Battery exchange device

Abstract

To provide a battery replacement apparatus which enables each of a plurality of batteries having different sizes to be mounted on a vehicle body of an electric vehicle.SOLUTION: A battery replacement apparatus replaces a first battery mounted on a vehicle body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery. The battery replacement apparatus includes: an acquisition part for acquiring size information exhibiting a specified size on the basis of specification of the size of the second battery; a mounting base which is relatively moved to the vehicle body in a state in which the second battery is mounted so as to mount the second battery having the specified size to the vehicle body; and an adjustment part for adjusting a mounting position on the mounting base of the second battery, on the basis of the size information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a battery swapping device.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-192783 (Patent Document 1) discloses a battery swapping device for swapping the battery of an electric vehicle. The battery swapping device removes the battery attached to the electric vehicle and attaches a charged battery to the electric vehicle. Each of the battery removed from the electric vehicle and the charged battery is transported by a battery placement unit driven below the electric vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The battery swapping device of Patent Document 1 only supports the swapping of batteries of a predetermined one size. Therefore, with this battery swapping device, batteries of different sizes cannot be attached.

[0005] This disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a battery swapping device capable of attaching each of a plurality of batteries of different sizes to the vehicle body of an electric vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to a part of this disclosure, a battery replacement device replaces a first battery mounted on the body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery. The battery replacement device includes an acquisition unit that acquires size information indicating a specified size based on the size of the second battery being specified, a mounting platform that moves relative to the vehicle body with the second battery mounted on it in order to mount the second battery of the specified size onto the vehicle body, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the mounting position of the second battery on the mounting platform based on the size information.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the second battery can be placed on the mounting platform at a position corresponding to its size. Therefore, multiple second batteries of different sizes can be attached to the body of an electric vehicle.

[0008] Preferably, the adjustment unit includes a regulating member that is movable relative to the mounting base and adjusts the mounting position of the second battery on the mounting base by restricting the movement of the second battery on the mounting base, and a position control unit that controls the relative position of the regulating member with respect to the mounting base based on size information.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the position control unit controls the position of the regulating member, allowing the second battery to be placed in a position corresponding to the size of the second battery.

[0010] Preferably, the battery replacement device further includes a transport unit that transports the second battery onto a mounting table by transporting the second battery in a first direction. A regulating member restricts the movement of the second battery in the first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The adjustment unit further includes a drive unit that moves the regulating member in at least one of the first and second directions. A position control unit controls the relative position of the regulating member with respect to the mounting table by driving the drive unit based on size information.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the drive unit and the regulating member can restrict the movement of the second battery in at least one of the X2 directions, which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

[0012] Preferably, the battery replacement device further includes a detection device for detecting the size of a second battery placed on a mounting base, and a determination unit for determining whether the size detected by the detection device matches a specified size.

[0013] With the above configuration, it is possible to check whether a second battery of the specified size is placed on the mounting base before replacing the battery. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this disclosure, it is possible to mount each of several batteries of different sizes onto the body of an electric vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This figure shows a battery replacement device and an electric vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing the vehicle stopping area for the battery replacement device. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the battery mounting platform of a battery replacement device. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a battery replacement device. [Figure 5] This is a state transition diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the stopper part of the adjustment section. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart illustrating the process of installing a battery. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a battery replacement device 100 and an electric vehicle 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery replacement device 100 is a device for replacing a charged battery 101 with a battery 201 attached to a vehicle body 200a of the electric vehicle 200.

[0018] The electric vehicle 200 is a hybrid vehicle capable of traveling using at least one of the powers of a motor and an engine, or travels with a driving force obtained by electric energy. The battery 201 and the battery 101 are storage batteries (secondary batteries) such as a ternary lithium ion battery and a lithium iron phosphate based lithium ion battery. Note that the battery 201 and the battery 101 are examples of the "first battery" and the "second battery" of the present disclosure, respectively.

[0019] The battery replacement device 100 includes a battery replacement station 100a where battery replacement is performed, and a storage 100b where the charged battery 101 is stored. The storage 100b is provided adjacent to the battery replacement station 100a. An entrance / exit 102 for the electric vehicle 200 to enter and exit is provided at the battery replacement station 100a.

[0020] The battery 101 stored in the storage 100b is moved to a temporary placement area 40 provided in a floor area S, and then conveyed to the electric vehicle 200. In the floor area S, a battery placement table 34, a lifting / lowering unit 35, and a conveying unit 36 are provided.

[0021] The battery replacement device 100 includes a control device 10, a detection device 20, and a drive device 30. The control device 10 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, and a communication unit 13. In addition to the program executed by the processor 11, information used in the program (for example, maps, mathematical formulas, and various parameters) is stored in the memory 12. The processor 11 controls the drive device 30.

[0022] The communication unit 13 includes various communication interfaces (I / F). The processor 11 controls the communication unit 13. The communication unit 13 communicates with the DCM (Data Communication Module) of the electric vehicle 200. Communication between the communication unit 13 and the electric vehicle 200 is bidirectional. The communication unit 13 may also communicate with an information processing device 300 (see Figure 4) owned by the user of the electric vehicle 200.

[0023] The electric vehicle 200 transmits vehicle information about itself to the communication unit 13 of the battery exchange device 100. For example, the vehicle information is transmitted to the communication unit 13 when an operation to transmit vehicle information is performed in the navigation system (not shown) of the electric vehicle 200. The electric vehicle 200 transmits the vehicle information before entering the battery exchange device 100. However, the above vehicle information may also be transmitted after the electric vehicle 200 has entered the battery exchange device 100.

[0024] The detection device 20 includes a camera 21 and an image processing unit 22. Details of the detection device 20 will be described later.

[0025] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the vehicle stopping area of ​​the battery replacement device 100. As shown in Figure 2, the battery replacement device 100 is provided with a vehicle stopping area 103. When the electric vehicle 200 is stopped in the vehicle stopping area 103, and the user performs an operation to instruct the start of battery replacement work in the navigation system (not shown) of the electric vehicle 200, the communication unit 13 receives an instruction signal from the electric vehicle 200 to start battery replacement work. Based on the fact that the communication unit 13 has received the instruction signal, the processor 11 starts controlling the battery replacement work. The electric vehicle 200 stops in the vehicle stopping area 103 such that the front-to-back direction is the X direction and the left-to-right direction is the Y direction.

[0026] The drive unit 30 (see Figure 1) includes a wheel stopper 31, a shutter 32, a cleaning unit 33, a battery mounting base 34 (see Figure 1), a lifting unit 35 (see Figure 1), a transport unit 36 ​​(see Figure 1), an adjustment unit 37 (see Figure 3), and a guide unit (not shown) for guiding the battery 101.

[0027] The vehicle stopping area 103 is provided with four wheel chocks 31. Each wheel chock 31 is positioned to correspond to one of the four wheels 202 of the electric vehicle 200. The processor 11 adjusts the position of the wheel chocks 31 based on vehicle information acquired through the communication unit 13.

[0028] The wheel chock portion 31 includes a pressing member 31a, a pair of lateral roller portions 31b, and a slider portion 31c. The pressing member 31a is positioned to straddle the pair of lateral roller portions 31b and the slider portion 31c. The pressing member 31a moves the wheel 202 by pressing it from the outside (side). As a result, the wheel 202 is positioned by the wheel chock portion 31.

[0029] The lateral roller section 31b is provided on both the X1 and X2 sides of the slider section 31c. Each of the pair of lateral roller sections 31b is composed of multiple rollers whose axis of rotation extends along the X direction. The multiple rollers of the lateral roller section 31b are arranged along the Y direction. As the multiple rollers of the lateral roller section 31b rotate, the pressing member 31a is moved along the Y direction.

[0030] The slider section 31c moves the pressing member 31a, which is placed on the wheel chock section 31, along the X direction. The slider section 31c may be, for example, a belt conveyor type. Note that the configuration of the wheel chock section 31 is not limited to the above example. For example, it may not have to have either the horizontal roller section 31b or the slider section 31c.

[0031] The processor 11 controls the cleaning unit 33 to clean the battery 201. The cleaning unit 33 includes, for example, two nozzles 33a. The two nozzles 33a are positioned to sandwich an opening 32a in the Y direction for retracting the battery 201 removed from the electric vehicle 200. The nozzles 33a spray water from below the battery 201 toward the battery 201. This cleans the battery 201.

[0032] When the shutter 32 opens, the opening 32a is exposed. Figure 2 shows an example where the shutter 32 is double-opening, but the shutter 32 may also be single-opening.

[0033] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the battery mounting base 34 of the battery replacement device 100. As shown in Figure 3, the battery mounting base 34 is provided with two positioning pins 34a, four locking / unlocking tools 34b, and a roller section 34c. The camera 21 is mounted (fixed) on the battery mounting base 34.

[0034] The camera 21 is mounted, for example, on the Y2 side edge of the battery mounting base 34. The camera 21 may also be installed in a location other than the battery mounting base 34 (for example, the lifting bar 35a, which will be described later). The camera 21 may be configured to be movable relative to the battery mounting base 34. The tip of the positioning pin 34a is provided with a tapered surface. That is, the positioning pin 34a has a shape that tapers toward the Z1 side.

[0035] The battery mounting platform 34 moves relative to the vehicle body 200a with the battery 101 mounted on it, in order to attach the battery 101 to the vehicle body 200a. The battery mounting platform 34 is configured to be movable horizontally below the electric vehicle 200. Specifically, the battery mounting platform 34 is movable in the X direction (X1 direction, X2 direction) and the Y direction (Y1 direction, Y2 direction).

[0036] Referring again to Figure 1, the transport unit 36 ​​is configured to transport batteries (201, 101). Specifically, the transport unit 36 ​​transports the battery 201, which has been removed from the electric vehicle 200 and placed on the battery mounting base 34, to the temporary storage area 40. The battery 201, which is placed on the battery mounting base 34, is moved to the Y1 side and placed on the transport unit 36 ​​when the roller portion 34c (see Figure 3) of the battery mounting base 34 rotates while the battery mounting base 34 is lowered to the same height position (position in the Z direction) as the transport unit 36 ​​transport unit 34. The transport unit 36 ​​moves the battery 201 to the temporary storage area 40. The transport unit 36 ​​may be, for example, a belt conveyor type.

[0037] The transport unit 36 ​​moves the charged battery 101, which has been transported from the storage area 100b to the temporary storage area 40, toward the Y2 side and places it on the battery mounting base 34. At this time, the roller portion 34c of the battery mounting base 34 rotates in the opposite direction to the above, causing the battery 101 to move toward the Y2 side on the battery mounting base 34. The Y2 direction and the X2 direction are examples of the "first direction" and "second direction" of this disclosure, respectively.

[0038] The lifting unit 35 raises and lowers the electric vehicle 200 by holding it from below. The lifting unit 35 is movable vertically (in the Z direction) through the opening 32a (see Figure 2). The lifting unit 35 includes a pair of lifting bars 35a. Each of the pair of lifting bars 35a is provided with two protrusions 35b projecting toward the Z1 direction. The electric vehicle 200 is supported from below by the two protrusions 35b of each of the pair of lifting bars 35a (i.e., four protrusions 35b (see Figure 3)). Note that each of the pair of lifting bars 35a may also be movable in the same way as the battery mounting base 34.

[0039] Referring again to Figure 3, the adjustment unit 37 includes a stopper unit 37a and a movable unit 37b. The stopper unit 37a is positioned (fixed) to the movable unit 37b. Note that the stopper unit 37a is an example of a "regulating member" in this disclosure.

[0040] The stopper portion 37a restricts the movement of the battery 101, which is placed on the battery mounting base 34, to the X2 side and the Y2 side. The stopper portion 37a defines the horizontal position of the corner portion 1011 (see Figure 5) of the battery 101 placed on the battery mounting base 34.

[0041] The stopper portion 37a has an L-shape when viewed from above. The battery 101 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. Therefore, the stopper portion 37a contacts a part of the X2 side surface 1012 (see Figure 5) and a part of the Y2 side surface 1013 (see Figure 5) of the battery 101.

[0042] The adjustment unit 37 is driven independently of the battery mounting base 34. Specifically, the movable unit 37b on which the stopper unit 37a is located can move independently of the battery mounting base 34 in the X direction (X1 direction, X2 direction) and the Y direction (Y1 direction, Y2 direction).

[0043] After the movement of the battery 101 is restricted by the stopper portion 37a, the battery mounting platform 34 raises the battery 101. The battery 101 is then attached to the body 200a of the electric vehicle 200.

[0044] Referring again to Figure 1, the detection device 20 detects the size of the battery 101 placed on the mounting base 34. Specifically, the camera 21 images the battery 101 placed on the mounting base 34. The image data obtained from the imaging is sent to the image processing unit 22. The image processing unit 22 determines the size of the battery 101 based on the image data. The image processing unit 22 notifies the control device 10 of the determination result. Note that the detection device 20 only needs to be able to detect the size of the battery 101 placed on the mounting base 34, and may be equipped with a laser device or the like instead of a camera 21.

[0045] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the battery replacement device 100. As shown in Figure 4, the battery replacement device 100 comprises a control device 10, a detection device 20, a drive device 30, and an adjustment unit 37. The battery replacement device 100 is capable of communicating with external equipment 900. Typical examples of external equipment 900 include an electric vehicle 200 and an information processing device 300.

[0046] The control device 10 includes a size information acquisition unit 111, a determination unit 112, and a position control unit 113. The drive device 30 includes a battery mounting base 34 and a transport unit 36, as described above.

[0047] The size information acquisition unit 111 acquires size information indicating the specified size of the battery 101 based on the fact that the size of the battery 101 has been specified by the external device 900. For example, after the electric vehicle 200 enters the battery exchange station 100a, the occupant of the electric vehicle 200 (typically the driver) specifies the size of the charged battery 101 via the touch panel of the navigation system or the like. Alternatively, a user who wishes to use the battery exchange service can specify the size of the battery 101 in advance using the information processing device 300. The information processing device 300 is typically a terminal device such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or computer.

[0048] In this example, "size" refers to the dimensions of the battery 101's casing. Generally, a larger casing size corresponds to a larger battery capacity for the battery 101.

[0049] Based on the size specification using the external device 900 as described above, the size information acquisition unit 111 acquires the size information. As described above, the control device 10 accepts the specification of the desired size of the battery 101 in addition to vehicle information related to the electric vehicle 200.

[0050] Sizes can be specified, for example, as small (S), medium (M), and large (L). Additionally, as mentioned above, larger battery sizes result in higher battery capacity, so size can also be specified by capacity, such as large, medium, and small.

[0051] The size specification does not have to be as direct as described above. It is sufficient that the control device 10 can determine the size of the battery 101. For example, the control device 10 may obtain information that identifies the type of battery 101 (such as part number information) from an external device, and the size information acquisition unit 111 may determine the size of the battery 101 (acquire size information) by comparing this information with reference information stored in the control device 10.

[0052] The adjustment unit 37 adjusts the mounting position of the battery 101 on the battery mounting base 34 based on the size information described above. In this example, the adjustment unit 37 is composed of a stopper unit 37a, a movable unit 37b, a drive unit 37c, and a position control unit 113.

[0053] The stopper portion 37a is movable relative to the battery mounting base 34. The stopper portion 37a adjusts the mounting position of the battery 101 on the battery mounting base 34 by restricting the movement of the battery 101 on the battery mounting base 34. The position control unit 113 controls the relative position of the stopper portion 37a with respect to the battery mounting base 34 based on the size information.

[0054] More specifically, the stopper portion 37a restricts the movement of the battery 101 to both the X2 and Y2 sides. The drive unit 37c moves the movable portion 37b and the stopper portion 37a in the X direction (X1 direction, X2 direction) and the Y direction (Y1 direction, Y2 direction). The position control unit 113 controls the relative position of the stopper portion 37a with respect to the battery mounting base 34 by driving the drive unit 37c based on the size information. The drive unit 37c includes a motor and a motor driver. For example, a stepping motor or a servo motor can be used as the motor.

[0055] As described above, the detection device 20 detects the size of the battery 101 placed on the mounting base 34 and transmits it to the control device 10. The determination unit 112 determines whether the size detected by the detection device 20 matches the size specified using the external device 900.

[0056] If the determination unit 112 determines that the sizes do not match, the control device 10 stops the battery replacement by the drive unit 30. The control device 10 instructs the drive unit 30 to retrieve a different battery 101 from the storage compartment 100b than the battery 101 placed on the mounting base 34. If the same determination is made even after replacing the battery 101, the battery replacement device 100 cancels the battery replacement. Furthermore, the battery replacement device 100 sends a predetermined notification to the electric vehicle 200.

[0057] Figure 5 is a state transition diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the stopper portion 37a of the adjustment unit 37. As shown in Figure 5, state (A) represents the state when a large-sized battery 101 (hereinafter also referred to as "battery 101A" for convenience) is placed on the battery mounting base 34. The position of the stopper portion 37a in state (A) (more specifically, its relative position to the battery mounting base 34) is referred to as "position Pa".

[0058] Furthermore, for the sake of explanation, in the following, the large-sized battery 101A shown in state (A) will be assumed to be the battery normally installed in the vehicle body 200a. In this example, position Pa will be the default position of the stopper portion 37a.

[0059] State (B) is a diagram showing the state in which the medium-sized battery 101 (hereinafter also referred to as "battery 101B" for convenience) is placed on the battery mounting base 34. Battery 101B differs from the large-sized battery 101A only in the length in the Y direction (width) among the length in the X direction (depth), Y direction (width), and Z direction (height).

[0060] When the battery 101B is attached to the vehicle body 200a, the position control unit 113 of the control device 10 moves the stopper unit 37a from position Pa to position Pb by moving the movable part 37b with the drive unit 37c. Specifically, the position control unit 113 controls the drive unit 37c to move the stopper unit 37a a predetermined distance in the Y1 direction from position Pa in state (A).

[0061] At position Pb, the stopper portion 37a contacts the corner portion 1011 of the battery 101B. Therefore, the movement of the battery 101B in the Y2 and X2 directions is restricted. Thus, the position of the battery 101B can be adjusted.

[0062] State (C) is a diagram showing a medium-sized battery 101 (hereinafter also referred to as "battery 101C" for convenience), which has a different shape from batteries 101A and 101B, placed on the battery mounting base 34. Battery 101C differs from the large-sized battery 101A only in the length in the X direction (depth) among the length in the X direction (depth), the length in the Y direction (width), and the length in the Z direction (height).

[0063] When the battery 101C is attached to the vehicle body 200a, the position control unit 113 moves the stopper portion 37a from position Pa in state (A) to position Pc by moving the movable portion 37b with the drive unit 37c. Specifically, the position control unit 113 controls the drive unit 37c to move the stopper portion 37a from position Pa by a predetermined distance in the X1 direction.

[0064] At position Pc, the stopper portion 37a contacts the corner portion 1011 of the battery 101C. Therefore, the movement of the battery 101C in the Y2 and X2 directions is restricted. Consequently, the position of the battery 101C can be adjusted.

[0065] State (D) is a diagram showing the state when the small-sized battery 101 (hereinafter also referred to as "battery 101D" for convenience) is placed on the battery mounting base 34. Battery 101D differs from the large-sized battery 101A in its length in the X direction (depth) and length in the Y direction (width).

[0066] When the battery 101D is attached to the vehicle body 200a, the position control unit 113 moves the stopper portion 37a from position Pa to position Pd by moving the movable portion 37b with the drive unit 37c. Specifically, the position control unit 113 controls the drive unit 37c to move the stopper portion 37a from position Pa in state (A) by predetermined distances in the X1 and Y1 directions, respectively.

[0067] At position Pd, the stopper portion 37a contacts the corner portion 1011 of the battery 101D. Therefore, the movement of the battery 101D in the Y2 and X2 directions is restricted. Thus, the position of the battery 101D can be adjusted.

[0068] In this way, the battery replacement device 100 adjusts the position of the stopper portion 37a according to the size of the battery to be installed in the vehicle body 200a. In this example, the battery replacement device 100 adjusts the position of the stopper portion 37a so that batteries 101, 101A, 101B, and 101C are located in the center of the battery mounting base 34.

[0069] The stopper portion 37a is moved before the batteries 101A, 101B, and 101C are placed on the battery mounting base 34. However, it is not limited to this, and it is also possible to move the batteries 101A, 101B, and 101C on the battery mounting base 34 by moving the stopper portion 37a after the batteries 101A, 101B, and 101C have been placed in their predetermined positions on the battery mounting base 34.

[0070] After the batteries 101 (101A~101D) are placed in the center of the battery mounting base 34 by the adjustment unit 37, the battery replacement device 100 moves the battery mounting base 34, for example, toward X1 by a distance corresponding to the size of the batteries. This allows the connectors (not shown) of the batteries 101, etc., to be directly below the connectors (not shown) on the vehicle body 200a side. Subsequently, the battery replacement device 100 raises the battery mounting base 34. This allows the connectors of the batteries 101, etc., to be connected to the battery connectors on the vehicle body 200a side.

[0071] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process of installing the battery 101 onto the vehicle body 200a. As shown in Figure 6, in step S1, the control device 10 acquires size information indicating the specified battery size from the external device 900. In step S2, the control device 10 adjusts the position of the stopper portion 37a based on the size information. In step S3, the control device 10 uses the transport unit 36 ​​to transport the battery 101 (charged battery) of the specified size to the battery mounting base 34. In step S4, the detection device 20 detects the size of the transported battery 101.

[0072] In step S5, the control device 10 determines whether the detected size matches the specified size. If it is determined that they match (YES in step S5), the control device 10 attaches the charged battery 101, which is placed on the battery mounting base 34, to the vehicle body 200a. If it is determined that they do not match (NO in step S5), the control device 10 does not attach the battery 101 to the vehicle body 200a and terminates the process. In this example, before terminating the process, the battery 101 is replaced, and predetermined notifications are made, as described above.

[0073] In the above description, a configuration in which the mounting platform 34 of the battery replacement device 100 moves relative to the stopped electric vehicle 200 during battery replacement was used as an example, but the device is not necessarily limited to this configuration. The battery replacement device 100 may be configured so that at least one of the electric vehicle 200 and the mounting platform 34 moves. In other words, it is sufficient that the mounting platform 34 moves relative to the vehicle body 200a with the battery 101 placed on it. Similarly, it is sufficient that the stopper portion 37a is also movable relative to the battery mounting platform 34.

[0074] <Summary> A partial summary of the battery replacement device 100 is as follows:

[0075] (1) The battery replacement device 100 replaces the battery 201 attached to the body 200a of the electric vehicle 200 with a fully charged battery 101. The battery replacement device 100 includes (i) a size information acquisition unit 111 that acquires size information indicating the specified size of the battery 101 based on the size of the battery 101 being specified, (ii) a battery mounting base 34 that moves relative to the body 200a with the battery 101 placed on it in order to attach the battery 101 of the specified size to the body 200a, and (iii) an adjustment unit 37 that adjusts the mounting position of the battery 101 on the battery mounting base 34 based on the size information.

[0076] With this configuration, the batteries 101 can be placed on the battery mounting base 34 at positions corresponding to the size of the batteries 101. Therefore, multiple charged batteries 101 with different housing sizes can each be attached to the body 200a of the electric vehicle 200.

[0077] (2) The adjustment unit 37 includes (i) a stopper unit 37a that is movable relative to the battery mounting base 34 and adjusts the mounting position of the battery 101 on the battery mounting base 34 by restricting the movement of the battery 101 on the battery mounting base 34, and (ii) a position control unit 113 that controls the relative position of the stopper unit 37a with respect to the battery mounting base 34 based on size information.

[0078] With this configuration, the position control unit 113 controls the position of the stopper unit 37a, allowing the battery 101 to be placed in a position corresponding to its size.

[0079] (3) The battery replacement device 100 further includes a transport unit 36 ​​that transports the battery 101 onto the battery mounting base 34 by transporting the battery 101 in the Y2 direction. The stopper unit 37a restricts the movement of the battery 101 in the Y2 direction and the X2 direction perpendicular to the Y2 direction. The adjustment unit 37 further includes a drive unit 37c that moves the stopper unit 37a in the Y2 direction and the X2 direction. The position control unit 113 controls the relative position of the stopper unit 37a with respect to the battery mounting base 34 by driving the drive unit 37c based on size information.

[0080] With this configuration, the drive unit 37c and the stopper unit 37a can restrict the movement of the battery 101 in the Y2 direction and in the X2 direction which is perpendicular to the Y2 direction.

[0081] (4) The battery replacement device 100 further comprises (i) a detection device 20 for detecting the size of the battery 101 placed on the battery mounting base 34, and (ii) a determination unit 112 for determining whether the size detected by the detection device 20 matches a specified size.

[0082] With this configuration, it is possible to check whether a battery 101 of the specified size is placed on the battery mounting base 34 before replacing the battery.

[0083] (5) The size of the battery 101 is specified using the electric vehicle 200 or an external information processing device 300.

[0084] <Note> (1) A control method for replacing a first battery attached to the body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery, Based on the specification of the size of the second battery, the step of obtaining size information indicating the specified size, In order to attach the second battery of the specified size to the vehicle body, the steps include: moving the mounting platform described above relative to the vehicle body with the second battery placed on the mounting platform; A control method comprising the step of adjusting the mounting position of the second battery on the aforementioned mounting stand based on the size information.

[0085] (2) A control method in which the moving step is performed after the adjusting step. (3) A control method in which the moving step is performed before the adjusting step.

[0086] (4) A control method in which the moving step and the adjusting step are performed at the same time.

[0087] (5) A program that causes one or more processors to execute each step of the control method. (6) A non-temporary, computer-readable storage medium storing the program.

[0088] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims and all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 10 Control device, 11 Processor, 12 Memory, 13 Communication unit, 20 Detection device, 21 Camera, 22 Image processing unit, 30 Drive unit, 31 Wheel chock, 31a Pressing member, 31b Horizontal roller unit, 31c Slider unit, 32 Shutter, 32a Opening, 33 Cleaning unit, 33a Nozzle, 34 Mounting platform, 34a Positioning pin, 34b Locking / unlocking tool, 34c Roller unit, 35 Lifting unit, 35a Lifting bar, 36 Conveying unit, 37 Adjustment unit, 37a Stopper unit, 37b Movable unit, 37c Drive unit, 40 Temporary storage area, 100 Battery replacement device, 100a Battery replacement station, 100b Storage unit, 101, 101A, 101B, 101C, 201 Battery, 102 Entrance / exit, 103 Vehicle stopping area, 111 Size information acquisition unit, 112 Determination unit, 113 Position control unit, 200 Electric vehicle, 200a Body, 202 Wheels, 300 Information processing device, 900 External equipment, 1011 Corner, 1012,1013 Side, S Underfloor area.

Claims

1. A battery replacement device for replacing a first battery attached to the body of an electric vehicle with a charged second battery, Based on the specification of the size of the second battery, an acquisition unit acquires size information indicating the specified size, To attach the second battery of the specified size to the vehicle body, a mounting platform is provided which moves relative to the vehicle body with the second battery mounted on it, Based on the size information, an adjustment unit adjusts the mounting position of the second battery on the aforementioned mounting base, A detection device for detecting the size of the second battery placed on the mounting base, A battery replacement device comprising: a detection unit that determines whether the size detected by the detection device matches the specified size.

2. The adjustment unit is, A restricting member that is movable relative to the mounting base and adjusts the mounting position of the second battery on the mounting base by restricting the movement of the second battery on the mounting base, The battery replacement device according to claim 1, further comprising a position control unit that controls the relative position of the regulating member with respect to the aforementioned mounting base based on the size information.

3. The system further includes a transport unit that transports the second battery onto the aforementioned platform by transporting the second battery in the first direction. The restricting member restricts the movement of the second battery in the first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The adjustment unit further includes a drive unit that moves the regulating member in at least one of the first and second directions, The battery replacement device according to claim 2, wherein the position control unit controls the relative position of the regulating member with respect to the aforementioned base by driving the drive unit based on the size information.

4. The battery replacement device according to claim 1, wherein if the size detected by the detection device does not match the specified size, the replacement of the first battery with the second battery is stopped, and the charged third battery is removed from the storage compartment.

5. The electric vehicle further comprises a vehicle stopping area where the electric vehicle stops, The battery replacement device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening is formed in the vehicle stopping area for retracting the first battery removed from the electric vehicle.

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