Battery cell transfer system for a battery cell

Abstract

A battery cell transfer system for a battery cell having a first electrode and a second electrode is provided. The system includes a basket having a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall coupled to a bottom wall, and an extension member. The extension member is coupled to the first side wall. The basket holds the battery cell such that the first electrode and the second electrode are each directed toward the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively. The system includes a transfer device that holds the basket at an upper portion. The system includes a first vertical member and a second vertical member disposed adjacent to a first side surface and a second side surface of the transfer device, respectively. When the basket is in an undesired position on the transfer device, the extension member contacts the second vertical member, preventing the basket from moving beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery cell transfer system for battery cells.

Background Art

[0002] During the manufacturing process of a battery pack, the inventor of the present application recognized the need to verify the operating position of a basket that holds battery cells during movement of the basket in order to ensure the proper position / orientation of the basket on the transfer device.

[0003] In particular, the inventor of the present application recognized the need for a battery cell transfer system that prevents the basket from advancing beyond a specific position when the basket has an undesired position / orientation on the transfer device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A battery cell transfer system for battery cells according to an exemplary embodiment is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The battery cell has a battery housing, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are respectively disposed on the first end portion and the second end portion of the battery housing. The battery cell transfer system includes a basket having a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall coupled to a bottom wall, and an extension member. The first side wall and the second side wall are coupled to the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and between the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and extend parallel to each other. The extension member is coupled to the first side wall and extends outward from the first side wall. The basket holds the battery cell therein such that the first electrode faces the first side wall and the second electrode faces the second side wall. The battery cell transfer system further includes a transfer device that holds the basket at an upper portion and moves the basket in a first direction. The first direction is parallel to the first side wall and the second side wall. The battery cell transfer system further includes a first vertical member and a second vertical member disposed respectively adjacent to the first side surface and the second side surface of the transfer device. The extension member on the basket contacts the second vertical member when the basket is in an undesired position on the transfer device, preventing the basket from moving beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member.

[0006] A method for transporting a battery cell according to another exemplary embodiment is provided. The battery cell has a battery housing, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are respectively disposed on a first end portion and a second end portion of the battery housing. The method includes providing a basket having a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall coupled to a bottom wall, and an extension member. The first side wall and the second side wall are coupled to the third side wall and the fourth side wall and between the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and extend parallel to each other. The extension member is coupled to the first side wall and extends outward from the first side wall. The method further includes providing a transfer device for moving the basket. The method further includes providing a first vertical member and a second vertical member disposed respectively adjacent to a first side surface and a second side surface of the transfer device. The method further includes placing the battery cell in the basket such that the first electrode faces the first side wall and the second electrode faces the second side wall. The method further includes placing the basket on the transfer device in an undesired position. The method further includes moving the basket in a first direction using the transfer device, such that when the basket is in the undesired position on the transfer device, the extension member on the basket contacts the second vertical member to prevent the basket from moving beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member. The first direction is parallel to the first side wall and the second side wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 10, a battery cell transfer system 20 for transferring battery cells 30, 32 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0009] The battery cell transfer system 20 includes baskets 60, a transfer device 70, a first vertical member 81, a second vertical member 82, and a horizontal upper member 83 (shown in FIG. 3). An advantage of the system 20 is that when a basket 60 is placed in an undesired position (shown in FIG. 1) on the transfer device 70, the system 20 prevents the basket 60 from moving beyond the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82 (and as a result, battery cells 30, 32 that are in an improper position relative to the transfer device 70 do not proceed to a subsequent welding process).

[0010] As used herein, the term "proximate" means within a distance of 0 to 1 foot.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 through 8, the basket 60 is provided to hold the battery cells 30, 32 therein. The basket 60 has a first side wall 101, a second side wall 102, a third side wall 103, and a fourth side wall 104 coupled to the bottom wall 110, as well as extension members 121, 122. The first side wall 101 and the second side wall 102 are coupled to the third side wall 103 and the fourth side wall 104 and between the third side wall 103 and the fourth side wall 104 and extend parallel to each other. The first side wall 101 includes a first opening 131 and a second opening 132 (shown in FIG. 7) that extend through the first side wall 101. The basket 60 holds the battery cell 30 therein such that its first electrode 321 faces the first side wall 101 and its second electrode 322 faces the second side wall 102. Also, the basket 60 holds the battery cell 32 therein such that its first electrode 421 faces the first side wall 101 and its second electrode 422 faces the second side wall 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the first side wall 101, the second side wall 102, the third side wall 103, the fourth side wall 104, and the bottom wall 110 are made of plastic.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 5 through 8, the extension members 121, 122 are coupled to the first side wall 101 and extend outwardly from the first side wall 101. Since the structures of the extension members 121, 122 are the same, only the structure of the extension member 121 will be described in more detail herein. Also, since the attachment of the extension members 121, 122 to the basket 60 is performed in a similar manner, only the attachment of the extension member 121 will be described herein.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, the extension member 121 includes a coupling wall 140, a first leg member 141 and a second leg member 142 that are coupled to the coupling wall 140 and extend from the coupling wall 140 in a second direction. The first leg member 141 has an inner surface 150 that defines a ledge 151 parallel to and spaced from the coupling wall 140. The second leg member 142 also has an inner surface 160 that defines a ledge 161 parallel to and spaced from the coupling wall 140. In an exemplary embodiment, the extension member 121 is made of plastic. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, the coupling wall 140 is disposed in contact with the inner surface of the first side wall 101 of the basket 60 such that the first leg member 141 and the second leg member 142 extend through the first opening 131 and the second opening 132 of the first side wall 101 respectively, and the ledges 151, 161 are disposed in contact with the outer surface of the first side wall 101.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the transfer device 70 is provided to hold the basket 60 at an upper portion and move the basket 60 in a first direction toward the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82. The transfer device 70 has a first side surface 241 and a second side surface 242. The first direction is parallel to the first side wall 101 and the second side wall 102 of the basket 60 and parallel to the first side surface 241 and the second side surface 242. In an exemplary embodiment, the transfer device 70 is a conveyor belt system.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82 are disposed so as to be respectively close to the first side surface 241 and the second side surface 242 of the transfer device 70. A horizontal upper member 83 is coupled to the upper ends of the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82 and between the upper ends of the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82. The first vertical member 81 has a slot 260 extending therein.

[0016] When the basket 60 is in a desired position / arrangement (shown in FIG. 2) on the transfer device 70, the transfer device 70 moves the basket 60 such that the first extension member 121 and the second extension member 122 move through the slots 260 in the first vertical member 81 and the basket 60 moves over the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82. The basket 60 is in a desired position (shown in FIG. 2) on the transfer device 70 when the first side wall 101 of the basket 60 and the extension members 121, 122 are close to the first side surface 241 of the transfer device 70.

[0017] Alternatively, when the basket is in an undesired position / arrangement (shown in FIG. 1) on the transfer device 70, the extension members 121, 122 on the basket 60 contact the second vertical member 82 to prevent the basket 60 from moving over the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82. The basket 60 is in an undesired position (shown in FIG. 2) on the transfer device 70 when the first side wall 101 of the basket 60 and the extension members 121, 122 are arranged to be close to the second side surface 242 of the transfer device 70.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery cell 30 includes a battery housing 300, a first electrode 321, and a second electrode 322. The first electrode 321 and the second electrode 322 are respectively disposed on the first end 301 and the second end 302 of the battery housing 300. Also, the battery cell 32 includes a battery housing 400, a first electrode 421, and a second electrode 422. The first electrode 421 and the second electrode 422 are respectively disposed on the first end 401 and the second end 402 of the battery housing 400.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 11, and 12, a flowchart of a method for transferring the battery cell 30 according to another exemplary embodiment will be described. To simplify the description, in the following method, the battery cell 30 and the extension member 121 will be described.

[0020] In step 500, the user provides a battery cell 30 having a battery housing 300, a first electrode 321, and a second electrode 322. The first electrode 321 and the second electrode 322 are respectively disposed on a first end portion 301 and a second end portion 302 of the battery housing 300.

[0021] In step 502, the user provides a basket 60 having a first side wall 101, a second side wall 102, a third side wall 103, and a fourth side wall 104 coupled to a bottom wall 110, and an extension member 121. The first side wall 101 and the second side wall 102 are coupled to the third side wall 103 and the fourth side wall 104, and between the third side wall 103 and the fourth side wall 104, and extend parallel to each other. The extension member 121 is coupled to the first side wall 101 and extends outward from the first side wall 101.

[0022] In step 504, the user provides a transfer device 70.

[0023] In step 506, the user provides a first vertical member 81 and a second vertical member 82 disposed respectively adjacent to a first side surface 241 and a second side surface 242 of the transfer device 70.

[0024] In step 508, the user places the battery cell 30 in the basket 60 such that the first electrode 321 faces the first side wall 101 and the second electrode 322 faces the second side wall 102.

[0025] In step 510, the user places the basket 60 on the transfer device 70 at an undesired position (shown in FIG. 1) such that the transfer device 70 holds the basket 60 above and moves the basket 60 in a first direction. The first direction is parallel to the first side wall 101 and the second side wall 102. The basket 60 is at an undesired position (shown in FIG. 1) when the first side wall 101 and the extension member 121 of the basket 60 are adjacent to the second side surface 242 of the transfer device 70.

[0026] In step 512, the transfer device 70 moves the basket 60 in the first direction, whereby when the basket 60 is in an undesired position on the transfer device 70, the extension member 121 on the basket 60 contacts the second vertical member 82 to prevent the basket 60 from moving beyond the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82.

[0027] In step 514, the user places the basket 60 on the transfer device 70 in a desired position (shown in FIG. 2) such that the transfer device 70 holds the basket 60 at the top and moves the basket 60 in the first direction. The basket 60 is in the desired position (shown in FIG. 2) when the first side wall 101 and the extension member 121 of the basket 60 are arranged close to the first side surface of the transfer device 70.

[0028] In step 516, when the basket 60 is in the desired position on the transfer device 70, the transfer device 70 moves the basket 60 in the first direction so that the extension member 121 on the basket 60 moves through the slot 260 in the first vertical member 81 and the basket 60 can move beyond the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82.

[0029] The battery cell transfer system 20 and related methods provide substantial advantages over other systems and methods. In particular, the system 20 prevents the basket 60 from moving beyond the first vertical member 81 and the second vertical member 82 when the basket 60 is placed in an undesired position on the transfer device 70 (and as a result, the battery cells 30, 32 in an inappropriate position relative to the transfer device 70 do not proceed to the subsequent welding process).

[0030] Although the invention claimed has been described in detail in connection with a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments thus disclosed. Rather, the claimed invention is susceptible to modifications including multiple variations, changes, alternatives, or equivalent arrangements not described above, all of which also fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, while various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described, it should be understood that aspects of the invention may include only a portion of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the claimed invention should not be regarded as limited by the foregoing description.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0031] 20 Battery cell transfer system, 30, 32 Battery cells, 60 Basket, 70 Transfer device, 81 First vertical member, 82 Second vertical member, 83 Horizontal upper member, 101 First side wall, 102 Second side wall, 103 Third side wall, 104 Fourth side wall, 110 Bottom wall, 121, 122 Extension member, 131 First opening, 132 Second opening, 140 Connecting wall, 141 First leg member, 142 Second leg member, 150 First inner surface, 151 First ledge, 160 Second inner surface, 161 Second ledge, 241 First side, 242 Second side, 260 Slot, 300, 400 Battery housing, 301, 401 First end, 302, 402 Second end, 321, 421 First electrode, 322, 422 Second electrode

Claims

1. A battery cell transfer system for a battery cell, wherein the battery cell has a battery housing, a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively arranged at a first end and a second end of the battery housing, and the battery cell transfer system comprises: a basket having a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall coupled to a bottom wall, and an extension member; a transfer device that holds the basket at an upper part and moves the basket in a first direction parallel to the first side wall and the second side wall; a first vertical member and a second vertical member arranged respectively adjacent to a first side surface and a second side surface of the transfer device; the first side wall and the second side wall are coupled to the third side wall and the fourth side wall and between the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and extend parallel to each other, the extension member is coupled to the first side wall and extends outward from the first side wall, and the basket holds the battery cell inside such that the first electrode faces the first side wall and the second electrode faces the second side wall; the extension member on the basket contacts the second vertical member when the basket is at an undesired position on the transfer device, preventing the basket from moving beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member. A battery cell transfer system.

2. The battery cell transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the extension member on the basket moves through a slot in the first vertical member when the basket is at a desired position on the transfer device, thereby enabling the basket to move beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member.

3. The battery cell transfer system according to claim 2, wherein the basket is at the desired position on the transfer device when the first side wall of the basket and the extension member are adjacent to the first side surface of the transfer device.

4. The battery cell transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the basket is at an undesired position on the transfer device when the first side wall of the basket and the extension member are arranged adjacent to the second side surface of the transfer device.

5. The battery cell transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a horizontal upper member coupled to the upper ends of the first vertical member and the second vertical member and between the upper ends of the first vertical member and the second vertical member.

6. The battery cell transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first side wall of the basket has a first opening and a second opening disposed therethrough.

7. The extension member has a coupling wall, and a first leg member and a second leg member coupled to the coupling wall and extending in a second direction from the coupling wall. The first leg member has a first inner surface defining a first ledge. The battery cell transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second leg member has a second inner surface defining a second ledge.

8. The coupling wall is disposed in contact with an inner surface of the first side wall of the basket such that the first leg member and the second leg member respectively extend through the first opening and the second opening of the first side wall, and the first ledge and the second ledge are disposed in contact with an outer surface of the first side wall. The battery cell transfer system according to claim 7.

9. A method for transferring a battery cell, wherein the battery cell has a battery housing, a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively disposed at a first end and a second end of the battery housing, and the method for transferring the battery cell comprises: Providing a basket having a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall coupled to a bottom wall, and an extension member; Providing a transfer device for moving the basket; Providing a first vertical member and a second vertical member disposed adjacent to a first side surface and a second side surface of the transfer device respectively; Placing the battery cell in the basket such that the first electrode faces the first side wall and the second electrode faces the second side wall; Placing the basket on the transfer device in an undesired position; Moving the basket in a first direction using the transfer device, such that when the basket is in an undesired position on the transfer device, an extension member on the basket contacts the second vertical member to prevent the basket from moving beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member. The first side wall and the second side wall are coupled to the third side wall and the fourth side wall and between the third side wall and the fourth side wall, and extend parallel to each other. The extension member is coupled to the first side wall and extends outward from the first side wall. A battery cell transfer method. **Claim 10** Placing the basket on the transfer device at a desired position. Moving the basket in the first direction using the transfer device, such that when the basket is in the desired position on the transfer device, the extension member on the basket moves through a slot in the first vertical member, and the basket moves beyond the first vertical member and the second vertical member. The battery cell transfer method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of.

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