018] The liquid filling port holder 12 is pressed against the liquid filling port 22 provided on the side surface of the battery module main body 21. Specifically, the liquid filling port holder 12 is capable of sucking air from inside the battery module main body 21 through the liquid filling port 22, and applies pressure while abutting so as to close the periphery of the opening of the liquid filling port 22 so as to prevent air from entering or leaving between the liquid filling port holder 12 and the liquid filling port 22. Here, as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the liquid filling port holder 12 moves forward from a state where it is disposed behind the liquid filling port 22, thereby being pressed against the liquid filling port 22.

[0019] Inlet presser 12 is connected to negative pressure generator 13 via an air path. Therefore, when negative pressure generator 13 starts generating negative pressure, inlet presser 12 is placed under negative pressure via the air path. Therefore, by using the negative pressure generated by negative pressure generator 13, inlet presser 12 can suck air from inside battery module main body 21 via inlet 22, creating a low-pressure state inside battery module main body 21.

[0020] The liquid filling port holder 12 may be an elastic sheet that closes the liquid filling port 22 and to which a mechanism for sucking air from inside the battery module main body 21 has been added.

[0021] A vacuum pump can typically be used as the negative pressure generator 13. By generating negative pressure, the negative pressure generator 13 can suck air from inside the battery module main body 21 through the liquid filling port holder 12 and the liquid filling port 22, thereby creating a low-pressure state inside the battery module main body 21. As a result, atmospheric pressure generates pressure in the battery module main body 21 from the outside to the inside. Note that the negative pressure generator 13 can also be an ejector or the like, in addition to a vacuum pump.

[0022] 2 is a flowchart showing the process for transporting the battery module 2. The procedure for transporting the battery module 2 using the transport device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0023] First, the suction pad 11 is lowered from a state in which it is disposed above the battery module main body 21 (step S11). As a result, the suction pad 11 comes into contact with the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21.

[0024] The liquid inlet holder 12 moves forward (step S12), which causes the liquid inlet holder 12 to be pressed against the liquid inlet 22, thereby preventing air from entering or leaving the liquid inlet holder 12 and the liquid inlet 22 or at the boundary between them.

[0025] Negative pressure generator 13 starts generating negative pressure. That is, in response to the operation of negative pressure generator 13, liquid inlet holder 12 generates negative pressure at liquid inlet 22 and sucks out any air remaining in battery module main body 21 (step S13). At this time, liquid inlet holder 12 is pressed against liquid inlet 22, and air is prevented from entering or exiting the battery module main body 21 through the boundary therebetween. Therefore, by creating negative pressure in liquid inlet holder 12, air can be efficiently sucked out of the battery module main body 21 via liquid inlet 22.

[0026] The suction pad 11 is attached to the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21 (step S14). At this time, as in step S13, the liquid filling port pressing section 12 continues to press the liquid filling port 22 to prevent air from entering or exiting the boundary between the liquid filling port 22 and the outside, and generates negative pressure to suck in air from inside the battery module main body 21.

[0027] Next, the transport device 1 transports the battery module body 21 while holding it by suction of the upper surface 21a with the suction pads 11 (step S15). At this time, as in step S14, the liquid filling port holder 12 is still pressing the liquid filling port 22, and negative pressure is generated in response to the operation of the negative pressure generator 13 to suck out air from inside the battery module body 21. In other words, the transport device 1 maintains a low pressure state inside the battery module 2 by sucking out air from inside the battery module 2.

[0028] In other words, when the battery module 2 is transported, the upper surface 21a of the battery module body 21 is held by the suction pad 11, and a force is applied from the inside to the outside as it is pulled by the suction pad 11. Meanwhile, the inside of the battery module body 21 is in a state of low pressure due to the air being sucked out via the liquid filling port holder 12, and atmospheric pressure is generating pressure from the outside to the inside.

[0029] Therefore, on the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21, the force acting from the inside to the outside due to suction of the suction pad 11 and the force acting from the outside to the inside due to atmospheric pressure cancel each other out, thereby reducing the stress acting on the upper surface 21a.

[0030] In this way, when the conveying device 1 conveys the battery module 2 by adsorbing the suction pad 11 to the battery module main body 21, the conveying can be performed while preventing excessive stress from being generated on the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21.

[0031] As a result of the above, the conveying device 1 can suppress deformation of the upper surface 21a of the battery module main body 21 when conveying the battery module 2. In other words, the conveying device 1 can reduce the risk of deformation or damage to the battery cells provided on the upper surface 21a side of the battery module main body 21.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, the above description has been omitted or simplified as appropriate for the sake of clarity, and a person skilled in the art can easily modify, add, or convert each element of the embodiment within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Conveyor device 2 Battery Module 11 Suction pad 12 Filling port holder 13 Negative pressure generating section 21 Battery module body 21a Top side 22 Filling port

Claims

1. A method for transporting a battery module having an electrolyte injection port, comprising: a suction pad that is attached to the battery module; a pouring port pressing portion that presses the electrolyte pouring port; a negative pressure generating unit that generates a negative pressure in the liquid pouring port pressing unit, a step of generating a negative pressure in the electrolyte injection port holder in response to an operation of the negative pressure generating unit while the electrolyte injection port holder is pressing the electrolyte injection port, thereby sucking out air from within the battery module through the electrolyte injection port; and a step of adsorbing the suction pad to the battery module and transporting the battery module while the electrolyte injection port pressing portion is pressing the electrolyte injection port and the air is sucked out to reduce the pressure inside the battery module, Transportation method.

2. A transport device for transporting a battery module having an electrolyte injection port, a suction pad that is attached to the battery module; a pouring port pressing portion that presses the electrolyte pouring port; a negative pressure generating unit that generates a negative pressure in the liquid pouring port pressing unit, The negative pressure generating unit is generating a negative pressure in the injection port pressing portion that presses the electrolyte injection port to suck out air from within the battery module through the electrolyte injection port; The suction pad is the liquid filling port pressing portion presses the electrolyte filling port, and in a state where the pressure inside the battery module is reduced by the air suction, the liquid filling port pressing portion adheres to the battery module, thereby carrying out the transport of the battery module. Conveying device.

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