Cell gripper and cell transfer device including same

The cell gripper addresses the issue of cell slipping and positioning delays by applying pressure from both sides, improving productivity through secure cell transfer without additional equipment load.

JP7732172B2Active Publication Date: 2025-09-02LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024501953
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-09-03
Filing Date
2022-09-02
Publication Date
2025-09-02
Estimated Expiration
2042-09-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional cell transfer devices lack a mechanism to secure cells during transportation, leading to slipping off, reduced conveyor speed, increased positioning time, and elevated load on equipment, thereby hindering productivity.

Method used

A cell gripper with a housing and gripping assembly that includes a cell support base, pinion gears, gear frames, and cell fixing members to apply pressure from both sides, preventing slipping and minimizing positioning time.

Benefits of technology

The cell gripper effectively secures cells during transfer, reducing slipping and positioning time, thereby enhancing productivity without increasing equipment load.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cell gripper and a cell transfer device including the same, which prevents the cell from slipping off the transfer device by pressing and fixing both sides of the cell during the cell transfer process, and which can improve tact time by minimizing the time required for a separate positioning process, thereby improving productivity without increasing the equipment load factor. The cell gripper and cell transport device according to the present invention includes a housing and a grip assembly mounted inside the housing. The grip assembly includes a cell support base having a cell mounting groove into which a cell enters from above and is mounted, a pair of pinion gears provided on both sides of the cell support base for converting the vertical linear motion of the cell support base into rotational motion, a pair of gear frames coupled to the pair of pinion gears for transmitting the rotational motion of the pinion gears, and a pair of cell fixing members provided at the ends of the pair of gear frames for applying pressure from both sides to fix the cell mounted in the cell mounting groove.
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0117974, filed on September 3, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a cell gripper and a cell transfer device including the same, which pressurizes and fixes both sides of a cell during the cell transfer process, thereby preventing the cell from slipping off the transfer device, and minimizes the time required for a separate positioning process, thereby improving tact time and improving productivity without increasing the device load factor. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries are batteries that can be charged and discharged, unlike primary batteries which cannot be recharged. They are widely used not only in small electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops, but also in large products that require high output, such as electric vehicles, as well as in energy storage systems (ESS) that store surplus generated electricity and new renewable energy, and as backup power storage devices.

[0004] In secondary batteries, the electrode assembly installed inside the battery case is a chargeable and dischargeable power generating element consisting of a laminated structure of a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode. Electrode assemblies come in a variety of types, including a jelly-roll type, in which a sheet-like positive electrode and negative electrode coated with electrode active material slurry are wound up with a separator interposed between them, and a stack type, in which multiple cut cells, each with a separator interposed between the positive electrode and negative electrode, are stacked one on top of the other.

[0005] Secondary batteries, on the other hand, are produced through multiple processes and therefore require transportation between various facilities. When cells are transported between facilities, a cell transfer device is installed on the top of a conveyor, and the cells are transported by the conveyor with the cells attached to the cell transfer device. Once the cells reach their destination facility, they are removed from above by a P&P (Pick & Placement) unit and sent to the next facility for processing.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional cell transfer device and a cell attached to the cell transfer device. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional cell transfer device is equipped with a U-shaped guide, and the cell is attached in an upright position. However, since there is no separate member to secure the cell, the cell often slips off the transfer device. Furthermore, to prevent the cell from falling off, the conveyor speed must be limited to a predetermined speed or less, which leads to a decrease in productivity.

[0007] Furthermore, since the cells attached to the cell transfer device are transferred in an unsecured state, a positioning process is required to realign the cells before they are removed from the target equipment, which also acts as a factor hindering productivity.

[0008] In addition, if the conveyor speed is increased or the cell transport volume is increased to improve productivity, the load on the cylinder or P&P unit that operates during the positioning process increases, which increases the possibility of component deterioration. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cell gripper and a cell transfer device that pressurizes and fixes both sides of a cell during the cell transfer process, thereby preventing the cell from slipping off the transfer device, and minimizes the time required for a separate positioning process, thereby improving tact time and increasing productivity without increasing the device load factor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The cell gripper according to the present invention includes a housing and a gripping assembly mounted inside the housing. The gripping assembly includes a cell support base having a cell mounting groove formed therein into which a cell is inserted from above to be mounted; a pair of pinion gears provided on both sides of the cell support base for converting the linear movement of the cell support base in the vertical direction into rotational movement; a pair of gear frames coupled to the pair of pinion gears for transmitting the rotational movement of the pinion gears; and a pair of cell fixing members provided on the ends of the pair of gear frames for applying pressure from both sides to fix the cell mounted in the cell mounting groove.

[0011] The grip assembly may be configured such that a pair of pinion gears rotate as the cell support base is lowered, and the rotation of the pair of pinion gears moves a pair of gear frames and a pair of cell fixing members toward the cell mounting groove, thereby applying pressure to the cell from both sides to fix it.

[0012] The grip assembly may further include an elastic member provided at a lower portion of the cell support and configured to apply a biasing force in the up and down directions of the cell support.

[0013] The cell support may include a pair of rack gears spaced apart from each other and having a length in the vertical direction, with sawtooth formed on their outer surfaces, and a connecting portion provided at the bottom of the pair of rack gears to connect the pair of rack gears to each other.

[0014] The cell mounting groove may be formed to have a U-shaped vertical cross section by the inner surfaces of the pair of rack gears facing each other and the connecting portions provided at the lower parts of the pair of rack gears.

[0015] The pinion gear may have a shaft through-hole formed through both sides of the pinion gear at a position corresponding to the imaginary rotation axis, and a coupling protrusion may be formed protruding outward from the side where the shaft through-hole is formed.

[0016] The gear frame may include a first frame coupled to a side of the pinion gear, and a second frame coupled to the first frame on one side and coupled to the cell fixing member on the other side, wherein the first frame may be positioned to correspond to a shaft through-hole of the pinion gear and coupled to the pinion gear on one side, and may be coupled to the second frame on the other side, and may be coupled to a coupling protrusion of the pinion gear between the one side and the other side.

[0017] The gear frame may further include a third frame coupled to the second frame on one side and rotatably coupled to the housing on the other side.

[0018] The third frame may be coupled to the second frame so as to be positioned between the cell fixing member and the first frame.

[0019] The cell fixing member may include a pressure portion having a flat surface and a pair of connecting portions bent backward from both sides of the pressure portion.

[0020] The second frame may be rotatably coupled by being inserted between the pair of coupling portions at the other side opposite to the side to which the first frame is coupled.

[0021] The housing may be formed with a notch groove having a U-shaped vertical cross section at a position opposite to the cell mounting groove.

[0022] The notch groove may be formed to be larger than the size of the cell mounting groove.

[0023] The cell transfer device according to the present invention comprises at least one cell gripper and a mounting base that fixes the cell gripper below the cell gripper. The cell gripper comprises a housing and a grip assembly mounted inside the housing. The grip assembly comprises a cell support base having a cell mounting groove into which a cell enters from above and is mounted, a pair of pinion gears mounted on both sides of the cell support base and converting the linear movement of the cell support base in the vertical direction into rotational movement, a pair of gear frames coupled to the pair of pinion gears and transmitting the rotational movement of the pinion gears, and a pair of cell fixing members mounted on the ends of the pair of gear frames and applying pressure from both sides to fix the cell mounted in the cell mounting groove. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The cell gripper and cell transfer device according to the present invention includes a housing and a gripping assembly mounted inside the housing. The gripping assembly includes a cell support base having a cell mounting groove formed therein, into which a cell is inserted from above to be mounted; a pair of pinion gears mounted on both sides of the cell support base and converting the vertical linear motion of the cell support base into rotational motion; a pair of gear frames coupled to the pair of pinion gears and transmitting the rotational motion of the pinion gears; and a pair of cell fixing members mounted on ends of the pair of gear frames and applying pressure to both sides of the cell mounted in the cell mounting groove to fix the cell. As a result, by applying pressure to both sides of the cell during the cell transfer process, the cell is prevented from slipping off the transfer device and the time required for a separate positioning process is minimized, thereby improving tact time and increasing productivity without increasing the load factor of the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional cell transfer device and a cell attached to the cell transfer device. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a cell gripper according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a cell attached to the cell gripper. [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cell gripper according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing the coupling relationship between a pinion gear, a gear frame, and a cell fixing member of a cell gripper according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cell transfer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily understand the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0027] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts that are not relevant to the explanation or related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted, and when adding reference symbols to components in each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference symbols will be used for the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0028] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a limited way to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that an inventor can appropriately define the concept of a term in order to explain his or her invention in the best possible way.

[0029] Embodiment 1 Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cell gripper 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a cell attached to the cell gripper 10. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the cell gripper 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, a cell gripper 10 according to the present invention includes a housing 100 and a gripping assembly 200 mounted inside the housing 100 .

[0031] First, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing 100 may be configured to surround a portion of the exterior of the grip assembly 200, fix the grip assembly 200 therein, and protect the grip assembly 200 from external impact. Therefore, the housing 100 may be formed according to the shape of the grip assembly 200, which will be described later. However, the housing 100 may be formed with a notch groove having a U-shaped vertical cross section at a position facing a cell mounting groove of the grip assembly 200, which will be described later. The notch groove serves to prevent a collision between the end of a cell and the housing 100 when the cell is mounted in the cell mounting groove. Here, the notch groove may be formed larger than the size of the cell mounting groove, which will be described later. More specifically, the notch groove may be formed large enough so that the cell will not collide with the housing 100 even when the cell is mounted in the cell mounting groove and lowered. The lowering of the cell mounting groove will be described in detail below.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 3, the grip assembly 200 is configured to apply pressure to both sides of the cell to fix it in place to prevent the cell from sliding off during the cell transfer process, and includes a cell support 210, a pinion gear 220, a gear frame 230, and a cell fixing member 240.

[0033] The cell support 210 has a cell mounting groove formed therein into which the cell is inserted from above to be mounted. Here, a cell refers to an electrode assembly unit in which electrodes and separators are alternately stacked and cut to have a rectangular plane having a long side and a short side, and may include various types of cells such as a bi-cell, a mono-cell, a half-cell, etc. The cell is inserted from above the cell support 210, but the cell may be installed by inserting its long side into the top of the cell mounting groove in an upright position.

[0034] A pair of pinion gears 220 are provided on each side of the cell support base 210, and convert the vertical linear motion of the cell support base 210 into rotational motion. When a cell is attached to the cell support base 210, the cell support base 210 may move downward or in the direction of gravity due to the weight of the cell (hereinafter referred to as "lowering of the cell support base"). The pinion gears 220 are provided to mesh with the side of the cell support base 210, and rotate as the cell support base 210 lowers. Here, the pair of pinion gears 220 may be provided to be located on opposite sides of the cell support base 210, and therefore the rotation directions of the pair of pinion gears 220 may be opposite to each other, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise. Furthermore, when a cell is removed from the cell support base 210, the cell support base 210, which has descended due to its own weight, may move upward again or in the anti-gravity direction (hereinafter referred to as "rising of the cell support base"), and the pinion gear 220 rotates in the opposite direction to the direction in which it rotated due to the descent of the cell support base 210.

[0035] In addition, the gear frames 230 are respectively coupled to the pair of pinion gears 220 and transmit the rotational motion of the pinion gears 220, and the cell fixing members 240 are provided at the ends of the pair of gear frames 230 and apply pressure from both sides to fix the cells attached to the cell attachment grooves.

[0036] In this way, the cell gripper 10 according to the present invention prevents the cell from slipping off during the transport process by the cell fixing member 240 pressing and fixing both sides of the cell, and can improve tact time by minimizing the time required for a separate positioning process, thereby improving productivity without increasing the equipment load factor.

[0037] In the grip assembly 200, when the cell support base 210 is lowered, a pair of pinion gears 220 rotates, and the rotation of the pair of pinion gears 220 moves a pair of gear frames 230 and a pair of cell fixing members 240 toward the cell mounting groove, thereby applying pressure to the cell from both sides and fixing it.

[0038] On the other hand, as the cell support base 210 rises, the pair of pinion gears 220 rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which they rotated due to the descent of the cell support base 210, and the opposite rotation of the pair of pinion gears 220 causes the pair of gear frames 230 and the pair of cell fixing members 240 to move away from the cell mounting groove, thereby releasing the fixation of the cell from both sides. In other words, when a cell is attached to the grip assembly 200 and the cell's own weight is applied, the cell fixing members 240 pressurize the cell from both sides to fix it, and when the cell is removed and the cell's own weight is removed, the cell fixing members 240 operate to release the fixation of the cell.

[0039] The grip assembly 200 may further include an elastic member 250 provided below the cell support 210 and biasing the cell support 210 in the vertical direction. Here, the elastic member 250 may be a spring, but is not limited thereto, and may be any material or structure that is compressed when a cell is attached to the cell support 210 and restored when the cell is removed. Furthermore, the biasing force of the elastic member 250 may be formed such that, when a cell is attached to the cell support 210, the cell support and the cell's own weight cause the cell support 210 to descend from its initial position.

[0040] Each component of the grip assembly 200 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the coupling relationship between the pinion gear 220, the gear frame 230, and the cell fixing member 240 of the cell gripper 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] First, as shown in FIG. 3, the cell supporter 210 may include a rack gear 211 and a connecting portion 212. The rack gears 211 may be provided as a pair spaced apart from each other and have a length in the vertical direction, and may have sawtooth formed on their outer surfaces. The sawtooth formed on the outer surface of the rack gear 211 may mesh with the pinion gear 220 described above to transmit the linear movement of the cell supporter 210 ascending or descending to the pinion gear 220. In addition, the connecting portion 212 may be provided below the pair of rack gears 211 to connect the pair of rack gears 211 to each other. This allows the pair of rack gears to ascend or descend in a single movement, and the pair of pinion gears 220 to rotate by the same angle.

[0042] Meanwhile, the cell mounting groove formed in the cell support base 210 may be formed to have a U-shaped vertical cross section by the inner surfaces of the pair of rack gears 211 facing each other and the connecting parts 212 provided at the bottom of the pair of rack gears 211. That is, when the cell is mounted in an upright state with its long side inserted into the top of the cell mounting groove, the connecting parts 212 support the bottom of the cell, and the inner surfaces of the pair of rack gears 211 provided at the top of the connecting parts 212 support the wide side of the cell without it coming off.

[0043] 3 and 4, the pinion gear 220 may have a shaft through-hole penetrating both sides of the pinion gear 220 at a position corresponding to the imaginary rotation axis, and a coupling protrusion protruding outward from the side where the shaft through-hole is formed. A fixed shaft passes through the shaft through-hole of the pinion gear 220, allowing the pinion gear 220 to rotate while being fixed in the vertical direction. Here, the fixed shaft may be formed on the inner surface of the housing 100. The coupling protrusion is formed on the side where the shaft through-hole is formed, and may be formed a predetermined distance away from the shaft through-hole. Here, the predetermined distance determines the distance traveled by the gear frame 230 and the cell fixing member 240 (described below) as the pinion gear 220 rotates. The greater the distance between the coupling protrusion and the shaft through-hole, the greater the movement distance of the gear frame 230 and the cell fixing member 240. The smaller the distance between the coupling protrusion and the shaft through-hole, the less the movement distance of the gear frame 230 and the cell fixing member 240.

[0044] The gear frame 230 may include a first frame 230-1, a second frame 230-2, and a third frame 230-3. First, the first frame 230-1 may be coupled to a side of the pinion gear 220. More specifically, one side of the first frame 230-1 may be positioned to correspond to a shaft through-hole of the pinion gear 220 and coupled to the pinion gear 220. Here, a coupling hole (without a reference numeral) may be formed on one side of the first frame 230-1, and the first frame 230-1 may be coupled to the side of the pinion gear 220 with the fixed shaft passing through both the coupling hole on one side of the first frame 230-1 and the shaft through-hole of the pinion gear 220.

[0045] Meanwhile, the first frame 230-1 may be coupled to the second frame 230-2 at its other side and coupled to a coupling protrusion of the pinion gear 220 between one side and the other side. More specifically, a coupling hole may be formed on the other side of the first frame 230-1, and a coupling protrusion formed on the second frame 230-2 may be inserted therein to rotatably couple the first frame 230-1 and the second frame 230-2 at the other side of the first frame 230-1. Alternatively, a coupling hole may be formed between one side and the other side of the first frame 230-1, and a coupling protrusion formed on a side of the pinion gear 220 may be inserted therein to couple the first frame 230-1 and the second frame 230-2. However, the coupling method using the coupling hole and coupling protrusion is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a coupling protrusion may be formed on the first frame 230-1, and coupling holes may be formed in the pinion gear 220 and the second frame 230-2 to couple them to each other.

[0046] The second frame 230-2 may be coupled to the first frame 230-1 on one side and to the cell fixing member 240 on the other side. The structure in which the second frame 230-2 is coupled to the cell fixing member 240 will be described later.

[0047] The third frame 230-3 may be coupled to the second frame 230-2 at one side and rotatably coupled to the housing 100 at the other side. More specifically, a coupling hole may be formed on one side of the third frame 230-3, and a coupling protrusion formed on the second frame 230-2 may be inserted therein to rotatably couple the third frame 230-3 to the second frame 230-2. Here, the coupling protrusion formed on the second frame 230-2 may have a different configuration from the coupling protrusion to which the first frame 230-1 is coupled, and may be formed at a position on the second frame 230-2 between a position to which the cell fixing member 240 is coupled and a position to which the first frame 230-1 is coupled. That is, the third frame 230-3 may be coupled to the second frame 230-2 so as to be positioned between the cell fixing member 240 and the first frame 230-1, thereby appropriately restricting the range of movement of the second frame 230-2 and enabling the cell fixing member 240, described later, to accurately apply pressure to the side of the cell.

[0048] In addition, the third frame 230-3 may be rotatably coupled to the housing 100 at the other side. More specifically, another coupling hole may be formed at the other side of the third frame 230-3, and a fixed shaft formed on the inner side of the housing 100 may pass through and be coupled to the other side. Here, the fixed shaft formed on the inner side of the housing 100 may be configured to fix only the third frame 230-3, different from the fixed shaft that passes through the pinion gear 220 and the first frame 230-1 described above. Therefore, one side of the third frame 230-3 coupled to the second frame 230-2 may move while the other side of the third frame 230-3 is fixed to the housing 100.

[0049] 4, the cell fixing member 240 may include a pressure portion 241 and a coupling portion 242. The pressure portion 241 may have a flat surface that presses the flat surface of the cell to fix it. Since the pressure portion 241 has a flat surface, it can effectively fix the cell while minimizing damage to the cell compared to a method of fixing the cell by clamping.

[0050] The pair of connecting portions 242 may be formed by bending rearward from both sides of the pressure portion 241. Here, rearward may refer to the opposite direction of the flat surface on which the pressure portion 241 presses and fixes the cells. The pair of connecting portions 242 are bent rearward from the pressure portion 241 to form a space between the connecting portions 242. Here, the second frame 230-2 may be rotatably connected by being inserted between the pair of connecting portions 242 at the other side opposite to the side to which the first frame 230-1 is connected. As a result, even if the second frame 230-2 moves up and down or back and forth, the surfaces of the pressure portions 241 of the cell fixing member 240 are maintained facing in a fixed direction. To explain in detail how the second frame 230-2 is connected to the connecting portion 242 of the cell fixing member 240, a pair of connecting portions 242 may have connecting holes formed therein, and a connecting hole may also be formed on the other side of the second frame 230-2, and the connecting holes of the above-mentioned connecting portions 242 and the second frame 230-2 may be connected at corresponding positions by fixing pins or screws passing through them.

[0051] Embodiment 2 5 is a perspective view showing a cell transfer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that the second embodiment of the present invention is a cell transfer device including the cell gripper of the first embodiment.

[0052] The second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences and omitting as much as possible the content common to the first embodiment. In other words, it goes without saying that the content of the first embodiment can be used as needed for the content not explained in the second embodiment.

[0053] 5, a cell transfer device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes at least one cell gripper 10 and a mounting base 20 that fixes the cell gripper 10 below the cell gripper 10. That is, one or more cell grippers 10 may be provided as needed, and preferably, two cell grippers 10 are shown fixed and mounted on the upper part of the mounting base 20 as shown in FIG. 5. This allows the two cell grippers 10 to fix the cell more stably when the cell is attached in the long side direction.

[0054] The cell transfer device 1, which includes a cell gripper 10 and a mounting base 20 to which the cell gripper 10 is fixed, can be moved by means of a conveyor belt or the like. Meanwhile, the cell gripper 10 includes a housing 100 and a gripping assembly 200 mounted inside the housing 100. The gripping assembly 200 includes a cell support base 210 having a cell mounting groove formed therein into which a cell is inserted from above to be mounted, a pair of pinion gears 220 mounted on both sides of the cell support base 210 and converting the linear movement of the cell support base 210 in the vertical direction into rotational movement, a pair of gear frames 230 coupled to the pair of pinion gears 220 and transmitting the rotational movement of the pinion gears 220, and a pair of cell fixing members 240 mounted on the ends of the pair of gear frames 230 and applying pressure from both sides to fix the cell mounted in the cell mounting groove.

[0055] As a result, the cell transfer device 1 according to the present invention can prevent the cells from slipping off and minimize the time required for a separate positioning process, thereby improving tact time and improving productivity without increasing the load factor of the device. The detailed configuration of the cell gripper 10 in the cell transfer device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the resulting effects can be understood in the same way as in the first embodiment.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the appended claims can be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Cell transfer device 10 Cell Gripper 20 Stationary stand 100 Housing 200 Grip Assembly 210 Cell support stand 211 Rack gear 212 Connecting part 220 pinion gear 230 gear frame 230-1 1st frame 230-2 2nd frame 230-3 3rd frame 240 Cell fixing member 241 Pressure section 242 Joint 250 Elastic member

Claims

1. Housing and a grip assembly mounted within the housing; The grip assembly includes: a cell support base having a cell mounting groove formed therein into which the battery cell is inserted from above and mounted; a pair of pinion gears provided on both sides of the cell support base, which convert the vertical linear motion of the cell support base into rotational motion; a pair of gear frames coupled to the pair of pinion gears and transmitting rotational motion of the pinion gears; a pair of cell fixing members provided at the ends of the pair of gear frames and configured to apply pressure from both sides to fix the battery cells attached to the cell attachment grooves; The grip assembly includes: The pair of pinion gears rotate as the cell support base is lowered, and the rotation of the pair of pinion gears causes the pair of gear frames and the pair of cell fixing members to move toward the cell mounting grooves, applying pressure to the battery cells from both sides to fix them in place. Cell gripper.

2. The grip assembly includes: The cell gripper according to claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member provided at a lower portion of the cell support stand to apply a biasing force in the up and down direction of the cell support stand.

3. The cell support base is a pair of rack gears spaced apart from each other and having a length in the vertical direction, the rack gears having sawtooth formed on their outer surfaces; The cell gripper according to claim 1 , further comprising: a connecting portion provided at a lower portion of the pair of rack gears to connect the pair of rack gears to each other.

4. The cell mounting groove is The cell gripper according to claim 3 , wherein the pair of rack gears are formed to have a U-shaped vertical cross section by inner surfaces facing each other and connecting portions provided at the lower portions of the pair of rack gears.

5. The pinion gear is a shaft through-hole penetrating through both side surfaces of the pinion gear is formed at a position corresponding to the imaginary rotation axis, The cell gripper according to claim 1 , wherein a coupling protrusion is formed to protrude outward from a side surface on which the shaft through-hole is formed.

6. The gear frame includes: a first frame coupled to a side surface of the pinion gear; a second frame coupled to the first frame at one side and to the cell fixing member at the other side, The first frame is a shaft through hole of the pinion gear at one side thereof, the shaft through hole being positioned to correspond to the pinion gear and being coupled to the pinion gear; The other side is connected to the second frame, The cell gripper according to claim 1 , wherein the cell gripper is coupled with a coupling protrusion of the pinion gear between the one side and the other side.

7. The gear frame includes: The cell gripper of claim 6 , further comprising a third frame coupled to the second frame on one side and rotatably coupled to the housing on the other side.

8. The third frame is The cell gripper according to claim 7 , wherein the cell gripper is coupled to the second frame so as to be positioned between the cell fixing member and the first frame.

9. The cell fixing member is a pressure applying portion having a flat surface; The cell gripper according to claim 6 , further comprising a pair of connecting portions bent rearward from both sides of the pressure portion.

10. The second frame is The cell gripper according to claim 9 , wherein the other side of the first frame, which is opposite to the one side to which the first frame is coupled, is inserted between the pair of coupling portions and rotatably coupled.

11. The housing includes: The cell gripper according to claim 1 , wherein a notch groove having a U-shaped vertical cross section is formed at a position opposite to the cell mounting groove.

12. The notch groove is The cell gripper according to claim 11 , which is formed larger than the size of the cell mounting groove.

13. At least one cell gripper; a base that fixes the cell gripper at a lower portion of the cell gripper, The cell gripper Housing and a grip assembly mounted within the housing; The grip assembly includes: a cell support base having a cell mounting groove formed therein into which the battery cell is inserted from above and mounted; a pair of pinion gears provided on both sides of the cell support base, which convert the vertical linear motion of the cell support base into rotational motion; a pair of gear frames coupled to the pair of pinion gears and transmitting rotational motion of the pinion gears; a pair of cell fixing members provided at the ends of the pair of gear frames and configured to apply pressure from both sides to fix the battery cells attached to the cell attachment grooves; The grip assembly includes: The pair of pinion gears rotate as the cell support base is lowered, and the rotation of the pair of pinion gears causes the pair of gear frames and the pair of cell fixing members to move toward the cell mounting grooves, applying pressure to the battery cells from both sides to fix them in place. Cell transfer device.

Citation Information

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