Cell processing system and cell processing method
The cell processing system optimizes cell processing efficiency by using a transport and moving device to facilitate direct electrical connections without lateral movements, addressing the challenge of increasing throughput and reducing costs and space requirements.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing cell processing systems face challenges in increasing the number of cells processed per unit time while maintaining cost-effectiveness and minimizing space requirements.
A cell processing system comprising a transport device, a probe device positioned above the transport path, and a moving device that moves trays of cells to an upper position for contact with the probe device, allowing for efficient electrical processing such as charging or discharging without lateral movement, thereby optimizing the use of processing devices and reducing the risk of cable deterioration.
The system enhances the number of cells processed per unit time at a lower cost and with space savings by ensuring efficient electrical connections and reducing the need for complex lateral movements, thus improving processing efficiency and reducing equipment wear.
Smart Images
Figure JP2025042992_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Cell Processing System and Cell Processing Method
[0008] ,
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cell processing system and a cell processing method.
[0002] Rechargeable devices are known. As such a device, a lithium secondary battery is exemplified. Patent Document 1 describes a specific example of a lithium secondary battery.
[0003] International Publication No. 2022 / 224872
[0004] The present disclosure provides a technology suitable for increasing the number of cells processed per unit time at low cost and with space savings.
[0005] The present disclosure provides a cell processing system including: a transport device that transports a tray in which a plurality of cells are accommodated along a transport path; a probe device disposed above the transport path; and a transfer device that moves the tray from a position above the transport path to the transport path and from the transport path to a position above the transport path, wherein the position above is a position where the plurality of cells are brought into contact with the probe device.
[0006] The technology according to the present disclosure is suitable for increasing the number of cells processed per unit time at low cost and with space savings.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cell processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cell. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a tray according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a transport device, a probe device, and a transfer device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a transport device, a probe device, and a transfer device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cell processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cell processing system according to a reference embodiment. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a transport device and a transfer device according to a reference embodiment. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a transport device and a transfer device according to a reference embodiment. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an upper probe device and a lower probe device according to a reference embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cell processing system according to a reference embodiment.
[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below.
[0009] (Embodiment) <1. Schematic Configuration of Cell Processing System 1A> Figures 1(a) and 1(b) are a top view and an elevation view, respectively, showing the schematic configuration of the cell processing system 1A according to the embodiment. The cell processing system 1A includes a transport device 10 and a plurality of processing devices 20. The transport device 10 sequentially transports a plurality of transport objects 90 in the transport direction D0. The plurality of processing devices 20 are arranged along the transport direction D0. Each of the plurality of transport objects 90 is a tray 91 containing a plurality of cells 95. Each of the plurality of processing devices 20 includes a probe device 30 and a moving device 40 (see Figures 4 and 5).
[0010] In this embodiment, the plurality of processing units 20 include a first processing unit 20A, a second processing unit 20B, a third processing unit 20C, and a fourth processing unit 20D. The first processing unit 20A, the second processing unit 20B, the third processing unit 20C, and the fourth processing unit 20D are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction D0.
[0011] <2. Configuration of Cell 95> Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of cell 95. In this embodiment, cell 95 is a battery, specifically a cylindrical secondary battery. Cell 95 includes a container 98, a lid 97, and an insulator 99. The container 98 and lid 97 are made of metal. The insulator 99 is interposed between the container 98 and the lid 97, electrically isolating the container 98 and the lid 97.
[0012] The container 98 includes a top 98a, a crimped portion 98b, a side portion 98c, and a bottom portion 98d in that order. The lid 97 includes a top 97a and a recessed portion 97b. The insulator 99 is interposed between the top 98a and the crimped portion 98b of the container 98 and supports the recessed portion 97b of the lid 97.
[0013] The container 98 contains an electrode body and an electrolyte solution, which are not shown in the diagram. The electrode body has a wound structure in which a strip-shaped positive electrode and a strip-shaped negative electrode are wound around each other with a separator in between. The lid 97 is electrically connected to the positive electrode and therefore functions as a positive electrode terminal. The container 98 is electrically connected to the negative electrode and therefore functions as a negative electrode terminal.
[0014] <3. Configuration of Tray 91> Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are a top view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the schematic configuration of the tray 91 according to the embodiment. The tray 91 includes a plurality of storage holes 92. The storage holes 92 are bottomed holes. In the tray 91, a storage hole array is formed by arranging the plurality of storage holes 92 vertically and horizontally. A cell array is formed by accommodating a cell 95 in each storage hole 92, thereby accommodating a plurality of cells 95 arranged vertically and horizontally. In Figure 3(b), for the sake of explanation, the left side shows a storage hole 92 without a cell 95, and the right side shows a storage hole 92 with a cell 95.
[0015] In this embodiment, the tray 91 is made of resin. However, the tray 91 may be made of metal. The number of storage holes 92 in the tray 91 is 10 to 2000 in one example, and 50 to 1000 in one specific example.
[0016] <4. Configuration of the conveying device 10> The conveying device 10 conveys a tray 91 containing a plurality of cells 95 along a conveying path 12. Figures 4 and 5 are configuration diagrams of the conveying device 10, probe device 30, and moving device 40 according to the embodiment. In the conveying device 10 of the embodiment, the conveying path 12 is configured by a plurality of rollers 11.
[0017] <5. Configuration of the probe device 30> The probe device 30 is positioned above the transport path 12. Here, "above the transport path 12" refers to a position above the transport path 12, where it overlaps with the transport path 12 when viewed from above in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the probe device 30 is connected to a cable (not shown) in the processing device 20.
[0018] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the probe device 30 includes multiple sets of probe sets 35. Each of the multiple sets of probe sets 35 includes a positive electrode probe 31 and a negative electrode probe 32. A probe set array is formed in which the multiple sets of probe sets 35 are arranged vertically and horizontally. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the multiple cells 95 in the cell array and the multiple sets of probe sets 35 in the probe set array.
[0019] <6. Configuration of the Moving Device 40> As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the moving device 40 moves the tray 91 from the transport path 12 to an upper position 45. The moving device 40 also moves the tray 91 from the upper position 45 back to the transport path 12. The upper position 45 is the position where the multiple cells 95 contained in the tray 91 come into contact with the probe device 30. Specifically, the moving device 40 is a lifter that transports the tray 91 in the vertically upward direction D1 and the vertically downward direction D2.
[0020] In this embodiment, the moving device 40 includes a first arm 41 and a second arm 42. In the first configuration example of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 support the tray 91 from its bottom surface 93. In the second configuration example of the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 grip the tray 91 from the side. Here, "side" refers to a direction that intersects the vertically upward direction D1 and the vertically downward direction D2, specifically a perpendicular direction.
[0021] <7. Operation of Cell Processing System 1A> Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cell processing system 1A according to the embodiment. The operation of the cell processing system 1A according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to Figure 6. The following description will focus on the case in which the third processing device 20C is used. However, other processing devices 20 among the plurality of processing devices 20 may also operate according to the following description.
[0022] In step S11, the transport device 10 transports the transport object 90 along the transport path 12. During this transport, the multiple cells 95 are housed in the tray 91 with their positive and negative terminals exposed upwards.
[0023] As a result of the transport in step S11, the transport object 90 reaches below the probe device 30 in the transport path 12. Here, "below the probe device 30" refers to a position below the probe device 30, where it overlaps with the probe device 30 when viewed from above in the vertical direction.
[0024] Next, in step S12, the moving device 40 raises the transport object 90 to an upper position 45 from the transport path 12. This causes the multiple cells 95 to come into contact with the probe device 30 and be electrically connected.
[0025] Specifically, the positive electrode probe 31 and negative electrode probe 32 of the probe set 35 are brought into contact with the lid 97, which is the positive electrode terminal, and the container 98, which is the negative electrode terminal, of the cell 95, respectively, to make an electrical connection. More specifically, the top 97a of the lid 97 of the cell 95 is in contact with the positive electrode probe 31. The top 98a of the container 98 of the cell 95 is in contact with the negative electrode probe 32. Even more specifically, the positive electrode terminal of the cell 95 corresponding to the probe set 35 is brought into contact with each positive electrode probe 31 of the multiple probe sets 35 to make an electrical connection. The negative electrode terminal of the cell 95 corresponding to the probe set 35 is brought into contact with each negative electrode probe 32 of the multiple probe sets 35 to make an electrical connection. In this way, the probe device 30 makes contact from above with the positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal of the cell 95 that are exposed above the cell 95.
[0026] In the first configuration example shown in Figure 4, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 support the tray 91 from its bottom surface 93 and move upward from below to above the rollers 11, specifically in the vertically upward direction D1, passing through the gaps between the rollers 11. As a result, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 raise the tray 91 to an upper position 45 above the transport path 12. In this way, the configuration transitions from state (a) to state (b) in Figure 4.
[0027] In the second configuration example shown in Figure 5, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 grip the tray 91 from the side and raise the tray 91 to an upper position 45 from the transport path 12. In this way, the system transitions from state (a) in Figure 5 to state (b).
[0028] Next, in step S13, the third processing device 20C performs electrical processing on the plurality of cells 95 via the probe device 30. The electrical processing is performed while the contact and electrical connection described in step S12 are maintained.
[0029] For example, the electrical process is the charging of multiple cells 95. Specifically, this charging may be a precharge. Precharging of cells 95 refers to charging uncharged cells 95 to a capacity less than the cell 95's full charge capacity. The capacity less than the cell 95's full charge capacity is typically 10% or less of the cell 95's full charge capacity. Another example is the discharging of multiple cells 95. Yet another example is the voltage measurement of multiple cells 95.
[0030] Next, in step S14, the moving device 40 lowers the object to be transported 90 from the upper position 45 onto the transport path 12. As the moving device 40 and the object to be transported 90 are lowered in this way, the state returns from state (b) in Figure 4 or 5 to state (a). This releases the contact and electrical connection described above. Subsequently, in step S15, the transport device 10 transports the object to be transported 90 along the transport path 12.
[0031] In this embodiment, the multiple transport objects 90 are served by the multiple processing devices 20 in the following manner. That is, each of the multiple transport objects 90 is moved from the transport path 12 to an upper position 45 by a moving device 40 in any one of the processing devices 20, receives electrical processing via a probe device 30, and is moved from the upper position 45 to the transport path 12 by the moving device 40. During the period when multiple cells 95 of a certain transport object 90 are in contact with the probe device 30 of a certain processing device 20, another transport object 90 can pass below the probe device 30 along the transport path 12.
[0032] Hereinafter, eight of the multiple transport targets 90 that are different from each other will be referred to as the first target 90, the second target 90, the third target 90, the fourth target 90, the first subsequent target 90, the second subsequent target 90, the third subsequent target 90, and the fourth subsequent target 90.
[0033] In the first example, multiple processing units 20 are used in order from the upstream side in the transport direction D0. Specifically, the first target 90 is fed into the first processing unit 20A. Next, the second target 90 is fed into the second processing unit 20B. Next, the third target 90 is fed into the third processing unit 20C. Next, the fourth target 90 is fed into the fourth processing unit 20D. Next, the first target 90 is discharged from the first processing unit 20A. Next, the first subsequent target 90 is fed into the first processing unit 20A. Next, the second target 90 is discharged from the second processing unit 20B. Next, the second subsequent target 90 is fed into the second processing unit 20B. Next, the third target 90 is discharged from the third processing unit 20C. Next, the third subsequent target 90 is fed into the third processing unit 20C. Next, the fourth target 90 is discharged from the fourth processing unit 20D. Next, the fourth successor target 90 is fed into the fourth processing unit 20D.
[0034] In the second example, the multiple processing devices 20 are used in order from the downstream side in the transport direction D0. Specifically, the second example can be described by replacing "1st", "2nd", "3rd", "4th", "A", "B", "C", and "D" in the first example with "4th", "3rd", "2nd", "1st", "D", "C", "B", and "A", respectively.
[0035] In one specific example, each of the multiple cells 95 of the multiple transported objects 90 is charged to a capacity less than the full charge capacity of the cell 95 for a certain period of time in one of the multiple processing devices 20 via a probe device 30. In this way, pre-charging of the cell 95 is performed. The time required for pre-charging each of the multiple cells 95 of the multiple transported objects 90 can be neither too long nor too short for a system that sequentially transports multiple trays 91 by a transport device 10 and supplies them to one of the processing devices 20. Therefore, the cell processing system 1A is well-suited for pre-charging each of the multiple cells 95 of the multiple transported objects 90.
[0036] <8. Cell Processing System 1B> The advantages of the cell processing system 1A according to the embodiment will be further explained below, in comparison with the cell processing system 1B according to the reference embodiment. Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are a top view and an elevation view, respectively, showing the schematic configuration of the cell processing system 1B according to the reference embodiment.
[0037] The cell processing system 1B includes multiple processing units 50 instead of multiple processing units 20. Each of the multiple processing units 50 includes an upper probe device 60, a lower probe device 70, and a moving device 80 (see Figures 8 to 10). The multiple processing units 50 include a first processing unit 50A, a second processing unit 50B, a third processing unit 50C, a fourth processing unit 50D, and a fifth processing unit 50E. The first processing unit 50A, the second processing unit 50B, the third processing unit 50C, the fourth processing unit 50D, and the fifth processing unit 50E are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction D0. In the reference embodiment, the tray 91 is made of metal.
[0038] Figures 8 and 9 are configuration diagrams of a transport device 10 and a moving device 80 according to a reference embodiment. The moving device 80 includes a first transport belt 81 and a second transport belt 82. The first transport belt 81 and the second transport belt 82 support the tray 91 from its bottom surface 93.
[0039] Figure 10 is a configuration diagram of a mobile device 80, an upper probe device 60, and a lower probe device 70 according to a reference embodiment. The upper probe device 60 is positioned above the transport path 12 and in a position that does not overlap with the transport path 12 when viewed from above in the vertical direction. The lower probe device 70 is positioned below the transport path 12 and in a position that does not overlap with the transport path 12 when viewed from above in the vertical direction. In the processing device 50, the upper probe device 60 and the lower probe device 70 are connected to a cable (not shown).
[0040] The upper probe device 60 includes a plurality of positive electrode probes 61. In the upper probe device 60, a positive electrode probe array is configured in which the plurality of positive electrode probes 61 are arranged vertically and horizontally. A one-to-one correspondence exists between the plurality of cells 95 in the cell array and the plurality of positive electrode probes 61 in the positive electrode probe array. The lower probe device 70 includes a negative electrode probe 72.
[0041] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cell processing system 1B according to the reference embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the cell processing system 1B according to the reference embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. Hereinafter, the case where the third processing device 50C is used will be described. However, other processing devices 50 among the plurality of processing devices 50 can also operate according to the following description.
[0042] In step S21, the transport device 10 transports the transport target 90 along the transport path 12. By the transport in step S21, the transport target 90 reaches a position adjacent to the third processing device 50C in the transport path 12.
[0043] Next, in step S22, the first transport belt 81 and the second transport belt 82 rise in the vertically upward direction D1 through the gap between the plurality of rollers 11 while supporting the tray 91 from its bottom surface 93. As a result, the tray 91 rises from the transport path 12 and cannot be moved by the transport device 10. The rising width of the transport target 90 in step S22 of the reference embodiment is smaller than the rising width of the transport target 90 in step S12 of the embodiment. Thus, a transition is made from the state of (a) in FIG. 8 to the state of (b).
[0044] Next, in step S23, the first transport belt 81 and the second transport belt 82 rotate. As a result, the tray 91 moves laterally from a position overlapping the transport path 12 to a non-overlapping position when viewed from above in the vertical direction. Thereby, the transport target 90 is drawn into the third processing device 50C. Thus, a transition is made from the overlapping state of (a) in FIG. 9 to the non-overlapping state of (b).
[0045] Next, in step S24, the upper probe device 60 descends in the vertically downward direction D2, and the lower probe device 70 ascends in the vertically upward direction D1. Thereby, the positive electrode probe 61 corresponding to each cell 95 is brought into contact with and electrically connected to the head 97a of the lid 97 of each of the plurality of cells 95. On the other hand, the negative electrode probe 72 of the lower probe device 70 is brought into contact with the bottom surface 93 of the tray 91. Thereby, the containers 98 of the plurality of cells 95 and the negative electrode probe 72 are electrically connected via the tray 91 which is made of metal and has conductivity. In step S24, when the upper probe device 60 and the lower probe device 70 move in this way, the upper probe device 60 and the lower probe device 70 transition from the separated state shown in (a) of FIG. 10 in which they are separated from the conveyance target 90 to the sandwiched state shown in (b) of FIG. 10 in which they sandwich the conveyance target 90.
[0046] Next, in step S25, the third processing device 50C executes electrical processing on the plurality of cells 95 via the upper probe device 60 and the lower probe device 70. The electrical processing is executed while the contact and electrical connection described in step S24 are maintained. An example of the electrical processing is the same as that in step S13.
[0047] Next, in step S26, the upper probe device 60 ascends in the vertically upward direction D1, and the lower probe device 70 descends in the vertically downward direction D2. Thereby, the contact and electrical connection described in step S24 are released. In this way, it returns from the sandwiched state shown in (b) of FIG. 10 to the separated state shown in (a).
[0048] Next, in step S27, the first conveyor belt 81 and the second conveyor belt 82 rotate in the direction opposite to that in step S23. Thereby, the tray 91 moves laterally from a position not overlapping with the conveyance path 12 as viewed from above in the vertical direction to a position overlapping with it. Thereby, the conveyance target 90 is discharged from the third processing device 50C. In this way, it returns from the non-overlapping state shown in (b) of FIG. 9 to the overlapping state shown in (a). <000009Next, in step S28, the moving device 80 lowers the object to be transported 90 in the vertical downward direction D2. This returns the moving device 80 from a position separated from the transport path 12 back to the transport path 12. The amount of descent of the object to be transported 90 in step S28 of the reference embodiment is smaller than the amount of descent of the object to be transported 90 in step S14 of the embodiment. In this way, the object is returned from state 8(b) to state 8(a). After that, in step S29, the transport device 10 transports the object to be transported 90 along the transport path 12.
[0050] As can be understood from the above explanation, in the reference embodiment, in steps S23 and S27, the tray 91 is moved laterally between a position that overlaps with the transport path 12 when viewed from above in the vertical direction (Figure 9(a)) and a position that does not overlap with it (Figure 9(b)). In contrast, in the embodiment, such lateral movement can be omitted. Omitting lateral movement is advantageous from the viewpoint of increasing the number of cells 95 subjected to electrical processing per unit time with a limited number of processing devices 50. Therefore, the embodiment is suitable for increasing the number of cells 95 processed per unit time at low cost and in a space-saving manner.
[0051] In the reference configuration, because of the presence of the moving device 80, it can be said that the tray 91 branches off midway when viewed from above in the vertical direction. In this respect, in the embodiment, the transport path 12 does not have branches, and the tray 91 does not branch off midway when viewed from above in the vertical direction. This is advantageous from the viewpoint of increasing the number of cells 95 used for electrical processing per unit time.
[0052] In the reference configuration, the upper probe device 60 and the lower probe device 70 move. As a result, there is a risk that the cables of the upper probe device 60 and the lower probe device 70 will bend and deteriorate. In contrast, in the embodiment, the position of the probe device 30 is fixed when the moving device 40 moves the tray 91 from the transport path 12 to the upper position 45 and when the tray 91 moves from the upper position 45 back to the transport path 12. As a result, the above risk can be avoided. Specifically, in the embodiment, the position of the probe device 30 is always fixed.
[0053] Various modifications can be applied to the technology described in the embodiments. For example, the conveying device 10 may have a conveying belt instead of multiple rollers 11. The number of processing devices 20 is not particularly limited and may be one, two, three, or five or more. The materials of the container 98, lid 97, tray 91, etc., are not particularly limited.
[0054] (Note) This disclosure discloses the following technologies.
[0055] (Technology 1) A cell processing system comprising: a transport device for transporting a tray containing multiple cells along a transport path; a probe device positioned above the transport path; and a moving device for moving the tray to an upper position above the transport path and moving the tray back to the transport path from the upper position, wherein the upper position is a position in which the multiple cells are in contact with the probe device.
[0056] (Technology 2) The cell processing system according to Technology 1, wherein the transport path does not have branches.
[0057] (Technology 3) The cell processing system according to Technology 1 or 2, wherein the probe device contacts the positive and negative terminals of the cell, which are exposed above the cell, from above.
[0058] (Technical 4) A cell processing system according to any one of Technical 1 to 3, which performs charging, discharging, or voltage measurement of the plurality of cells via the probe device.
[0059] (Technical 5) A cell processing system according to any one of Technical 1 to 4, comprising a plurality of processing devices, each of the plurality of processing devices including the probe device and the moving device, the transport device sequentially transports a plurality of transport objects, each of the plurality of transport objects is the tray containing the plurality of cells, and the plurality of transport objects are supplied to the plurality of processing devices such that each tray of the plurality of transport objects is moved from the transport path to the upper position and from the upper position to the transport path in any one of the processing devices of the plurality of processing devices.
[0060] (Technical 6) A cell processing method comprising: transporting a tray containing a plurality of cells along a transport path; moving the tray to an upper position from the transport path; and moving the tray to the transport path from the upper position, wherein the upper position is a position in which the plurality of cells are brought into contact with a probe device positioned above the transport path.
[0061] The cell processing system described herein can be incorporated into, for example, an inline system. Specifically, in an inline system, the cell processing system may be provided downstream of the cell manufacturing system. The number of cells processed per unit time by the cell processing system may correspond to the number of cells manufactured per unit time by the manufacturing system.
Claims
1. A cell processing system comprising: a conveying device for conveying a tray containing multiple cells along a conveying path; a probe device positioned above the conveying path; and a moving device for moving the tray to an upper position above the conveying path and moving the tray back to the conveying path from the upper position, wherein the upper position is a position in which the multiple cells are in contact with the probe device.
2. The cell processing system according to claim 1, wherein the transport path does not have branches.
3. The cell processing system according to claim 1, wherein the probe device contacts the positive and negative terminals of the cell, which are exposed above the cell, from above.
4. The cell processing system according to claim 1, wherein charging, discharging, or voltage measurement of the plurality of cells is performed via the probe device.
5. The cell processing system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of processing devices, each of the plurality of processing devices including the probe device and the moving device, the transport device sequentially transports a plurality of transport objects, each of the plurality of transport objects is the tray containing the plurality of cells, and the plurality of transport objects are supplied to the plurality of processing devices such that each of the trays of the plurality of transport objects is moved from the transport path to the upper position and from the upper position to the transport path in any one of the plurality of processing devices.
6. A cell processing method comprising: transporting a tray containing multiple cells along a transport path; moving the tray to an upper position from the transport path; and moving the tray to the transport path from the upper position, wherein the upper position is a position in which the multiple cells are brought into contact with a probe device positioned above the transport path.