Automated warehouse for the formation of electrochemical cells

Abstract

An automatic warehouse (10) for forming electrochemical cells comprises a containment structure (14) within which there are housed: a plurality of formation stations (19) each of which is configured to receive at least one tray (11) containing electrochemical cells (100); a plurality of formation modules (28) configured to implement an at least partial formation cycle of the electrochemical cells (100); an electrical power supply unit (32) connectable to an electrical source; a transfer station (18) configured to receive trays (11) containing electrochemical cells (100); a transport system (20) for transferring trays (11) containing electrochemical cells (100) between the transfer station (18) and each formation station (19). An electrical connection system (26) configured to electrically connect the electrical power supply unit (32) to at least one formation module (28) of said plurality of formation modules (28) is placed in each formation station (19).

Description

[0001] Automated warehouse for the formation of electrochemical cells

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse for forming electrochemical cells.

[0004] The present invention finds particular application in the field of producing secondary batteries, preferably lithium rechargeable batteries. Although in the course of this description, reference will be made specifically to lithium electrochemical cells, the teachings of the present invention also apply to the case of other secondary electrochemical cells in which one of the cell construction processes comprises the formation of the electrode by the passage of current through it.

[0005] In the production of lithium electrochemical cells, after mechanical assembly operations of the electrochemical cells, the electrochemical cells have to undergo electrical operations that lead to electrochemical phenomena within the electrochemical cells such that the anodes are covered by the so-called “Solid Electrolyte Interphase” (SEI). These operations are known in the technical sector by the term “formation” of electrochemical cells.

[0006] Electrochemical cell formation operations typically involve a succession of charge / discharge cycles of the electrochemical cells applying maximum currents of 0.1 -0.2 C for predetermined times (of the order of 10-24 hours). The magnitude “C” indicates a current value expressed in amperes numerically equal to the cell capacity in Ah (e.g. for a cell capacity of 2 Ah, the magnitude C is 2 A). The actual currents applied, the charge / discharge times and the number of repetitions of the various charge / discharge cycles depend on the type of battery, and each battery manufacturer has developed its own “recipe” to best form the SEI electrode surface layer to maximise battery performance. In fact, only if the formation process is performed properly will the SEI electrode surface layer be deposited on the battery electrodes, which optimises the battery’s properties in terms of charging capacity and uniformity of charge / discharge cycles.

[0007] In the Applicant’s experience, the formation of electrochemical cells is performed in a formation plant in which trays for electrochemical cells, each containing a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in a matrix pattern, are placed in respective formation chambers. Inside each formation chamber there is a contacting assembly, configured to make electrical contact with each electrochemical cell, a power supply unit, electrically connected to an electrical source, to provide electrical power for the formation of the electrochemical cells, and a control unit that defines the timing and manner of the charge and discharge phases of the electrochemical cell. The contact assembly is mounted inside the formation chamber on a vertically movable frame so that it can be lowered onto the tray, positioned below it, and come into contact with the electrochemical cells housed in the tray.

[0008] Following the formation operations, the formed electrochemical cells are subjected to electrically passive operations, carried out in special rest stations (aging stations) for times in the order of tens or hundreds of hours, in which the cells are left “to rest” to allow them to stabilise at specially controlled temperatures.

[0009] In the Applicant’s experience, in formation plants, the formation chambers with the related contacting assemblies are arranged in cabinets, known as “racks”, which may comprise a very large number of floors in which a plurality of formation chambers are arranged side by side on each floor. The racks are open at their side walls to allow the trays to be inserted and removed from the formation chambers.

[0010] There are dozens of formation racks in a modern formation plants.

[0011] In fact, due to the ever-increasing demand for secondary batteries, battery production plants have grown to a very large size. Suffice it to say that such factories are commonly referred to as Gigafactories and that their size is expressed in GWh to indicate the electricity storage capacity of the batteries produced there in a year. By way of example, a 1 GWh Gigafactory can produce enough batteries to power around 15,000 electric vehicles in a single year. Gigafactories of 50 GWh exist and are in operation.

[0012] Modern formation plants are highly automated so that the trays containing the electrochemical cells are supplied to the racks and placed inside the respective formation chambers automatically.

[0013] The Applicant has observed that in formation plants, the trays containing the electrochemical cells must be inserted very precisely into the formation chamber in order to allow the electrical connectors of the contacting assemblies to be coupled correctly with the electrical connectors of the electrochemical cells. Errors in positioning the trays in the formation chambers could in fact cause failure in the electrical coupling between the contacting assembly and the electrochemical cells, resulting in the failure of the formation process. The Applicant has verified that such precision in the insertion of the trays into the formation chambers requires careful design of the layout of the formation plant, necessary to ensure that each formation rack can be served by one or more lifting devices that lift the trays at the formation chambers, to ensure that each lifting device has the necessary space to manoeuvre, to ensure that each lifting device can effectively reach all the formation chambers it is to serve, and to ensure that the formation racks can still be safely inspected by skilled personnel to perform maintenance operations.

[0014] In the Applicant's experience, any expansion or reconfiguration of the plant requires costly redesigns of the plant layout, both in terms of money and time, to continue to meet the above-mentioned needs essential for correct and precise positioning of the trays within the formation chambers.

[0015] The Applicant thus felt the need to make any expansion or reconfiguration of a formation plant less onerous.

[0016] The Applicant has perceived that if formation racks were provided as devices integrating all the necessary functions to manage the transfer and positioning of trays of electrochemical cells within the formation chambers, and if such a type of formation rack were arranged in the form of a substantially independent structure that could be interfaced with other parts of the formation plant any expansion or reconfiguration of the plant would “simply” require the placement of new formation racks or the repositioning of existing formation racks, greatly reducing the time and cost required to expand or reconfigure a formation plant.

[0017] The Applicant has thus found that a formation rack could be made by a warehouse equipped with the electrical and electronic components to form electrochemical cells, having a containment structure within which a plurality of formation chambers are arranged, wherein this warehouse comprises a transfer station acting as an interface between the warehouse and the rest of the plant to receive trays with electrochemical cells to be formed and deliver trays with formed electrochemical cells, and a transport system within the warehouse capable of transporting trays between the transfer station and the formation chambers and between the formation chambers and the transfer station.

[0018] In this way, the warehouse would be a physically and functionally autonomous “entity”, with known dimensions and requiring only access to the transfer station and connection to a power source in order to be essentially immediately utilised or integrated into a formation plant.

[0019] The present invention thus relates to an automatic warehouse for the formation of electrochemical cells.

[0020] Preferably, a containment structure is provided.

[0021] Preferably, a plurality of formation stations are housed within the containment structure, each of which is configured to receive at least one tray containing electrochemical cells.

[0022] Preferably, within the containment structure the following are housed a plurality of formation modules configured to implement at least a partial formation cycle of said electrochemical cells.

[0023] Preferably, within the containment structure is housed a power supply unit connectable to an electrical source.

[0024] Preferably, at least one transfer station configured to receive trays containing electrochemical cells is housed within the containment structure.

[0025] Preferably, a transport system is housed within the containment structure to transfer trays containing electrochemical cells between the transfer station and each formation station and between each formation station and said transfer station.

[0026] Preferably, an electrical connection system configured to electrically connect the power supply unit to at least one formation module of said plurality of formation modules is placed in each formation station.

[0027] The Applicant has verified that the containment structure defines predefined and certain dimensions for the warehouse making it easier to design a plant layout. The transfer station within the containment structure acts as an interface with the feeding and pick-up systems at the warehouse of electrochemical cell trays, and the transport system handles the logistics of transporting trays inside the warehouse to place the trays in the formation stations. The formation modules, connected to the power supply unit and electrical connection systems in each formation station, enable the electrochemical cells contained in the trays to be formed. In this way, the warehouse becomes a physically and functionally autonomous “entity” and can be easily integrated into a new or existing formation plant.

[0028] An “electrochemical cell” is defined as an assembly consisting of at least one anode, one cathode, a possible dielectric material separator interposed between the anode and cathode, and an electrolyte. A battery comprises at least one electrochemical cell. “Formation” refers to a process in which an electrochemical cell is subjected to charge / discharge / recharge cycles. The currents applied during charge / discharge / recharge cycles, measured in amperes, are numerically an order of magnitude smaller than the number expressing the total capacity in Ah of the electrochemical cell. For example, when an electrochemical cell has a capacity of 1 Ah, the maximum currents applied are about 0.1 to 0.2 amperes. Charge / discharge / recharge cycles are implemented for such a time (e.g. 12-24 hours) to reach maximum voltage, minimum voltage, and then return the electrochemical cell to a known state of charge, typically 80%.

[0029] A “bidirectional power supply” is a power supply device capable of supplying electrical energy to a user device and extracting energy from it, enabling a bidirectional exchange of energy between the user device and the power supply device. In a bidirectional power supply, the electrical energy flow direction is directed either from the power supply device to the user device or from the user device to the power supply device; there is never a possibility that the energy flow is simultaneously directed from the power supply device to the user device and from the user device to the power supply device.

[0030] To “condition” or “thermally condition” a physical entity (such as a tray, an electrochemical cell, a drawer) is it meant subjecting said physical entity to a thermal heating action or to a cooling action.

[0031] To “thermally associate” two physical entities with each other is it meant to place them in direct or indirect contact, and possibly by means of a convection means, in such a way that the physical entity at a higher temperature yields heat to the physical entity at a lower temperature. By way of example, “thermally associating a fluid heater with a tray” means placing the fluid heater in contact with the tray by means of a hot conditioning fluid in such a way that the fluid heater yields heat to the tray.

[0032] The present invention may have at least one of the preferred features described below. Such features may be present individually or in combination with each other, unless expressly stated otherwise, in the warehouse of the present invention.

[0033] Preferably, the warehouse is part of a formation plant comprising a plurality of trays each containing electrochemical cells.

[0034] Preferably, the containment structure comprises a frame and a plurality of possibly removable walls delimiting an internal volume of the warehouse. Preferably, a plurality of transfer stations can be provided, wherein some transfer stations are configured to receive trays and other transfer stations are configured to take trays out of the warehouse.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a single transfer station is used both to receive trays and to take trays out of the warehouse.

[0036] Preferably, said transport system comprises a plurality of drawers.

[0037] Preferably, each drawer is configured to accommodate one or more trays and is movable between the transfer station and a formation station and between said formation station and said transfer station.

[0038] The Applicant has verified that the provision of drawers each configured to hold one or more trays allows the provision of formation stations wherein each formation station can simultaneously hold a plurality of trays, thus enabling the speeding up of tray insertion operations in the formation stations.

[0039] Furthermore, the Applicant has verified that once a tray is housed or otherwise coupled to a related drawer, the electrical connection operations between the electrochemical cells contained in the tray and the electrical connection systems in the formation chambers can be simplified by, for example, equipping the drawer itself with electrical connections.

[0040] Preferably, said drawer and said formation station are configured in such a way that said drawer remains in the formation chamber during electrochemical cell forming operations.

[0041] Preferably, each drawer is configured to remain within a respective formation station during the electrochemical cell forming operation.

[0042] In this respect, preferably, each drawer comprises at least one formation module of said plurality of formation modules.

[0043] Preferably, each formation module can be physically made from a single board, on which the various electrical and electronic components required to perform an electrochemical cell formation process are mounted, or from a plurality of boards electrically connected to each other. In this case, such a plurality of boards can be mounted on a single physical medium.

[0044] Similarly, a plurality of formation modules may preferably be physically composed of a plurality of boards mounted on a common physical medium.

[0045] Again, a plurality of formation modules may preferably be physically composed of a plurality of boards mounted on respective physical media. Preferably, each formation module comprises a contact assembly configured to provide an electrical contact for each of said electrochemical cells housed in a tray.

[0046] Preferably, each formation module comprises at least one bidirectional power supply.

[0047] Preferably, said bidirectional power supply is electrically connected to said contacting assembly and electrically connectable to said electrical connection system of a formation station.

[0048] Preferably, said at least one formation module is integral with said drawer in the movement between the transfer station and the formation station and between said formation station and said transfer station.

[0049] The Applicant noted that the maintenance of the formation modules is particularly costly, since the formation modules consist of complex components and are subject to high wear and tear due to the electrical power transmitted to the electrochemical cells to be formed. It is thus necessary to provide for frequent maintenance of the formation modules. For this purpose, the state-of-the-art racks are constructed in such a way that operators have direct access to the formation chambers to enable them to carry out maintenance operations on the formation modules. This generally involves the provision of access ramps, scaffolding, and a limitation of the maximum height the racks can reach.

[0050] The Applicant has found that making the formation modules integral to the drawers, i.e. mounting the formation modules directly on the drawers, greatly simplifies access to the formation modules for maintenance. In fact, in the event of a malfunction or simply scheduled maintenance of a certain formation module, it is sufficient to request the warehouse transport system to move the drawer containing that formation module to, for example, the transfer station in order to make that formation module immediately accessible to the maintenance staff. In this way, the warehouse is more compact and can have a greater number of shelves because the height is irrelevant to the maintenance operations of the formation modules.

[0051] Preferably, said warehouse comprises a maintenance station reached by said transport system, said maintenance station being configured to receive a drawer and allow maintenance operations to be carried out on said drawer.

[0052] In this way, the transfer station does not need to be engaged during maintenance operations of a formation module mounted on a corresponding drawer, and the warehouse can continue to be supplied via the transfer station with new trays containing electrochemical cells to be formed, and can continue to supply trays containing formed electrochemical cells via the transfer station to the formation plant.

[0053] Preferably, said transfer station is placed at a transport level and said maintenance station is placed at a maintenance level, wherein said maintenance level is placed at a different height with respect to said transport level.

[0054] In this way, access to the maintenance station by operators is not hindered by operations at the transport level at the transfer station.

[0055] Preferably, a plurality of formation modules are mounted on each drawer.

[0056] As mentioned above, the plurality of formation modules can be mounted on a single physical medium, and the distinction between the various formation modules in a drawer can only be of a functional nature. In other words, the various formation modules of a drawer may not be physically identifiable individually, while each of them is individually identifiable from a functional point of view. In this regard, preferably each formation module operates a formation process on a single tray.

[0057] Preferably, each formation station is configured to receive only one drawer.

[0058] Preferably, said power supply assembly comprises a plurality of power supplies each configured to change input voltage values from said electrical source to usable voltage values at the input to said formation modules.

[0059] By way of example, each power supply can, in combination or alternatively, be configured to have a three-phase input and a single-phase output and can be configured to have a medium-voltage input (e.g. 220 Volts or 350 Volts) and a low-voltage output (e.g. 24 Volts, 12 Volts or 5 Volts). An example of a suitable power supply for this purpose is an electronic power converter.

[0060] Preferably, each drawer comprises N formation modules, where N represents an integer indicating the number of formation modules.

[0061] Preferably, each power supply of said plurality of power supplies is electrically connected with P formation modules of a first drawer, where P represents an integer indicating the number of formation modules and where P is less than N.

[0062] Preferably, each power supply of said plurality of power supplies is electrically connected with M formation modules of at least one further drawer when said drawers are housed in the respective formation stations, where M represents an integer indicating the number of formation modules and where M is less than N.

[0063] Preferably, P is equal to M.

[0064] Preferably, all the formation modules of each drawer are simultaneously electrically connected with respective power supplies.

[0065] In this way, a power supply is connected (when the drawers are in the formation stations) with only a few formation modules of one drawer and only a few formation modules of another drawer or drawers.

[0066] The Applicant has found that this can allow for lower power supplies (and therefore less expensive) than if each power supply were to power all the formation modules of a drawer. In fact, during the formation process, there are times when the electrochemical cells must be charged to their maximum formation power. By connecting an electrical power supply to only some formation modules of a drawer (and to some formation modules of other drawers), and considering that forming processes start at different instants in each formation station, this power supply should provide the maximum formation power to only some formation modules, namely those of the drawer corresponding to the formation station that requires the maximum formation power at a given instant. In this way, it is possible to choose the maximum power that can be delivered by each power supply unit according to the maximum number of formation modules that simultaneously deliver the maximum formation power.

[0067] Preferably, each electrical connection system of a formation station comprises an electrical connector configured to be connected removably with an electrical connector of a drawer.

[0068] Preferably, said electrical connector of the electrical connection system is electrically connected to an electrical power supply of said plurality of power supplies.

[0069] Preferably, said electrical connector of the drawer is electrically connected to each drawer formation module.

[0070] In this way, each formation module receives electrical power from the electrical connector of the drawer, which in turn receives electrical power from the electrical connector of the formation station's electrical connection system, which in turn receives electrical power from one or more power supplies, which in turn receive electrical power from an electrical power source of the formation plant.

[0071] Preferably, said formation stations are arranged one above the other in at least one formation station columns; said transfer station being located below said formation stations.

[0072] Preferably, there are a plurality of formation station columns.

[0073] Preferably, each transfer station comprises a tray inlet opening to allow a tray to enter the transfer station.

[0074] Preferably, each transfer station comprises a drawer inlet opening to allow a drawer to enter the transfer station.

[0075] Preferably, each transfer station comprises a drawer outlet opening to enable the exit of a drawer transferred to a tray from the transfer station.

[0076] The drawer inlet opening can coincide with the drawer outlet opening.

[0077] Preferably, the drawer inlet opening and the drawer outlet opening face an internal volume defined by the containment structure.

[0078] The tray inlet opening preferably faces the environment outside the warehouse.

[0079] Preferably, the tray inlet opening is placed at said transport level.

[0080] The exact position and orientation of the tray inlet opening depends on the position from which the trays are fed to the warehouse.

[0081] Preferably, said transport system comprises an elevator configured to retain a drawer.

[0082] Preferably, said transport system comprises at least one elevator movement device.

[0083] Preferably, said transport system comprises vertical guides to which the elevator is smoothly connected.

[0084] The elevator engages a drawer and, by means of the movement device, raises or lowers the drawer along the vertical guides.

[0085] Preferably, the elevator is also horizontally movable, possibly guided along vertical guides.

[0086] Preferably, said vertical guides run vertically within the containment structure and reach upwards to all the formation stations.

[0087] When a drawer is to be placed in the transfer station to receive a tray, the elevator is positioned at the formation station from which a drawer is to be taken that is not associated with any tray of electrochemical cells.

[0088] The elevator engages the drawer, possibly moving along horizontal guides, and is then lowered along the vertical guides to the level of the transfer station. The elevator, possibly moving along horizontal guides, inserts the drawer into the transfer station through the drawer inlet opening, so that the drawer is associated with a tray of electrochemical cells. Next, the elevator with the drawer associated with the tray of electrochemical cells is returned to the vertical guides to be lifted to an empty formation station to insert the drawer associated with the tray of electrochemical cells and allow electrochemical cell formation to be initiated.

[0089] The vertical guides, horizontal guides (if any) and the movement device can be chosen according to the required movement and positioning accuracy.

[0090] By way of example, the vertical and possibly horizontal guides, the elevator and the movement device can be realised by linear motor-driven transport tracks in which the elevator is equipped with a magnet that interacts with current-driven linear stators that form the vertical and possibly horizontal guides in such a way that the elevator can be stopped, raised, lowered and moved horizontally while controlling its position with extreme precision.

[0091] To engage and retain a tray that is delivered to a drawer, each drawer preferably comprises an engagement assembly.

[0092] The engagement assembly can for example be formed by grippers that close on the tray when the tray contacts a gripper actuator.

[0093] Preferably, the engagement assembly is also configured to position the tray relative to the drawer in such a way that the tray is in a predetermined relative position with respect to the drawer when taken from the drawer.

[0094] By way of example, the grippers of the engagement assembly can centre the tray with respect to the drawer when closing onto the tray.

[0095] The Applicant noted that it may be necessary to actively control the temperature of the electrochemical cells during the formation process. This is both to prevent the temperature of the electrochemical cells from rising too high and to prevent the temperature of the electrochemical cells from falling too low, in which cases the formation process may not be effective.

[0096] The Applicant also noted that, depending on the formation “recipe” to be implemented, it might be necessary to ensure that the electrochemical cells remain at predetermined temperatures or predetermined temperature ranges at predetermined stages of the formation process.

[0097] For this purpose, the Applicant perceived that the formation warehouse could be used as an incubator for electrochemical cells being formed. The Applicant therefore found that the warehouse could be equipped with a conditioning system.

[0098] Preferably, the conditioning system comprises a warehouse conditioning circuit configured to thermally condition at least one tray when placed in one of said formation stations.

[0099] Preferably, the warehouse conditioning circuit is configured to thermally condition each tray when placed in a respective formation station.

[0100] Preferably, each tray should be thermally conditioned independently of the other trays.

[0101] Preferably, said conditioning system is configured to thermally condition said trays independently of each other when placed in their respective formation stations.

[0102] The Applicant found that in this way each tray, and with it the electrochemical cells contained therein, can be maintained at a temperature not necessarily equal to the temperature at which any other tray undergoing the formation process is maintained within the warehouse.

[0103] The Applicant also found that by thermally conditioning these trays independently of each other, it is also possible to vary the conditioning temperature of one tray without affecting the conditioning temperature of another tray.

[0104] Preferably, the warehouse conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with a fluid heater and a fluid cooler.

[0105] The fluid heater can be inside the warehouse containment structure or outside the warehouse containment structure.

[0106] The Applicant has verified that when there are a plurality of warehouses within a formation plant, it may be preferable to place the fluid heater outside the warehouse containment structure and, preferably, to serve the conditioning circuits of a plurality of warehouses with the same fluid heater.

[0107] Similarly, the fluid cooler may be inside the warehouse containment structure or outside the warehouse containment structure.

[0108] The Applicant has verified that when there are a plurality of warehouses within a formation plant, it may be preferable to place the fluid cooler outside the warehouse containment structure and, preferably, to serve the conditioning circuits of a plurality of warehouses with the same fluid cooler.

[0109] Preferably, a conditioning liquid circulates within the warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0110] Preferably, the conditioning liquid is water or a mixture of water and glycol.

[0111] Preferably, said conditioning system is configured to thermally and selectively associate said fluid heater and said fluid cooler with said trays.

[0112] Preferably, conditioning liquid from said fluid heater and conditioning liquid from said fluid cooler are to be mixed together within the conditioning system to obtain a mixed conditioning liquid.

[0113] In this way, it is possible to obtain mixed conditioning fluid having temperatures comprised anywhere between the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid cooler and the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid heater.

[0114] Preferably, a tray is to be thermally conditioned with said mixed conditioning liquid.

[0115] Preferably, it is planned to thermally condition a tray with a first mixed liquid at a first mixing temperature and thermally condition a second tray with a second mixed liquid at a second mixing temperature other than the first mixing temperature.

[0116] In this way, each tray can be conditioned at any temperature comprised between the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid cooler and the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid heater.

[0117] The Applicant also noted that the formation modules are electrical and electronic components of non-negligible power and therefore subject to heating during their operation.

[0118] The Applicant perceived that the air conditioning system could also be used to cool (or if necessary heat) the formation modules.

[0119] In this regard, preferably said conditioning system also comprises a formation module conditioning circuit for each formation module.

[0120] Preferably, said formation module conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit at least when said formation module is inserted into a respective formation station.

[0121] Preferably, said formation module conditioning circuit is only placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit when said formation module is inserted into a respective formation station.

[0122] Preferably, each formation module conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit at least when said formation module is electrically connected to said electrical power supply unit.

[0123] Preferably, when a formation module is inserted into a respective formation station, it is provided to hydraulically connect said warehouse conditioning circuit with said formation module conditioning circuit.

[0124] Preferably, during the movement of a formation module from the transfer station to a formation station, the formation module conditioning circuit is not hydraulically connected to said warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0125] The Applicant is of the opinion that hydraulically connecting the formation module conditioning circuit to the warehouse conditioning circuit only when the formation module is inserted into a formation station gives a high degree of flexibility and ease of use of the warehouse when carrying out the formation operations. In fact, each formation module can be moved within the warehouse without being hydraulically connected to the warehouse conditioning circuit, thus avoiding the need for complicated and costly hydraulic connections between the warehouse conditioning circuit and the formation module conditioning circuit.

[0126] Preferably, said warehouse conditioning circuit comprises at least one station hydraulic connector located at at least some formation stations.

[0127] Preferably, each formation module conditioning circuit comprises at least one formation module hydraulic connector configured to be connected to and to be disconnected from said at least one station hydraulic connector when the formation module is placed in the formation station.

[0128] In embodiments involving the use of drawers, it is preferable that the conditioning system comprises a drawer conditioning circuit associated with at least one drawer of said plurality of drawers.

[0129] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit at least when said at least one drawer is inserted into a respective formation station.

[0130] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit is only placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit when said at least one drawer is inserted into a respective formation station.

[0131] Preferably, when a drawer is inserted into a respective formation station, it is provided to hydraulically connect said drawer conditioning circuit with said warehouse conditioning circuit. Preferably, during the movement of a drawer from the transfer station to a formation station, the drawer conditioning circuit of said drawer is not hydraulically connected to said warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0132] The Applicant is of the opinion that hydraulically connecting the drawer conditioning circuit to the warehouse conditioning circuit only when the drawer is inserted into a formation station gives a high degree of flexibility and ease of use of the warehouse when carrying out the formation operations. In fact, each drawer, and with it the tray(s) it contains, can be moved into the warehouse without being hydraulically connected to the warehouse conditioning circuit, thus avoiding the need for complicated and costly hydraulic connections between the warehouse conditioning circuit and the drawer conditioning circuit. Furthermore, each drawer can easily reach any formation station without its movement within the warehouse being hindered by hydraulic connections to the warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0133] Preferably, the drawer conditioning circuit is configured to thermally condition the tray(s) associated with the drawer.

[0134] Preferably, it is provided to place in fluid connection said drawer conditioning circuit with said fluid heater and with said fluid cooler.

[0135] Preferably, a mixed conditioning liquid is implemented in said drawer conditioning circuit.

[0136] Preferably, each drawer conditioning circuit comprises at least one conditioning zone.

[0137] Said at least one conditioning zone is configured to be thermally associated with at least one tray.

[0138] Preferably, thermally conditioning a tray comprises thermally associating said conditioning zone with a tray.

[0139] In this way, the drawer conditioning circuit acts as an interface between the warehouse conditioning circuit and the tray. The drawer conditioning circuit can be entrusted with the task of thermally conditioning the tray in such a way as to thermally condition the electrochemical cells it contains.

[0140] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit of each drawer comprises a plurality of conditioning zones.

[0141] Preferably, each conditioning zone is thermally independent of the other conditioning zones in the same drawer. Preferably, each conditioning zone of said plurality of conditioning zones of the same drawer conditioning circuit is placed, independently of other conditioning zones of the same drawer conditioning circuit, in fluid connection with said fluid heater and with said fluid cooler.

[0142] Preferably, thermally conditioning each tray comprises thermally associating each conditioning zone of said plurality of conditioning zones with a respective tray.

[0143] The Applicant is of the opinion that this further increases the flexibility of use of the warehouse in carrying out the formation operations. In fact, when several trays are associated with the same drawer, and when the conditioning circuit of each tray comprises a plurality of thermally independent conditioning zones, each tray can be thermally coupled to a respective conditioning zone to be conditioned to a respective temperature. In this way, formation operations can be carried out at different temperatures on electrochemical cells contained in different trays. Preferably, said conditioning system is configured to hydraulically connect said fluid heater and said fluid cooler with said trays.

[0144] Preferably, thermally conditioning each tray comprises placing in fluid connection said tray conditioning circuit with a tray heat exchanger.

[0145] Preferably, thermally conditioning each tray is implemented by placing each conditioning zone in fluid communication with the tray heat exchanger of a respective tray.

[0146] Preferably, housing one or more trays in each drawer comprises hydraulically connecting said drawer conditioning circuit with the heat exchangers of said one or more trays.

[0147] Preferably, this action is implemented in the transfer station.

[0148] Preferably, during the movement of a drawer from the transfer station to a formation station, the drawer conditioning circuit of said drawer is hydraulically connected to the tray heat exchanger of the tray housed in said drawer.

[0149] Alternatively or in combination with connecting said drawer conditioning circuit with a tray heat exchanger, thermally conditioning each tray may comprise thermally associating a drawer heat exchanger with a tray.

[0150] Preferably, each conditioning zone of a drawer conditioning circuit comprises a drawer heat exchanger.

[0151] Preferably, it is intended to thermally couple said drawer heat exchanger with at least one tray associated with said drawer.

[0152] The Applicant found that by equipping each drawer conditioning circuit with at least one heat exchanger, the drawer can also be thermally conditioned. Furthermore, by thermally coupling the drawer heat exchanger to the tray(s) contained in the drawer, the trays can be thermally conditioned better.

[0153] The Applicant also found that in some embodiments was possible to avoid equipping the trays with tray heat exchangers and to thermally condition the trays only by means of the drawer heat exchanger. This would allow the conditioning system to be simplified.

[0154] Therefore, in some embodiments it is preferable that the trays do not comprise said tray heat exchanger.

[0155] Preferably, each drawer conditioning circuit comprises a plurality of drawer heat exchangers, each of which is part of a respective conditioning zone.

[0156] Each drawer heat exchanger of a drawer conditioning circuit is preferably thermally coupled to a respective tray.

[0157] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit coincides with said formation module conditioning circuit.

[0158] Further features and advantages of the present description will become clearer from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and nonlimiting example, in which:

[0159] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automated warehouse for the formation of electrochemical cells in accordance with the present invention;

[0160] Figures 2 and 3 are schematic representations of the warehouse in accordance with the present invention in a side and front view, respectively;

[0161] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of some components of the warehouse of Figure 1 ; figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a formation module used in the warehouse in Figure 1 ;

[0162] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a transfer station of a Figure 1 warehouse;

[0163] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a tray containing electrochemical cells; and Figure 8 is a schematic view of a conditioning system of the warehouse in Figure 1 ; and warehouse Figures 9 to 12 are schematic representations of a drawer conditioning circuit of the conditioning system of the warehouse in Figure 1 .

[0164] The representations in the accompanying figures are not to be understood in scale and do not necessarily respect the proportions between the various parts and should be understood as schematic.

[0165] With initial reference to Figure 1 , 10 denotes an automatic warehouse for the formation of electrochemical cells in accordance with the present invention.

[0166] The warehouse 10 is arranged to receive trays 1 1 containing electrochemical cells 100 (depicted in Figure 7), e.g. from a packaging plant upstream, not shown, and to subject the electrochemical cells 100 to a formation process. The electrochemical cells 100 are lithium-ion secondary electrochemical cells.

[0167] Each tray 1 1 is generically box-shaped, delimited by a base and side walls, and comprises conductor circuits 12 (depicted in Figure 7) to provide electrical contacts 13 contactable from outside the tray 1 1 electrically connected to the electrodes of the electrochemical cells 100.

[0168] The warehouse 10 comprises a containment structure 14 having a plurality of walls 15 removably attached to a frame. The containment structure 14 is substantially box-shaped and encloses an internal volume 16 of the warehouse 10. In Figure 1 , parts of the walls 15 placed at the front have been removed to highlight the internal volume 16 of the warehouse 10. In Figures 2 and 3, walls 15 have not been depicted.

[0169] The warehouse 10 comprises a plurality of drawers 17 each of which is configured to be coupled to at least one tray 1 1 . A tray 1 1 is coupled to a respective drawer 17 in a transfer station 18 placed at least partially in the internal volume 16 of the warehouse 10. The warehouse 10 further comprises a plurality of formation stations 19 into which the drawers 17 are transferred via a transport system 20.

[0170] As schematically illustrated in Figure 1 , the warehouse 10 comprises a single transfer station 18 to which a tray 1 1 is delivered. Figure 6 schematically illustrates transfer station 18, which comprises a tray inlet opening 21 to allow the tray 1 1 to enter the transfer station 18. The tray inlet opening 21 has been shown in a lower portion of the transfer station 18, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention the trays 1 1 are fed to the transfer station 18 by lifting them into it. The tray inlet opening 21 is placed at a transport level which is elevated above floor level (i.e. the level at which the floor of a plant in which the warehouse 10 is mounted is placed). The transfer station 18 further comprises a drawer inlet opening 22 to allow a drawer 17 to enter the transfer station 18 and a drawer outlet opening 23 to allow a drawer 17 to exit the transfer station 18. The drawer inlet opening 22 physically coincides with the drawer outlet opening 23. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer inlet opening 22 and the drawer outlet opening 23 are placed on a side of the transfer station 18.

[0171] Each drawer 17 comprises an engagement assembly 24 to retain a tray 1 1 . As schematically illustrated in Figure 6, the engagement assembly 24 may comprise one or more grippers 25 that close onto tray 1 1 . When there are at least two grippers 25, they are placed on opposite sides of the drawer 17 so that when they close to retain the tray 1 1 they exert a centring action on the tray 1 1 with respect to the drawer 17. In non-illustrated embodiments in which the tray 11 is fed into the transfer station 18 from above or from the side, the tray 1 1 can be held in place on the drawer 17. In these embodiments, the engagement assembly 24 may not be present.

[0172] The formation stations 19 are located inside the warehouse 10, and in particular in the internal volume 16, above the transfer station 18, as schematically illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3. Each formation station 19 is defined by a respective housing space within the warehouse 10. Each formation station 19 is closed to the outside of the warehouse by walls 15. Each formation station 19 is open towards the internal volume 16 to allow the insertion and removal of a drawer 17 coupled to a tray 1 1 . The formation stations 19 are placed one above the other along a first column of formation stations 19 and a plurality of columns of formation stations 19 are preferably provided. As schematically illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, there is a space in the warehouse 19 between the formation station columns 19 not occupied by the formation stations 19. This space can be used to accommodate at least part of the transport system 20.

[0173] Each formation station 19 is configured to provide a power supply used to form the electrochemical cells 100 contained in the tray 1 1 or trays 1 1 in the drawer 17. This power supply is provided by an electrical connection system 26 with which each formation station 19 is equipped. The electrical connection system 26 is formed in the preferred embodiment of the invention by an electrical connector 27.

[0174] The warehouse 10 also comprises a plurality of formation modules 28 that receive electrical power via the electrical connector 27. Each formation module 28 is mounted on board a drawer 17. In some embodiments, as for example illustrated in Figure 5, the drawer 17 and the formation module 28 can be integrated into each other and thus have the same physical structure. Each drawer 17 may comprise more than one formation module 28. The formation modules 28 are boards on which electrical / electronic components are mounted, suitable for carrying out at least a partial formation cycle of an electrochemical cell, and which are mounted on a rigid support. Several formation modules 28 can be mounted on the same rigid support, which can thus be indistinguishable from one another.

[0175] The electrochemical cells 100 of a tray 1 1 are placed in electrical contact, via the aforementioned electrical contacts 13, with a respective formation module 28. Each formation module 28 comprises a contacting assembly 29 (schematically illustrated in Figure 5) that directly contacts the electrical contacts 13 located on the tray 1 1 and electrically connected to the electrodes of the electrochemical cells 100. Each formation module 28 also comprises at least one bidirectional power supply 30 that is electrically connected to a contacting assembly 29. Each bidirectional power supply 30 is sized to deliver a maximum current substantially comprised between 0.05 C and 0.4 C, where C indicates a current value expressed in amperes numerically equal to the capacity in Ah of an electrochemical cell 100. Each formation module 28 may comprise a control unit 28a, for example a microprocessor unit, configured to control the operation of the plurality of bidirectional power supplies 30 so as to generate for each electrochemical cell a respective modulated voltage or current suitable for operating the formation process.

[0176] When a tray 1 1 is coupled to a drawer 17 in the transfer station 18, the mechanical coupling between the drawer 17 and the tray 1 1 couples the contacting assembly 29 to the electrical contacts 13. When the drawer 17 is brought into the respective formation station 19, the electrical connector 27 of the formation station 19 is electrically coupled with an electrical connector 31 of the drawer 17. The electrical connector 31 of the drawer 17 supplies the bidirectional power supplies 30.

[0177] The formation modules 28 receive electrical power from an electrical power supply unit 32 connected to an electrical power source with which the formation plant is equipped. This power supply unit 32 comprises a plurality of power supplies 33. Each power supply 33 is configured to change input voltage values from the electrical source to usable voltage values at the input to the formation modules 28. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the power supply unit 32 is contained in a dedicated housing 32a directly accessible by maintenance operators. Such a housing 32a is preferably made from an electrical box located outside the internal volume 16 of the containment structure 14. As schematically illustrated in Figure 3, the housing 32a can be placed next to and in close proximity to the containment structure 14. Alternatively, the housing 32a can be placed inside the housing volume 14 in a position directly accessible by maintenance personnel.

[0178] As depicted in Figure 4, a plurality of formation modules 28 can be mounted on a drawer 17, each of which is coupled to a respective tray 1 1 . In this case, each drawer 17 is coupled to a plurality of trays 1 1. In this configuration, all the formation modules 28 of each drawer 17 are simultaneously electrically coupled with respective electrical power supplies 33, preferably with an electrical power supply 33 coupled only to some formation modules 28 of the same drawer 17. This electric power supply 33 is also coupled to some formation modules 28 of other drawers 17. With reference to the example in Figure 4, a first electrical power supply 33 is coupled (i.e. provides electrical power) to a first formation module 28 of a first drawer 17, a first formation module 28 of a second drawer 17 and a first formation module 28 of a third drawer 17. A second electrical power supply 33 is coupled (i.e. provides electrical power) to a second formation module 28 of the first drawer 17, to a second formation module 28 of the second drawer 17 and to a second formation module 28 of the third drawer 17. A third electrical power supply 33 is coupled (i.e. provides electrical power) to a third formation module 28 of the first drawer 17, to a third formation module 28 of the second drawer 17 and to a third formation module 28 of the third drawer 17. All the formation modules 28 of each drawer 17 are therefore powered and are supplied by different power supplies 33. In this example, each formation module 28 comprises three bidirectional power supplies 30 that form the battery cells 100 contained in a tray 1 1 . The electrical power supplies 33 are electrically connected to a warehouse electrical connector 34, which in turn is electrically connected to the plant's electrical power source.

[0179] As shown schematically in Figure 1 , the warehouse 10 comprises at least one maintenance station 35 placed at a different level from the transfer station 18. In the example shown, the maintenance station 35 is located below the transfer station 18. The function of the maintenance station 35 is to enable maintenance of the drawers 17. Each drawer 17 can be positioned by the transport system 20 at the maintenance station 35.

[0180] The transport system 20, comprises an elevator 36 depicted in Figures 2 and 3. The elevator 36 may comprise two gripping handles 37 that laterally grip a drawer 17. These gripping handles 37 by gripping the drawer 17 align the drawer 17 with an internal reference in the transport system 20, so that the position of the drawer 17 is precisely determined. The elevator 36 is connected to a movement device 38 that moves the elevator 36 within the warehouse 10. The transport system 20 also comprises vertical guides 39 and, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, horizontal guides 40. The vertical guides 39 run vertically inside the warehouse 10 and reach upwards to all the formation stations 19. The vertical guides 39 extend from the transfer station 18. When the maintenance station 35 is present, the vertical guides 39 also reach the maintenance station 35. The horizontal guides 40 run from the vertical guides 39 at each formation station 19 and reach the formation stations 19. In embodiments in which the horizontal guides 40 are not provided, the elevator 36 can be equipped with extending arms that fit into the formation stations 19. The vertical guides 39 define a vertical transport path for the elevator 36 and are placed in the space between the formation station columns 19, so that the elevator 36 transporting a respective drawer 17 can move within the warehouse 10 without interfering with the formation stations 19. The movement device 38 may be any device capable of moving the elevator 36 along the vertical guides 39 and, when present, along the horizontal guides 40. An embodiment provides that the movement device is a trolley to which the elevator 36 with at least one magnet is connected. In this example, the vertical guides 39 and horizontal guides 40 are formed by current- driven linear stators. The carriage magnet interacts with the linear stators to create a linear motor-driven transport system.

[0181] As depicted in Figure 8, the warehouse 10 also comprises a conditioning system 41.

[0182] The function of the conditioning system 41 is to thermally condition the electrochemical cells 100 during the formation process, so as to place the electrochemical cells 100 at predetermined and controlled temperatures.

[0183] The conditioning system 41 comprises a warehouse conditioning circuit 42. The conditioning system 41 also comprises a fluid heater 43 and a fluid cooler 44.

[0184] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the fluid heater 43 and fluid cooler 44 are shown positioned inside the warehouse 10. In other embodiments, the fluid heater 43 and fluid cooler 44 may be external to the warehouse 10, e.g. they may be part of a formation plant. The fluid heater 43 and fluid cooler 44 may be any device capable of heating and cooling the conditioning fluid of the conditioning system 41 . The fluid heater 43 and fluid cooler 44 may be a single device or physically separate devices.

[0185] The warehouse conditioning circuit 42 has the function of bringing conditioning liquid to each formation station 19 of the warehouse 10. For this purpose, the warehouse conditioning circuit 42 comprises a first group of hydraulic ducts 45 and a second group of hydraulic ducts 46. The first group of hydraulic conduits 45 comprises supply ducts 47 connecting the fluid heater 43 with each formation station 19 and carrying hot conditioning liquid from the fluid heater 43 to the formation stations 19. The first group of hydraulic ducts 45 also comprises return ducts 48 that connect the fluid heater 43 with each formation station 19 and return fluid from the formation stations 19 to the fluid heater 43. Likewise, the second group of hydraulic ducts 46 comprises delivery ducts 49 connecting the fluid cooler 44 with each formation station 19 and carrying cold conditioning fluid from the fluid cooler 43 to the formation stations 19. The second group of hydraulic ducts 46 also comprises return ducts 50 connecting the fluid cooler 44 with each formation station 19 and returning conditioning fluid from the formation stations 19 to the fluid cooler 44, as depicted in Figure 8.

[0186] The warehouse conditioning circuit 42 comprises station hydraulic connectors 51 placed at each formation station 19. The station hydraulic connectors 51 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. When the station hydraulic connectors 51 are not connected to additional hydraulic connectors, the station hydraulic connectors 51 close a hydraulic circuit, i.e. do not allow fluid to pass through. The station hydraulic connectors 51 comprise hot delivery hydraulic connectors 52 and hot return hydraulic connectors 53. The hot delivery hydraulic connectors 52 are placed on the delivery ducts 47 of the first group of hydraulic ducts 45. The hot return hydraulic connectors 53 are placed on the return lines 48 of the first group of hydraulic ducts 45. The station hydraulic connectors 51 also comprise cold delivery hydraulic connectors 54 and cold return hydraulic connectors 55. The cold delivery hydraulic connectors 54 are placed on the delivery ducts 49 of the second group of hydraulic conductors 46. The cold return hydraulic connectors 55 are placed on the return ducts 50 of the second group of hydraulic conductors 46. Each formation station 19 preferably comprises a hot delivery hydraulic connector 52, a hot return hydraulic connector 53, a cold delivery hydraulic connector 54 and a cold return hydraulic connector 55, as shown in Figure 7. Note that the transfer station 18 is not served by the conditioning system 41 .

[0187] As depicted in Figure 5, each formation module 28 comprises a formation module conditioning circuit 56. Similarly, each drawer 17 comprises a drawer conditioning circuit 57. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the formation module conditioning circuit 56 physically coincides with the drawer conditioning circuit 57. Therefore, what follows with reference to a drawer module conditioning circuit 57 also applies identically to the formation module conditioning circuit 56.

[0188] Each drawer conditioning circuit 57 is solidly connected with a respective drawer 17 and preferably integral with a respective drawer 17.

[0189] The drawer conditioning circuit 57 enables the thermal conditioning of one or more trays 1 1 associated with it in the transfer station 18. The drawer conditioning circuit 57 can perform this task in two different ways, which can be present individually or in combination. According to a first mode, the drawer conditioning circuit 57 supplies the tray 1 1 with conditioning liquid that heats or cools the tray 11 . According to a second mode, the drawer conditioning circuit 57 directly uses conditioning liquid to heat or cool the drawer 17 which, by thermal conduction, heats or cools the tray 1 1 .

[0190] In any case, either when the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the first mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the second mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to both the first and second modes, each drawer conditioning circuit 57 comprises at least one conditioning zone Z configured to thermally condition at least one tray 1 1 . Each drawer conditioning circuit 57 further comprises at least one drawer hydraulic connector 46, preferably a plurality of drawer hydraulic connectors 58. The drawer hydraulic connectors 58 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. The drawer hydraulic connectors 58 are configured to engage with the station hydraulic connectors 51 when the drawer 17 is inserted into the formation station 19, so that the fluid heater 43 and fluid cooler 44 are fluidly connected with the drawer conditioning circuit 57. When the drawer hydraulic connectors 58 are not connected with the station hydraulic connectors 51 , the drawer hydraulic connectors 58 close a hydraulic circuit, i.e. do not allow fluid to pass through. The drawer hydraulic connectors 58 comprise a hot delivery hydraulic connector 59 and a hot return hydraulic connector 60, a cold delivery hydraulic connector 61 and a cold return hydraulic connector 62. The hot delivery hydraulic connector 59 is configured to be connected to the hot supply hydraulic connector 52 of any formation station 19, the hot return hydraulic connector 60 is configured to be connected to the hot return hydraulic connector 53 of any formation station 19, the cold supply hydraulic connector 61 is configured to be connected to the cold supply hydraulic connector 54 of any formation station 19 and the cold return hydraulic connector 62 is configured to be connected to the cold return hydraulic connector 43 of any formation station 19. These hydraulic connectors are connected to each other when a drawer 17 is inserted into a formation station 19 and are disconnected from each other when a drawer 17 is removed from a formation station 19.

[0191] Either when the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the first mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the second mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to both the first and second modes, each drawer conditioning circuit 57 comprises a mixer 63. The mixer 63 is in fluid connection with the hot delivery hydraulic connector 59 and the cold delivery hydraulic connector 61 of the drawer hydraulic connectors 58. The mixer 63 has the function of mixing the hot conditioning liquid from the fluid heater 43 with the cold conditioning liquid from the fluid cooler 44 to provide a mixed conditioning liquid at a temperature comprised between the temperature of the hot conditioning liquid and the temperature of the cold conditioning liquid. In some embodiments not illustrated, the mixers 63 could be integrated into the formation stations 19 instead of the drawer conditioning circuits 57. In any case, the drawer conditioning circuit 57 comprises a distributor 64 placed in fluid communication with the mixer 63. The distributor 64 is also in fluid connection with the hot return hydraulic connector 60 and the cold return hydraulic connector 62 of the drawer hydraulic connectors 58.

[0192] When the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the first mode, the drawer hydraulic circuit 57 comprises at least one hydraulic interface connector 65, preferably a plurality of hydraulic interface connectors 65, configured to selectively send conditioning fluid to a tray 1 1 connected thereto when placed in the formation station 19. The hydraulic interface connectors 65 are hydraulically connected to the distributor 64. The hydraulic interface connectors 65 comprise a delivery connector 66 and a return connector 67. The delivery connector 66 and the return connector 67 are hydraulically connected to the distributor 64. The distributor 64 is configured to open a fluid connection between the mixer 63 and the delivery connector 66 of the hydraulic interface connectors 65 and simultaneously to open a fluid connection between the return connector 67 of the hydraulic interface connectors 65 and the hot return hydraulic connector 60 and the cold return hydraulic connector 62 of the drawer hydraulic connectors 58. The distributor 64, the supply connector 66 and the return connector 67 define the conditioning zone Z of the drawer conditioning circuit 57.

[0193] When there are multiple trays 1 1 housed in a single drawer 17, the hydraulic interface connectors 65 may comprise a single supply connector 66 and a single return connector 67 (as illustrated in Figure 10) connecting the distributor 64 to all the trays 1 1 simultaneously, or the hydraulic interface connectors 65 may comprise a respective delivery connector 66 and a respective return connector 67 for each tray 1 1 (as illustrated in Figure 12). In the latter case, a plurality of distributors 64 may be provided, each of which is dedicated to a respective delivery connector 66. In the latter case, a plurality of mixers 63 each dedicated to a respective delivery connector 66 can also be provided, so that a respective conditioning liquid mixed at a predetermined temperature can be sent to each tray 1 1 . Each tray 1 1 then receives a mixed conditioning liquid at a temperature that may be different from the temperature of the mixed conditioning liquid received from another tray 1 1 in the same drawer 17. Each distributor 64 with the respective flow connector 66 and return connector 67 defines a thermally independent conditioning zone Z from the other conditioning zones Z.

[0194] When the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the first mode, as depicted in Figure 6, each tray 1 1 comprises a tray heat exchanger 68 placed in thermal contact relation with the electrochemical cells 100 housed therein. The tray heat exchanger 68 is in fluid connection with a tray hydraulic inlet 69 and a tray hydraulic outlet 70. The tray hydraulic inlet 69 receives liquid from the delivery connector 66 of the interface hydraulic connectors 65 and the tray hydraulic outlet 70 sends liquid circulated in the heat exchanger 68 to the return connector 67 of the interface hydraulic connectors 65 of the drawer conditioning circuit 57.

[0195] The interface hydraulic connectors 65 are also quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. Similarly, the tray hydraulic inlet 69 and the tray hydraulic outlet 70 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. The hydraulic coupling between the hydraulic interface connectors 65, the tray hydraulic inlet 69 and the tray hydraulic outlet 70 is implemented when the tray 1 1 is coupled to a drawer 17 in the transfer station 18 and is removed when a tray 11 is uncoupled from a drawer 17.

[0196] When the drawer conditioning circuit 57 is configured according to the second mode, each drawer conditioning circuit 57 comprises a drawer heat exchanger 71 , as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Each drawer heat exchanger 71 is part of a respective conditioning zone Z. The distributor 64 is in fluid connection with the drawer heat exchanger 71 to supply thereto conditioned fluid from the mixer 63. The distributor 64 opens and closes the fluid connection between the mixer 63 and the drawer heat exchanger 71 . The drawer heat exchanger 71 is placed in a thermal conduction relationship with a tray 1 1 , so that the tray 1 1 is heated or cooled by thermal conduction.

[0197] When there are several trays 1 1 housed in a single drawer 17, the drawer conditioning circuit 57 may comprise a plurality of drawer heat exchangers 71 , as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. In the latter case, a plurality of distributors 64 may be provided, each dedicated to a respective drawer heat exchanger 71. In the latter case, a plurality of mixers 63 may also be provided, each dedicated to a respective drawer heat exchanger 71 . Each drawer heat exchanger 71 is placed in a thermal conduction relationship with a respective tray 1 1 , so that it heats or cools this tray 1 1 by thermal conduction.

[0198] According to the above, when a tray 1 1 is coupled to a corresponding drawer 17 in the transfer station 18, the tray 1 1 is hydraulically connected to the drawer conditioning circuit 57 (and / or the formation module conditioning circuit 56). When the drawer 17 with the tray 1 1 is brought into the formation station 19, the drawer 17 is hydraulically connected to the warehouse conditioning circuit 42. Depending on the stage of the formation process taking place, hot fluid or cold fluid is sent from the fluid heater 43 or fluid cooler 44 to the delivery ducts 47 of the warehouse conditioning circuit 42. From the delivery ducts 47, the hot fluid or cold fluid flows to the drawer conditioning circuit 57. The drawer 17 is then heated or cooled, heating or cooling the formation module 28. In addition, the drawer conditioning circuit 57 thermally conditions the trays 1 1 associated with the corresponding drawer 17.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Automatic warehouse (10) for the formation of electrochemical cells, comprising a containment structure (14) inside which there are housed: a plurality of formation stations (19) each of which is configured to receive at least one tray (1 1 ) containing electrochemical cells (100); a plurality of formation modules (28) configured to implement at least a partial formation cycle of said electrochemical cells (100); a power supply unit (32) connectable to an electrical source; at least one transfer station (18) configured to receive trays (1 1 ) containing electrochemical cells (100); a transport system (20) for transferring trays (1 1 ) containing electrochemical cells (100) between the transfer station (18) and each formation station (19) and between each formation station (19) and said transfer station (18), wherein an electrical connection system (26) configured to electrically connect the electrical power supply unit (32) to at least one formation module (28) of said plurality of formation modules (28) is placed in each formation station (19).

2. Warehouse (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said transport system (20) comprises a plurality of drawers (17), each drawer (17) being configured to house one or more trays (1 1 ) and being movable between the transfer station (18) and a formation station (19) and between said formation station (19) and said transfer station (18).

3. Warehouse (10) according to claim 2, wherein each drawer (17) comprises at least one formation module (28) of said plurality of formation modules (28), said at least one formation module (28) being integral with said drawer in the movement between said transfer station and said formation station (19) and between said formation station (19) and said transfer station.

4. Warehouse (10) according to claim 2 or 3, where each formation station (19) is configured to receive only one drawer.

5. Warehouse (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said electrical power supply assembly (32) comprises a plurality of electrical power supplies (33) each of which is configured to change input voltage values from said electrical source to usable input voltage values of said formation modules (28) and wherein each drawer (17) comprises N formation modules (28); each electrical power supply (33) of said plurality of electrical power supplies (33) being electrically connectedwith P formation modules (28) of a first drawer (17) and with M formation modules (28) of at least one further drawer (17) when said drawers (17) are housed in respective formation stations (19), wherein N and P and M are integers, wherein P is less than N, wherein M is less than N, and wherein P is preferably equal to M.

6. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each formation module (28) comprises: a contacting assembly (29) configured to provide an electrical contact for each of said electrochemical cells (100) housed in a tray (1 1 ); at least one bidirectional power supply (30) in electrical connection with said contacting assembly (29) and electrically connectable to said electrical connection system (26) of a formation station (19).

7. Warehouse (10) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein each electrical connection system (26) of a formation station (19) comprises an electrical connector (27) configured to be removably connected with an electrical connector (31 ) of a drawer (17), wherein said electrical connector (27) of said electrical connection system (26) is electrically connected with an electrical power supply (33) of said plurality of electrical power supplies (33), and wherein said electrical connector (31 ) of said drawer (17) is electrically connected with each formation module (28) of the drawer (17).

8. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said formation stations (19) are arranged one above the other in at least one formation station column (19); said transfer station (18) being located below said formation stations (19).

9. Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said transport system comprises an elevator (36) configured to retain a drawer (17), at least one movement device (38) of the elevator (36) and vertical guides (39) to which the elevator (36) is slidably connected.

10. Warehouse (10) according to claim 8 and 9, wherein said vertical guides (39) extend vertically inside the containment structure (14) and reach upwards to all the formation stations (19).11 . Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein said drawer (17) comprises an engagement assembly (24) configured to engage and retain at least one tray (1 1 ).

12. Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 1 1 , wherein in each transfer station (18) it comprises a tray inlet opening (21 ) to allow entry of a tray (1 1 ) into the transfer station (18), a drawer inlet opening (22) to allow entry of a drawer (17) into the transfer station (18) and a drawer outlet opening (23) to allow exit of a drawer (17) from the transfer station (18).

13. Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 12 comprising a maintenance station (35) reached by said transport system (20), said maintenance station (35) being configured to receive a drawer (17) and allow maintenance operations to be carried out on said drawer (17).

14. Warehouse (10) according to claim 13, wherein said transfer station (18) is placed at a transport level and wherein said maintenance station (35) is placed at a maintenance level, wherein said maintenance level is placed at a different height with respect to said transport level.

15. Warehouse (10) according to claim 4, wherein said drawer (17) and said formation station (19) are configured such that said drawer (17) remains in the formation chamber (19) during electrochemical cell forming operations (100).

16. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a conditioning system (41 ) comprising a warehouse conditioning circuit (42) configured to thermally condition at least one tray (1 1 ) when placed in one of said formation stations (19).

17. Warehouse (10) according to claim 16, wherein said conditioning system (41 ) further comprises a formation module conditioning circuit (56) for each formation module (28); each formation module conditioning circuit (56) being placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit (42) at least when said formation module (28) is electrically connected to said power supply unit (32).

18. Warehouse (10) according to claim 16 or 17 and any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said conditioning system (41 ) further comprises a drawer conditioning circuit (57) associated with said at least one drawer (17) of said plurality of drawers (17); said drawer conditioning circuit (57) being placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit (42) when said at least one drawer (17) is inserted into a respective formation station (17).

19. Warehouse (10) according to claim 18, wherein said drawer conditioningsystem (57) is configured to thermally condition each tray (11 ) associated with the drawer (17).

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