Battery tray pressure device

Abstract

To provide a pressurizing device for a battery tray.SOLUTION: A battery tray pressurizing device includes a base, a compression force generating module, a fixing module, and a controller. The compression force generating module and the fixing module are provided on the base. The controller is electrically connected to the compression force generating module and the fixing module. The controller controls the fixing module to be coupled between the compression force generating module and the battery tray, and controls the compression force generating module to apply a compression force to a support plate of the battery tray, so that the support plate applies pressure to a pressure plate of the battery tray via a spring, thereby restraining batteries on a plurality of partition plates of the battery tray.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to battery formation technology, and more particularly to a pressurizing device that pressurizes a battery tray to constrain and shape the battery. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, semi-finished lithium batteries (i.e., soft-pack lithium batteries) must first undergo a formation process before being manufactured into a finished product. Formation refers to the process of storing electrical energy by passing electricity through a soft-pack lithium battery to gradually solidify the fluid-state chemical components within the battery. However, because soft-pack lithium batteries are made by filling fluid-state chemical components into a flexible pouch, they gradually expand during the formation process. Therefore, how to prevent excessive expansion of soft-pack lithium batteries has been one of the challenges that need to be resolved during the formation process. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] In view of the above circumstances, the present inventors have proposed a battery tray pressure device used to pressurize and shape soft-pack lithium batteries, thereby preventing expansion of the soft-pack lithium batteries during chemical formation by applying a uniform external force to the battery tray. In some embodiments, the battery tray includes a frame, a pressure plate, a support plate, multiple partition plates, and at least one spring. The pressure plate, support plate, and multiple partition plates are coupled to the frame, and at least one spring is provided between the pressure plate and the support plate. At least one battery is provided on each partition plate. The pressure device includes a base, a compression force generating module, a fixing module, and a controller. The compression force generating module is provided on the base, and the fixing module is also provided on the base. The controller is electrically connected to the compression force generating module and the fixing module. The controller is used to control the fixing module to be coupled between the compression force generating module and the frame of the battery tray, and the controller is used to control the compression force generating module to apply a compression force to the support plate of the battery tray, so that the support plate applies pressure to the pressure plate via at least one spring, thereby restraining at least one battery on the multiple partition plates.

[0004] In some embodiments, the compression force generating module includes a mounting holder and a thrust generator. The mounting holder is coupled to the base. The thrust generator is provided on the mounting holder. The frame includes a fixing plate. The fixing module includes at least one locking arm, and both ends of the at least one locking arm are latched to the mounting holder and the fixing plate, respectively, in response to a controller controlling the fixing module to be coupled between the compression force generating module and the frame.

[0005] In some embodiments, the compression force generating module further includes a displacement generating means and a guide rail, the displacement generating means and the guide rail are provided on a base, the mounting holder is coupled to the guide rail, and the displacement generating means is electrically connected to the controller and is used to slide the mounting holder under the control of the controller.

[0006] In some embodiments, the fixing module further includes an actuator, the actuator coupled to the base and electrically connected to the controller, the locking arm coupled to the actuator, and the controller further used to control the actuator to move the locking arm toward or away from the mounting holder and the fixing plate.

[0007] In some embodiments, the fixation module further includes a first slide member and a second slide member, the first slide member is coupled to the locking arm and the locking arm slides along a first direction through the first slide member, and the second slide member is disposed between the first slide member and the base and coupled to the actuator and the locking arm slides along a second direction through the second slide member.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fixing module further includes a mounting plate and an elastic member. The mounting plate is disposed between the first slide member and the second slide member, the actuator has a movable part coupled to the mounting plate, and each locking arm has a stopper part, and the elastic member is disposed between the mounting plate and the stopper part.

[0009] In some embodiments, the compression force generating module includes a mounting holder and a thrust generator. The mounting holder is mounted on a base. The thrust generator is mounted on the mounting holder. The frame includes a fixing plate, and the fixing module includes at least one locking arm, one end of which is hingedly coupled to the mounting holder. In response to control by the controller to couple the fixing module between the compression force generating module and the frame, the other end of the locking arm is respectively hooked to the mounting holder and the fixing plate.

[0010] In some embodiments, the fixation module further includes an actuator, a first slide member, and a second slide member. The actuator is provided on the base and electrically connected to the controller. The first slide member is coupled to the lock arm. The second slide member is provided between the first slide member and the base and coupled to the actuator. In response to the controller controlling the actuator to move the other end of the lock arm toward or away from the mounting holder and the fixation plate, the lock arm slides along a first direction via the first slide member and the second slide member slides along a second direction via the second slide member. In some embodiments, the fixing module further includes a pivot member provided between the first slide member and the second slide member, and the first slide member and the second slide member are pivoted relative to each other via the pivot member.

[0011] In some other embodiments, a battery tray pressurizing device includes a base, a compression force generating module, a fixing module, and a controller. The compression force generating module includes a thrust generator and an attachment holder, the attachment holder is coupled to the base, and the thrust generator is mounted on the attachment holder. The fixing module includes a pair of actuators and a pair of locking arms, the pair of actuators are mounted on the base, and each locking arm is coupled to each actuator, and is mounted on both sides of the compression force generating module and on both sides of the battery tray. The controller is electrically connected to the thrust generator and the pair of actuators, and is used to control the pair of actuators to couple each locking arm between the attachment holder and the battery tray, respectively, to maintain the distance between the compression force generating module and the battery tray within a specific range, and the controller is used to control the thrust generator to apply a compressive force to the battery tray. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In summary, according to any embodiment, the battery tray compression device can apply a compressive force to the battery tray via the compression force generating module to compress and shape the batteries on the partition plate of the battery tray. The two ends of the locking arm are respectively connected to the mounting holder of the compression force generating module and the fixing plate of the battery tray, thereby preventing displacement when the battery tray is subjected to the compressive force, which prevents the compression force generating module from smoothly applying the compressive force to the battery tray, and thus preventing the batteries from being effectively compressed and shaped. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a module block diagram according to an embodiment of a pressure device. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of a pressure device and a battery tray, where the battery tray is not yet in the pressure position. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the battery tray in a pressurized state. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a top view of the battery tray in a pressurized state with the spacing device omitted. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a pressure device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of one embodiment of the compression force generating module of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of the fastening module of FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the fixation module of FIG. 5. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view of a pressure device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of one embodiment of the compression force generating module of FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of the fastening module of FIG. 9. [Figure 12] 10 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the fixation module of FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4 which show the pressing device 1 and the battery tray 2. The pressure applying device 1 comprises a base 10, a compression force generating module 11, a fixing module 12, and a controller 13, both of which are mounted on the base 10, and the controller 13 is electrically connected to the compression force generating module 11 and the fixing module 12.

[0015] In some embodiments, the battery tray 2 includes a frame 20, a pressure plate 21, a support plate 22, a plurality of partition plates 23, and four springs 24, and the pressure plate 21, the support plate 22, and the plurality of partition plates 23 are coupled to the frame 20 and are therefore movable relative to the frame 20. The springs 24 are provided between the pressure plate 21 and the support plate 22. In some embodiments, the battery tray 2 is used to store soft-pack lithium batteries, i.e., a soft-pack lithium battery (not shown) is fixed to each side of the partition plate 23. The frame 20 has a fixing plate 200.

[0016] Example 1 Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, FIGS. 5 to 8 show an exemplary embodiment of a first embodiment of a pressing device 1 for a battery tray 2. FIG. As shown in Figures 5 to 8, in this embodiment, the compression force generating module 11 of the pressurizing device 1 for the battery tray 2 has an attachment holder 110 and a thrust generator 111, the attachment holder 110 is connected to the base 10, and the thrust generator 111 is mounted on the attachment holder 110. In some embodiments, the securing module 12 has a pair of locking arms 120, but is not limited to this, and the locking arms 120 may be a single or multiple.

[0017] In this embodiment, when the pressure device 1 for the battery tray 2 starts to operate, the controller 13 controls the fixing module 12 to be coupled between the compression force generating module 11 and the frame 20 of the battery tray 2 . In some embodiments, both ends of each locking arm 120 are coupled to the mounting holder 110 and the fixed plate 200, respectively, in a hooking manner.

[0018] In some embodiments, the fixation module 12 further includes a pair of actuators 121 coupled to the base 10 and electrically connected to the controller 13 . Each actuator 121 is coupled to a corresponding lock arm 120 , and the controller 13 controls the actuators 121 of the fixing module 12 to move the lock arm 120 toward or away from the mounting holder 110 and the fixing plate 200 . In some embodiments, when the controller 13 controls the fixing module 12 to be coupled between the compression force generating module 11 and the frame 20, the controller 13 controls the actuator 121 to move the locking arms 120 closer to the mounting holder 110 and the fixing plate 200, so that both ends of each locking arm 120 are latched to the mounting holder 110 and the fixing plate 200, respectively.

[0019] In some embodiments, the fixing module 12 further includes a first sliding member 122 and a second sliding member 123, the first sliding member 122 being coupled to the locking arm 120, and the second sliding member 123 being disposed between the first sliding member 122 and the base 10 and coupled to the actuator 121. The first sliding member 122 allows the locking arm 120 to slide along a first direction D1, and when the actuator 121 is activated, the locking arm 120 can move along a second direction D2 via the second sliding member 123.

[0020] In some embodiments, after the fixing module 12 is coupled between the compression force generating module 11 and the frame 20, the controller 13 controls the compression force generating module 11 to apply a compressive force to the support plate 22 of the battery tray 2, and the support plate 22 applies pressure to the pressure plate 21 via the spring 24, thereby restraining at least one battery on the multiple partition plates 23.

[0021] Specifically, in some embodiments, the compression force generating module 11 applies a compression force to the support plate 22 of the battery tray 2 via a thrust generator 111, and one end of the thrust generator 111 has a pressure head 114 and an expandable member 115, and the pressure head 114 faces a first direction D1 and faces one side of the support plate 22 of the battery tray 2 (FIG. 4). In some embodiments, when the compression force generating module 11 applies a compressive force to the support plate 22 of the battery tray 2, the expandable member 115 of the compression force generating module 11 extends, causing the pressure head 114 to contact the support plate 22 and gradually apply a compressive force to the support plate 22. Thereafter, the battery tray 2 is slightly displaced in a direction away from the pressure head 114 (first direction D1), and one end of the lock arm 120 is latched onto the fixing plate 200.

[0022] In some embodiments, when the battery tray 2 is slightly displaced in a direction away from the pressure head 114 (first direction D1), the locking arm 120 may be moved by the fixed plate 200 and slide in the first direction D1 via the first sliding member 122, causing the other end of the locking arm 120 to lock onto the mounting holder 110. At this time, both ends of the locking arm 120 are hooked onto the fixed plate 200 and the mounting holder 110, respectively, so that the distance between the compression force generation module 11 and the battery tray 2 is maintained within a specific range, which is the length of the locking arm 120 in the first direction D1. Therefore, when the compression force generation module 11 continues to apply a compressive force to the battery tray 2, the battery tray 2 is no longer displaced, making it easier to continuously apply a compressive force.

[0023] In some embodiments, when the compression force generating module 11 applies a compressive force to the support plate 22, the support plate 22 transmits the compressive force to the pressure plate 21 via the spring 24, and the pressure plate 21 presses and shapes the batteries (not shown) mounted on the plurality of partition plates 23. In some embodiments, before the compression force generating module 11 applies a compressive force to the battery tray 2, the spring 24 pre-applies a compressive force to the pressure plate 21, causing the plurality of partition plates 23 to closely contact each other and slightly deform the batteries. In addition, the spring 24 can also provide a buffering effect, thereby preventing the pressure head 114 from directly colliding with the pressure plate 21 and preventing the compression force generating module 11 from applying excessive compressive force.

[0024] In some embodiments, when the battery formation is completed, the pressurizing device 1 of the battery tray 2 stops operating, and the controller 13 controls the actuator 121 to drive the locking arm 120 to move away from the mounting holder 110 and the fixed plate 200. The locking arm 120 can slide in the second direction D2 via the second sliding member 123 to move away from the mounting holder 110 and the fixed plate 200 so that the locking arm 120 is not continuously latched to the mounting holder 110 and the fixed plate 200.

[0025] 5 and 6 , the compression force generating module 11 further includes a displacement generating means 112 and a guide rail 113. Both the displacement generating means 112 and the guide rail 113 are mounted on the base 10, and the mounting holder 110 is coupled to the guide rail 113. In some embodiments, the displacement generating means 112 is electrically connected to the controller 13 and controlled by the controller to slide the mounting holder 110. When applying a compressive force to the battery tray 2, the controller 13 controls the displacement generating means 112 to slide the mounting holder 110 away from the battery tray 2 so that the mounting holder 110 is latched onto the other end of the locking arm 120. When the battery formation is completed, the controller 13 controls the mounting holder 110 to slide closer to the battery tray 2 so that the mounting holder 110 can be released from the locking arm 120.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fixing module 12 further includes a mounting plate 124 and an elastic member 125, and the mounting plate 124 is disposed between the first sliding member 122 and the second sliding member 123. As shown in FIG. In some embodiments, the actuator 121 has a movable portion 127, and each locking arm 120 has a stopper portion 126, the movable portion 127 is coupled to the mounting plate 124, and the elastic member 125 is provided between the mounting plate 124 and the stopper portion 126. As a result, the elastic member 125 can be used to more reliably return the locking arm 120 to its initial position, i.e., along the first direction D1, when the pressure device 1 for the battery tray 2 is deactivated, and therefore the actuator 121 for the first direction D1 can be omitted.

[0027] Example 2 1 to 4 and 9 to 12, FIGS. 9 to 12 show an exemplary embodiment of Example 2 of the pressure device 1. FIG. The main difference between this embodiment and the above-described first embodiment is the configuration and arrangement of the fixing module 12. Specifically, as shown in Figures 9 to 12, the actuator 121 is provided on the base 10 and electrically connected to the controller 13, the locking arm 120 is assembled on the first sliding member 122, and the second sliding member 123 is provided between the first sliding member 122 and the base 10, and the second sliding member 123 is coupled to the actuator 121.

[0028] In some embodiments, the fixing module 12 further includes a pivot member 128, which may be a ball bearing and is disposed between the first sliding member 122 and the second sliding member 123, allowing the first sliding member 122 and the second sliding member 123 to pivot relative to each other via the pivot member 128. One end of the locking arm 120 is hinged to the mounting holder 110 by a hinge member 129, which may be a ball bearing. Therefore, when the controller 13 controls the actuator 121 to move the locking arm 120, only the end away from the mounting holder 110 can move toward or away from the fixing plate 200, i.e., the locking arm 120 performs a swinging motion. In this case, the locking arm 120 can slide along a first direction D1 via the first sliding member 122 and along a second direction D2 via the second sliding member 123. Furthermore, the pivot member 128 and the hinge member 129 provide rotational freedom during the swinging process of the lock arm 120.

[0029] In this embodiment, before the pressure device 1 for the battery tray 2 applies a compressive force to the battery tray 2, one end of the locking arm 120 is hooked onto the fixing plate 200 of the battery tray 2 to ensure that the distance between the compression force generating module 11 and the battery tray 2 is maintained within a specific range. The subsequent pressure application operation is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0030] 2, 3 and 4, in some embodiments, a pair of gap maintaining devices 3 are provided on both sides of the battery tray 2. After the battery tray 2 enters the pressurized position, the gap maintaining devices 3 on both sides approach the battery tray 2 to maintain the distance between the partition plates 23 on the battery tray 2, and also supply power to the batteries (not shown) for formation.

[0031] In some embodiments, the thrust generators 111 may be, but are not limited to, screw jack reducers, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, electric cylinders, or linear motors. In some embodiments, the pressure head 114 has a plurality of magnets 4 (FIG. 5), and the support plate 22 of the battery tray 2 is made of a magnetic material. When the formation of the battery is completed, the pressure head 114 moves away from the battery tray 2. At this time, the pressure head 114 attracts the support plate 22 via the magnets 4, allowing the battery tray 2 to approach the mounting holder 110, and the fixing plate 200 of the battery tray 2 is released from the locking arm 120, allowing the locking arm 120 to smoothly return to its initial position.

[0032] In some embodiments, controller 13 may be a hardware element with control capabilities, such as, but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or microcontroller unit (MCU). Note that controller 13 may be any single or multi-processor computing device or system capable of executing computer-readable instructions, such as, but not limited to, a workstation, laptop, client terminal, server, distributed computing system, portable device, or other computing system or device. In its most basic configuration, controller 13 may have at least one processor and system memory.

[0033] In some embodiments, the actuator 121 may be a pneumatic cylinder, an electric cylinder, or a linear motor, and the first sliding member 122 and the second sliding member 123 may be a sliding guide device such as a linear guide, a ball screw, a linear bearing, an air levitation system, or a magnetic levitation system.

[0034] Although the present application has been disclosed as above in the examples, it is not intended to limit the invention of the present application, and a person having ordinary skill in the art to which it pertains can make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, provided that such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims of the present application.

[0035] 1. Pressure device 10 Foundations 11 Compression force generation module 110 Mounting holder 111 Thrust Generator 112 Displacement generating means 113 Guide Rail 114 Pressure head 115 Elastic member 12 Fixing Module 120 Lock Arm 121 Actuator 122 first sliding member 123 second sliding member 124 Loading plate 125 Elastic Member 126 Stopper part 127 Moving parts 128 Pivot member 129 Hinge member 13 Controller 2 Battery Tray 20 frames 200 Fixed plate 21 Pressure plate 22 Bearing plate 23 Divider 24 springs 3 Spacing device 4. Magnets D1 First direction D2 Second direction

Claims

1. A battery tray pressurizing device, the battery tray includes a frame, a pressure plate, a support plate, a plurality of partition plates, and at least one spring; the pressure plate, the support plate, and the plurality of partition plates are coupled to a frame, at least one spring is provided between the pressure plate and the support plate, and at least one battery is provided on each of the partition plates; The pressure device is The base and a compression force generating module provided on the base; a fixing module provided on the base, the fixing module including at least one locking arm and an actuator, the actuator being coupled to the base and the at least one locking arm being coupled to the actuator; a controller electrically connected to the compression force generating module and the actuator of the fixation module; the controller is configured to control the actuator of the fixing module to couple both ends of at least one of the locking arms to the compression force generating module and the frame of the battery tray, respectively, and to control the compression force generating module to apply a compression force to the support plate of the battery tray, so that the support plate applies pressure to the pressure plate via at least one of the springs, thereby restraining at least one of the batteries on the plurality of partition plates.

2. The compression force generating module comprises: a mounting holder coupled to the base; a thrust generator mounted on the mounting holder and electrically connected to the controller; The frame has a fixing plate, 2. The battery tray pressurizing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator of the fixing module so that both ends of at least one of the locking arms are latched to the mounting holder and the fixing plate, respectively, and to control the thrust generator to apply a compressive force to the support plate of the battery tray.

3. The compression force generating module comprises: a displacement generating means provided on the base; a guide rail provided on the base, 3. The battery tray pressing device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting holder is coupled to the guide rail, and the displacement generating means is electrically connected to the controller and controlled by the controller to slide the mounting holder.

4. the fixing module has a first sliding member and a second sliding member; the first slide member is coupled to at least one of the locking arms, and the at least one locking arm slides through the first slide member along a first direction; 3. The battery tray pressurizing device according to claim 2, wherein the second sliding member is provided between the first sliding member and the base and is coupled to the actuator, and the at least one locking arm slides through the second sliding member along a second direction.

5. At least one of the lock arms has a stopper portion, the fixed module further includes a mounting plate provided between the first sliding member and the second sliding member, and an elastic member provided between the mounting plate and the stopper portion, 5. The battery tray pressurizing device according to claim 4, wherein the actuator has a movable part coupled to the mounting plate.

6. A battery tray pressurizing device, the battery tray includes a frame, a pressure plate, a support plate, a plurality of partition plates, and at least one spring; the pressure plate, the support plate, and the plurality of partition plates are coupled to the frame, the frame having a fixing plate, at least one spring is provided between the pressure plate and the support plate, and at least one battery is provided on each of the partition plates; The pressure device is The base and a compression force generating module provided on the base; a fixing module provided on the base, the fixing module including at least one locking arm and an actuator, the actuator being coupled to the base and the at least one locking arm being coupled to the actuator; a controller electrically connected to the compression force generating module and the actuator of the fixation module; the compression force generating module includes an attachment holder provided on the base, and a thrust generator provided on the attachment holder and electrically connected to the controller; At least one of the locking arms has one end hinged to the mounting holder; the controller controls the actuator of the fixing module so that the other end of at least one of the lock arms is engaged with the fixing plate, and controls the thrust generator to apply a compressive force to the support plate of the battery tray, causing the support plate to press the pressure plate via at least one of the springs, thereby restraining at least one of the batteries on each of the plurality of partition plates.

7. the fixing module further includes a first sliding member coupled to the pair of locking arms, and a second sliding member provided between the first sliding member and the base and coupled to the actuator; 7. The battery tray pressurizing device according to claim 6, wherein the pair of locking arms slide along a first direction via the first sliding member and slide along a second direction via the second sliding member in response to the controller controlling the actuator to move the other end of at least one of the locking arms toward or away from the fixed plate.

8. 8. The battery tray pressing device according to claim 7, wherein the fixing module further comprises a pivot member provided between the first sliding member and the second sliding member, the first sliding member and the second sliding member being pivoted relative to each other through the pivot member.

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