Battery cell transport tray

Abstract

According to example embodiments, a battery cell transport tray is provided. The battery cell transport tray comprises: a bottom portion accommodating a battery cell; a first side wall erected upward from one end of the bottom portion; a second side wall erected upward from the other end of the bottom portion while facing the first side wall; and reinforcing side walls which are erected upward from the side ends of the bottom portion between the first side wall and the second side wall and installed with a height lower than the first side wall and the second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall may each further include a plurality of handle openings on the upper portion thereof.

Description

Battery cell transfer tray

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery cell transfer tray, and more specifically, to a transfer tray applicable to battery cells of various sizes. The present application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0015860 dated February 7, 2025, and all contents disclosed in the document of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein as part of the specification.

[0002] Demand for lithium-ion batteries is rapidly increasing in various fields, including energy sources, due to their ability to be freely charged and discharged, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density. Among rechargeable batteries, pouch-type batteries are used in various electronic and mechanical products, such as automobiles and mobile devices, as they allow for the manufacturing of diverse battery forms.

[0003] During the manufacturing process or when transporting finished products, multiple battery cells of these lithium secondary batteries are stored in a single tray and transported to subsequent processes or delivery destinations. At this time, the tray is inevitably limited by the size of the stored battery cells due to its design structure. For example, in the case of battery cells applied to the PHEV-G (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle-G) model, there are battery cells of various sizes, such as 540 mm or 740 mm in the overall length direction; however, since conventional transport trays have a cuboid shape equipped with handles or boundaries as described in Patent Document 1, suitable transport trays are required for each size depending on the battery cell model.

[0004] The problem that the technical concept of the present invention aims to solve is to provide a transfer tray applicable to battery cells of various sizes.

[0005] According to exemplary embodiments for solving the above-described problem, a battery cell transfer tray is provided. The battery cell transfer tray comprises a bottom portion for storing battery cells;

[0006] It includes: a first side wall erected upward from one end of the bottom portion; a second side wall erected upward from the other end of the bottom portion opposite to the first side wall; and reinforcing side walls erected upward from the side end of the bottom portion between the first side wall and the second side wall and installed at a height lower than that of the first side wall and the second side wall; wherein the first side wall and the second side wall may each further have a plurality of opening handles on their upper portions.

[0007] The first side wall further includes a first side wall reinforcement that is thicker than the thickness of the first side wall between the plurality of opening handles.

[0008] The second side wall further includes a second side wall reinforcement that is thicker than the thickness of the second side wall between the plurality of opening handles.

[0009] The first side wall may have a first coupling projection at its upper end, and the bottom portion may have a first coupling receiving portion at its lower end that is shaped to interlock with the first coupling projection.

[0010] The first coupling projection may be formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference surface is lower than the outer circumference surface of the upper surface of the first side wall, and the first coupling receiving portion may be formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference surface is higher than the outer circumference surface of the lower surface of the bottom portion.

[0011] The second side wall may have a second coupling projection at its upper end, and the bottom portion may have a second coupling receiving portion at its lower end that is shaped to interlock with the second coupling projection.

[0012] The second coupling projection may be formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference is lower than the outer circumference of the upper surface of the second side wall, and the second coupling receiving portion may be formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference is higher than the outer circumference of the lower surface of the bottom portion.

[0013] The first side wall reinforcing member may have a first sub-coupling projection at the top, and the bottom portion may have a first sub-coupling receiving groove at the bottom that is shaped to engage with the first sub-coupling projection.

[0014] The second side wall reinforcement may have a second sub-coupling projection at the top, and the bottom portion may have a second sub-coupling receiving groove at the bottom that is shaped to engage with the second sub-coupling projection.

[0015] The bottom portion, the first side wall, the second side wall, and the reinforcing side walls form an outer frame, and an inner frame capable of aligning battery cells may be installed on the bottom portion of the outer frame.

[0016] The outer surfaces of the above outer frame may be provided with a plurality of grid-pattern reinforcing ribs.

[0017] The above outer frame can be manufactured as a single injection-molded piece.

[0018] Both sides of the outer frame defined by the first side wall, the second side wall, and the reinforcing side wall may be open.

[0019] The height of the above reinforcing side wall is lower than the distance from the electrode of the battery cell to the bottom portion.

[0020] The above bottom portion may have a plurality of openings.

[0021] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a tray suitable for transporting battery cells of various sizes or models can be provided through a fundamental structural change to the battery cell transport tray. Accordingly, the same transport tray can be utilized in manufacturing lines for secondary batteries that produce various models without necessarily changing or modifying the structure of the tray, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[0022] The effects obtainable from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects can be clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure belong from the following description. That is, unintended effects resulting from the implementation of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also be derived by those skilled in the art from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery cell transfer tray according to exemplary embodiments.

[0024] Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part A of Figure 1.

[0025] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the battery cell transfer tray of Figure 1.

[0026] Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part B of Figure 3.

[0027] Fig. 5 is a bottom view of Fig. 1.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a transfer tray containing battery cells.

[0029] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a battery cell.

[0030] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the inner frame of the tray.

[0031] FIG. 9 shows a state in which two battery cell transfer trays according to the present invention are stacked in two layers, upper and lower.

[0032] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. Instead, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best describe his invention, they should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0033] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0034] In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions may obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0035] Since embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the invention to those skilled in the art, the shapes and sizes of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted for clearer explanation. Accordingly, the size or proportion of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size or proportion.

[0036]

[0037] (1st embodiment)

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery cell transfer tray (100) according to exemplary embodiments, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part A of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the battery cell transfer tray (100) of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part B of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 1.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the battery cell transfer tray (100) according to the embodiments comprises a bottom portion (101) for storing battery cells (10), a first side wall (110) and a second side wall (120) facing each other and erected upward at both ends of the bottom portion (101), and reinforcing side walls (130) installed between the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120).

[0041] The bottom portion (101), the first side wall (110), the second side wall (120), and the reinforcing side walls (130) of the battery cell transfer tray (100) constitute the outer frame of the transfer tray (100). The outer frame can form the overall external shape of the battery cell transfer tray (100).

[0042] FIGS. 1 to 5 actually show only the outer frame of the transfer tray (100). In this specification, the outer frame may be part of the transfer tray (100).

[0043] The outer frame described above may have a plurality of rib structures formed on its outer surface to prevent deformation caused by temperature changes, physical impacts, etc. Through the rib structure, the outer wall of the outer frame can improve the mechanical strength of the outer frame, lighten the weight to enhance convenience for transportation and storage, and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0044] The outer frame may be formed of an electrically insulating material so as not to electrically affect the charging and discharging processes of the batteries housed in the internal space. It may include, for example, polymer or rubber materials, although not limited thereto.

[0045] The first side wall (110) of the battery cell transfer tray (100) is erected upward at one end of the bottom portion (101), and the second side wall (120) is erected upward at the other end of the bottom portion (101) opposite the first side wall (110).

[0046] Reinforcing side walls (130) are erected upwardly at both ends of the bottom portion (101) between the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120). The reinforcing side walls (130) are erected upward from the lower surface of the bottom portion (101) to support the lower portions of the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120). The reinforcing side walls (130) are installed at a much lower height than the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120). The height of the reinforcing side walls (130) can be formed low so as not to come into contact with the entire length portion of the battery cell (10).

[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a transfer tray (100) in which an inner frame (140) with aligned battery cells (10) is stored, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a battery cell (10), and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner frame (140) of the transfer tray (100).

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a state in which a battery cell (10) is aligned in an inner frame (140) and the inner frame (140) is installed and stored in the bottom part (101) of a transfer tray (100).

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7, the battery cell (10) includes a cell case (11) and a pouch part (13) containing an electrode assembly including electrodes (12, 14) of a negative electrode (12) and a positive electrode (14) and a separator interposed between the negative electrode (12) and the positive electrode (14).

[0050] Multiple inner frames (140) may be provided, and multiple partition plates (141) may be arranged at predetermined intervals (G) along the longitudinal direction of the inner frame (400). Multiple battery cells (10) may be arranged at predetermined intervals (G) between each partition plate (141) and adjacent partition plates (141). The partition plates (141) may be erected and stably supported on a support portion (142). The inner frame (140) may be mounted on the bottom portion (101) by being fastened by a fastening unit, such as a bolt and nut, at the fastening portion (143).

[0051] The battery cell transfer tray (100) may have both sides of the outer frame defined by the first side wall (110), the second side wall (120), and the reinforcing side wall (130) open. In the case of the transfer tray (100) according to the present embodiment, since the two sides of the tray (100) have an open structure, the alignment of the battery cells (10) is not obstructed by electrical parts such as electrodes (12, 14), thereby securing more space for the arrangement of the battery cells (10) and making it applicable to battery cells (10) of various sizes.

[0052] For example, in the case of battery cells for the PHEV-G (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle-G) model, to manufacture battery cells with a length of 540 mm or 740 mm, trays must be prepared for each size, but the transfer tray (100) of the present invention can accommodate both models. To this end, in the transfer tray (100) of the present invention, the height of the reinforcing side wall (130) can actually be formed lower than the distance from the electrode (12, 14) of the battery cell (10) to the bottom part (101).

[0053] A battery cell transfer tray (100) can store multiple battery cells (10) arranged in an internal space. The stored battery cells (10) are configured to be transported at once, and the stored battery cells (10) are repeatedly charged and discharged during an activation process that activates the battery cells (10). The battery cell transfer tray (100) containing the battery cells (10) can be transported by a user or via a conveyor.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, as both sides of the outer frame of the battery cell transfer tray (100) are open, there is a risk that the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120) may separate; therefore, it is necessary to reinforce the support of the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120). To this end, the outer surfaces of the outer frame of the transfer tray (100) may be provided with a plurality of grid-pattern reinforcing ribs (120R). The bottom portion (101) may be provided with a plurality of openings (102) to promote heat dissipation and weight reduction. Additionally, the outer frame including the bottom portion (101), the first side wall (110), the second side wall (120), and the reinforcing side walls (130) may be manufactured as a single injection-molded piece.

[0055] A plurality of opening handles (111, 111) may be provided on both upper sides of the first side wall (110) to facilitate the user's or other means of transporting or handling the transport tray (100). Likewise, a plurality of opening handles (121, 121) may also be provided on both upper sides of the second side wall (120). The opening handles (111, 121) of the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120) may have the same shape. The opening handles (111, 121) of the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120) may have various shapes, provided that they facilitate the handling of the transport tray (100). In this embodiment, an example is shown in which two opening handles (111, 121) of the same shape are formed on each of the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120), but it goes without saying that the shape or number is not limited thereto.

[0056] In the case of the conventional transfer tray exemplified in Patent Document 1, a handle or boundary connecting the upper portion between the first and second side walls (110, 120) is provided, but the battery cell transfer tray (100) according to the present embodiment omits such a handle or boundary, so both sides of the outer frame are open. For this reason, in the transfer tray (100) according to the present embodiment, reinforcing portions (112, 122) may also be provided on both side walls (110, 120) to prevent the two side walls (110, 120) from spreading apart.

[0057] The first side wall (110) may further include a first side wall reinforcement (112) that is thicker than the thickness of the first side wall (110) between a plurality of opening handles (111, 111).

[0058] Likewise, the second side wall (120) may further include a second side wall reinforcement (122) that is thicker than the thickness of the second side wall (120) between a plurality of opening handles (121, 121).

[0059] By providing a first side wall reinforcement (112) and a second side wall reinforcement (122), the degree of separation between the first side wall (110) and the second side wall (120) can be significantly prevented.

[0060]

[0061] (2nd Example)

[0062] The battery cell transfer tray (100) according to the present invention may be transferred one by one, but generally, it is transferred by stacking in multiple stages.

[0063] FIG. 9 shows two battery cell transfer trays (100A, 100B) according to the present invention stacked in two layers, upper and lower.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 9 together with FIG. 1 to 6, the configuration of each battery cell transfer tray (100A, 100B) includes a first side wall (110), a second side wall (120), a bottom portion (101), reinforcing side walls (130, 130), and an inner frame (140), just like the battery cell transfer tray (100) described in the first embodiment, so a redundant description of these is omitted.

[0065] However, when the battery cell transfer tray (100) is stacked in multiple layers, it is very important to prevent separation between the upper and lower trays (100A, 100B). In this embodiment, a separation prevention structure is provided to prevent separation between the transfer trays.

[0066] Specifically, referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the first side wall (110) of the transfer tray (100) is provided with a first coupling projection (114) at the top. Additionally, the bottom portion (101) may be provided with a first coupling receiving portion (104) at the bottom that is shaped to engage with the first coupling projection (114). Due to this coupling structure, the first coupling projection (114) provided on the first side wall (110) of the lower transfer tray (100B) can engage with the first coupling receiving portion (104) formed on the bottom portion (101) on the side wall (110) of the upper transfer tray (100A).

[0067] More specifically, the first coupling projection (114) may be formed with a step difference such that the inner circumference surface (114i) is lower than the outer circumference surface (114o) of the upper surface of the first side wall (110), as shown in FIG. 2. Conversely, the first coupling receiving portion (104) may be formed with a step difference such that the inner circumference surface (104i) is higher than the outer circumference surface (104o) of the lower surface of the bottom portion (101), as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. By this coupling structure, the outer circumference surface (114o) of the first coupling projection (114) formed on the first side wall (110) of the lower layer transfer tray (100B) can be engaged with the outer circumference surface (104o) of the first coupling receiving portion (104) provided on the bottom portion (101) on the side wall (110) of the upper layer transfer tray (100A), and the inner circumference surface (114i) of the first coupling projection (114) formed on the first side wall (110) of the lower layer transfer tray (100B) can be engaged with the inner circumference surface (104i) of the first coupling receiving portion (104) provided on the bottom portion (101) on the side wall (110) of the upper layer transfer tray (100A).

[0068] Likewise, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the second side wall (120) may have a second coupling projection (124) at the top, and the bottom part (101) may have a second coupling receiving part (104) at the bottom that is shaped to engage with the second coupling projection (124). By this coupling structure, the second coupling projection (124) provided on the second side wall (120) of the lower layer transfer tray (100B) may engage with the second coupling receiving part (104) formed on the bottom part (101) on the side of the second side wall (120) of the upper layer transfer tray (100A).

[0069] Specifically, the second coupling projection (124) may be formed with a step difference such that the inner circumference surface (124i) is lower than the outer circumference surface (124o) of the upper surface of the second side wall (120), as shown in FIG. 1. Conversely, the second coupling receiving portion (104) may be formed with a step difference such that the inner circumference surface (104i) is higher than the outer circumference surface (104o) of the lower surface of the bottom portion (101), as shown in FIG. 4. By this coupling structure, the outer circumference surface (124o) of the second coupling projection (124) formed on the second side wall (120) of the lower layer transfer tray (100B) can be engaged with the outer circumference surface (104o) of the second coupling receiving portion (104) provided on the bottom portion (101) on the side wall (120) of the upper layer transfer tray (100A), and the inner circumference surface (124i) of the second coupling projection (124) formed on the second side wall (120) of the lower layer transfer tray (100B) can be engaged with the inner circumference surface (104i) of the second coupling receiving portion (104) provided on the bottom portion (101) on the side wall (120) of the upper layer transfer tray (100A).

[0070] In addition, the transfer tray (100) according to the present embodiment prevents separation between the transfer trays (100A, 100B) stacked by the first and second coupling protrusions (114, 124) and the first and second coupling receiving portions (104, 104), and may further include a sub-coupling structure.

[0071] For example, referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIG. 9, a first sub-coupling projection (112p) may be provided at the top of a first side wall reinforcing part (112) for reinforcing a first side wall (110) of a transfer tray (100). Additionally, a bottom part (101) may be provided with a first sub-coupling receiving groove (103g) at its bottom that is shaped to engage with the first sub-coupling projection (112p). Due to this sub-coupling structure, the first sub-coupling projection (112p) provided on the first side wall (110) of the lower transfer tray (100B) may engage with the first sub-coupling receiving groove (103g) formed on the bottom part (101) on the side wall (110) of the upper transfer tray (100A).

[0072] Likewise, a second sub-coupling projection (122p) may be provided at the top of the second side wall reinforcement (122) for reinforcing the second side wall (120) of the transfer tray (100). Additionally, the bottom portion (101) may be provided with a second sub-coupling receiving groove (103g) shaped to engage with the second sub-coupling projection (122p) at the bottom. Due to this sub-coupling structure, the second sub-coupling projection (122p) provided on the second side wall (120) of the lower transfer tray (100B) may engage with the second sub-coupling receiving groove (103g) formed on the bottom portion (101) on the side wall (120) of the upper transfer tray (100A).

[0073] The transfer tray (100) according to the present embodiment exemplifies a coupling structure formed by first and second coupling protrusions (114, 124) and first and second coupling receiving portions (104, 104), and a sub-coupling structure formed by first and second sub-coupling protrusions (112p, 122p) and first and second sub-coupling receiving grooves (103g, 103g), but in addition to these coupling structures or sub-coupling structures, it is possible to prevent separation between stacked transfer trays (100A, 100B) through various types of connection structures.

[0074] The present invention has been described in more detail above through drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all technical concepts of the present invention; therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0075] 10: Battery cell

[0076] 100, 100A, 100B: Battery cell transfer tray

[0077] 101 : Bottom

[0078] 110: First side wall

[0079] 112: First side wall reinforcement

[0080] 114: First connecting projection

[0081] 120 : Second side wall

[0082] 122 : Second side wall reinforcement

[0083] 124: Second connecting projection

[0084] 130 : Reinforced side wall

[0085] 140 : Inner Frame

Claims

1. Bottom part for housing battery cells; A first side wall erected upward from one end of the above-mentioned bottom portion; A second side wall facing the first side wall and erected upward from the other end of the bottom portion; and Reinforcing side walls that are erected upward from the side edge of the bottom portion between the first side wall and the second side wall and are installed at a lower height than the first side wall and the second side wall; A battery cell transfer tray having a plurality of opening handles on the upper portions of the first and second side walls.

2. In Paragraph 1, A battery cell transfer tray in which the first side wall further includes a first side wall reinforcement thicker than the thickness of the first side wall between the plurality of opening handles.

3. In Paragraph 1, A battery cell transfer tray in which the second side wall further includes a second side wall reinforcement thicker than the thickness of the second side wall between the plurality of opening handles.

4. In Paragraph 1, The first side wall above is provided with a first coupling projection at the top, and A battery cell transfer tray having a bottom portion having a first coupling receiving portion at the bottom that can engage with the first coupling projection portion.

5. In Paragraph 4, The first coupling projection is formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference surface is lower than the outer circumference surface of the upper surface of the first side wall, and A battery cell transfer tray characterized in that the first coupling receiving portion is formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference surface is higher than the outer circumference surface of the lower surface of the bottom portion.

6. In Paragraph 1, The above second side wall is provided with a second connecting projection at the top, and A battery cell transfer tray having a second coupling receiving portion at the bottom that is shaped to engage with the second coupling projection portion.

7. In Paragraph 6, The second coupling projection is formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference surface is lower than the outer circumference surface of the upper surface of the second side wall, and A battery cell transfer tray characterized in that the second coupling receiving portion is formed with a step difference in which the inner circumference surface is higher than the outer circumference surface of the lower surface of the bottom portion.

8. In Paragraph 2, The above-mentioned first side wall reinforcing member is provided with a first sub-coupling projection at the top, and A battery cell transfer tray having a first sub-coupling receiving groove at the bottom portion that is shaped to engage with the first sub-coupling projection portion.

9. In Paragraph 2, The above second side wall reinforcing member is provided with a second sub-coupling projection at the top, and A battery cell transfer tray having a second sub-coupling receiving groove at the bottom portion that is shaped to engage with the second sub-coupling projection portion.

10. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned bottom portion, the above-mentioned first side wall, the above-mentioned second side wall, and the above-mentioned reinforcing side walls constitute an outer frame, and A battery cell transfer tray in which an inner frame capable of aligning battery cells is installed on the bottom portion of the outer frame.

11. In Paragraph 10, A battery cell transfer tray having multiple grid-pattern reinforcing ribs on the outer surfaces of the outer frame.

12. In Paragraph 10, The above outer frame is a battery cell transfer tray manufactured as a single injection molded piece.

13. In Paragraph 10, A battery cell transfer tray characterized in that both sides of the outer frame defined by the first side wall, the second side wall, and the reinforcing side wall are open.

14. In Paragraph 1, A battery cell transfer tray characterized in that the height of the reinforcing side wall is lower than the distance from the electrode of the battery cell to the bottom portion.

15. In Paragraph 1, A battery cell transfer tray characterized by the bottom portion having a plurality of openings.

Images