Battery pack auxiliary device

Abstract

The case, electrode body, and sealing body are designed to be assembled using two power sources. [Solution] The device includes a pair of case gripping parts 53 that can move between a case gripping position for gripping a case 80 with an opening formed therein and a case non-gripping position away from the case; a pair of pressing parts 58 integrated with each of the pair of case gripping parts; a first drive source 60 that generates a driving force to move the pair of case gripping parts between the case gripping position and the case non-gripping position; a second drive source 61 that generates a driving force to move the pair of case gripping parts or the pair of pressing parts between an initial position and an assembled position below the initial position; and a support mechanism 15 that can support an electrode unit 79 having a sealing body 71 that is detachable from the case so as to close the opening of the case and an electrode body 76 integrated with the sealing body and located above the sealing body, and which can be operated so as to integrate the electrode unit with the case by the pressing parts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery assembling device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a battery assembling device that inserts an electrode body into a case by supporting a case having an opening formed at an end and an electrode body positioned above the case and applying power to both of them respectively.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The battery assembling device of Patent Document 1 above has a power source for gripping the electrode body, a power source for lowering the electrode body, and a power source for gripping the case. That is, this battery assembling device requires three power sources to insert the electrode body into the case.

[0005] Furthermore, as an example of a battery assembling device, there is known one that can attach an integrated body of an electrode body and a sealing body to a case. This battery assembling device requires another drive source in addition to the above three drive sources. Examples of this another drive source include a drive source for aligning the case and the sealing body, a drive source for pushing the sealing body into the opening of the case, and a drive source for holding the case when pushing the sealing body.

[0006] Thus, the conventional battery assembling device has required three or more drive sources.

[0007] This disclosure takes the above circumstances into consideration and aims to provide a battery assembly device in which a case and an integrated electrode body and sealing body can be assembled using two power sources. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A battery assembly device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a pair of case gripping parts that are movable between a case gripping position in which the case is gripped by contacting both sides of the case having an opening formed at one end in a predetermined linear direction, and a case non-gripping position away from both sides; a pair of pressing parts each integrated with the pair of case gripping parts; a first drive source that generates a driving force to move the pair of case gripping parts between the case gripping position and the case non-gripping position; and a pair of case gripping parts or a pair of pressing parts along the linear direction. The device comprises a second drive source that generates a driving force to move between an initial position and an assembled position on one side of the initial position, and a support mechanism capable of supporting an electrode unit having a sealing body that is detachable from the case so as to close the opening and an electrode body integrated with the sealing body and located on the other side of the sealing body in the linear direction, wherein the support mechanism has a pair of rotating shafts extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of alignment of the pair of case gripping parts and the linear direction, and fixed to each of the pair of rotating shafts, and the case A pair of electrode gripping parts that can rotate integrally with the rotation axis between an electrode gripping position in which the electrode body is gripped by contacting both sides of the electrode body located on one side, and an electrode non-gripping position away from the electrode body; fixed to each of the pair of rotation axes, which when separated from the pressing part are in an initial rotation position that positions the pair of electrode gripping parts in the electrode gripping position, and when pressed by the pressing part that has been moved to the assembled position, move the pair of electrode gripping parts to an operating position that positions the pair of electrode gripping parts in the electrode non-gripping position. The device comprises a pair of rotating press portions, and a pair of seal body gripping members fixed to each of the pair of rotation shafts, which are positioned in a non-seal body gripping position away from the seal body when the pair of press portions are in the initial rotation position, and rotate to a seal body gripping position where they grip the seal body when the pair of press portions are in the operating position, thereby inserting the electrode body into the case gripped by the pair of case grip portions located in the case gripping position and the assembly completion position, and positioning the seal body within the opening of the case.

[0009] In the battery assembly device according to the first aspect of this disclosure, a pair of case gripping parts and a pair of pressing parts integrated with each of the case gripping parts move between a case gripping position and a case non-gripping position by a driving force generated by a first drive source, and move between an initial position and an assembly completion position linearly to one side of the initial position by a driving force generated by a second drive source. Furthermore, the rotational movement of a pair of pressed parts that rotate in conjunction with the linear movement of the pair of pressing parts causes a pair of electrode gripping parts and a pair of sealing gripping members to rotate integrally with the rotation axis. Furthermore, through the action of the pair of electrode gripping parts and the pair of sealing gripping members, the electrode body is inserted into the case through the opening of the case gripped by the pair of case gripping parts that have moved to the assembly completion position, and the sealing body is positioned within the opening of the case. Thus, the case and the integrated electrode body and sealing body are assembled using two power sources.

[0010] In a battery assembly device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the configuration described in the first aspect, when the pair of pressed portions are in the operating position, the pair of sealing body gripping members move the sealing body to the other side.

[0011] In the battery assembly device according to a second aspect of this disclosure, a sealing body can be smoothly inserted from one side in the linear direction into the opening of a case that has been moved to one side in the linear direction by a pair of case gripping parts.

[0012] A battery assembly device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the configuration described in the second aspect, comprises a pair of sealing body gripping members, each having a main body fixed to each of the pair of rotating shafts, a movable gripping portion that is relatively movable with respect to the main body between a grippable position and a retracted position located on one side of the grippable position, and gripping the sealing body when the main body is in the grippable position and the gripping portion is located therewith, and a biasing member that biases the movable gripping portion to move to the grippable position, and when the pair of pressed portions is in the operating position, the movable gripping portion is moved to the retracted position by the case gripped by the pair of case gripping portions located in the case gripping position and the assembly completion position.

[0013] In a battery assembly device according to a third aspect of this disclosure, a sealing body can be gripped using a pair of movable gripping parts. Furthermore, when the case gripped by the pair of case gripping parts, which have moved to the assembly completion position, comes into contact with the movable gripping parts, a biasing member allows the movable gripping parts to be moved to a retracted position. That is, when the case comes into contact with the sealing body gripping member, the case, which has been moved to the assembly completion position by the pair of case gripping parts, is pushed back in the other direction in the linear direction by the sealing body gripping member, thereby preventing the sealing body from being unable to move into the opening of the case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this disclosure, a battery assembly device is provided in which a case and an integrated electrode body and sealing body are assembled using two power sources. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing, with the battery assembly device according to the embodiment, the battery case supported by the movable member of the battery assembly device, and the connecting plate of the electrode unit supported by the sealing body support mechanism of the battery assembly device omitted. [Figure 2]This is a perspective view of a battery assembly device, a battery case supported by a movable member, and an electrode unit supported by a sealing body support mechanism. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the movable member in its initial position, the battery case supported by the movable member, the sealing body support mechanism, and the electrode unit supported by the sealing body support mechanism. [Figure 4] This is a schematic perspective view of the front component of the sealing body support mechanism. [Figure 5] This is a side view of the movable member, the battery case supported by the movable member, the sealing body support mechanism, and the electrode unit supported by the sealing body support mechanism when the movable member has moved to the contact start position. [Figure 6] This is a side view of the movable member, the battery case supported by the movable member, the sealing body support mechanism, and the electrode unit supported by the sealing body support mechanism, when the movable member has moved downward by a predetermined amount from the contact start position. [Figure 7] This is an enlarged side view of the lower part of the sealing body support mechanism and the electrode unit when the movable member moves downward by a predetermined amount from the contact start position. [Figure 8] This is a side view of the movable member, the battery case supported by the movable member, the sealing body support mechanism, and the electrode unit supported by the sealing body support mechanism, when the movable member has moved to the assembly completion position. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged side view of the lower part of the sealing body support mechanism and the electrode unit when the movable member has moved to the assembled position. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the battery assembly device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, a battery assembly device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The battery assembly device 10 according to the embodiment is a device for assembling an electrode unit 79, which is a component of a lithium-ion secondary battery, and a battery case (case) 80 to each other. In each figure, an arrow FR indicates the front in the front-rear direction, an arrow UP indicates the upper side in the up-down direction, and an arrow LH indicates the left side in the left-right direction.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery assembly device 10 includes a sealing body support mechanism (support mechanism) 15, a case moving mechanism 50, and a conveying mechanism (not shown).

[0018] First, the configuration of the sealing body support mechanism 15 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing body support mechanism 15 is provided on the upper surface of a base 17. The sealing body support mechanism 15 includes a pair of front and rear movable mechanisms 20.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the front and rear movable mechanisms 20 each include a pair of left and right bearings 22. Further, both ends of a rotating shaft 24 that linearly extends along the left-right direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction and the up-down direction of the pair of case gripping portions 53 are respectively supported by the left and right bearings 22. That is, the rotating shaft 24 is supported by the pair of bearings 22 so as to be rotatable about its axis. The extending direction of the rotating shaft 24 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the battery case 80 described later. Further, although not shown, each bearing 22 is provided with a spring member that rotationally biases the corresponding rotating shaft 24 in the rotational biasing direction indicated by the arrow RD in FIGS. 3 and 4. A stopper mechanism (not shown) is provided on the bearing 22, and the rotation of each rotating shaft 24 in the rotational biasing direction RD is regulated at a regulated position by the action of this stopper mechanism. The regulated position of each rotating shaft 24 is a position slightly on the rotational biasing direction RD side from the positions shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0020] The lower end portion of an electrode body gripping portion 26 is fixed to the central portion in the longitudinal direction of each rotating shaft 24. The electrode body gripping portion 26 extends upward from the rotating shaft 24. Gripping protrusions 27 are provided on the upper portions of the opposing surfaces of the front and rear electrode body gripping portions 26.

[0021] Furthermore, the lower end portion 30 of the pressed portion 29 is fixed to the longitudinal center of each rotating shaft 24. The pressed portion 29 includes an inclined portion 31 that extends upward while being inclined with respect to the lower end portion 30 in a side view, and an upper end portion 32 that is inclined with respect to the inclined portion 31 in a side view. As shown in Figure 3, the upper end portion 32 of the pressed portion 29 is located above the gripping projection 27 of the electrode body gripping portion 26, and in a side view, the electrode body gripping portion 26 is located on the rotational biasing direction RD side relative to the inclined portion 31 and upper end portion 32 of each pressed portion 29.

[0022] Furthermore, sealing body gripping members 35 are provided near both ends in the longitudinal direction of each rotating shaft 24. As shown in Figure 4, each sealing body gripping member 35 comprises a main body 36, a movable gripping part 42, and a compression coil spring (biasing member) 45.

[0023] The side shape of the main body 36 is approximately U-shaped. The main body 36 comprises a lower end portion 37, an inner projection portion 38 extending upward from the inner end of the lower end portion 37, and an outer projection portion 40 extending upward from the outer end of the lower end portion 37. The upper end of the inner projection portion 38 is provided with a retaining portion 39 extending toward the outer projection portion 40. A rotating shaft 24 passes through the outer projection portion 40 of each main body portion 36, and the outer projection portion 40 is fixed to the rotating shaft 24. Furthermore, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped gripping projection 41 is provided on the surface of the outer projection portion 40 facing the inner projection portion 38. Note that the gripping projection 41 is not shown in Figures 3, 5, 6, and 8.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the side shape of the movable gripping part 42 is approximately L-shaped. The movable gripping part 42 has a base portion 43 that forms a rectangle extending vertically in a side view, and a retaining projection portion 44 that protrudes from the lower part of the base portion 43 toward the inner projection portion 38. The movable gripping part 42 is provided in the space enclosed by the lower end portion 37, the inner projection portion 38, and the outer projection portion 40 of the main body portion 36, with the retaining projection portion 44 located directly below the retaining portion 39. Furthermore, a compression coil spring 45, whose axis extends vertically, is provided between the upper surface of the lower end portion 37 and the lower surface of the movable gripping part 42. The compression coil spring 45 is provided in the space in a compressed state from its free state. The lower end of the compression coil spring 45 is fixed to the lower end portion 37, and the upper end of the compression coil spring 45 is fixed to the movable gripping part 42. The compression coil spring 45 constantly generates a biasing force that moves the movable gripping portion 42 upward. Therefore, when no external force is applied to the movable gripping portion 42 and the compression coil spring 45, the movable gripping portion 42 is positioned in a grippable position relative to the main body portion 36 (see Figures 4 and 7). When the movable gripping portion 42 is in the grippable position, as shown in Figure 7, the upper end portion 43A of the base portion 43 is positioned above the upper surface of the inner projection portion 38 (retaining portion 39).

[0025] Furthermore, the ends of a connecting plate 48, which is a plate material extending in the left-right direction, are fixed to the outer sides of the outer protrusions 40 of a pair of left and right main body parts 36 fixed to each rotating shaft 24.

[0026] The rotating shaft 24, electrode gripping portion 26, pressed portion 29, main body portion 36, movable gripping portion 42, and connecting plate 48 are integrally molded products made of hard materials such as resin or metal, and are substantially almost elastically deformable.

[0027] Next, the configuration of the case movement mechanism 50 will be described. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the case movement mechanism 50 is provided above the sealing body support mechanism 15 and comprises a pair of front and rear moving members 52, one drive source (second drive source) 60, one drive source (first drive source) 61, a power transmission mechanism 62, and a control device 65.

[0028] The front and rear movable members 52 are symmetrical to each other. Each movable member 52 comprises a case gripping portion 53, a connecting portion 54, and a pressing portion 58. The movable members 52 are integrally molded from metal. Therefore, the movable members 52 are substantially almost elastically deformable. The case gripping portion 53 is a plate material that extends along the left-right direction and forms a rectangle when viewed from the front. The side shape of the connecting portion 54 is approximately L-shaped. The connecting portion 54 has an upper end portion 55 and a hanging portion 56 that extends downward from the upper end portion 55. The upper end portion 55 is fixed to the outer surface of the case gripping portion 53. Furthermore, a pair of left and right pressing portions 58 are fixed to the lower ends of the hanging portions 56. The shape of the pressing portion 58 is cylindrical with an axis parallel to the left-right direction. The front and rear pressing portions 58 are located directly above the inclined portions 31 of the front and rear pressed portions 29, respectively.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the front and rear moving members 52 are connected to drive sources 60 and 61 via a power transmission mechanism 62. Drive sources 60 and 61 are electric motors controlled by a control device 65 and operate using power from a battery (not shown). The rotatable output shafts (not shown) of drive sources 60 and 61 are connected to the power transmission mechanism 62, which in turn is connected to the front and rear moving members 52. The power transmission mechanism 62 includes, for example, multiple gears. The control device 65 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit: processor), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), storage, a communication interface (I / F), and an input / output interface (I / F). The CPU, ROM, RAM, storage, communication interface, and I / F are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with one another.

[0030] When the drive source 60 rotates in the forward direction, the power transmission mechanism 62 applies a downward driving force to the front and rear moving members 52. When the drive source 60 rotates in the reverse direction, the power transmission mechanism 62 applies an upward driving force to the front and rear moving members 52. In other words, the front and rear moving members 52 are moved linearly in the vertical direction by the drive source 60 and the power transmission mechanism 62. More specifically, the front and rear moving members 52 are movable vertically between the initial position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the assembled position below the initial position shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0031] When the drive source 61 rotates in the forward direction, the power transmission mechanism 62 applies a horizontal driving force to the front and rear moving members 52, causing them to move closer together. That is, the front moving member 52 moves backward and the rear moving member 52 moves forward. When the drive source 61 rotates in the reverse direction, the power transmission mechanism 62 applies a horizontal driving force to the front and rear moving members 52, causing them to move apart. That is, the front moving member 52 moves forward and the rear moving member 52 moves backward. In other words, the front and rear moving members 52 can move left and right between the case gripping position shown by solid lines in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the case non-gripping position shown by dashed lines in Figure 3.

[0032] The power transmission mechanism 62 only needs to apply driving force to at least one of the case gripping portion 53, connecting portion 54, and pressing portion 58 of the movable member 52. That is, for example, the power transmission mechanism 62 may apply driving force to the case gripping portion 53 or to the pressing portion 58.

[0033] The transport mechanism, which is not shown in the illustration, is capable of transporting the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80, which will be described later.

[0034] (Mechanism of action and effect) The operation and effects of this embodiment will be described below.

[0035] Next, we will explain how to assemble the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80 using the battery assembly device 10. First, we will explain the configuration of the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80.

[0036] The lid assembly 70 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a sealing body (lid member) 71, a negative current collector terminal 72 as a current collector terminal, a positive current collector terminal 73 as a current collector terminal, and a negative external terminal 74 and a positive external terminal 75 as external terminals.

[0037] The metal sealing body 71 is a plate-shaped member that extends along the left-right direction. The sealing body 71 is provided with a safety valve, an inlet, and a cap (not shown) that closes the inlet.

[0038] The negative external terminal 74 is electrically connected to the negative current collector terminal 72 and is exposed to the outside of the sealing body 71. The positive external terminal 75 is electrically connected to the positive current collector terminal 73 and is exposed to the outside of the sealing body 71.

[0039] The wound body 76 is manufactured by winding a laminate having a long strip-shaped negative electrode sheet, a long strip-shaped positive electrode sheet, and a plurality of long strip-shaped separators around a predetermined axis. As shown in Figure 2, the central part of the wound body (electrode body) 76 in the left-right direction is the power generator 76A, the right end of the wound body 76 is the negative electrode current collector section 76N where the negative electrode current collector foil is exposed, and the left end of the wound body 76 is the positive electrode current collector section 76P where the positive electrode current collector foil is exposed. The end of the negative electrode current collector terminal 72 is connected to the negative electrode current collector section 76N by resistance welding, and the end of the positive electrode current collector terminal 73 is connected to the positive electrode current collector section 76P by ultrasonic welding. Therefore, the lid assembly 70 and the wound body (electrode body) 76 located above (on the other side of) the lid assembly 70 are integrated. Hereinafter, the integrated unit consisting of the lid assembly 70 and the wound body (electrode body) 76 will be referred to as the electrode unit 79.

[0040] The metal battery case 80, which is roughly rectangular in shape, has an opening 81 on one end face in the vertical direction (linear direction), as shown in Figure 9. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, an annular recess 82 is formed on the inner surface of the battery case 80 at the end facing the opening 81. As shown in Figure 2, the longitudinal direction of the battery case 80 is parallel to the left-right direction.

[0041] Next, the operation of the battery assembly device 10 will be explained. The battery assembly device 10 repeatedly executes the process shown in the flowchart of Figure 10 at predetermined intervals.

[0042] When integrating the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80 using the battery assembly device 10, first, as shown in step S1 of the flowchart in Figure 10, the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80 are set into the battery assembly device 10.

[0043] Specifically, the drive sources 60 and 61 are used to position the pair of movable members 52 in their initial position and in a non-case gripping position. At this time, each rotation axis 24 of the sealing body support mechanism 15 is in a restricted position, and the movable gripping portion 42 of each sealing body gripping member 35 is in a gripping position.

[0044] Next, using the transport mechanism, the electrode unit 79, with the lid assembly 70 positioned below the winding body 76, is positioned between the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26 and the pressed portion 29. More specifically, the winding body 76 is positioned between the gripping projections 27 of the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26 against the biasing force of the spring member of the bearing 22. As a result, both the front and rear surfaces of the winding body 76 come into contact with the gripping projections 27 of the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26, causing the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26 to rotate slightly in the opposite direction to the rotational biasing direction RD, and consequently, each rotation axis 24 rotates slightly from its restricted position in the opposite direction to the rotational biasing direction RD. At this time, the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26 tend to rotate toward the rotational biasing direction RD due to the biasing force of the spring member of the bearing 22, so the winding body 76 is gripped by the gripping projections 27 of the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the sealing body 71 of the lid assembly 70, located below the winding body 76, is positioned between the outer protrusions 40 of the front and rear main body portions 36. At this time, the rotational position of the front and rear electrode gripping portions 26 is the electrode gripping position, the rotational position of the front and rear pressed portions 29 is the initial rotational position, and the rotational position of the front and rear main body portions 36 is the non-gripping position of the sealing body. At this time, the front and rear sealing body gripping members 35 are separated from the lid assembly 70.

[0045] Furthermore, using the transport mechanism, the battery case 80, with its opening 81 at its lower end, is positioned between the case gripping portions 53 of the front and rear moving members 52. Then, using the drive source 61 and the power transmission mechanism 62, the front and rear moving members 52 are moved to the case gripping position as shown in Figures 1 to 3. As a result, the case gripping portions 53 of the front and rear moving members 52 press against both the front and rear surfaces of the battery case 80, and the battery case 80 is supported by the front and rear case gripping portions 53.

[0046] Next, as shown in step S2 of the flowchart in Figure 10, the transport mechanism is moved away from the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80.

[0047] Next, as shown in step S3 of the flowchart, the drive source 60 and the power transmission mechanism 62 are used to move the front and rear moving members 52 downward from their initial positions. More specifically, the moving members 52 are lowered to the assembled position shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0048] Before the front and rear moving members 52 reach the assembly completion position, as shown in Figure 5, the front and rear moving members 52 reach the contact start position. At this time, the pressing portion 58 of each moving member 52 contacts the inner surface of the inclined portion 31 of each pressed portion 29 which is in the initial rotation position, and the upper part of the wound body 76 of the electrode unit 79 enters the inside of the battery case 80 through the opening 81.

[0049] As the front and rear moving members 52 move downward from the contact start position, the pressing portion 58 of each moving member 52 rotates the corresponding pressed portion 29 in the opposite direction to the rotational biasing direction RD, and consequently, each rotating shaft 24, each electrode gripping portion 26, and each main body portion 36 rotate in the opposite direction to the rotational biasing direction RD.

[0050] As shown in Figure 6, when the front and rear movable members 52 move to a predetermined position below the contact start position, the amount of penetration of the negative electrode current collector terminal 72, the positive electrode current collector terminal 73, and the wound body 76 into the battery case 80 increases, and the gripping protrusions 27 of the front and rear electrode gripping parts 26 separate from both the front and rear surfaces of the battery case 80. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the front and rear main body parts 36 rotate from the non-gripping position of the sealing body in a direction that separates the upper ends of their respective outer protrusions 40. As a result, the upper surfaces of the inner protrusions 38 of each main body part 36 support both the front and rear ends of the lower surface of the sealing body 71 from below, the gripping projections 41 of each sealing body gripping member 35 support both the front and rear surfaces of the battery case 80 from the front and rear, and the upper ends 43A of the bases 43 of each movable gripping part 42 in the gripping position contact both the front and rear surfaces of the sealing body 71. At this time, the sealing body 71 is located below the lower end of the battery case 80. Furthermore, the upper ends 43A of each movable gripping portion 42 position the sealing body 71 in the front-rear direction, so that the sealing body 71 is positioned directly below the annular recess 82. The rotational position of each main body portion 36 at this time is the sealing body gripping position. When each main body portion 36 is in the sealing body gripping position in this way, the lid assembly 70 is gripped (supported) by the front and rear sealing body gripping members 35.

[0051] As shown in Figure 8, when the front and rear movable members 52 move to the assembly completion position, which is further down from the position in Figure 6, the front and rear pressed portions 29 rotate to the operating position shown in Figure 8. At this time, the rotational position of the front and rear electrode body gripping portions 26 is the electrode body non-gripping position. When the pressed portions 29 rotate further to the operating position, as shown in Figure 9, the front and rear main body portions 36 rotate in a direction that separates the upper ends of their respective outer protrusions 40 from the sealing body gripping position. As a result, the gripping projections 41 of each main body portion 36 move slightly away from both the front and rear surfaces of the battery case 80, and the sealing body 71 is lifted upward by the inner upper corners of the inner protrusions 38 of the front and rear main body portions 36. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, the entire sealing body 71 is inserted into the inside of the battery case 80, and the entire outer circumference of the sealing body 71 is positioned in the annular recess 82. Furthermore, the relative upward movement of the sealing body 71 with respect to the battery case 80 is restricted by the bottom surface (top surface in Figure 9) of the annular recess 82. At this time, the lower end surface of the battery case 80, which has been moved downward by the front and rear moving members 52, pushes downward the upper end 43A of the movable gripping portion 42 of the front and rear sealing body gripping members 35. As a result, the position of the front and rear movable gripping portions 42 with respect to the main body 36 moves to a retracted position below the gripping position. This completes the assembly of the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80.

[0052] Next, as shown in step S4 of the flowchart, the drive source 60, drive source 61, and power transmission mechanism 62 move the front and rear moving members 52 to the non-holding position and the initial position, and the transport device separates the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80 from the sealing support mechanism 15. As a result, the spring members of each bearing 22 rotate each rotating shaft 24 back to its restricted position. That is, the battery assembly device 10 returns to its initial state.

[0053] As described above, the front and rear movable members 52 of the battery assembly device 10 in this embodiment move linearly in the vertical direction between the initial position and the completed assembly position below the initial position by the driving force generated by the drive source 60, and move linearly in the horizontal direction between the movable case gripping position and the case non-gripping position by the driving force generated by the drive source 61. Furthermore, the rotation axis 24, electrode gripping part 26, pressed part 29 and main body part 36 of the sealing body support mechanism 15 rotate in conjunction with the vertical movement of each movable member 52 (pressing part 58). Then, by the vertical movement of the movable members 52 and the rotational movement of the rotation axis 24, electrode gripping part 26, pressed part 29 and main body part 36, the negative electrode current collector terminal 72, positive electrode current collector terminal 73 and winding body 76 are inserted into the battery case 80 through the opening 81, and the sealing body 71 is positioned within the opening 81 (annular recess 82) of the battery case 80. In this embodiment, the battery assembly device 10 assembles the electrode unit 79 and the battery case 80 using two power sources (drive sources 60 and 61).

[0054] Furthermore, when each main body portion 36 of the battery assembly device 10 is in the sealing body gripping position, the front and rear movable gripping portions 42 grip the sealing body 71 from the front and rear directions, positioning the sealing body 71 in the front and rear directions so that it is directly below the annular recess 82. When the front and rear movable members 52 move to the assembly completion position and the front and rear pressed portions 29 rotate to the operating position, the inner protrusions 38 of the front and rear main body portions 36 lift the sealing body 71 upward, and the entire outer circumference of the sealing body 71 is positioned in the annular recess 82 of the battery case 80. As a result, the battery assembly device 10 can smoothly insert the sealing body 71 into the opening 81 (annular recess 82) of the battery case 80.

[0055] Furthermore, when the front and rear movable members 52 move to the assembled position, the battery case 80, gripped by the front and rear movable members 52, pushes downward the upper end 43A of the movable gripping portion 42 of the front and rear sealing body gripping members 35. At this time, each compression coil spring 45 of the sealing body gripping member 35 allows each movable gripping portion 42 to move from the gripping position to the retracted position. In other words, if the movable gripping portion 42 were fixed to the main body 36, when the battery case 80 would come into contact with the upper end 43A of the movable gripping portion 42 of the front and rear sealing body gripping members 35 from above, the battery case 80 would be pushed upward by the movable gripping portion 42, preventing the sealing body 71 from moving into the opening 81 (annular recess 82) of the battery case 80. In contrast, in this embodiment, each movable gripping part 42 moves to a retracted position in such a case, so that the sealing body 71 is smoothly inserted into the opening 81 (annular recess 82) of the battery case 80.

[0056] Although a battery assembly device according to an embodiment has been described above, the battery assembly device can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0057] For example, only one of the moving members 52, either the front or the rear, may be equipped with a pressing portion 58, the pressed portion 29 may be fixed only to one of the rotating shafts 24, and an interlocking mechanism that rotates the front and rear rotating shafts 24 in sync may be connected to each rotating shaft 24. This modified battery assembly device can perform substantially the same operation as the battery assembly device 10 of the embodiment by having the pressing portion 58 of one of the moving members 52 contact or move away from the pressed portion 29 on one side. Furthermore, in the embodiment, it is necessary to bring the pressing portions 58 of the front and rear moving members 52 into contact with the front and rear pressed portions 29 simultaneously, or to align the vertical positions of the front and rear pressing portions 58. Therefore, the battery assembly device 10 must be manufactured so that the relative positions of the front and rear moving members 52 and the front and rear pressed portions 29 are highly accurate. In contrast, the modified battery assembly device has only one pressing part 58 (movable member 52) that contacts the pressed part 29, so the accuracy required for the relative position between each movable member 52 and the single pressed part 29 does not need to be very high, and therefore it is easier to manufacture than the battery assembly device 10 of the embodiment. An example of this interlocking mechanism is a pair of gears fixed to each rotating shaft 24 and a gear mechanism that is linked to these gears.

[0058] Furthermore, the relative positional relationship between the sealing body support mechanism 15 and the case moving mechanism 50 may differ from that of the embodiment. For example, the case moving mechanism 50 may be located below the sealing body support mechanism 15, and the case moving mechanism 50 may move relative to the sealing body support mechanism 15 in the vertical direction. In this case, the front and rear moving members 52 in the case gripping position grip the battery case 80 with the opening 81 located at its upper end, and the wound body 76 of the electrode unit 79 supported by the sealing body support mechanism 15 is located below the lid assembly 70.

[0059] In this embodiment, the rotation of the rotating shaft 24 causes the pressed portion 29 and the like to rotate. However, the rotation of the rotating shaft 24 may be restricted, and the sealing body gripping member 35 and the connecting plate 48 may be made rotatable around the rotating shaft 24, and the electrode body gripping portion 26 and the pressed portion 29 may be fixed to the connecting plate 48.

[0060] Furthermore, if the components of the sealing body support mechanism 15 interfere with (contact with) other members when the pressed portion 29 rotates, the contact portion of at least one component with other members may be made movable. For example, the gripping projection 41 may be made relatively movable in the front-rear direction relative to the outer projection 40, and a spring member may be provided between the gripping projection 41 and the outer projection 40 to generate a biasing force in a direction that increases the amount of protrusion of the gripping projection 41 from the outer projection 40 toward the inner projection 38. In this way, for example, when the lower end of the battery case 80 comes into contact with the gripping projection 41 while the movable member 52 moves from the position in Figure 5 to the assembled position, the gripping projection 41 moves toward the outer projection 40, and when the battery case 80 moves to the positions in Figures 6 and 7, the end face of the gripping projection 41, which has been moved toward the inner projection 38 by the biasing force of the spring member, comes into contact with the side surface of the battery case 80.

[0061] Furthermore, the contact points of the components of the sealing support mechanism 15 with other members may be made of an elastically deformable material. For example, the gripping projection 41 fixed to the outer protrusion 40 may be made of an elastically deformable material. In this case, when the lower end of the battery case 80 comes into contact with the gripping projection 41 while the moving member 52 is moving from the position in Figure 5 to the assembled position, the gripping projection 41 elastically deforms, allowing the battery case 80 to move downward. Furthermore, when the battery case 80 moves to the positions in Figures 6 and 7, the end face of the gripping projection 41, which has elastically returned to its initial shape, comes into contact with the side surface of the battery case 80.

[0062] The drive sources 60 and 61 may be different from electric motors. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10 Battery assembly device 15 Sealing body support mechanism (support mechanism) 24 rotation axes 26 Electrode body grip part 29 Pressed part 35 Sealing body gripping member 36 Main body 42 Movable grip part 45 Compression coil spring (biasing member) 53 Case gripping section 58 Pressing part 60. Power source (second power source) 61 Drive source (first drive source) 71 Sealing body (lid member) 76 Winding body (electrode body) 79 Electrode Unit 80 Battery Case (Case) 81 Opening

Claims

1. A pair of case gripping parts that are movable between a case gripping position in which the case is gripped by contacting both sides of the case having an opening formed at one end in a predetermined linear direction, and a case non-gripping position away from both sides, A pair of case gripping portions and a pair of pressing portions integrated with each of them, A first drive source that generates a driving force to move a pair of case gripping parts between the case gripping position and the case non-gripping position, A second drive source that generates a driving force to move a pair of case gripping portions or a pair of pressing portions along the linear direction between an initial position and an assembly completion position on one side of the initial position, A support mechanism capable of supporting an electrode unit having a sealing body that is detachable from the case so as to close the opening, and an electrode body integrated with the sealing body and located on the other side in the linear direction from the sealing body, Equipped with, The aforementioned support mechanism, A pair of rotating shafts extending in directions perpendicular to the direction of alignment of the pair of case gripping portions and the linear direction, A pair of electrode gripping parts are fixed to each of the pair of rotational shafts and are rotatable integrally with the rotational shaft between an electrode gripping position in which the electrode body is gripped by contacting both sides of the electrode body located on one side of the case, and an electrode non-gripping position away from the electrode body. A pair of pressed portions are fixed to each of the pair of rotating shafts and, when separated from the pressing portion, are positioned in an initial rotation position that positions the pair of electrode gripping portions in the electrode gripping position, and when pressed by the pressing portion that has been moved to the assembly completion position, rotate to an operating position that positions the pair of electrode gripping portions in the non-gripping position. A pair of sealing body gripping members are fixed to each of the pair of rotating shafts, and when the pair of pressed portions are in the initial rotation position they are in a non-gripping position away from the sealing body, and when the pair of pressed portions are in the operating position they rotate to a sealing body gripping position where they grip the sealing body, thereby inserting the electrode body into the case gripped by the pair of case gripping portions located in the case gripping position and the assembly completion position, and positioning the sealing body within the opening of the case. A battery assembly device equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. The battery assembly device according to claim 1, wherein when the pair of pressed portions are in the operating position, the pair of sealing body gripping members move the sealing body to the other side.

3. The pair of sealing body gripping members, A main body fixed to each of the pair of aforementioned rotating shafts, A movable gripping part is provided that is relative to the main body and can move between a gripping position and a retracted position located on one side of the gripping position, and grips the sealing body when the main body is in the gripping position and the gripping part is in the gripping position, A biasing member that biases the movable gripping portion to move to the gripping position, and when the pair of pressed portions are in the operating position, allows the movable gripping portion to move to the retracted position by the case gripped by the pair of case gripping portions located in the case gripping position and the assembly completion position, The battery assembly device according to claim 2, comprising:

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