Electrode supply equipment

Abstract

Provided is electrode supply equipment for providing an electrode to a supply position by elevating a magazine loaded with electrodes. The electrode supply equipment comprises: a magazine loaded with electrodes; a transfer device for transferring the magazine to an elevation standby position; a pair of elevating actuators respectively disposed on both sides of the transfer device at the elevation standby position; a pair of elevating blocks, respectively disposed on both sides of the transfer device at the elevation standby position and connected to each of the pair of elevating actuators to be elevated by the elevating actuators; and a stabilizer extending in a width direction intersecting a transfer direction of the transfer device to connect the pair of elevating blocks.

Description

Electrode supply equipment

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Republic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2024-0081412, dated June 21, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrode supply facility, and more particularly, to an electrode supply facility that elevates a magazine loaded with electrodes and provides the electrodes to a supply position.

[0003] Typically, secondary batteries contain a cathode, anode, and an electrolyte, and generate electrical energy through a chemical reaction. Secondary batteries, with their ease of application across product groups and electrical properties such as high energy density, are widely used in portable devices as well as electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) powered by electrical power sources.

[0004] The types of secondary batteries widely used today include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. The operating voltage of these unit secondary battery cells, i.e., unit battery cells, is approximately 2.5 V to 4.5 V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, multiple battery cells are connected in series to form a battery pack. In addition, a battery pack is also formed by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel depending on the charge / discharge capacity required for the battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack and the electrical connection type can be set in various ways depending on the required output voltage and / or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] The manufacturing process of a secondary battery (battery cell) involves assembling an electrode assembly by laminating first and second electrodes, each of which has an active material coated on the surface of a current collector, with a separator interposed between them. The first and second electrodes are alternately laminated with a separator interposed between them.

[0006] When assembling an electrode assembly, it is desirable that the first electrode and the second electrode be precisely aligned and stacked. Accordingly, the electrodes supplied to the electrode assembly equipment also need to be supplied in the correct positions.

[0007] To this end, a magazine loaded with electrodes stacked in a stacked form is equipped with alignment bars that contact the edges of the electrodes to align them. For this reason, if the magazine loaded with electrodes is subjected to significant lateral acceleration during transport to the electrode assembly facility, the edges of the thin electrodes may become deformed or damaged by the alignment bars.

[0008] However, if the magazine is fed slowly to prevent damage to these electrodes, the manufacturing time will be longer.

[0009] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problem, and aims to provide an electrode supply facility that can stably supply electrodes without damaging them during the process of supplying sheet-shaped electrodes.

[0010] In addition, the present invention seeks to provide an electrode supply facility capable of raising and lowering a magazine on a transport line quickly and stably.

[0011] The technical objectives of the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned purposes. Other unmentioned objectives and advantages of the present invention can be understood through the following description and will be more clearly understood through the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the objectives and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims.

[0012] In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an electrode supply device that stably elevates a magazine loaded with electrodes.

[0013] The above electrode may be substantially rectangular in shape having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides.

[0014] The above magazine may have a base on which electrodes are placed. The base may be substantially rectangular in shape, having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides.

[0015] The magazine may have a plurality of alignment bars extending upward from the base and contacting edges of electrodes stacked on the base to align the electrodes.

[0016] The above magazine is transported by a transport device extended along a predetermined transport line.

[0017] The extension direction of the long side of the base of the magazine may be parallel to the transport direction, and the extension direction of the short side of the base of the magazine may be parallel to the width direction of the transport device.

[0018] The above magazine is transported to the lifting standby position by the above transport device.

[0019] The above transport device can be extended along the transport line before and after the lifting standby position.

[0020] The above electrode supply equipment can raise a magazine transported to the lifting standby position along the transport direction while the electrodes are loaded so that the electrodes reach the supply position, lower an empty magazine in which all the electrodes supplied from the electrode assembly equipment have been used, and transport the lowered empty magazine to the next position along the transport direction.

[0021] The above electrode supply equipment includes a pair of lifting actuators and a pair of lifting blocks, each positioned on both sides of the transport device in the lifting standby position, for lifting the magazine.

[0022] A pair of the above lifting blocks are each connected to a pair of the above lifting actuators. Accordingly, the above lifting blocks are raised and lowered by the above lifting actuators.

[0023] The above-mentioned lifting block is raised and lowered by the lifting actuator at least between a lowered position and an elevated position. The lowered position may be a position for waiting to raise a magazine transferred to an elevated standby position. The raised position may be a position for raising the magazine so that the electrode reaches the supply position.

[0024] When the above-mentioned lifting block is positioned in the lowered position, the above-mentioned lifting block does not interfere with the magazine being transported by the transport device. Accordingly, the magazine can be transported to the lifting standby position or pass through the lifting standby position.

[0025] To this end, the placement area of ​​the lifting block located at the lowering position as viewed in the transport direction may be made such that it does not overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine.

[0026] When the above-mentioned lifting block is positioned at the raised position, the above-mentioned lifting block may not interfere with a magazine being transported by the transport device. Accordingly, even when a magazine that was in the above-mentioned lifting standby position is raised, another magazine can pass through the above-mentioned lifting standby position.

[0027] To this end, the placement area of ​​the lifting block located at the rising position as viewed in the transport direction may be made not to overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine.

[0028] As the pair of the lifting blocks in the lowering position rise while the magazine is waiting in the lifting standby position, the pair of the lifting blocks support each side of the magazine and raise the magazine.

[0029] To this end, at least a portion of the placement area of ​​the above-mentioned lifting block, as viewed in the lifting direction, may overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine transferred to the above-mentioned lifting standby position.

[0030] The above-mentioned lifting block may have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the transport direction.

[0031] The above lifting actuator can be connected to the central portion of the lifting block in the longitudinal direction.

[0032] The above lifting actuator may include a pneumatic cylinder, thereby enabling rapid lifting operation.

[0033] A pair of the above pneumatic cylinders can be connected to a common pneumatic line, thereby synchronizing the lifting and lowering movements of the pair of lifting actuators.

[0034] A pair of the above lifting blocks are connected by a stabilizer extending in the width direction intersecting the transport direction of the above transport device.

[0035] The above transport device may include a plurality of support surfaces arranged along the transport direction and in contact with the magazine to support the magazine, and a gap provided between two support surfaces adjacent to the transport direction and open upward.

[0036] The above-mentioned transport device may have a structure in which a plurality of conveyors are sequentially arranged along the transport direction. The plurality of support surfaces may be defined by the upper surfaces of each of the plurality of conveyor belts. The gap may be the space between two adjacent conveyors in the transport direction.

[0037] The above stabilizer can extend in the width direction in a space corresponding to the gap.

[0038] The above stabilizer may be positioned lower than the support surface when the lifting block is positioned in the lowered position.

[0039] In a state where the above-mentioned lifting block is positioned at the lowering position, the arrangement area of ​​the above-mentioned stabilizer as viewed in the transport direction can be made not to overlap with the arrangement area of ​​the above-mentioned magazine.

[0040] In a state where the above-mentioned lifting block is positioned at the above-mentioned rising position, the arrangement area of ​​the above-mentioned stabilizer as viewed in the transport direction can be made not to overlap with the arrangement area of ​​the above-mentioned magazine.

[0041] The above stabilizer can be installed at least at one of the longitudinal ends of the above lifting block.

[0042] The above-mentioned lifting standby position can be arranged at one location on the transport line. The above-mentioned stabilizer can be connected to both longitudinal ends of the above-mentioned lifting block.

[0043] The above-mentioned elevator waiting positions may be arranged such that a first elevator waiting position and a second elevator waiting position are sequentially adjacent to each other along the transport direction on the transport line. The elevator block of the first elevator waiting position may be connected to a stabilizer at an end opposite to the transport direction, and the elevator block of the second elevator waiting position may be connected to a stabilizer at an end toward the transport direction.

[0044] The above stabilizer may have a fastening member that is respectively coupled to a pair of the above lifting blocks, and a crossbar that extends in the width direction to connect the pair of the above fastening members.

[0045] The cross-section of the cross-bar viewed in the extension direction of the cross-bar is set to have a height greater than a width, so that the second moment of inertia of the cross-section with respect to the horizontal axis parallel to the transport direction can be increased.

[0046] The above crossbar is connected to the lower end of the above fastening member, so that the polar moment of inertia with respect to the horizontal axis parallel to the transport direction can be increased.

[0047] According to the present invention, by means of a stabilizer, the lifting blocks, which must be individually installed by the transport line, can be firmly connected without affecting the transport of the magazine, thereby stably lifting the magazine.

[0048] According to the present invention, stable lifting is possible even when the actuator is configured as a pneumatic cylinder by means of a stabilizer, so that the magazine can be raised and lowered stably and quickly.

[0049] In addition to the effects described above, specific effects of the present invention are described below while explaining specific details for carrying out the invention.

[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a magazine applicable to an electrode supply facility according to the present invention.

[0051] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which electrodes are loaded in the magazine of Fig. 1.

[0052] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a magazine is transported to a lifting standby position by an electrode supply facility of an embodiment placed near an electrode assembly facility.

[0053] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the electrode supply equipment of Figure 3 has raised a magazine transferred to a lifting standby position to a supply position.

[0054] Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 3.

[0055] Figure 6 is a front view of Figure 4.

[0056] Figure 7 is a perspective view of an electrode assembly facility of an embodiment.

[0057] Figure 8 is a partial side view of the electrode assembly equipment of Figure 7.

[0058] Figure 9 is a front view of the electrode assembly equipment of Figure 7.

[0059] Figure 10 shows a state in which the magazine is transported when the electrode assembly equipment of Figure 9 is in the lowered position.

[0060] Figure 11 shows a state in which the magazine is transported when the electrode assembly equipment of Figure 9 is in an elevated position.

[0061] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the lifting actuator, lifting block, and stabilizer.

[0062] Figure 13 is a perspective view of an electrode supply facility in which a lifting actuator and a lifting block are installed at each of two lifting standby positions.

[0063] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the crossbar.

[0064] Figure 15 is a front view of the stabilizer.

[0065] [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10: Electrode assembly assembly equipment 12: Swing table 14: First pickup 16: Second pickup 20: Electrode supply equipment 30: Electrode, first electrode 33: Second electrode 36: Separator 50: Magazine 52: Base 54: Alignment bar 60: Transport device 601: Conveyor 62: Support surface 64: Gap 70: Lifting actuator (pneumatic cylinder) 701: First actuator 702: Second actuator 72: Mover 74: Stator 75: Pressure source 80: Lifting block 801: First block 802: Second block 90: Stabilizer 92: Fastening member 94: Crossbar

[0067] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms and with various modifications. However, these embodiments are provided to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included within the technical spirit and scope of the present invention, as well as substitutions or additions of the components of one embodiment with those of another embodiment.

[0069] The attached drawings are merely intended to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and should not be construed as limiting the technical ideas disclosed in this specification, but should be understood to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the components may be expressed in exaggerated sizes or thicknesses for ease of understanding, but the scope of protection of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereby.

[0070] The terminology used in this specification is only used to describe specific implementations or examples and is not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the specification, terms such as "comprises" and "consists of" are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification. In other words, it should be understood that terms such as "comprises" and "consists of" in the specification do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0071] While terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first" and "second," may be used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, a "first" component may also be a "second" component.

[0072] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0073] When a component is referred to as being "above" or "below" another component, it should be understood that it is not only positioned directly above that other component, but that there may also be other components present in between.

[0074] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined herein.

[0075] Hereinafter, an electrode supply facility according to the present invention will be described.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a magazine (50) applicable to an electrode supply device of an embodiment can load an electrode (30) having a substantially rectangular shape having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. To this end, the magazine (50) can be equipped with a base (52) having a substantially rectangular shape having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides.

[0077] In addition, the magazine (50) has a plurality of alignment bars (54) for aligning the electrodes (30) loaded on the base (52). The alignment bars (54) can come into contact with the short side, long side, and / or corner portion of the edge of the electrode (30).

[0078] The above magazine (50) is transported by a transport device (60) extended along a predetermined transport line.

[0079] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 13, the transport device (60) may be configured such that a plurality of conveyors (601) extending along a virtual transport line are arranged along the transport line. The surface of the conveyor (601) forms a support surface (62) that supports the base of the magazine (50), and a gap (64) exists between two conveyors (601) adjacent in the transport direction.

[0080] The extension direction of the long side of the base (52) of the magazine (50) may be parallel to the transport direction along the transport line. In addition, the extension direction of the short side of the base (52) of the magazine (50) may be parallel to the horizontal width direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport device (60).

[0081] However, the type of the transport device (60) and the posture in which the magazine (50) moves by the transport device (60) are not limited thereto.

[0082] The above magazine (50) is transported to the lifting standby position by the transport device (60) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Of course, the transport device (60) extends along the transport line before and after the lifting standby position.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 4, the electrode supply facility (20) raises the magazine (50) loaded with the electrode (30) along the transport direction to the lifting standby position so that the electrode (30) reaches the supply position.

[0084] Referring to Fig. 6, the first pickup unit (14) and the second pickup unit (16) of the electrode assembly assembly facility (10) pick up the first electrode (30) and the second electrode (33) supplied to the supply position, respectively, and alternately supply them to the swing table (12). The swing table (12) swings left and right to receive the first electrode (30) and the second electrode (33), and receives the separator (36) in a zigzag shape between the first electrode (30) and the second electrode (33). Accordingly, the first electrode (30) and the second electrode (33) supplied to the supply position move to the swing table (12), and the magazine (50) is emptied.

[0085] In the embodiment, an electrode assembly assembly facility (10) equipped with a swing table (12) and a pickup device (14, 16) is exemplified, but the lamination method is not necessarily limited to this. Even if the same zigzag stack method is used, various types of assembly facilities can be applied, and it is obvious that it can also be applied to assembly facilities using the L&S (lamination and stacking) or S&F (stack and folding) methods.

[0086] The above electrode supply equipment (20) can lower the empty magazine in which all electrodes (30) have been used in the electrode assembly equipment (10) and transport the lowered empty magazine (50) to the next location along the transport direction.

[0087] In order to elevate the magazine (50), the electrode supply device (20) includes a pair of elevating actuators (70) and a pair of elevating blocks (80) arranged on the left and right sides, respectively, with the transport device (60) interposed therebetween in the elevating standby position. The first actuator (701) arranged on the left side is connected to the first block (801) arranged on the left side and elevates the first block (801). Similarly, the second actuator (702) arranged on the right side is connected to the second block (802) arranged on the right side and elevates the second block (802).

[0088] The above-described lifting actuator (70) includes a mover (72) that moves up and down, and a stator (74) that guides the lifting of the mover (72). In one example, the lifting actuator (70) may include a pneumatic cylinder, and the mover (72) may be a piston and the stator (74) may be a cylinder. In one example, due to the fast operating characteristics of the pneumatic cylinder, the magazine (50) can be quickly raised and lowered.

[0089] A pair of pneumatic cylinders (70) can be connected to a common pneumatic line sharing a pressure source (75), as illustrated in FIG. 9. Accordingly, the lifting and lowering operations of the pair of lifting actuators (70) can be synchronized. The present invention is not limited to the lifting actuator (70) being a pneumatic cylinder.

[0090] If the transport device (60) is installed independently on the left and right and its lifting and lowering motion can be synchronized in various control methods, various known actuators such as linear motion guides and ball screws can be applied.

[0091] The above-mentioned lifting block (80) is raised and lowered by the lifting actuator (70) at least between a lowered position (see FIGS. 3, 5, 7 to 10, and 13), which is a position waiting to raise a magazine transferred to a lifting standby position, and a raised position (see FIGS. 4, 6, 11, and 12), which is a position to raise the magazine so that the electrode reaches the supply position.

[0092] Referring to Fig. 10, the placement area of ​​the lifting block (80) positioned at the lowered position, as viewed in the transport direction, does not overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine (50) positioned at the lifting standby position. That is, when the lifting block (80) is positioned at the lowered position, the lifting block (80) does not interfere with the magazine (50) transported by the transport device (60). Accordingly, the magazine (50) can be transported to the lifting standby position by the transport device (60) or pass through the lifting standby position.

[0093] Referring to Fig. 11, the arrangement area of ​​the lifting block (80) positioned at the rising position, as viewed in the transport direction, does not overlap with the arrangement area of ​​the magazine (50) positioned at the lifting standby position. That is, when the lifting block (80) is positioned at the rising position, the lifting block (80) does not interfere with the magazine (50) transported by the transport device (60). Accordingly, even when the lifting block (80) is at the rising position, another magazine (50) can pass through the lifting standby position and be transported along the transport device (60).

[0094] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, at least a portion of the arrangement area of ​​the elevating block (80) in the elevation direction overlaps with the arrangement area of ​​the magazine (50) transferred to the elevation standby position. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, when a pair of elevating blocks (80) are positioned in the lowered position and the magazine (50) is transferred to the elevation standby position by the transfer device (60), and the elevating block (80) is raised, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a pair of elevating blocks (80) support both sides of the magazine (50), respectively, and elevate the magazine (50).

[0095] Referring to Fig. 12, the lifting block (80) may have an "L" cross-sectional shape extended in parallel with the transport direction of the transport device. Accordingly, the lifting block (80) may support the bottom surface of the long side portions of both sides of the base (52) of the magazine (50), as shown in Fig. 10, and may contact the outer surface of the long side portions of both sides of the base (52) to regulate the lateral movement of the base (52). The mover (72) of the lifting actuator (70) is connected to the longitudinal central portion of the lifting block.

[0096] Referring to Fig. 6, the load of the magazine (50) loaded with the electrodes (30) is considerable compared to the height to which the lifting actuator (70) rises. Accordingly, even if the pair of left and right lifting blocks (80) and the lifting actuator (70) operate in synchronization, if they are not directly connected left and right, it may be difficult to directly suppress the phenomenon of the magazine (50) loaded with the electrodes (30) swaying left and right while it rises.

[0097] The electrode supply facility (20) of the embodiment directly connects a pair of left and right lifting blocks (80) with a stabilizer (90) extending in the width direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport device (60).

[0098] The transport device of the electrode supply equipment (20) of the embodiment described above is arranged along the transport direction with a plurality of support surfaces (62) that contact the magazine and support the magazine with a gap (64) therebetween. In addition, the space of the gap (64) is open upward.

[0099] The stabilizer (90) extending in the width direction across the transport direction is positioned in the gap (64). Accordingly, when a pair of lifting blocks (80) are raised and lowered, the stabilizer (90) connecting them does not interfere with the transport device. In this way, the stabilizer (90) extends in the width direction in a space corresponding to the gap (64).

[0100] In addition, in order to prevent the stabilizer (90) from interfering with the transport line, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stabilizer (90) connecting a pair of the lifting blocks (80) is positioned lower than the support surface (62) of the transport device (60) when the lifting block (80) is positioned in the lowered position. In addition, at this time, the placement area of ​​the stabilizer (90) as viewed in the transport direction is set to not overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine (50).

[0101] Likewise, in order to prevent the stabilizer (90) from interfering with the transfer line, as shown in Fig. 11, the placement area of ​​the stabilizer (90) connecting a pair of the lifting blocks (80) while the lifting blocks (80) are positioned in the raised position is made so as not to overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine (50) in the lifting standby position.

[0102] The above stabilizer (90) is installed at least on one end of both longitudinal ends of the above lifting block (80).

[0103] For example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8, when the lifting standby position is arranged at one location on the transport line, the stabilizer (90) can be installed at both longitudinal ends of the lifting block (80) as long as there is no space constraint.

[0104] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the two lifting standby positions may be arranged on the transport line, and the first lifting standby position and the second lifting standby position may be arranged sequentially adjacent to each other along the transport direction on the transport line. In this way, even if there is not sufficient space between the adjacent first lifting standby positions and the second lifting standby positions, as illustrated, a pair of lifting blocks (80) of the first lifting standby position is connected to a stabilizer (90) at an end opposite to the transport direction, and a pair of lifting blocks of the second lifting standby position is connected to a stabilizer (90) at an end toward the transport direction, thereby sufficiently securing rigidity for stable lifting of the magazine.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 12, the stabilizer (90) has a fastening member (92) that is respectively coupled to a pair of the lifting blocks (80), and a crossbar (94) that extends in the width direction to connect the pair of the fastening members (92).

[0106] Referring to Fig. 14, the cross-section of the cross-bar (94) viewed in the extension direction has a shape in which the height is greater than the width. Accordingly, while arranging the cross-bar (94) in the narrow gap (64) of the transport device (60), by increasing the cross-sectional second moment of the cross-section of the cross-bar (94) with respect to the horizontal axis parallel to the transport direction, the rigidity of the lifting block (80) and the stabilizer (90) for stable lifting of the magazine (50) can be secured.

[0107] Also, referring to FIG. 15, the crossbar (94) is connected to the lower end of the fastening member. Accordingly, the height of the upper end of the crossbar (94) can be suppressed as low as possible so that the crossbar (94) does not interfere with the magazine (50) on the transport line, and the crossbar (94) can be positioned as far outward as possible in the radial direction with respect to the cross-sectional central axis of the fastening member (92) viewed in the transport direction so that the polar moment of inertia of the stabilizer (90) with respect to the cross-sectional central axis can also be increased. Accordingly, the rigidity of the lifting block (80) and the stabilizer (90) for stable lifting of the magazine (50) can be secured.

[0108] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings exemplified above, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. Furthermore, even if the operational effects according to the configuration of the present invention have not been explicitly described while describing the embodiments of the present invention, it is natural that the effects predictable by the corresponding configuration should also be acknowledged.

Claims

1. Magazine loaded with electrodes; A transport device for transporting the above magazine to a lifting standby position; A pair of lifting actuators arranged on both sides of the transport device in the above lifting standby position; A pair of lifting blocks each placed on both sides of the transport device in the above lifting standby position, each connected to a pair of the lifting actuators and raised and lowered by the lifting actuators; and A stabilizer extending in the width direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport device to connect a pair of the above lifting blocks; The above lifting block is raised and lowered at least between a lowered position and an upper position by the above lifting actuator, An electrode supply device, wherein a pair of the above-described lifting blocks support each of the two sides of the above-described magazine in the above-described lifting standby position.

2. In claim 1, the magazine has a base on which an electrode is placed, The above base is substantially rectangular in shape having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, The extension direction of the above-mentioned long side is parallel to the above-mentioned transport direction, and the electrode supply facility.

3. An electrode supply device according to claim 2, wherein the magazine has a plurality of alignment bars extending upward from the base and contacting the edges of the electrodes stacked on the base to align the electrodes.

4. In claim 1, the lifting actuator includes a pneumatic cylinder, A pair of above pneumatic cylinders, electrode supply equipment, connected to a common pneumatic line.

5. In claim 1, the transport device includes a plurality of support surfaces arranged along the transport direction and in contact with the magazine to support the magazine, and a gap provided between two support surfaces adjacent to the transport direction and open upward, The above stabilizer is an electrode supply facility extending in the width direction in a space corresponding to the above gap.

6. In claim 5, the stabilizer connected to the lifting block located at the lowered position is an electrode supply device arranged lower than the support surface.

7. In claim 1, at least a part of the arrangement area of ​​the lifting block, as viewed in the lifting direction, overlaps with the arrangement area of ​​the magazine transferred to the lifting standby position, An electrode supply facility in which the placement area of ​​the lifting block and the stabilizer connected thereto, located at the lowering position as viewed in the above-mentioned transport direction, does not overlap with the placement area of ​​the magazine.

8. In claim 1, the lifting block extends in a longitudinal direction parallel to the transport direction, The above stabilizer is an electrode supply device connected to at least one of the longitudinal ends of the above lifting block.

9. In claim 1, the stabilizer, A fastening member each connected to a pair of the above-mentioned lifting blocks, An electrode supply device having a crossbar extending in the width direction to connect a pair of the above fastening members.

10. An electrode supply device according to claim 9, wherein a cross-section of the crossbar viewed in the extension direction of the crossbar has a height greater than a width.

11. An electrode supply device according to claim 9, wherein the crossbar is connected to the lower end of the fastening member.

Images