11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the step (c), a distance between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma irradiation unit is constant. [Claim 12]

11. The method of claim 10, comprising preparing a heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case, plasma-processing a first surface of the heat sink, and applying an adhesive on the plasma-treated first surface. A method of assembling a battery pack further comprising the steps. floor plan

technology field
[One]
This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 2020-0113155 dated September 4, 2020, and all contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean Patent Application are included as part of this specification.
[2]
The present invention relates to a battery pack assembly system and a battery pack assembly method using the same, and more specifically, to a battery pack assembly system and a battery pack assembly method using the same, in order to improve the bonding force between the battery pack and a heat sink, plasma treatment is performed. It is about.
background art
[3]
Secondary batteries have the advantage of long service life of battery cells because they can be repeatedly charged and discharged, and are used in a detachable or embedded form in a device, and the type of device using the secondary battery as an energy source is It is increasing.
[4]
In particular, lithium secondary batteries, which are charged and discharged by the movement of lithium ions, have advantages of high energy density and discharge voltage. It is also used in the field of medium and large-sized battery packs used as energy sources such as electric vehicles and power storage systems.
[5]
Depending on the shape of the battery case, the lithium secondary battery is a cylindrical secondary battery and a prismatic secondary battery in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a cylindrical or prismatic metal can, and a pouch type in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch-type case of an aluminum laminate sheet. classified as a secondary battery. Among them, the cylindrical secondary battery has the advantage of having a relatively large capacity and structural stability.
[6]
In order to manufacture a battery pack including the cylindrical secondary battery as a unit cell, a process of compactly arranging a plurality of cylindrical battery cells in a battery pack case, adding a heat dissipation member such as a heat sink, and then sealing the battery pack case can include
[7]
In order to improve adhesion between the heat sink and the plurality of battery cells, an adhesive is applied between them. In order to improve the adhesion of the adhesive, plasma treatment may be performed on the adhesive surfaces of the heat sink and the battery cells.
[8]
In this regard, FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a process of performing plasma treatment on the bottom surfaces of conventional cylindrical battery cells.
[9]
Referring to FIG. 1 , a battery pack case 100 includes an upper case 110 and a lower case 120, and a plurality of battery cells 200 are disposed at regular intervals in the battery pack case 100. .
[10]
A frame 130 for stably fixing the battery cells 200 may be added to the inside of the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 .
[11]
The upper surface 201 of the plurality of battery cells 200 is disposed upward in a state in which the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 are coupled, and plasma is applied to the lower surface 202 of the plurality of battery cells 200. In order to process, after the battery pack is rotated 180 degrees based on the x-axis, the lower case 120 is removed so that the lower surfaces 202 of the plurality of battery cells 200 are exposed.
[12]
In this state, after plasma treatment is performed on the lower surfaces 202 of the plurality of battery cells 200, the lower case 120 is added again, and the battery pack is rotated 180 degrees about the x-axis to return to the original state. do.
[13]
In the case of plasma treatment on the lower surface of the battery cells in this way, the process of first mounting the battery cells in the battery pack case, then rotating the battery pack, and mounting and detaching the upper case is required, which is a complicated process. There is a problem with the cancellation.
[14]
Also, in the plasma treatment, a great difference occurs in the effect of the plasma treatment according to the distance between the object and the plasma device. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the distance constant. However, in the above process, it is difficult to maintain a constant distance between the object and the plasma device.
[15]
Therefore, there is a high need for a system for assembling a battery pack to improve productivity by simply performing plasma treatment on a plurality of battery cells and to consistently exhibit the effect of plasma treatment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
technical challenge
[16]
The present invention is to solve the above problem, and plasma treatment is performed on the bottom of the plurality of battery cells in a state in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged side by side, so that the plasma treatment effect on the plurality of battery cells It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack assembly system and a battery pack assembly method using the same that can be consistently and excellently exhibited.
means of solving the problem
[17]
A battery pack assembly system according to the present invention for achieving this object includes a battery cell supply unit for arranging and supplying a plurality of battery cells, a robot arm for moving the plurality of battery cells, and a plasma for plasma processing the plurality of battery cells. processing department. and an assembly unit in which a battery pack case accommodating the plurality of battery cells is disposed.
[18]
The battery pack assembly system according to the present invention may further include a heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case.
[19]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, an adhesive may be applied to the first surface of the heat sink.
[20]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the first surface of the heat sink may be coated with the adhesive in a plasma-treated state.
[21]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the robot arm may be in a controllable form so that plasma processing is performed while the plurality of battery cells are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on the plasma processing unit.
[22]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the predetermined distance may be 1 mm.
[23]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the plasma processing unit may be disposed between the battery cell supply unit and the assembly unit.
[24]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, the robot arm may include a gripper that holds or sets down the plurality of battery cells.
[25]
In the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, a frame member is mounted inside the battery pack case, and the plurality of battery cells may be disposed on the frame member.
[26]
The present invention also provides a battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system. Specifically, the method of assembling the battery pack includes (a) arranging a plurality of battery cells in a battery cell supply unit, (b) holding and transferring the plurality of battery cells to a plasma processing unit, (c) arranging the plurality of battery cells. Plasma-treating the battery cells, and (d) arranging the plurality of battery cells of step (c) in a battery pack case.
[27]
In the method of assembling a battery pack according to the present invention, a distance between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma irradiation unit may be constant.
[28]
A method of assembling a battery pack according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case, plasma-processing a first surface of the heat sink, and on the first surface subjected to the plasma treatment. It may further include the step of applying an adhesive to.
Effects of the Invention
[29]
As described above, since the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention uses a robot arm that aligns and supplies a plurality of battery cells and moves the plurality of battery cells to maintain alignment, the battery cells are aligned. Plasma treatment can be performed in the state of being.
[30]
Therefore, since the distance from the plasma processing unit to the bottom of the battery cells can be maintained constant, a uniform plasma processing effect can be obtained.
[31]
In addition, by ensuring the conditions for obtaining the maximum effect of the plasma treatment, the adhesive strength of the adhesive can be remarkably improved.
Brief description of the drawing
[32]
1 is a perspective view showing a process of plasma treatment on the bottom surfaces of conventional cylindrical battery cells.
[33]
2 is a plan view of a battery pack assembly system according to the present invention.
[34]
3 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to the present invention.
[35]
Figure 4 is a side view of the robotic arm of Figure 2;
[36]
5 is a front view of the gripper.
[37]
6 is a perspective view of a plasma processing state.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[38]
Hereinafter, embodiments in which a person skilled in the art can easily practice the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in the detailed description of the operating principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.
[39]
In addition, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and actions throughout the drawings. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only the case where it is directly connected, but also the case where it is indirectly connected with another element interposed therebetween. In addition, including a certain component does not exclude other components unless otherwise stated, but means that other components may be further included.
[40]
In addition, the detailed description by limiting or adding components can be applied to all inventions unless there is a particular limitation, and is not limited to the description of a specific invention.
[41]
In addition, what is indicated in the singular throughout the description and claims of the present invention includes plural unless otherwise stated.
[42]
Also, throughout the description and claims of the present invention, "or" includes "and" unless otherwise stated. Therefore, “comprising A or B” means including A, including B, or including both A and B in all three cases.
[43]
In addition, all numerical ranges include the values at both ends and all intervening values therebetween, unless expressly stated otherwise.
[44]
The present invention will be described as detailed examples with reference to the drawings.
[45]
2 is a plan view of a battery pack assembly system according to the present invention.
[46]
Referring to FIG. 2 , the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention aligns and supplies a plurality of battery cells.A G cell supply unit 300, a robot arm 400 for moving a plurality of battery cells, a plasma processing unit 500 for plasma processing a plurality of battery cells, and a battery pack case 610 accommodating a plurality of battery cells are disposed. It includes the assembly part 600.
[47]
The present invention is used to assemble a battery pack by accommodating a plurality of battery cells in a battery pack case, and to improve the adhesiveness of the adhesive used for fixing the plurality of battery cells to the lower surface of the plurality of battery cells. It is characterized in that it comprises a plasma processing unit for reforming.
[48]
The plasma treatment of the lower surfaces of the battery cells can be performed while the robot arm 400 is holding the plurality of battery cells, so that the plasma treatment of the battery cells and the assembly process of the battery pack can be quickly performed. , The plasma processing unit 500 may be disposed on a path that transfers the battery cells supplied from the battery cell supply unit 300 to the assembly unit 600.
[49]
That is, the plasma processing unit 500 may be disposed between the battery cell supply unit 300 and the assembly unit 600 .
[50]
The assembling unit 600 may include a transport means capable of transporting the battery pack case 610 so that the battery pack case 610 may be positioned adjacent to the robot arm 400 .
[51]
As the transport means, for example, a conveyor belt or rail may be used.
[52]
In one specific example, an adhesive is applied to an inner surface of a lower surface of the battery pack case on which the battery cells are mounted, and the lower surface of the battery pack case and the battery cells are coupled through the adhesive.
[53]
In order to improve the adhesion of the adhesive, the lower surface of the battery pack case may be subjected to plasma treatment, then the adhesive may be applied, and separately, the lower surface of the battery cells may be subjected to plasma treatment. That is, the adhesiveness of the adhesive may be improved by modifying the inner surface of the lower surface of the battery pack case and the lower surface of the battery cells to be hydrophilic.
[54]
The battery cells may be, for example, cylindrical battery cells.
[55]
The battery pack case may be composed of an upper case and a lower case having similar heights, or may be formed of a case body composed of a bottom surface and four side surfaces and a case cover.
[56]
The battery cell supply unit 300 includes a mounting unit 310 in which a plurality of battery cells are mounted in an aligned state and has a flat bottom. Accordingly, the plurality of battery cells may be aligned so that a height difference does not occur.
[57]
Thereafter, the mounting unit 310 moves in the direction of the arrow so as to be positioned adjacent to the robot arm 400 in a state where the battery cells are mounted.
[58]
The robot arm 400 grips the battery cells aligned in the mounting unit 310 and transfers them to the plasma processing unit 500. At this time, the battery cells are maintained in an aligned state. Therefore, the distance between the bottom of all the battery cells and the plasma device can be made constant.
[59]
A frame member may be included inside the battery pack case to which the plasma-treated battery cells are transported, and the plurality of battery cells may be disposed on the frame member. Thus, stable fixation of the plurality of battery cells can be achieved.
[60]
In another specific example, FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to the present invention.
[61]
Referring to FIG. 3 , the battery pack is composed of an upper case 111 and a lower case 121, and the battery cells 211 are stably mounted inside the upper case 111 and the lower case 121, respectively. Frame members 131 and 132 are disposed therefor.
[62]
The battery pack of FIG. 3 further includes a heat sink 140 to secure rapid heat dissipation of thermal energy generated from the plurality of battery cells 211 .
[63]
The heat sink 140 may be disposed between the lower inner surface of the lower case 121 and the battery cells 211 . In order to stably mount the battery cells in this structure, it is preferable that an adhesive is applied between the lower surface of the heat sink 140 and the battery cells 211, and the battery cells 211 are disposed in the heat sink 140. An adhesive may be applied to the first surface 141 to be applied.
[64]
At this time, in order to improve the adhesion of the adhesive to the first surface 141 of the heat sink, the adhesive may be applied to the first surface 141 of the heat sink in a plasma-treated state.
[65]
Figure 4 is a side view of the robotic arm of Figure 2;
[66]
Referring to FIG. 4 , the robot arm 400 is rotatable in the direction a on the ground and includes three joint structures 401 , 402 , and 403 rotatable.
[67]
In addition, the robot arm 400 includes a gripper 410 that holds or puts down the plurality of battery cells 211 .
[68]
Therefore, while the joint structures 401, 402, and 403 are unfolded or bent, the plurality of battery cells 211 provided by the battery cell supply unit can be held and moved to the plasma processing unit, and after plasma processing, the battery cells 211 A process of mounting the battery pack case may be performed.
[69]
In addition, the robot arm 400 has a controllable form so that plasma processing is performed in a state in which the plurality of battery cells 211 are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance on the plasma processing unit.
[70]
Therefore, all battery cells transported by the robot arm are subjected to plasma treatment while maintaining the same distance from the plasma device, so that all battery cells can be reformed to the same level.
[71]
5 is a front view of the gripper.
[72]
Referring to FIG. 5 , the gripper 410 shows one of the two grippers surrounding the side of the cylindrical battery cell, and is formed to cover about 50% of the side of the cylindrical battery cell.
[73]
The gripper 410 is formed with a groove 411 formed in a shape corresponding to the side surface of the cylindrical battery cell so that the cylindrical battery cell can be stably mounted.
[74]
An outer surface of the groove 411 may be treated to prevent slipping of the cylindrical battery cells.
[75]
Alternatively, the gripper 410 may be in the form of vacuum adsorption to stably fix the cylindrical battery cells while maintaining alignment.
[76]
6 is a perspective view of a plasma processing state.
[77]
Referring to FIG. 6 , the battery cells 211 move to the plasma processing unit 500 while being mounted on the gripper 410 and stop above the plasma device 510 .
[78]
The effect of the plasma treatment is affected by the distance H between the plasma device 510 and the lower surface of the battery cells 211. In order to see the same plasma effect in all battery cells, the plasma device and the lower surface of the battery cells The distance (H) must be kept constant.
[79]
In the case of using the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention, since the battery cells are transported using a robot arm capable of accurate and detailed control, a plasma treatment effect on all battery cells can be obtained uniformly.
[80]
That is, in the case of using the robot arm 400, it is possible to maintain a constant distance (H) between the plasma device and the lower surface of the battery cells, for example, the distance (H) between the plasma device and the lower surface of the battery cells. ) may be 1 mm.
[81]
As a method of assembling a battery pack using the battery pack assembly system, specifically, (a) arranging a plurality of battery cells in a battery cell supply unit, (b) holding the plurality of battery cells and transferring them to a plasma processing unit, (c) plasma-treating the plurality of battery cells, and (d) disposing the plurality of battery cells of step (c) in a battery pack case.
[82]
At this time, a distance between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma irradiation unit may be maintained constant.
[83]
In addition, in the case of including a heat sink in the battery pack, in order to improve the adhesive strength of the adhesive applied between the heat sink and the battery cells, the first surface of the heat sink on which the battery cells are disposed is treated with plasma. The method may further include processing, and applying an adhesive on the first surface subjected to the plasma treatment.
[84]
[85]
Hereinafter, although described with reference to the examples of the present invention, this is for easier understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.
[86]
[87]

[88]
A heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case is prepared, and a first surface of the heat sink is subjected to plasma treatment.
[89]
An adhesive is applied to the first surface treated with plasma in this way to improve the adhesion of the heat sink to the adhesive.
[90]
Using the battery pack assembly system shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of battery cells are aligned and supplied to the battery cell supply unit, and the plurality of battery cells are transferred to the plasma processing unit using a robot arm. The distance between the bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and the plasma device is set to be 1 mm, and plasma treatment is performed on the bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells.
[91]
The plurality of battery cells subjected to the plasma treatment are disposed on the adhesive applied to the first surface of the heat sink.
[92]
A device used for the plasma treatment was a 3d+izet product manufactured by APAI.
[93]
[94]

[95]
A heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case was prepared, and an adhesive was applied to a first surface of the heat sink.
[96]
Using the battery pack assembly system shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of battery cells are aligned and supplied to the battery cell supply unit, and a plurality of battery cells are transferred and applied to the first surface of the heat sink using a robot arm. placed on the adhesive.
[97]
[98]
In order to check the adhesion of the battery cells mounted on the battery cell case in the above Examples and Comparative Examples, the tensile force when each battery cell was separated from the heat sink was measured, and the results are shown in Table 1 below.
[99]
[100]
[Table 1]
tensile force (kgf)
Example 186.6
Comparative Example 99.6
[101]
Referring to Table 1, it can be seen that the tensile force of the embodiment subjected to plasma treatment is increased by about 87% compared to the tensile force of the comparative example without plasma treatment.
[102]
Especially, It can be seen that in the case of carrying out the plasma treatment while maintaining the distance between the plasma device and the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells at 1 mm in the embodiment, the above remarkable adhesion improving effect can be obtained.
[103]
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to perform various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention based on the above information.
[104]
(Description of code)
[105]
100: battery pack case
[106]
110, 111: upper case
[107]
120, 121: lower case
[108]
130: frame
[109]
131, 132: frame member
[110]
140: heat sink
[111]
141: first side
[112]
200, 211: battery cell
[113]
201: upper surface
[114]
202: lower surface
[115]
300: battery cell supply unit
[116]
310: mounting part
[117]
400: robot arm
[118]
401, 402, 403: joint structure
[119]
410: gripper
[120]
411 Home
[121]
500: plasma processing unit
[122]
510: plasma device
[123]
600: assembly part
[124]
610: battery pack case
[125]
H: Distance between the plasma device and the lower surface of the battery cells
industrial applicability
[126]
As described above, since the battery pack assembly system according to the present invention uses a robot arm that aligns and supplies a plurality of battery cells and moves the plurality of battery cells to maintain alignment, the battery cells are aligned. Plasma treatment can be performed in the state of being.
[127]
Therefore, since the distance from the plasma processing unit to the bottom of the battery cells can be maintained constant, a uniform plasma processing effect can be obtained.
[128]
In addition, by ensuring the conditions for obtaining the maximum effect of the plasma treatment, the adhesive strength of the adhesive can be remarkably improved.

We claims:

[Claim 1]
A battery cell supply unit for arranging and supplying a plurality of battery cells; a robot arm for moving the plurality of battery cells; a plasma processing unit for plasma processing the plurality of battery cells; and an assembly unit in which a battery pack case accommodating the plurality of battery cells is disposed. Battery pack assembly system comprising a.
[Claim 2]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case.
[Claim 3]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 2 , wherein an adhesive is applied to the first surface of the heat sink.
[Claim 4]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 3 , wherein the first surface of the heat sink is coated with the adhesive in a plasma-treated state.
[Claim 5]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the robot arm has a controllable form so that plasma processing is performed while the plurality of battery cells are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance from the plasma processing unit.
[Claim 6]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined distance is 1 mm.
[Claim 7]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the plasma processing unit is disposed between the battery cell supply unit and the assembly unit.
[Claim 8]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1 , wherein the robot arm includes a gripper for holding or setting down the plurality of battery cells.
[Claim 9]
The battery pack assembly system according to claim 1, wherein a frame member is mounted inside the battery pack case, and the plurality of battery cells are disposed on the frame member.
[Claim 10]
A battery pack assembly method using the battery pack assembly system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: (a) arranging a plurality of battery cells in a battery cell supply unit; (b) holding the plurality of battery cells and transferring them to a plasma processing unit; (c) plasma-treating the plurality of battery cells; and (d) arranging the plurality of battery cells of step (c) in a battery pack case. A method of assembling a battery pack comprising a.
[Claim 11]
11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the step (c), a distance between the plurality of battery cells and the plasma irradiation unit is constant.
[Claim 12]
11. The method of claim 10, comprising preparing a heat sink disposed inside the battery pack case, plasma-processing a first surface of the heat sink, and applying an adhesive on the plasma-treated first surface. A method of assembling a battery pack further comprising the steps.
floor plan