Flexible production system for battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack flexible production system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a process system of a battery pack flexible production device that arranges and assembles battery cells and holder assemblies positioned above and below the battery cells according to the requirements of the battery pack, and comprises a battery ordering system that receives requirements for the battery pack from a customer, a process recipe system that analyzes the requirements received from the battery ordering system and generates a production process recipe for the battery pack, and a battery pack flexible production device that executes the production process recipe for the battery pack generated from the process recipe system. The requirements received from the battery ordering system include the quantity, size, output voltage, and capacity of the battery pack, and the production process recipe for the battery pack includes the arrangement of the holder assemblies.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for producing battery packs, and more specifically, to a flexible battery pack production system capable of producing battery packs under various conditions in a single production device. Background Technology

[0003] Rechargeable batteries, which can be reused hundreds of times or more through a charging process, are commonly used not only in portable devices such as smartphones, laptop PCs, and power tools, but also in electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) powered by electric sources.

[0004] These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency, not only for the primary advantage of being able to drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels, but also because they do not generate any by-products from energy use.

[0006] Currently, widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium-polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. The operating voltage of these unit secondary battery cells, or unit battery cells, is approximately 2.5V to 4.6V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, multiple battery cells are connected in series to form a battery pack.

[0007] In addition, a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel according to the required charge / discharge capacity, or by arranging the battery cells in various ways depending on the space where the battery pack is installed.

[0008] Therefore, battery pack production must be made flexible to respond to various requirements, such as different output voltages, charge / discharge capacities, and battery pack sizes.

[0009] However, conventional battery pack production equipment is configured to produce only standardized battery cells, so when the requirements for a battery pack change, the production equipment must be changed, which has the problem of not being able to produce in response to the requirements of various battery packs. Prior art literature

[0011] Republic of Korea Published Patent No. 10-2012-0058043 (Published June 7, 2012) The problem to be solved

[0012] A flexible battery pack production device according to one embodiment of the present invention aims to solve the following problems in order to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0013] The purpose is to provide a flexible battery pack production device capable of changing the arrangement of battery cells according to various requirements.

[0014] In addition, it is to enable the provision of process recipes for battery packs optimized according to requirements using production data.

[0015] The problems solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0017] A flexible battery pack production device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a unidirectional transfer unit for transferring a transfer plate from one side to the other; a first holder assembly unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit for assembling a holder assembly and placing it on the transfer plate; a cell supply unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit for placing a battery cell on the holder assembly transferred via the transfer plate; a second holder assembly unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit for assembling a holder assembly and placing it on the upper part of the battery cell; and a conductive plate assembly unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit for assembling a conductive plate on the holder assembly placed on the upper and lower parts of the battery cell.

[0018] It is preferable that a pressure member is disposed on the unidirectional transfer section of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention to press a battery cell seated on a holder assembly and reinforce the connection between the holder assembly and the battery cell.

[0019] A first holder assembly of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention preferably further includes a holder inversion part that inverts the upper and lower surfaces of the holder assembly and places it on a transfer plate.

[0020] A conductive plate assembly unit of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention is composed of an upper conductive plate assembly unit that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly seated on the upper part of a battery cell and is positioned on the side of a unidirectional transfer unit, and a lower conductive plate assembly unit that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly seated on the lower part of a battery cell and is positioned on the side of a unidirectional transfer unit, and it is preferable that a semi-finished product inversion unit that inverts a battery cell with a conductive plate assembled in the upper conductive plate assembly unit is positioned between the upper conductive plate assembly unit and the lower conductive plate assembly unit.

[0021] A first holder assembly of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a holder placement plate, a holder member supply unit and a pin member supply unit spaced apart from the holder placement plate, and it is preferable that the holder member supplied from the holder supply unit and the fixing pin supplied from the pin member supply unit move to the holder placement plate via a robot arm.

[0022] A holder arrangement plate of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plate-shaped base plate and a plurality of protrusions formed on the upper surface of the base plate, and a holder member comprises a cell insertion lead open at the top and bottom, a grid wall formed by bending at the upper corner of the cell insertion lead, and a cut portion formed in the cell insertion lead below the grid wall, wherein it is preferable that one of the grid walls is formed integrally with the grid wall of another cell insertion lead.

[0023] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a robot arm of a battery pack flexible production device moves one holder member among the holder members supplied from a holder supply unit to position it so that a projection of a holder placement plate is inserted into the inner side of a cell insertion lead of the one holder member, and the robot arm moves another holder member among the holder members supplied from the holder supply unit to the side of the one holder member so that a projection of a holder placement plate is inserted into the inner side of a cell insertion lead of the other holder member, and the robot arm moves a fixing pin supplied from a pin member supply unit to form a holder assembly by joining the one holder member and the other holder member.

[0024] Preferably, the holder inversion section of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a holder frame having a frame rotation axis disposed on the central side, a screw frame disposed spaced apart from each other on the upper surface of the holder frame, a ball screw disposed on the screw frame, a spaced-apart first movable frame that moves linearly along the screw frame when the ball screw rotates, and another movable frame having a lead contact member formed that protrudes in the direction of the first movable frame corresponding to the first movable frame.

[0025] Preferably, the cell supply unit of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a cell moving slope through which a battery cell is supplied by sliding in one direction, a cell alignment unit disposed at the other end of the cell moving slope where the battery cell supplied by sliding is aligned, a first cell gripping head that grips the battery cell aligned in the cell alignment unit and moves it to a cell mounting plate disposed on the side of a one-way transfer unit, and a second cell gripping head that grips the battery cell moved to the cell mounting plate and places it on a holder assembly assembled in a first holder assembly unit and mounted on a transfer plate.

[0026] A first cell gripping head of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first gripping block, a pressure block disposed above the first gripping block, and a first cell alignment block disposed below the first gripping block. The first cell alignment block has a plurality of grooves formed on its bottom surface corresponding to the shape of the outer surface of the battery cell, and a magnetic field generating coil disposed inside to generate a magnetic field capable of applying an attractive force to the battery cell. A pressure supply pipe is disposed through the pressure block, the first gripping block, and the first cell alignment block. It is preferable that the upper part of the pressure supply pipe communicates with the upper surface of the pressure block, and the lower part of the pressure supply pipe communicates with the inner surface of the groove of the first cell alignment block.

[0027] In the side of the cell alignment section of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a first head moving rail is arranged in the direction of a cell mounting plate, and a first gripping block is arranged on the first head moving rail so as to be vertically movable and rotatable, and is preferably transported along the first head moving rail.

[0028] A second cell gripping head of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a second gripping block and a second cell alignment block disposed below the second gripping block, with a groove formed on its bottom surface to allow the upper portion of a battery cell to be inserted therein. A fluid cylinder is disposed above the second gripping block such that a cylinder rod is disposed within the groove of the second cell alignment block and moves up and down. A magnetic field generating coil is disposed inside the second cell alignment block to generate a magnetic field capable of applying an attractive force to the battery cell. A second head moving rail is disposed on the side of the cell mounting plate to move the second cell gripping head in the direction of a unidirectional transfer section.

[0029] A flexible battery pack production device according to another embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a circulating transfer unit that transfers a transfer plate from one side to another in a circular trajectory, a holder assembly unit disposed on the side of the trajectory of the circulating transfer unit to assemble a holder assembly and place it on the transfer plate or battery cell, a cell supply unit disposed on the side of the trajectory of the circulating transfer unit to place a battery cell on the holder assembly transferred through the transfer plate, and a conductive plate assembly unit disposed on the side of the circulating transfer unit to assemble a conductive plate on the holder assembly placed on the upper and lower parts of the battery cell.

[0030] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a holder assembly of a battery pack flexible production device comprises a holder placement plate, a holder member supply unit and a pin member supply unit spaced apart from the holder placement plate, and it is preferable that the holder member supplied from the holder supply unit and the fixing pin supplied from the pin member supply unit move to the holder placement plate via a robot arm.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a holder arrangement plate of a battery pack flexible production device comprises a plate-shaped base plate and a plurality of protrusions formed on the upper surface of the base plate, and a holder member comprises a cell insertion lead open at the top and bottom, a grid wall formed by bending at the upper corner of the cell insertion lead, and a cut portion formed in the cell insertion lead below the grid wall, wherein it is preferable that one of the grid walls is formed integrally with the grid wall of another cell insertion lead.

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the robot arm of the battery pack flexible production device moves one holder member among the holder members supplied from the holder supply unit and positions it so that a projection of the holder placement plate is inserted into the inner side of the cell insertion lead of the one holder member, and the robot arm moves another holder member among the holder members supplied from the holder supply unit to the side of the one holder member so that a projection of the holder placement plate is inserted into the inner side of the cell insertion lead of the other holder member, and the robot arm moves a fixing pin supplied from the pin member supply unit to connect between the one holder member and the other holder member to form a holder assembly.

[0033] A cell supply unit of a flexible battery pack production device according to another embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a cell moving slope through which a battery cell is supplied by sliding in one direction, a cell alignment unit disposed at the other end of the cell moving slope through which the battery cell supplied by sliding is aligned, a first cell gripping head that grips the battery cell aligned in the cell alignment unit and moves it to a cell mounting plate disposed on the side of a one-way transfer unit, and a second cell gripping head that grips the battery cell moved to the cell mounting plate and places it on a holder assembly assembled in a first holder assembly unit and mounted on a transfer plate.

[0034] A battery pack flexible production system according to another embodiment of the present invention is a process system of a battery pack flexible production device that arranges and assembles battery cells and holder assemblies positioned above and below the battery cells according to the requirements of the battery pack, and comprises a battery ordering system that receives requirements for the battery pack from a customer, a process recipe system that analyzes the requirements received from the battery ordering system and generates a production process recipe for the battery pack, and a battery pack flexible production device that executes the production process recipe for the battery pack generated from the process recipe system. The requirements received from the battery ordering system include the quantity, size, output voltage, and capacity of the battery pack, and the production process recipe for the battery pack includes the arrangement of the holder assemblies.

[0035] A battery pack flexible production device of a battery pack flexible production system according to another embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a holder assembly unit that assembles a holder assembly according to the arrangement of a holder assembly generated in a process recipe system, a cell supply unit that places a battery cell on the holder assembly assembled in the holder assembly unit according to the arrangement of a holder assembly generated in the process recipe system, and a conductive plate assembly unit that cuts and assembles a conductive plate according to the arrangement of a holder assembly generated in the process recipe system.

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, a sensor unit for sensing driving record data is disposed in the holder assembly unit, cell supply unit, and conductive plate assembly unit of a battery pack flexible production system, and the battery pack flexible production device transmits the data sensed by the sensor unit to a learning system. The learning system preferably includes a data transmission / reception unit that requests and receives driving record data collected by the battery pack flexible production device, a database that stores driving record data received from the data transmission / reception unit, a preprocessing unit that refines the driving record data stored in the database and calculates statistical data based on the refined data, and a learning unit that generates a battery pack production process recipe model by extracting process conditions that affect the amount of change in process results based on the statistical data calculated through the preprocessing unit.

[0037] A learning unit of a flexible battery pack production system according to another embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a computation unit that analyzes the correlation between process factors and the amount of change in process results through statistical data to derive process conditions that have a high influence on the amount of change in process results, and a model generation unit that generates a production process recipe model of a battery pack using the process conditions derived from the computation unit.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the computational unit of a flexible battery pack production system preferably determines a high-influence process condition when the amount of change in process results occurring when process conditions change is greater than or equal to a reference value.

[0039] It is preferable that the production process recipe model of a battery pack generated in the model generation unit of a battery pack flexible production system according to another embodiment of the present invention be updated in the process recipe system. Effects of the invention

[0041] The battery pack flexible production system according to the present invention can be expected to have the effect of producing various battery packs according to various requirements by modifying the arrangement of a holder assembly to which battery cells are combined according to various requirements and combining battery cells with the modified holder assembly.

[0042] In addition, by optimizing the process using process data obtained from the battery pack production process, it is possible to expect the effect of providing a highly productive battery pack production device.

[0043] The problems solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0045] FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a flexible battery pack production device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the first holder assembly shown in Figure 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holder arrangement plate shown in FIG. 1. Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram of the combination of a holder assembly that is combined in the holder placement plate shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram of the holder inversion section shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 6 is a plan view of the cell supply unit illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 7 is a conceptual diagram of the operation of the cell alignment unit illustrated in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first cell gripping head shown in Figure 6. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second cell gripping head shown in Figure 6. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of the first pressurizing unit illustrated in FIG. 1. Figure 11 is a conceptual diagram of the operation of the semi-finished product inversion unit shown in Figure 1. FIG. 12 is a layout diagram of a flexible battery pack production device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a flexible battery pack production system of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the battery pack flexible production device and learning system shown in FIG. 13. Figure 15 is an example graph showing result values ​​according to changes in process conditions. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0046] Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, provided that identical or similar components are given the same reference number regardless of the drawing symbols, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0047] Furthermore, in describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art are omitted if it is determined that such descriptions could obscure the essence of the invention. Additionally, it should be noted that the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate an understanding of the concept of the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the concept of the present invention.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, which is a layout diagram of a battery pack flexible production device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack flexible production device (1) is composed of a unidirectional transfer unit (100), a first holder assembly unit (200), a cell supply unit (300), a second holder assembly unit (500), and a conductive plate assembly unit (700, 800).

[0050] The unidirectional transfer unit (100) refers to a device that transfers a holder assembly (10) and a battery cell (B) assembled in the first holder assembly unit (200), the cell supply unit (300), and the second holder assembly unit (500) from left to right with respect to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, a conveyor device driven by a chain is used, but it is not necessarily limited to a conveyor device driven by a chain, and can also be used in the case of a transfer device using various driving members such as a belt. In addition, the unidirectional transfer unit (100) is not limited to a device that moves in a straight line as shown in FIG. 1, and a device that is not circulating is included in the unidirectional transfer unit (100). In this unidirectional transfer unit (100), a transfer plate (110) on which the assembled holder assembly (10) is placed moves in one direction.

[0051] Since such a unidirectional transfer unit (100) is commonly used, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] The first holder assembly (200) assembles the holder assembly (10) as shown in FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of the holder arrangement plate, and FIG. 4, which is a conceptual diagram of the combination of the holder assembly joined to the holder arrangement plate. The first holder assembly (200) is formed with the same configuration as the second holder assembly (500). These first holder assembly (200) and second holder assembly (500) will be described in more detail during the description of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0054] The cell supply unit (300) places a battery cell (B) on the holder assembly (10) assembled in the first holder assembly unit (200), and moves and places the battery cell (B) in correspondence with the arrangement of the holder assembly (10).

[0055] The conductive plate assembly (700, 800) interconnects battery cells (B) using a conductive plate, and functions to interconnect the electrodes of the battery inserted vertically into the holder assembly (10) assembled in the first holder assembly (200) and the second holder assembly (500).

[0057] Referring to FIG. 2, which is a plan view of the first holder assembly shown in FIG. 1, the first holder assembly (200) is composed of a holder placement plate (210) for placing holder members (11) constituting the holder assembly (10), a holder member supply unit (220) for supplying holder members (11), and a pin member supply unit (240) for supplying fixing pins (13) for mutually fixing the holder members (11) placed on the holder placement plate (210), and a robot arm (230, 250) is placed between the holder supply unit (220) and the pin member supply unit (240).

[0058] Accordingly, the robot arm (230, 250) grasps the holder member (11) from the holder supply unit (220) and transfers it to the holder placement plate (10) as shown in FIG. 3, and after placing the holder member (11) as shown in FIG. 3, grasps and transfers the fixing pin (13) from the pin member supply unit (240) and inserts it between the holder member (11) placed on the holder placement plate (10) to form a holder assembly (10).

[0059] The holder supply unit (220) and the pin member supply unit (240) supply the holder member (11) and the fixing pin (13) in alignment. In this embodiment, a bowl feeder is used, but various types of devices other than a bowl feeder may be used.

[0060] In this embodiment, the robot arms (230, 250) used include a holder member transfer arm (230) that moves and positions a holder member (11) from a holder supply unit (220) and a pin member transfer arm (250) that grips and transfers a fixing pin (13) from a pin member supply unit (240) to combine with the holder member (11). However, if the range of motion of the robot arm is wide and it can move quickly, it is acceptable to use a single robot arm. Additionally, in this embodiment, the robot arms (230, 250) used are SCARA robot arms, which are horizontal multi-joint robot arms. However, any type of robot arm can be used as long as it can grip, transfer, and position the holder member (11) and the fixing pin (13).

[0062] Referring to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of a holder arrangement plate, and FIG. 4, which is a conceptual diagram of a holder assembly combined in the holder arrangement plate shown in FIG. 3, the holder arrangement plate (210) and the holder member (11) are described in detail as follows.

[0063] The holder placement plate (210) is composed of a base plate (212) and a projection (214) formed on the upper surface of the base plate (212), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0064] The protrusion (213) is formed in a shape corresponding to the upper or lower shape of the battery cell (B). Since the battery cell (B) used in this embodiment is a cylindrical cell, the protrusion formed on the upper surface of the base plate (212) is formed in a cylindrical shape. However, if a rectangular battery cell (B) is used, the protrusion formed in a rectangular shape is formed on the base plate (212).

[0065] As shown in FIG. 3, the holder member (11) placed on the holder placement plate (210) is composed of a cell insertion lead (11b) that is open at the top and bottom as shown in FIG. 4, a grid wall (11a) formed by bending at the upper corner of the cell insertion lead (11b), and a cut portion (11c) formed in the cell insertion lead (11b) below the grid wall (11a), and one grid wall (11a) among the grid walls (11a) is formed integrally with the grid wall (11a) of the other cell insertion lead (11b).

[0066] The holder member (11) is composed of a cell insertion lead (11b) into which the upper or lower part of a battery cell (B) is inserted, and a grid wall (11a) bent into an L-shape to support the cell insertion lead (11b), wherein mutually adjacent grid walls (11a) are formed integrally with each other. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a holder member (11) having two cell insertion leads (11b) is used, but depending on the embodiment, a holder member having three or more cell insertion leads (11b) may also be used.

[0067] An incision (11c) is formed in the cell insertion lead (11b) so that the battery cell (B) can be inserted more easily. The incision (11c) can be formed at various locations on the cell insertion lead (11b), but it is preferable to form it at the lower part of the grid wall (11a) supporting the cell insertion lead (11b) so that the holder member (11) can be made more robust.

[0068] These holder members (11) are used in the same way in the first holder assembly (200) and the second holder assembly (500) as described above.

[0070] The process of assembling a holder assembly (10) using a holder member (11) is as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the holder member (11) supplied from the holder supply unit (220) is placed on a holder placement plate (210) according to a predetermined placement plan and a fixing pin (13) is fixed, and a plurality of protrusions (214) are formed on the holder placement plate (210) so as to provide a holder assembly (10) corresponding to various battery cells (B).

[0071] The robot arm (230, 250) moves the holder member (11) supplied from the holder supply unit (220) to continuously arrange the protrusion (214) of the holder placement plate (210) so that it is inserted into the inner side of the cell insertion lead (11b) of the holder member (11), and moves the fixing pin (13) supplied from the pin member supply unit (240) to join between the holder members (11) to form a holder assembly (10).

[0072] In the holder assembly (10) formed in this way, the lower side, the direction of the holder placement plate (210), is the direction in which the battery cell (B) is to be inserted, so in order to insert the battery cell (B) into the holder assembly (10), the upper and lower sides of the holder assembly (10) must be inverted. Therefore, when inserting the holder assembly (10) into the battery cell (B) that has been placed, there is no need for a separate inversion of the holder assembly (10), so the second holder assembly (500) that inserts the holder assembly (10) after the battery cell (B) has been placed does not employ a holder inversion part (260), unlike the first holder assembly (200).

[0074] Various devices such as a robot arm can be used for the holder inversion unit (260) that inverts the assembled holder assembly (10), but since the assembled holder assembly (10) must be inverted quickly, it is preferable to use a holder inversion unit (260) that can fix and rotate the holder assembly (10) as shown in FIG. 5.

[0075] The holder inversion section (260) is composed of a main frame, a holder frame (262), a pair of mutually spaced moving frames (266) that move from the holder frame (262), and a screw frame (264) that connects the moving frames (266) to the holder frame (262) and moves them.

[0076] The holder frame (262) is a frame that rotates along the frame rotation axis (262a) when the frame rotation axis (262a) rotates. It can be formed in various shapes, but it is preferable to form it in a shape with an open center so as to generate less load during rotation.

[0077] The motor that rotates the frame rotation axis (262a) is not separately illustrated in the drawing, but various mechanical elements such as belts and gears can be used.

[0078] A screw frame (264) parallel to the frame rotation axis (262a) is disposed, and a ball screw (264a) that rotates by a motor is disposed on the inside of the screw frame (264).

[0079] A movable frame (266) having a nut that moves along the threads of the ball screw (264a) is disposed on the ball screw (264a), and a fixed movable frame (266) corresponding to the movable frame (266) is disposed on one end of the screw frame (264). A lead contact member (266) protruding in the direction of the movable frame (266) is disposed on the fixed movable frame (266), and the lead contact member (266) is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the cell insertion lead (11b).

[0080] In the first holder assembly (200), the holder assembly (10) moves between the moving frames (266) of the holder inversion unit (260) via the robot arm (230, 260). When the holder assembly (10) moves between the moving frames (266), the moving frame (266) among the moving frames (266) moves to fix the holder assembly (10), and the frame rotation axis (262a) rotates 180 degrees to invert the holder assembly (10). In this state, the robot arm (230, 260) moves the holder assembly (10) to the transfer plate (110) on the unidirectional transfer unit (100).

[0082] The cell supply unit (300) places a battery cell (B) in a holder assembly (10) moved from the first holder assembly unit (200), and as shown in FIG. 6, which is a plan view of the cell supply unit shown in FIG. 1, it comprises a cell moving slope (310) through which a plurality of battery cells (B) are slid and supplied in one direction, a cell alignment unit (320) placed at the other end of the cell moving slope (310) where the slid-supplied battery cells (B) are aligned, a first cell gripping head (330) that grips the battery cells (B) aligned in the cell alignment unit (320) and moves them to a cell mounting plate (344) placed on the side of the one-way transfer unit (100), and a second cell gripping head (350) that grips the battery cells (B) moved to the cell mounting plate (344) and places them in a holder assembly (10) assembled in the first holder assembly unit (200) and mounted on a transfer plate (110). It is composed.

[0083] The cell moving slope (310) is configured in a slope shape so that it can slide by its own weight as shown in FIG. 1, and a cell alignment unit (320) is positioned at the end of the cell moving slope (310) as shown in FIG. 7, which is an operational concept diagram of the cell alignment unit shown in FIG. 6.

[0084] In the cell alignment section (320), a side partition (324) and an anti-detachment wall (322) are disposed on the side of the side partition (324) to prevent the battery cell (B) moved along the cell movement slope (310) from being displaced. A cell mounting block (326) that moves up and down is disposed in the space formed by the side partition (324) and the anti-detachment wall (322). When this cell mounting block (326) moves upward, it is formed to be higher than the height of the battery cell (B) at the other end among the battery cells (B) moving along the cell movement slope (310), thereby preventing the battery cell (B) from moving along the cell movement slope (310) when the cell mounting block (326) moves upward. On the other hand, when the cell mounting block (326) moves in a downward direction, it is configured to move lower than the height of the battery cell (B) at the other end among the battery cells (B) moving along the cell moving slope (310) so that the battery cell (B) can naturally move to the upper part of the cell mounting block (326).

[0085] A plurality of concave grooves are formed on the upper surface of the cell mounting block (326) so that the side of the battery cell (326) can be mounted.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 7, the battery cell (B) seated on the cell mounting block (326) has its side facing downward, so in order to be inserted into the cell insertion lead (11b) of the holder assembly (10) described above, the battery cell (B) must be rotated 90 degrees.

[0088] Accordingly, the first cell gripping head (330) that grips the battery cell (B) placed on the cell mounting block (326) must be configured to rotate and move the battery cell (B) in a 90-degree direction after gripping, and must apply force from the top to the bottom of the battery cell (B) in order to insert it into the cell insertion lead (11b) of the holder assembly (10). Accordingly, the first cell gripping head (330) must grip the side of the battery cell (B) and rotate the battery cell (B) 90 degrees to place it on the cell mounting plate (344), and the second cell gripping head (350) must be configured to grip the top of the battery cell (B) and move and press it toward the holder assembly (10) placed on the transfer plate (110).

[0090] A first cell gripping head (330) that grips the side of a battery cell (B) and moves by rotating it 90 degrees is composed of a first gripping block (332), a pressure block (334) positioned on the upper part of the first gripping block (332), and a first cell alignment block (336) positioned on the lower part of the first gripping block (332), as shown in FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectional view of the first cell gripping head shown in FIG. 6.

[0091] The first cell alignment block (336) has a plurality of grooves formed on its bottom surface that correspond to the side shape of the battery cell (B), and a magnetic field generating coil (336a) is disposed inside to generate a magnetic field so as to apply an attractive force to the battery cell (B). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), when the first alignment block (336) comes into close contact with the battery cell (B) on the cell mounting block (326) of the cell alignment section (320), power can be applied to the magnetic field generating coil (336a) to pull the battery cell (B) toward the first cell alignment block (336), and in this state, the first gripping block (332) is rotated 90 degrees to move toward the cell mounting plate (344).

[0092] At this time, the upper part of the pressure block (334), the first gripping block (332), and the first cell alignment block (336) are in communication with the upper surface of the pressure block (334), and the lower part of the pressure supply pipe (334) is in communication with the inner surface of the groove of the first cell alignment block (336), so that a pressure supply pipe (334) is disposed through the pressure block (334) to supply negative pressure to the groove of the cell alignment block (336). Accordingly, when the first alignment block (336) is in close contact with the battery cell (B) on the cell mounting block (326) of the cell alignment section (320), negative pressure is supplied to the pressure supply pipe (334a) to pull the battery cell (B) toward the first alignment block (336).

[0093] When the first cell gripping head (330) grips and rotates the battery cell (B) and places it on the cell mounting plate (344), the magnetic field generating coil (336a) stops generating a magnetic field, and the pressure supply pipe (334a) stops supplying negative pressure. Additionally, according to the embodiment, the negative pressure supplied from the pressure supply pipe (334a) may be converted into a fine positive pressure and supplied.

[0094] A first head moving rail (340) for moving a first cell gripping head (330) is disposed between the cell alignment section (320) and the cell mounting plate (344), and a first rail connecting rod (342) connected to the first head moving rail (344) is disposed on the first gripping block (332) of the first cell gripping head (330).

[0095] According to the embodiment, the first cell gripping head (330) may move up and down in addition to moving horizontally along the first head moving rail (344) after rotation.

[0097] The battery cell (B) seated on the cell mounting plate (344) is moved to the holder assembly (10) seated on the transfer plate (110) by having its upper portion gripped by the second cell gripping head (350) shown in FIG. 9, which is a cross-sectional view of the second cell gripping head shown in FIG. 6.

[0098] For the movement of the second cell gripping head (350), a second head moving rail (360) is arranged on the side of the cell mounting plate (344) to move the second cell gripping head (330) in the direction of the unidirectional transfer section.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 9, the second cell gripping head (350) is composed of a second gripping block (352) and a second cell alignment block (356) which is positioned below the second gripping block (352) and has a groove formed on its bottom surface to allow the upper portion of the battery cell (B) to be inserted therein. On the upper portion of the second gripping block (352), a fluid cylinder (352a) is positioned so that a cylinder rod (352b) is placed within the groove of the second cell alignment block (356) and moves up and down.

[0100] At this time, a magnetic field generating coil (356a) is placed inside the second cell alignment block (356) to generate a magnetic field so as to apply an attractive force to the battery cell (B), just like the first cell alignment block (336) described above.

[0101] Accordingly, the second cell gripping head (350) moves so that the upper part of the battery cell (B) seated on the cell mounting plate (344) can be inserted into the groove of the second cell alignment block (356), and then power is applied to the magnetic field generating coil (356a) to grip the battery cell (B), and then the holder assembly (10) seated on the transfer plate (110) is moved, and then the operation of the magnetic field generating coil (356a) is stopped, and the fluid cylinder (352a) is driven so that the cylinder rod (352b) moves the battery cell (B) downward and inserts it into the cell insertion lead (11b) of the holder assembly (10).

[0103] Since there may be cases where the battery cell (B) is not inserted to a predetermined position even when the battery cell (B) is inserted into the cell insertion lead (11b) of the holder assembly (10), as shown in FIG. 1, a pressing part (400, 600) can be placed on the unidirectional transfer part (100) to reinforce the connection between the holder assembly (10) and the battery cell (B) by pressing the battery cell (B) seated on the holder assembly (10) between the first holder assembly part (200) and the second holder assembly part (500), and between the second holder assembly part (500) and the conductive plate assembly part (700, 900).

[0104] The pressurizing unit (400, 600) can be divided into a first pressurizing unit (400) and a second pressurizing unit (600) according to their location as shown in FIG. 1, but this division is for convenience based on location, and the first pressurizing unit (400) and the second pressurizing unit (600) are composed of the same configuration. Therefore, to avoid duplication, the first pressurizing unit (400) will be described below with reference to FIG. 10, which shows the first pressurizing unit (400).

[0105] The first pressurizing unit (400) is composed of a pressurizing cylinder (420) positioned lower than the transfer plate (110) to enable the transfer plate (110) moving along the unidirectional transfer unit (100) to move in an upward direction, and an upper support plate (410) positioned higher than the transfer plate (110) on the upper part of the pressurizing cylinder (420).

[0106] Accordingly, the transfer plate (110) into which the battery cell (B) is inserted is moved to the upper part of the pressure cylinder (420), and the pressure cylinder (420) raises the transfer plate (110) so that the upper part of the battery cell (B) can come into contact with the upper support plate (410), thereby firmly reinforcing the connection between the holder assembly (10) and the battery cell (B).

[0108] A holder assembly (10) assembled in a second holder assembly (500) is coupled to the upper part of a battery cell (B) pressurized in a first pressurizing part (400), and the holder assembly (10) and the battery cell (B) are firmly fixed by passing through the second pressurizing part (600).

[0109] A holder assembly (10) is disposed on the upper and lower portions of the battery cell (B) that has passed through the second pressurizing unit (600), as shown in (a) of FIG. 11, which is an operational concept diagram of the semi-finished product inversion unit shown in FIG. 1. In order to connect the electrodes of the battery cell (B) to these upper holder assembly (10) and lower holder assembly (10), a conductive plate assembly (700, 800) assembles a conductive plate.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 1, the conductive plate assembly (700, 800) is configured with an upper conductive plate assembly (700) that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly (10) seated on the upper part of a battery cell (B) and a lower conductive plate assembly (800) that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly (10) seated on the lower part of a battery cell (B) and is positioned on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit (100). Between the upper conductive plate assembly (700) and the lower conductive plate assembly (800), a semi-finished product inversion unit (800) is positioned to invert the battery cell (B) on which the conductive plate is assembled in the upper conductive plate assembly (700).

[0111] The conductive plate assembly (700, 800) is composed of a robot that cuts a nickel plate according to the arrangement of the battery cell (B), moves it to the holder assembly (10) via a robot arm, and performs welding. In addition, the semi-finished product inversion unit (800) is configured such that, as shown in FIG. 11, an identical transfer plate (110) is placed on the upper side, and when the battery cell (B), which is combined with the upper and lower parts of the holder assembly (10), is transferred together with the transfer plate (110), it is moved upward so that the holder assembly (10) on the upper side of the battery cell (B) comes into contact with the upper transfer plate (110). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), a plate holder (810) having a stopper (812) formed on the side of the transfer plates (110) moves to rotate 180 degrees while fixing the transfer plates (110) and inverts them.

[0112] In this way, the battery cell (B), in which the upper and lower holder assembly (10) is inverted in the semi-finished product inversion section (800), is moved along the unidirectional transfer section (100) to the lower conductive plate assembly section (900) so that the conductive plate is assembled.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 12, which is a layout diagram of a battery pack flexible production device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack flexible production device (1) comprises a circulating transfer unit (1100) that transfers a transfer plate (1110) from one side to another in a circular trajectory, a holder assembly unit (1200) that is positioned on the trajectory side of the circulating transfer unit (1100) to assemble a holder assembly (10) and place it on the transfer plate (1100) or a battery cell (B), a cell supply unit (1300) that is positioned on the trajectory side of the circulating transfer unit (1100) to place the battery cell (B) on the holder assembly (10) transferred through the transfer plate (1100), and a conductive plate assembly unit (1700) that is positioned on the side of the circulating transfer unit (1100) to assemble a conductive plate on the holder assembly (10) placed on the upper and lower parts of the battery cell (B).

[0115] In the case of the battery pack flexible production device (1) according to the embodiment described above, since the unidirectional transfer unit (100) transfers the battery cell (B), holder assembly (10), etc. in one direction, the first holder assembly unit (200) and the second holder assembly unit (500), the upper conductive plate assembly unit (700) and the lower conductive plate assembly unit (900), and the first pressurizing unit (400) and the second pressurizing unit (600) must be installed in duplicate. However, the battery pack flexible production device (1) according to another embodiment has the advantage of not requiring duplicate installation by using a circulating transfer unit (1100) that transfers in a circulating manner.

[0116] The circulating transfer unit (1100) may be composed of a robot arm as shown in FIG. 12, and depending on the embodiment, a conveyor that moves in a circular motion may be used.

[0117] In the battery pack flexible production device according to another embodiment, since the same name describes the same configuration even when the drawing numbers are different, a specific description is omitted to avoid redundant explanation.

[0119] With reference to FIG. 13, which is a block diagram of a battery pack flexible production system of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14, which is a block diagram of a battery pack flexible production device and a learning system shown in FIG. 13, a battery pack flexible production system using the battery pack flexible production device (1) reviewed above will be described in detail.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 13, the flexible pack production system consists of a battery ordering system (2000), a process recipe system (3000), and a flexible pack production device (1).

[0121] As previously described, the flexible production device for a pattern pack (1) will be described below with a focus on the battery ordering system (2000) and the process recipe system (3000).

[0122] The battery ordering system (2000) is a system that receives input of requirements for the battery pack to be ordered from the orderer, i.e., the customer, such as the output voltage, charge / discharge capacity, quantity, etc. of the battery pack, and is connected to a wired or wireless communication network so that the battery pack (B) can be ordered in real time without being restricted by location.

[0123] The process recipe system (300) generates a production process recipe for a battery pack by analyzing requirements received from the battery order system (2000), and according to the requirements, it generates a production process recipe for a battery pack including the arrangement of the battery cell (B) and holder assembly (10), the assembly speed of the holder assembly (10), the supply speed and transfer speed of the battery cell (B), the length of the conductive plate, the arrangement position of the conductive plate, the welding position of the conductive plate, the welding speed, etc.

[0124] The production process recipe for a battery pack generated in the process recipe system (3000) is transmitted to the flexible battery pack production device (1) to produce a battery pack according to the production process recipe for the battery pack.

[0126] The battery pack flexible production device (1) is configured to include the described holder assembly (200, 500, 1200), cell supply unit (300, 1300), and conductive plate assembly (700, 800), and the holder assembly (200, 500, 1200), cell supply unit (300, 1300), and conductive plate assembly (700, 800) have been described above, so a separate description is omitted.

[0128] In this process recipe system (3000), as shown in FIG. 13, a learning system (4000) may be added to receive operation record data of a battery pack flexible production device (1) and generate an optimized battery pack production process recipe model.

[0129] When a learning system (4000) is added, various sensor units (20) for sensing driving record data are placed in the holder assembly (200, 500, 1200), cell supply unit (300, 1300), and conductive plate assembly (700, 800) of the battery pack flexible production device (1), and the sensed data is transmitted to the learning system (4000).

[0130] The data transmitted in this way is received by the data transmission and reception unit (4100) of the learning system (4100) and stored in the database (4200), and the driving record data stored in the database (4200) is refined by the preprocessing unit (4300) and produced as statistical data.

[0131] Based on the statistical data produced through the preprocessing unit (4300), the learning unit (4400) calculates the amount of change in process results according to the change in process conditions and extracts the process conditions that affect the amount of change in process results.

[0132] While it is possible to perform machine learning using all process conditions and the process results associated with them, the battery pack production process recipe model obtained through machine learning is highly likely to be unrobust when process conditions become diverse. Therefore, it is desirable to perform machine learning using process conditions that significantly affect the variation in process results as features.

[0133] The learning unit (4400) is composed of a calculation unit (4420) that analyzes the relationship between process factors and the change amount of process results through statistical data as illustrated in FIG. 14 to derive process conditions that have a high influence on the change amount of process results, and a model generation unit (4440) that generates a production process recipe model of a battery pack using the process conditions derived from the calculation unit (4420).

[0135] When a reference value (e.g., a reference value for the number of products that have not reached normal quality) appears as shown in FIG. 15, which is an example graph representing the result value according to the change in process conditions (a, b, c, d, e, f), the operation unit (4420) determines that processes c and d, which are higher than the reference value according to the process conditions, are high-impact process conditions and can be used as features during machine learning in the model generation unit (4440). In addition, the value that appears at this time (e.g., yield) can be used as a label.

[0136] The production process recipe model of the battery pack generated through machine learning in the model generation unit (4440) is updated in the process recipe system (3000) described above so that when an orderer or customer orders a battery pack, an updated and optimized production process recipe for the pack can be generated.

[0138] The embodiments described in this specification and the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of a part of the technical concept included in the present invention. Therefore, since the embodiments disclosed in this specification are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, it is obvious that the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. All variations and specific embodiments that can be easily deduced by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept included in the specification and drawings of the present invention should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0140] 1 : Flexible battery pack production device 10 : Holder assembly 11: Holder member 11a: Grid wall 11b: Cell insertion lead 11c: Incision 13: Fixing pin 20: Sensor part 100 : Unidirectional transfer unit 110 : Transfer plate 200: First holder assembly 210: Holder placement plate 212 : Base plate 214 : Protrusion 220: Holder member supply unit 230: Holder member transfer arm 240: Pin member supply unit 250: Pin member transfer arm 260: Holder inversion part 262: Holder frame 262a: Frame rotation axis 264: Screw frame 264a: Ball screw 266: Moving frame 266a : Lead contact member 300 : Cell supply unit 310: Cell movement slope 320: Cell alignment section 322 : Anti-detachment wall 324 : Side bulkhead 326: Cell seating block 330: First cell gripping head 332: 1st gripping block 334: Pressure block 334a: Pressure supply pipe 336: First cell alignment block 336a: Magnetic field generating coil 340: First head moving rail 342: 1st rail connecting rod 344: Cell seating plate 350: Second cell gripping head 352: Second gripping block 352a: Fluid cylinder 352b: Cylinder rod 356: 2nd cell alignment block 356a: Magnetic field generating coil 360: Second head moving rail 362: Second rail connecting rod 400: First pressurizing part 410: Upper support plate 420: Pressure cylinder 500: Second holder assembly 600: Second pressurizing part 700: Upper conductive plate assembly part 800: Semi-finished product inversion section 810: Plate holder 812 : Stopper 900 : Lower conductive plate assembly 1110: Transfer plate 1200: Holder assembly 1260: Holder inversion unit 1300: Cell supply unit 1400: Pressurizing part 1700: Conductive plate assembly part 1800: Semi-finished product inversion unit 2000: Battery ordering system 3000: Process Recipe System 4000: Learning System 4100: Data Transmitter / Receiver 4200: Database 4300 : Preprocessing unit 4400 : Learning unit 4420 : Operation unit 4440 : Model creation unit B: Battery cell

Claims

Claim 1 A process system for a flexible battery pack production device that arranges and assembles battery cells and holder assemblies positioned above and below the battery cells according to the requirements of the battery pack, comprising: a battery ordering system that receives the requirements of the battery pack from a customer; and a process recipe system that analyzes the requirements received from the battery ordering system and generates a production process recipe for the battery pack. It is composed of a battery pack flexible production device that executes the production process recipe of the battery pack generated in the above process recipe system, wherein the requirements received from the battery ordering system include the quantity, size, output voltage, and capacity of the battery pack, and the production process recipe of the battery pack includes the arrangement of the holder assembly, and the battery pack flexible production device comprises: a unidirectional transfer unit that transfers a transfer plate from one side to the other; a first holder assembly unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit to assemble a holder assembly and place it on the transfer plate; a cell supply unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit to place a battery cell on the holder assembly transferred through the transfer plate; and a second holder assembly unit disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit to assemble a holder assembly and place it on the upper part of the battery cell.A flexible battery pack production system comprising: a conductive plate assembly unit that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly seated on the upper and lower parts of a battery cell and disposed on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit; wherein the first holder assembly unit further comprises a holder inversion unit that inverts the upper and lower surfaces of the holder assembly to seat it on the transfer plate; and wherein the holder inversion unit comprises a holder frame having a frame rotation axis disposed on the central side, a screw frame disposed spaced apart from each other on the upper surface of the holder frame, a ball screw disposed on the screw frame, a spaced-apart first moving frame that moves linearly along the screw frame when the ball screw rotates, and a second moving frame having a lead contact member formed that protrudes in the direction of the first moving frame corresponding to the first moving frame. Claim 2 A flexible battery pack production system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive plate assembly comprises an upper conductive plate assembly that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly seated on the upper part of the battery cell and is positioned on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit, and a lower conductive plate assembly that assembles a conductive plate to a holder assembly seated on the lower part of the battery cell and is positioned on the side of the unidirectional transfer unit, and a semi-finished product inversion unit that inverts the battery cell with the conductive plate assembled in the upper conductive plate assembly unit is positioned between the upper conductive plate assembly unit and the lower conductive plate assembly unit. Claim 3 A flexible battery pack production system according to paragraph 2, wherein the first holder assembly comprises a holder placement plate, a holder member supply unit and a pin member supply unit spaced apart from the holder placement plate, and wherein the holder member supplied from the holder member supply unit and the fixing pin supplied from the pin member supply unit are moved to the holder placement plate via a robot arm. Claim 4 A flexible battery pack production system according to claim 3, wherein the holder arrangement plate comprises a plate-shaped base plate and a plurality of protrusions formed on the upper surface of the base plate, and the holder member comprises a cell insertion lead open at the top and bottom, a grid wall formed by bending at the upper corner of the cell insertion lead, and a cut portion formed in the cell insertion lead at the bottom of the grid wall, wherein one of the grid walls is formed integrally with the grid wall of another cell insertion lead. Claim 5 A flexible battery pack production system according to claim 4, characterized in that a pressure member is disposed on the unidirectional transfer member to pressurize a battery cell seated on the holder assembly and reinforce the connection between the holder assembly and the battery cell. Claim 6 A flexible battery pack production system according to claim 5, wherein the cell supply unit comprises a cell moving slope in which the battery cell is supplied by sliding in one direction, a cell alignment unit disposed at the other end of the cell moving slope in which the battery cell supplied by sliding is aligned, a first cell gripping head that grips the battery cell aligned in the cell alignment unit and moves it to a cell mounting plate disposed on the side of the one-way transfer unit, and a second cell gripping head that grips the battery cell moved to the cell mounting plate and places it on the holder assembly assembled in the first holder assembly unit and mounted on the transfer plate.

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