Aging System

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aging system for aging a plurality of cells, comprising: a plurality of chambers configured in multiple stages, each stage housing a cell; and a crane unit provided adjacent to the chambers, for transporting and transferring the cells to each stage of the chambers, the crane unit including an upper frame, a lower frame, a pair of masts connecting the upper frame and the lower frame, and a lifting unit coupled to the masts so as to be guided by the masts and to be raised and lowered up and down, the crane unit further including at least one air conditioning fan for blowing air to circulate the air so as to uniformly distribute the temperature of each cell housed in the chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aging system for aging a plurality of cells. Specifically, the present invention relates to an aging system that can be adjusted to minimize the temperature deviation of each cell while aging a plurality of cells housed therein.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0161390, filed on November 28, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are included as part of this specification.

Background Art

[0003] As the demand for high-performance mobile devices increases, the performance improvement of secondary batteries, especially the demand for performance improvement of batteries, has increased rapidly.

[0004] Particularly, medium or large devices such as notebook computers, portable DVDs, small PCs, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles require the use of battery modules including a large number of battery cells due to output and capacity problems.

[0005] A battery module is manufactured through a process of assembling battery cells and a process of activating the battery. In the activation stage of the battery, the battery cells are mounted on a predetermined jig and charged under the conditions required for activation. Conventional secondary batteries such as nickel-cadmium batteries and lead-acid batteries can be used immediately after production, so the charge and discharge device was only necessary for performance evaluation. However, in the case of lithium secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries and lithium polymer batteries that are widely used in recent years, the performance as a battery is completed only through a process of performing predetermined charge and discharge after manufacturing, that is, a forming process. Therefore, the charge and discharge device has become an essential facility in the production line of secondary batteries.

[0006] Charge and discharge devices perform a function of imparting the characteristics of secondary batteries by repeating several charging and discharging processes so that the first battery assembled during the secondary battery manufacturing process can store electrical energy. With the surge in demand for secondary batteries and the resulting increase in supply, efficient control of charge and discharge machines that perform the charging and discharging function during the secondary battery production stage became necessary.

[0007] In such a charging and discharging device, the completed battery cells are moved to the next process by a stacker crane (hereinafter referred to as "crane") which transports trays on which the battery cells are loaded.

[0008] Figure 1 shows a stacker crane 20 for moving trays T, and a chamber 1 into which the trays T transported by the stacker crane 20 are loaded. As shown in Figure 1, the stacker crane 20 is provided to move horizontally along guide rails R located side by side at the top and bottom, respectively, and raises and lowers a lifting unit 30 on which trays T are secured, to transmit and load the trays T to each level of the target chamber 1, or conversely, to remove the loaded trays T.

[0009] As described above, the tray T loaded in chamber 1 and the battery cells contained in tray T can undergo aging under a variety of temperature conditions.

[0010] However, the chambers 1 commonly used are enormous in size, and since countless trays T are stacked in each chamber 1, a problem can arise where the temperature is uneven across different areas. In other words, each tray T and battery cell is aged under uneven temperature conditions, which may result in the inability to obtain standardized battery cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Korean Published Patent No. 10-2015-0026521 [Patent Document 2] Korean Published Patent No. 10-1998-0040131 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] Therefore, the present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to minimize the temperature difference between the chambers in which each cell is housed during the aging process of multiple cells, thereby homogenizing the performance and quality of each cell.

[0013] Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood from the following description and will be more clearly seen from the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations set forth in the claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] According to the present invention, the present invention relates to an aging system for aging multiple cells, The present invention provides an aging system comprising: a plurality of chambers arranged in multiple stages, each chamber housing a cell; and a crane unit provided adjacent to the chambers for transporting and transferring cells to each stage of the chambers, wherein the crane unit comprises an upper frame, a lower frame, a pair of masts connecting the upper frame and the lower frame, and a lifting unit connected to the masts so as to be guided by the masts and movable up and down, and the crane unit further comprises at least one air conditioning fan that blows air to circulate air so as to ensure a uniform temperature distribution among the cells housed in the chambers.

[0015] The above-mentioned air conditioning fan is mounted on the above-mentioned mast and is capable of blowing air horizontally.

[0016] A plurality of air-conditioning fans are coupled to the one mast, and the air-conditioning fans may be provided at predetermined intervals along the mast.

[0017] The lifting unit includes a base plate and support walls coupled to both sides of the base plate and coupled to the mast slidably with respect to the mast, and the air-conditioning fans may be coupled to both end portions of the support walls.

[0018] The air-conditioning fans may be respectively coupled to a pair of support walls coupled to both sides of the base plate.

[0019] The air-conditioning fans may be coupled to the upper frame.

[0020] The air-conditioning fans may be coupled to the upper frame so as to be perpendicular to the extending direction of the mast so as to blow air in the vertical direction.

[0021] The air-conditioning fans may be coupled to the upper frame so as to be horizontal in the extending direction of the mast so as to blow air in the horizontal direction.

[0022] The crane unit may be provided to be horizontally movable so as to transport and transfer cells to each chamber.

[0023] Between the adjacent chambers, a guide rail extending so as to pass through between the chambers is included, and the crane unit may be slidably coupled to the guide rail.

[0024] The chamber may further include a heating unit that heats each accommodated cell.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] According to the present invention, during the process of aging a plurality of cells, the temperature deviation between the chambers in which each cell is accommodated is minimized, the performance and quality of each cell are made uniform, and the efficiency and yield of the cell activation process are improved, thereby obtaining a cost reduction effect for the cells.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It shows a conventional aging system. [Figure 2] It shows an aging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of a crane unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It shows a side view of the crane unit in FIG. 3 above. [Figure 5] It shows the movement of the crane unit moving between chambers and the resulting air movement. [Figure 6] It shows a modified example of the crane unit included in the aging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It briefly shows a side view of the crane unit in FIG. 6 above. [Figure 8] It shows an aging system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It shows a side view of the crane unit included in the aging system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of a crane unit included in the aging system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It shows a side view of the crane unit in FIG. 10 above. [Figure 12] It shows a modified example of the crane unit included in the aging system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before that, however, the terms and words used herein and in the claims should not be interpreted to be limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather to be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that an inventor may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe his own invention.

[0028] Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings represent only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical concept of the present invention; there are various equivalents and modifications that can substitute for them at the time of filing.

[0029] Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function would likely obscure the gist of the invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0030] Since embodiments of the present invention are provided to give a more complete explanation to an ordinary person of the art, the shapes and sizes of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown schematically for the sake of clarity. Accordingly, the sizes and proportions of each component do not fully reflect the actual sizes and proportions.

[0031] The present invention relates to an aging system for aging multiple cells, characterized in that the aging system of the present invention minimizes the temperature difference of each cell while aging the multiple cells by applying an air conditioning fan 250 to a crane unit 200 that moves between each chamber 100 in which the cells are housed.

[0032] Figures 2 to 7 relate to an aging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figures 8 to 9 relate to an aging system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 10 to 12 relate to an aging system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] The aging system of the present invention will be described below in terms of its various embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0034] The cell manufacturing process broadly consists of electrode manufacturing, assembly, activation, and packaging / shipping. The activation process involves storing the cells, which have been transferred from the assembly process, for a certain period of time to age them, and then repeatedly charging and discharging them to improve battery performance. Such an activation process can be carried out through a multi-tiered chamber 100 as shown in Figure 1. Multiple trays containing cells arranged laterally can be installed in one tier of the chamber 100.

[0035] The trays to be placed in each of the above chambers 100 are transported by a crane unit 200. That is, when the crane unit 200 reaches a specific position, it operates a lifting unit 240 to move the tray to be transported to a specific level in the chamber 100.

[0036] The tray described above may contain multiple cells, and each of the cells may be electrically connected to the tray.

[0037] The chamber 100 may have a structure that allows it to be electrically connected to the tray so that each cell housed in the tray can be charged and discharged.

[0038] (First Embodiment) Figure 2 shows an aging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The aging system of the present invention includes a chamber 100 and a crane unit 200, as shown in Figure 2 above.

[0040] The aging system of the present invention includes at least one chamber 100, which are spaced apart at predetermined intervals so that a crane unit 200 can move and pass between them.

[0041] Each of the above chambers 100 is composed of multiple stages, as shown in Figure 2, and multiple trays containing cells can be arranged and installed in each stage.

[0042] Guide rails R may be installed between each of the above-mentioned chambers 100, as shown in the figure, and the guide rails R are formed to extend in a shape that penetrates between a pair of opposing and adjacent chambers 100.

[0043] The crane unit 200 can be guided and passed between each of the above-mentioned chambers 100 along the guide rail R.

[0044] The guide rail R described above can be formed to be connectable to at least one of the upper and lower parts of the crane unit 200.

[0045] The aging system of the present invention includes a pair of guide rails R that are coupled to both the upper and lower parts of the crane unit 200 so as to be able to stably support and guide the crane unit 200. In this case, the pair of guide rails R maintain a horizontal position relative to each other with respect to the vertical direction.

[0046] The crane unit 200 is slidably coupled to the guide rail R and can move along the direction in which the guide rail R extends.

[0047] The chamber 100 may further include a heating unit (not shown) that applies heat to trays housed in each stage and to a plurality of cells contained in the trays.

[0048] In order to achieve the above cell performance, the cell must be left at a high temperature for a specific period of time, and a heating unit is necessary to create this high-temperature environment.

[0049] The type of heating unit described above is not particularly limited; any device capable of transferring heat to each tray and cell via radiation can be used.

[0050] Since the chambers 100 included in the aging system of the present invention may be kept close together, air circulation in the area where the chambers 100 are located may not be smooth. This phenomenon can result in uneven heat transfer to different areas, making it impossible to leave the cells in the same environment. Therefore, multiple cells that are not aged in the same environment may show significant differences in cell performance.

[0051] The aging system of the present invention is characterized by controlling a crane unit 200, which is a device that transports trays containing cells while moving back and forth between such chambers 100, to induce air circulation between the chambers 100, thereby minimizing temperature deviations between each chamber 100 or between each tray.

[0052] The crane unit 200 is provided adjacent to the chamber 100 and plays a role in transporting and transmitting cells to each stage of the chamber 100.

[0053] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a crane unit 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a simplified side view of the crane unit 200 shown in Figure 3.

[0054] The crane unit 200, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, includes an upper frame 210, a lower frame 220, a pair of masts 230 connecting the upper frame 210 and the lower frame 220, and a lifting unit 240 that is connected to the masts 230 and is guided by the masts 230 so as to be able to move up and down.

[0055] The upper frame 210 is slidably connected to the guide rail R located on the upper part of the crane unit 200, and the lower frame 220 is slidably connected to the guide rail R located on the lower part of the crane unit 200.

[0056] The pair of masts 230 described above are joined together so as to connect both ends of the upper frame 210 and the lower frame 220, respectively.

[0057] A drive device capable of driving the lifting unit 240 up and down can be connected to one side of the mast 230.

[0058] The lifting unit 240 described above secures the tray containing the cells and moves the tray up and down to each level of the chamber 100.

[0059] The lifting unit 240 and the drive device can be connected by a wire.

[0060] When the wire is wound up by the operation of the above-mentioned drive device, the lifting unit 240 moves upward, and when the wire is unwound, the lifting unit 240 moves downward.

[0061] The lifting unit 240 is slidably coupled to the inner surfaces of a pair of masts 230, which are spaced apart at a predetermined distance from each other.

[0062] As shown in Figure 4, the lifting unit 240 can move up and down reciprocally along the mast 230. At this time, the inner surface of the mast 230 may include a separate lifting rail so that the lifting unit 240 can slide, and the lifting unit 240 is slidably coupled to the lifting rail included in the mast 230.

[0063] The lifting unit 240 includes a base plate 241 that supports the lower part of the tray, as shown in the figure, and support walls 242 that are connected to both sides of the base plate 241 and are slidably connected to the mast 230.

[0064] The support wall 242 is a part that is supported and directly connected to the lifting rail included in the inner surface of the mast 230, and plays a role in supporting and protecting both sides of the tray that is fixed on the base plate 241.

[0065] The crane unit 200 included in the aging system of the present invention is further characterized by including at least one air conditioning fan 250 that blows air to circulate the air so that the temperature distribution of each cell housed in the chamber 100 becomes uniform.

[0066] The fan included in the above-mentioned air conditioning fan 250 is formed to be able to blow air in one direction.

[0067] An aging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the air conditioning fan 250 is coupled to the support wall 242 of the crane.

[0068] Specifically, the crane unit 200 is equipped with a pair of air conditioning fans 250 positioned opposite each other at both ends of one of the support walls 242.

[0069] Preferably, the pair of air conditioning fans 250 described above are configured to blow air outwards with respect to the crane unit 200.

[0070] The air conditioning fan 250, which is coupled to the lifting unit 240, can blow air while moving up and down along the lifting unit 240, as shown in Figure 4.

[0071] The crane unit 200 moves between the chambers 100 along the guide rail R via the air conditioning fan 250 configuration described above, blowing air into each chamber 100.

[0072] More specifically, the crane unit 200 moves horizontally along the guide rail R, blowing air between each chamber 100 using the air conditioning fan 250. The crane unit 200 can also blow air above and below each chamber 100, for example, from the topmost level to the bottommost level, by raising and lowering the lifting unit 240 and the air conditioning fan 250 connected to the lifting unit 240.

[0073] In other words, the air conditioning fan 250 blows air between the chambers 100 located on both sides of the crane unit 200, inducing convective circulation of air. By inducing such air circulation, heat accumulated in a particular area can spread to the surrounding area along the circulation, and as a result, temperature deviations can be reduced between the chambers 100 included in all areas where the crane unit 200 moves.

[0074] Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the chambers 100 and crane unit 200 included in the aging system of the present invention, in order to briefly illustrate the air movement Ma by the crane unit 200 moving between the chambers 100.

[0075] Referring to Figure 5 above, a guide rail R is formed to extend across a plurality of chambers 100 that are arranged facing each other, and the crane unit 200 moves along the guide rail R.

[0076] As the crane unit 200 moves, it simultaneously blows air in both directions using the air conditioning fans 250, and air circulation Ma is performed between each chamber 100 by the movement of the crane unit 200 and the operation of the air conditioning fans 250.

[0077] Therefore, heat that is unevenly distributed in each chamber 100 or any one of the chambers 100 can be circulated and moved to the lower temperature area by the air circulation Ma described above.

[0078] Figure 6 shows a modified example of the crane unit 200 included in the aging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 7 shows a simplified side view of the crane unit 200 in Figure 6.

[0079] As shown in Figure 6 above, the crane unit 200 has air conditioning fans 250 attached to both sides of the base plate 241.

[0080] Specifically, the air conditioning fan 250 is connected to a pair of support walls 242 that are connected to both sides of the base plate 241. At this time, each air conditioning fan 250 is connected to both ends of each support wall 242.

[0081] The crane unit 200, having a structure as shown in Figures 6 and 7, is equipped with air conditioning fans 250 at the front and rear, respectively, which allows for more effective circulation of heat and air between each chamber 100 or each tray.

[0082] (Second Embodiment) The aging system according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the aging system according to the first embodiment in that, while the air conditioning fan 250 included in the crane unit 200 is installed in a lifting unit 240 that moves up and down, the air conditioning fan 250 is fixedly installed on the mast 230.

[0083] Figure 8 shows an aging system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 9 shows a simplified side view of a crane unit 200 included in the aging system according to the second embodiment.

[0084] As shown in Figures 8 and 9 above, the lifting unit 240 consists of multiple air conditioning fans 250 arranged and coupled along a mast 230 at predetermined intervals.

[0085] As described above, the air conditioning fan 250 attached to the mast 230 blows air horizontally.

[0086] A single mast 230 is connected to multiple air conditioning fans 250, and these air conditioning fans 250 are arranged along the mast 230 at predetermined intervals from each other.

[0087] In other words, the crane unit 200 of the aging system according to the second embodiment can induce air circulation by blowing air at all heights, even when the lifting unit 240 is not being raised or lowered.

[0088] It is preferable that the air conditioning fans 250 connected in sequence along the mast 230 are connected alternately such that the airflow directions of adjacent air conditioning fans 250 are in opposite directions.

[0089] (Third embodiment) The aging system according to the third embodiment of the present invention differs from the aging system according to the first embodiment in that, while the air conditioning fan 250 included in the crane unit 200 is installed in a lifting unit 240 that moves up and down, the air conditioning fan 250 is fixed to the upper frame 210.

[0090] In other words, the air conditioning fan 250 is connected to the upper frame 210 so as to be perpendicular to the extension direction of the mast 230, so as to blow air in an upward and downward direction.

[0091] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a crane unit 200 included in the aging system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 11 is a simplified side view of the crane unit 200 in Figure 10.

[0092] As described above, the air conditioning fan 250, which is connected to the upper frame 210, blows air upwards or downwards.

[0093] Figure 11 is an example showing that the air conditioning fan 250 is coupled to blow air downwards, and the air is moved downwards by the air conditioning fan 250 and then spreads out to the surroundings.

[0094] Since the crane unit 200 moves horizontally around the chamber 100 along the guide rail R, it can effectively send the heat accumulated at the top downwards, thereby reducing the vertical temperature difference within the chamber 100.

[0095] The air conditioning fan 250, which is coupled to the upper frame 210 mentioned above, can also be coupled in a way that it blows air horizontally.

[0096] Figure 12 shows a modified example of a crane included in the aging system according to the third embodiment, in which the air conditioning fan 250 is coupled to the upper frame 210 so as to be horizontal in the extension direction of the mast 230, so as to blow air horizontally. In this case, the crane unit 200 can blow air only to the upper part of each chamber 100 so that heat accumulated in a specific area at the top of each chamber 100 can be quickly moved to the surrounding area.

[0097] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described herein are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, at the time of filing, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can substitute for them. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1: (Conventional technology) Chamber 20: (Conventional technology) Stacker crane 30: (Conventional technology) Lifting unit 100: Chamber 200: Crane Unit 210: Upper frame 220: Lower frame 230: Mast 240: Lifting Unit 241: Base plate 242: Support wall 250: Air conditioning fan R: Guide rail Ma: Air movement (circulation)

Claims

1. An aging system for aging multiple cells, It consists of multiple stages, with each stage containing multiple chambers that house cells, The chamber includes a crane unit provided adjacent to the chamber for transporting and transferring cells to each stage of the chamber, The aforementioned crane unit is The upper frame and Lower frame and A pair of masts connecting the upper frame and the lower frame, It includes a lifting unit that is guided by the mast and coupled to the mast so as to be able to move up and down, The crane unit further includes at least one air conditioning fan that blows air to circulate the air so that the temperature distribution of each cell housed in the chamber becomes uniform. The chamber further includes a heating unit that applies heat to each of the contained cells. Aging system.

2. The aforementioned air conditioning fan is mounted on the mast and blows air horizontally. The aging system according to claim 1.

3. Multiple air conditioning fans are connected to one of the aforementioned masts. The aforementioned air conditioning fans are provided along the mast at predetermined intervals. The aging system according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned lifting unit includes a base plate and The base plate includes support walls that are coupled to both sides of the base plate and are slidably coupled to the mast, The air conditioning fan is provided, coupled to both ends of the support wall. The aging system according to claim 1.

5. The air conditioning fan is connected to a pair of support walls, which are connected to both sides of the base plate. The aging system according to claim 4.

6. The air conditioning fan is coupled to the upper frame, The aging system according to claim 1.

7. The air conditioning fan is connected to the upper frame so as to blow air in an upward and downward direction, perpendicular to the extension direction of the mast. The aging system according to claim 6.

8. The air conditioning fan is connected to the upper frame so as to be horizontal in the direction of extension of the mast, so as to blow air horizontally. The aging system according to claim 6.

9. The crane unit is provided to be horizontally movable to transport and transfer cells to each of the chambers, The aging system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Between the adjacent chambers, a guide rail is included, which is extended and formed to pass through the space between the chambers. The crane unit is slidably coupled to the guide rail, The aging system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. Each stage of the chamber includes a tray space in which multiple trays containing multiple cells are arranged and secured. The tray is fixed in the tray space so as to be electrically connected to the chamber. The aging system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. Multiple cells housed in a tray secured in the aforementioned tray space undergo charging and discharging. The aging system according to claim 11.

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