Cell Loading Method

Abstract

A unit cell loading method according to the present invention comprises: a transfer position measurement step in which an alignment camera photographs the state of a specific unit cell before and after a preset pitch among a plurality of unit cells arranged on a conveyor belt, respectively, and measures the position before and after the transfer of the specific unit cell; a transfer distance calculation step in which a transfer distance calculation unit calculates the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell using the position before and after the preset pitch transfer of the specific unit cell; a transfer deviation calculation step in which a transfer deviation calculation unit calculates the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell using the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell and the preset pitch; a unit cell loading step in which an alignment table moves to the specific unit cell based on the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell and loads the specific unit cell; and a loading position verification step in which an inspection camera photographs the specific unit cell loaded on the alignment table and verifies the loading position of the specific unit cell.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for loading unit cells constituting a secondary battery. Background Technology

[0002] With the technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices, rechargeable secondary batteries are being widely used as an energy source for various mobile devices. Furthermore, secondary batteries are also attracting attention as an energy source for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, which are being proposed as solutions to address issues such as air pollution caused by conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles.

[0003] Secondary batteries are classified into coin batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch batteries according to the shape of the battery case.

[0004] Generally, electrode assemblies embedded in a battery case are classified into a jelly-roll type wound with a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a stack type in which multiple unit cells are stacked with a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a stack / folding type in which unit cells are wound with a separator film.

[0005] Meanwhile, an electrode assembly can be manufactured by stacking multiple unit cells, each having a cathode, an anode, and a separator. Recently, as described in the prior art document below, equipment that transports and stacks unit cells via a conveyor belt is being applied to stack unit cells continuously at high speed.

[0006] However, since the conveyor belt has a structure in which a motor, pulley, and belt are connected and driven by the rotation of the motor, errors occurred because the cells on the conveyor belt were not transported to the correct position due to machining errors (eccentricity) of the pulley or the thickness, elongation, and wear of the conveyor belt. Consequently, in the structure of transporting unit cells using conventional conveyor belts, there was a problem of degraded cell stacking quality due to these errors.

[0007] The present invention relates to a method for improving cell loading quality by measuring the position of unit cells being transported by such a conventional conveyor belt. Prior art literature

[0008] No. 10-2022-0032670 (Published March 15, 2022) The problem to be solved

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a cell loading method capable of improving the loading quality of cells by measuring the same position of a cell in the correct position visible on a camera and a corresponding cell transported at a preset pitch, respectively, calculating the actual transport distance in real time, calculating the transport deviation based on this, and reflecting the said transport deviation during cell loading. means of solving the problem

[0010] A unit cell loading method according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose comprises: a transfer position measurement step in which an alignment camera photographs the state of a specific unit cell before and after a preset pitch among a plurality of unit cells arranged on a conveyor belt, respectively, and measures the position before and after the transfer of the specific unit cell; a transfer distance calculation step in which a transfer distance calculation unit calculates the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell using the position before and after the preset pitch transfer of the specific unit cell; a transfer deviation calculation step in which a transfer deviation calculation unit calculates the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell using the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell and the preset pitch; a unit cell loading step in which an alignment table moves to the specific unit cell based on the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell and loads the specific unit cell; and a loading position verification step in which an inspection camera photographs the specific unit cell loaded on the alignment table and verifies the loading position of the specific unit cell.

[0011] Additionally, the transfer position measurement step may include: a pre-transfer position measurement process in which a camera operating unit operates the alignment camera to photograph a specific unit cell among a plurality of unit cells spaced apart at a preset pitch on the transfer belt to measure the pre-transfer position of the specific unit cell; a unit cell transfer process in which a transfer belt operating unit operates the transfer belt to transfer each unit cell at a preset pitch; and a post-transfer position measurement process in which the camera operating unit reactivates the alignment camera to re-photograph the specific unit cell placed on the transfer belt to measure the post-transfer position of the specific unit cell.

[0012] In addition, in the above-mentioned transfer distance calculation step, the transfer distance calculation unit calculates the actual transfer distance value of the specific unit cell by subtracting the position value before the preset pitch transfer from the position value after the preset pitch transfer of the specific unit cell among the plurality of unit cells, and in the above-mentioned transfer deviation calculation step, the transfer deviation calculation unit calculates the transfer deviation value of the specific unit cell by subtracting the preset pitch value from the actual transfer distance value of the specific unit cell.

[0013] Additionally, the unit cell loading step may include: a table transfer process in which a table operating unit operates the alignment table and then transfers the alignment table to the specific unit cell by reflecting the transfer deviation value of the specific unit cell; and a unit cell loading process in which a conveyor belt operating unit operates the conveyor belt to load the specific unit cell onto the alignment table.

[0014] In addition, the loading position verification step may include: a loading position measurement process in which the camera operating unit operates the verification camera to photograph a specific unit cell loaded on the alignment table and measures the center value of the specific unit cell; a loading state value determination process in which the loading position verification unit calculates the difference between the reference mark of the alignment table and the center value of the specific unit cell to determine the loading state value of the specific unit cell; and a loading quality verification process in which the loading position verification unit compares the loading state value of the specific unit cell with a preset quality verification value, and verifies the loading quality of the specific unit cell as qualified if the loading state value satisfies the condition range of the quality verification value. Effects of the invention

[0015] As described above, according to the cell loading method of the present invention, the actual transfer distance is calculated in real time by measuring the cell in the correct position visible in the camera and the same position of the corresponding cell transferred at a preset pitch, and the transfer deviation is calculated based on this and reflected during cell loading, thereby having the effect of improving the loading quality of the cell. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cell loading method according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a cell loading system that performs a cell loading method according to the present invention. Figure 3 is an example diagram of the installation of the cell loading system of Figure 2. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the transfer position measurement step according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is an example diagram showing the measurement of the position before and after transfer of a specific unit cell according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the unit cell loading step according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the loading position verification step according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. First, it should be noted that identical components or parts in the drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals whenever possible. In describing the present invention, specific descriptions of related known functions or configurations are omitted to avoid obscuring the essence of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cell loading method according to the present invention.

[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cell loading method according to the present invention includes a transfer position measurement step (S10), a transfer distance calculation step (S20), a transfer deviation calculation step (S30), a unit cell loading step (S40), and a loading position verification step (S50).

[0020] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a cell loading system for performing a cell loading method according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an example installation diagram of the cell loading system of FIG. 2.

[0021] In addition, a cell loading system (10) for performing the cell loading method according to the present invention includes, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an alignment camera (100), a verification camera (200), a conveyor belt (300), an alignment table (400), and a control device (500).

[0022] Here, the control device (500) may include a camera operating unit (510), a conveyor belt operating unit (520), a conveying distance calculation unit (530), a conveying deviation calculation unit (540), a table operating unit (550), and a loading position verification unit (560).

[0023] Specifically, as described below, the cell loading method according to the present invention can perform the transfer position measurement step (S10) using a camera operating unit (510), an alignment camera (100), a transfer belt operating unit (520), and a transfer belt (300), can perform the transfer distance calculation step (S20) using a transfer distance calculation unit (530), and can perform the transfer deviation calculation step (S30) using a transfer deviation calculation unit (540).

[0024] In addition, the cell loading method according to the present invention can perform the unit cell loading step (S40) using a table operating unit (550), an alignment table (400), a conveyor belt operating unit (520), and a conveyor belt (300), and can perform the loading position verification step (S50) using a camera operating unit (510), a verification camera (200), and a loading position verification unit (560).

[0025] Hereinafter, the cell loading method according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transfer position measurement step (S10) is a step in which an alignment camera (100) photographs the pre- and post-transfer state of a specific unit cell among a plurality of unit cells (600) placed on a transfer belt (300) at a preset pitch, and measures the pre- and post-transfer position of the specific unit cell.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the transfer position measurement step according to the present invention.

[0028] Specifically, the transfer position measurement step (S10) may include a pre-transfer position measurement process (S11), a unit cell transfer process (S11), and a post-transfer position measurement process (S13), as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0029] The pre-transfer position measurement process (S11) is a process in which the camera operating part (510) of the control device (500) operates the alignment camera (100) to photograph a specific unit cell among a plurality of unit cells (600) spaced apart at a preset pitch on the transfer belt (300), thereby measuring the pre-transfer position of the specific unit cell.

[0030] In this transfer-previous position measurement process (S11), as shown in FIG. 3, the transfer-previous position of a specific unit cell can be measured by measuring the position of the center value of the specific unit cell relative to the center of the alignment camera (100).

[0031] Here, the alignment camera (100) may include three unit cells adjacent to the upper FOV (A1) and lower FOV (A2) respectively in one embodiment, and these unit cells may be spaced apart by 1 pitch with a preset pitch.

[0032] The unit cell transfer process (S11) is a process in which the transfer belt operating part (520) of the control device (500) operates the transfer belt (300) and the pulley (700) to transfer each unit cell (600) at a preset pitch.

[0033] In this unit cell transfer process (S11), each unit cell can be transferred by 1-pitch with a preset pitch.

[0034] The post-transfer position measurement process (S13) is a process in which the camera operating unit (510) restarts the alignment camera (100) to re-photograph a specific unit cell placed on the transfer belt (300) after transfer, thereby measuring the post-transfer position of the specific unit cell.

[0035] In this post-transfer position measurement process (S13), the post-transfer position of a specific unit cell can be measured by measuring the position of the center value of the specific unit cell relative to the center of the alignment camera (100).

[0036] FIG. 5 is an example diagram showing the measurement of the position before and after transfer of a specific unit cell according to the present invention.

[0037] That is, in the transfer position measurement step (S10), as shown in FIG. 5, the specific unit cell at the correct position before transfer and the specific unit cell transferred by 1 pitch can be measured in a state where both the upper FOV (A1) and the lower FOV (A2) of the alignment camera (100) are visible.

[0038] For example, in the transfer position measurement step (S10), the transfer position can be measured using the blue circle of a specific unit cell (①) in the transfer position measurement process (S11), and in the transfer position measurement process (S13), the transfer position can be measured using the same position of the specific unit cell (①), i.e., the red circle.

[0039] The transfer distance calculation step (S20) is a step in which the transfer distance calculation unit (530) of the control device (500) calculates the actual transfer distance of a specific unit cell using the position before and after the preset pitch transfer for the specific unit cell measured in the transfer position measurement step (S10).

[0040] Specifically, in the transfer distance calculation step (S20), the transfer distance calculation unit (530) can calculate the actual transfer distance value of a specific unit cell by subtracting the position value before the 1-pitch transfer from the position value after the 1-pitch transfer, which is a preset pitch of a specific unit cell among multiple unit cells.

[0041] The transfer deviation calculation step (S30) is a step in which the transfer deviation calculation unit (540) of the control device (500) calculates the transfer deviation of a specific unit cell using the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell calculated in the transfer distance calculation step (S20) and the 1-pitch transfer value, which is the preset pitch.

[0042] Specifically, in the transfer deviation calculation step (S30), the transfer deviation calculation unit (540) can calculate the transfer deviation value of the specific unit cell by subtracting the 1-pitch transfer value, which is a preset pitch value, from the actual transfer distance value of the specific unit cell.

[0043] For example, in the feed deviation calculation step (S30), if the actual feed distance value of a specific unit cell is greater than the 1-pitch feed value, a positive (+) feed deviation value can be calculated, and conversely, if the actual feed distance value of a specific unit cell is less than the 1-pitch feed value, a negative (-) feed deviation value can be calculated.

[0044] Meanwhile, in the feed deviation calculation step (S30), a correction value is calculated which is the amount of misalignment of the unit cell center relative to the camera center measured at the position before feed, i.e., the value to which the UVW table, which is the subject of correction, must move to the position of the unit cell center, and the deviation can be corrected by subtracting the above feed deviation value from the correction value, and this deviation correction value is the value obtained by subtracting the actual feed amount of the feed belt from the 1-pitch drive command value of the feed belt.

[0045] The unit cell loading step (S40) is a step in which the alignment table (Alignment Table, 400) moves to the corresponding specific unit cell based on the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell calculated in the transfer deviation calculation step (S30) and loads the specific unit cell.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the unit cell loading step according to the present invention.

[0047] Specifically, the unit cell loading step (S40) may include a table transfer process (S41) and a unit cell loading process (S42), as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0048] The table transfer process (S41) is a process in which the table operating part (550) of the control device (500) operates the alignment table (400) and then transfers the alignment table to a specific unit cell by reflecting the transfer deviation value of a specific unit cell.

[0049] More specifically, the table operating unit (550) can move the alignment table (400) by a distance equal to the 1-pitch feed value plus the feed deviation value when a positive (+) feed deviation value is calculated in the feed deviation calculation step (S30), and conversely, can move the alignment table (400) by a distance equal to the 1-pitch feed value minus the feed deviation value when a negative (-) feed deviation value is calculated in the feed deviation calculation step (S30).

[0050] The unit cell loading process (S42) is a process in which the conveyor belt operating part (520) operates the conveyor belt (300) to load a specific unit cell onto the alignment table (400).

[0051] In the present invention, as described above, a specific unit cell is loaded onto an alignment table (400) by operating a conveyor belt (300), but it is obvious that a specific unit cell located on the conveyor belt can be loaded onto the alignment table (400) through various methods.

[0052] The loading position verification step (S50) is a step in which an inspection camera (200) photographs a specific unit cell loaded on an alignment table (400) in the unit cell loading step (S40) to verify the loading position of the specific unit cell.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the loading position verification step according to the present invention.

[0054] Specifically, the loading position verification step (S50) may include a loading position measurement process (S51), a loading state value determination process (S52), and a loading quality verification process (S53), as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0055] The loading position measurement process (S51) is a process in which the camera operating unit (510) of the control device (500) operates the verification camera (200) to photograph a specific unit cell loaded on the alignment table (400) and measures the center value of the specific unit cell.

[0056] In this loading position measurement process (S51), as shown in FIG. 3, the loading position of a specific unit cell can be measured by measuring the position of the center value of the specific unit cell relative to the center of the verification camera (200).

[0057] The loading state value determination process (S52) is a process in which the loading position verification unit (560) of the control device (500) calculates the difference between the reference mark provided on the alignment table (400) and the center value of the corresponding specific unit cell to determine the loading state value of the corresponding specific unit cell.

[0058] Specifically, in the loading state value determination process (S52), the difference between the position value of a reference mark marked on the alignment table (400) and the center value of a specific unit cell measured in the loading position measurement process (S51) can be calculated, and the difference value can be used to determine whether the loading state of the specific unit cell is qualified or unqualified.

[0059] The loading quality verification process (S53) is a process in which the loading position verification unit (560) compares the loading state value of a specific unit cell with a preset quality verification value, and if the loading state value satisfies the condition range of the quality verification value, the loading quality of the specific unit cell is verified as qualified.

[0060] Specifically, in the loading quality verification process (S53), if the loading state value of a specific unit cell determined in the loading state value determination process (S52) falls within the range of the difference between the position value of the reference mark, which is pre-set as the quality verification value, and the center value of the loading unit cell, the loading state of the specific unit cell can be verified as qualified quality; conversely, if the loading state value does not fall within the range of the quality verification value, the loading state of the specific unit cell can be verified as unqualified quality.

[0061] As described above, according to the present invention, the actual transfer distance of the cell is calculated by measuring the cell in the correct position visible in the camera and the same position of the cell transferred at a preset pitch, and the transfer deviation is calculated based on this, and the loading quality of the cell can be improved by reflecting the transfer deviation when loading the cell.

[0062] Although the cell loading method according to the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings illustrating the method, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed in this specification, and it is understood that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0063] 10: Cell loading system 100: Alignment Camera 200: Verification Camera 300: Conveyor belt 310: Upper conveyor belt 320: Lower conveyor belt 400: Alignment table 500: Control unit 510: Camera operating unit 520: Conveyor belt operating unit 530: Conveyor distance calculation unit 540: Transfer deviation calculation unit 550: Table operation unit 560: Loading position verification unit 600: Unit cell 700:Pulley A1: Aligned Camera Top FOV A2: Aligned Camera Bottom FOV S10: Transfer position measurement step S11: Pre-transfer position measurement process S12: Unit cell transfer process S13: Post-transfer position measurement process S20: Transfer distance calculation step S30: Transfer deviation calculation step S40: Unit cell loading stage S41: Table transfer process S42: Unit cell loading process S50: Loading position verification step S51: Loading position measurement process S52: Process for determining loading status value S53: Loading Quality Verification Process

Claims

Claim 1 A transfer position measurement step in which an alignment camera photographs the state of a specific unit cell before and after a preset pitch transfer among a plurality of unit cells arranged on a conveyor belt, and measures the position before and after transfer of the specific unit cell; a transfer distance calculation step in which a transfer distance calculation unit calculates the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell using the position before and after the preset pitch transfer of the specific unit cell; a transfer deviation calculation step in which a transfer deviation calculation unit calculates the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell using the actual transfer distance of the specific unit cell and the preset pitch; and a unit cell loading step in which an alignment table moves to the specific unit cell based on the transfer deviation of the specific unit cell and loads the specific unit cell. The method includes a loading position verification step in which an inspection camera photographs a specific unit cell loaded on the alignment table to verify the loading position of the specific unit cell; wherein the transfer position measurement step comprises: a pre-transfer position measurement process in which a camera operating unit operates the alignment camera to photograph a specific unit cell among a plurality of unit cells spaced apart at a preset pitch on the transfer belt to measure the pre-transfer position of the specific unit cell; a unit cell transfer process in which a transfer belt operating unit operates the transfer belt to transfer each unit cell at a preset pitch; and a post-transfer position measurement process in which the camera operating unit reactivates the alignment camera to re-photograph the specific unit cell placed on the transfer belt to measure the post-transfer position of the specific unit cell.A unit cell loading method comprising: a transfer distance calculation step, wherein the transfer distance calculation unit calculates the actual transfer distance value of a specific unit cell by subtracting the position value before a preset pitch transfer from the position value after a preset pitch transfer of a specific unit cell among a plurality of unit cells; a transfer deviation calculation step, wherein the transfer deviation calculation unit calculates the transfer deviation value of a specific unit cell by subtracting the preset pitch value from the actual transfer distance value of the specific unit cell; and the unit cell loading step comprises: a table transfer process in which a table operating unit transfers the alignment table to a specific unit cell by reflecting the transfer deviation value of the specific unit cell after operating the alignment table; and a unit cell loading process in which a transfer belt operating unit operates the transfer belt to load the specific unit cell onto the alignment table. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A unit cell loading method according to claim 1, wherein the loading position verification step comprises: a loading position measurement process in which the camera operating unit operates the verification camera to photograph a specific unit cell loaded on the alignment table and measures the center value of the specific unit cell; a loading state value determination process in which the loading position verification unit calculates the difference between the reference mark of the alignment table and the center value of the specific unit cell to determine the loading state value of the specific unit cell; and a loading quality verification process in which the loading position verification unit compares the loading state value of the specific unit cell with a preset quality verification value, and verifies the loading quality of the specific unit cell as qualified if the loading state value satisfies the condition range of the quality verification value.

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