Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present disclosure relates to a grouping and orienting system for grouping and orienting tested-electric-cells. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable system usable for different sized testes-electric-cells to group the tested-electric-cells without causing damage to tested-electric-cells and changing the orientation of the tested-electric-cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] After the electric-cells are tested, the electric-cells are directed to conventional gravity-chute-conveyors. Gravity-chute-conveyors are conveyance system that uses the force of gravity to move electric-cells. As the electric-cells use gravity for motion, the electric-cells are free-to-roll in the conveyor and collides with each other especially at the end-portion of the conveyor. Due to kinetic energy of the electric-cells while rolling the collision may impact adjacent electric-cells which are likely to get damaged which is undesired.

[003] Known gravity-chute conveyors lacks to accommodate different sizes of electric-cells and hence have size limitation. Different conveyors are required for different sizes of electric-cells. Further, as most of the handling is performed by known robots, there is need for orienting electric-cells. In existing systems, there is a limitation of grouping electric-cells based on cell-configuration without causing collision and damage to electric-cells and orienting grouped electric-cells.

[004] CN102527649 discloses a full-automatic scan test and sorting system of batteries. Another patent documents CN106697880A which is directed to an automatic feeding, detecting and sorting system of batteries. However, none of known documents discloses grouping and orienting of tested-electric cells of different sizes.

[005] Hence there is a need for a grouping and orienting of tested-electric-cells of different sizes.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[006] Some of the objects of the arrangement of the present disclosure are aimed to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative and are listed herein below.

A principle object of the present disclosure is to provide a grouping and orienting system for tested-electric-cells of different sizes that protects tested-electric-cells from collision and damage, grouping of electric-cells based on cell-configuration and orienting grouped electric-cells.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a grouping and orienting system for tested-electric-cells of different sizes that is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of tested-electric-cells for grouping and orienting.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a grouping and orienting system for tested-electric-cells that includes first and second conveyor units for grouping of tested-electric-cells.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a grouping and orienting system for tested-electric-cells of different sizes that orients grouped tested-electric-cells from horizontal position to vertical position.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[007] The grouping and orienting system for tested-electric-cells in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention has the advantage of grouping and orienting different sizes of tested-electric-cells, grouping by use of conveyors and orienting from horizontal position to vertical position. The tested-electric-cells are obtained by positioning electric-cells on a cell-loading-conveyor on which electric-cells are cleaned in a cleaning-unit, scanned by a scanner-unit to collect a unique-machine-readable-code defined on each electric-cells and stored in a database, tested in a test-unit to obtain the tested-electric-cells by collecting cell-configurations of internal-resistance and voltage of each electric-cells and stored in the database corresponding to the unique-machine-readable-code. The grouping and orienting system for tested-electric-cells includes a pick-and-drop-unit which is defined to pick the tested-electric-cells from the un-loading-platform. The grouping and orienting system is featured with a control-unit, a frame-assembly, a grouping-unit and an-orientation-system. The control-unit controls pick and drop operations of the pick-and-drop-unit. The frame-assembly is disposed on the ground. The grouping-unit is operated by the control-unit. The grouping-unit is defined with a set of first-conveyor-unit which is disposed on the frame-assembly. Each set of the first-conveyor-unit is stored in the database and defined with unique-cell-configuration. Each of the set of first-conveyor-unit is defined with spaced-apart-first-cleats-conveyors defined with first-cleats. Each set of first-conveyor-unit is controllably-driven by a first-driver-unit. The first-driver-unit is controlled by the control-unit. The control-unit operates the pick-and-drop-unit to drop the tested-electric-cells in the set of first-conveyor-unit based on the cell-configuration to form group of the tested-electric-cells. The tested-electric-cells fills adjacently disposed first-cleats and fills non-adjacent first-cleats for adjacent first-cleats to remain vacant. The set of second-conveyor-unit is disposed on the frame-assembly. Each of the set of second-conveyor-unit is defined with spaced-apart-second-cleats-conveyors defined with second-cleats. Each set of second-conveyor-unit is controllably-driven by a second-driver-unit, in which the second-driver-unit is controlled by the control-unit. The second-cleats is disposed between the spaced-apart-first-cleats. The second-cleats progresses intermittently and the first-cleats progresses continuously and the tested-electric-cells transmit from the first-cleats to the second-cleats to form adjacently-disposed-group of tested-electric-cells. The pulley-unit is defined to support the set of first-conveyor-unit and the set of second-conveyor-unit. The size-adjustment-mechanism is provided for each assembly of the first-cleats-conveyor and the second-cleats-conveyor, each size-adjustment-mechanism defined with screws, a left-hand-nut, a right-hand-nut, a left-hand-side-guide and a right-hand-side-guide. Screws are defined with left-hand-threads and right-hand-threads respectively and are disposed on a mount and rotated by a rotating-device, in which the mount is disposed on the frame-assembly. The left-hand-nut is movable on the left-hand-threads. The right-hand-nut is movable on the right-hand-threads. The left-hand-side-guide is operable by the left-hand-nut. The right-hand-side-guide is operable by the right-hand nut. The assembly of the first-cleats-conveyor and the second-cleats-conveyor is disposed between the left-hand-side-guide and the right-hand-side-guide. The rotation of the screws in a first direction moves the left-hand-nut towards the right-hand-nut for reducing space between the left-hand-side-guide and the right-hand-side-guide. The rotation of the screws in a second direction moves the left-hand-nut away the right-hand-nut for increasing space between the left-hand-side-guide and the right-hand-side-guide. The first direction is opposite to the second direction. The orientation-system is defined with a linear-displacement-unit, a vertical-displacement-unit, a gripper-unit and a rotational-unit. The linear-displacement-unit is defined with an overhead-track, a linear-motion-actuator and a linear-movement-mechanism. The overhead track disposes the overhead-track overhead of the set of second-conveyor unit. The linear-movement-actuator, which is operated by the control unit, operates the linear-movement-mechanism to linearly move the vertical-displacement-unit, the rotational-unit and the gripper-unit on the overhead-track to reach the set of second-conveyor-unit. The linear-movement-actuator, which is operated by the control unit, to operate the linear-movement-mechanism to linearly move the vertical-displacement-unit, the rotational-unit and the gripper-unit on the overhead-track to reach the set of second-conveyor-unit. The vertical-displacement unit, which is operated by the control-unit, lowers the gripper-unit to grip horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells from the second-conveyor unit and lifts gripped horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells. The rotational-unit, which is operated by the control unit, rotates to orient the gripped horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells from to gripped vertically positioned tested-electric-cells.

In one embodiment, the pick-and-drop-unit is a gantry-unit defined with:
a. a support-structure with a pick-up-portion defined above the unloading-platform and a drop-portion; and
b. a gantry-mechanism movable on the support-structure from the pick-up-portion to the drop-portion, the gantry-mechanism picks tested-electric-cells from the unloading-platform.
In one embodiment, the linear-displacement-unit is in connection with:
a. a pair of bearing-blocks movably disposed on the overhead-track;
b. a linear-movement-actuator in functional connection with a bearing-block from the bearing-blocks;
the rotational-unit is formed by:
a. a turning-shaft rotatably supported in the bearing-blocks; and
b. a rotor-assembly defined to turn the turning-shaft;
the vertical-displacement-unit is formed by:
c. an assembly of a cylinder and a guide-rod assembly in connection with the turning shaft by a cylinder-mounting-plate, the assembly operated by the control-unit for vertical-displacement, the assembly attached with a spacer plate and spacer block;
the gripper-unit is formed by:
a. a gripper-mounting-top-plate in connection with the spacer block;
b. a gripper-mounting-bottom-plate in connection with the gripper-mounting-top-plate;
c. a gripper-actuator disposed on the gripper-mounting-bottom-plate;
d. a gripper-screw defined with series of left-hand-threads and right-hand-threads and rotated by the gripper-actuator;
e. left-hand-nuts movable on the left-hand-threads;
f. right-hand-nuts movable on the right-hand-threads,
wherein, a set is formed by the left-hand-nuts and right-hand-nuts on the gripper-screw;
g. a rail disposed on the gripper-mounting-bottom-plate through mounting blocks and supports the gripper-actuator, the gripper-screw, the left-hand-nuts and the right-hand-nuts;
h. gripper-jaws in functional connection with the left-hand-nuts and the right-hand-nuts, and
-grips grouped tested-electric-cells when the gripper-actuator is rotated in a first direction, and
-releases grouped tested-electric-cells when the gripper-actuator is rotated in a second direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[008] The present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a grouping and orienting system (100) for tested-electric-cells (05), in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, which depicts a cell-loading-conveyor (05a), a cleaning-unit (05b), a scanner-unit (05c), a test-unit (05d), an un-loading-platform (05e), a pick-and-drop-unit (10), a control-unit (20), a frame-assembly (30), a grouping-unit (40), size-adjustment-mechanisms (50) and an-orientation-system (60);

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the grouping and orienting system (100) for tested-electric-cells (05) as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the grouping-unit (40) and the side-adjustment-mechanism (50) of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the grouping-unit (40) and the side-adjustment-mechanism (50) of Figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates an assembled view showing a first-conveyor-unit (41) and a second-conveyor-unit (42) of the grouping-unit (40);

Figure 6 illustrates an assembled view of the pulley-unit (43);

Figure 7 illustrates an exploded view of the pulley-unit (43);

Figure 8 illustrates sectional-view of the pulley-unit (43);

Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the orientation-system (60) of Figure 1;

Figure 10 illustrates an exploded view of the orientation-system (60) of Figure 1;

Figure 11 illustrates an exploded view of a gripper-unit (62) and a rotational-unit (64) of the orientation-system (60) of Figure 1;

Figure 12 illustrates an assembled view of the gripper-unit (62) and the rotational-unit (64) of Figure 7;

Figure 13 illustrates a bottom view of the gripper-unit (62);

Figure 14 illustrates a perspective front view of the gripper-jaws (62h);

Figure 15 illustrates a perspective back view of the gripper-jaws (62h);

Figure 16 illustrates an exploded view of the gripper-jaws (62h);

Figure 17 illustrates a front view of the gripper-unit (62) with the gripper-jaws (62h) that grips the tested-electric-cells (05);

Figure 18 illustrates a bottom view of the gripper-unit (62) with the gripper-jaws (62h) that horizontally grips the tested-electric-cells (05); and

Figure 19 illustrates a perspective view of the gripper-unit (62) with the gripper-jaws (62h) that vertically grips the tested-electric-cells (05).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[009] Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 19, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral (100), it can be observed that grouping and orienting system (100) for tested-electric-cells (05), in accordance with an embodiment, is provided which includes a cell-loading-conveyor (05a), a cleaning-unit (05b), a scanner-unit (05c), a test-unit (05d), an un-loading-platform (05e), a pick-and-drop-unit (10), a control-unit (20), a frame-assembly (30), a grouping-unit (40), size-adjustment-mechanisms (50) and an-orientation-system (60).

[010] The cell-loading-conveyor (05a), the cleaning-unit (05b), the scanner-unit (05c), the test-unit (05d) and the un-loading-platform (05e) are known in the art. In brief as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the cell-loading-conveyor (05a) receives electric-cells (05) and conveys the received electric-cells (05) to the cleaning-unit (05b). The cleaning-unit (05b) cleans the received electric-cells (05) to ensure efficient scanning. The scanner-unit (05c) scans and collects a unique-machine-readable-code which is defined on each of the electric-cells (05) and stored in a database (01). The test-unit (05d) tests the tested-electric-cells (05) to obtain cell-configurations of internal-resistance and voltage of each electric-cells (05) and stores in the database (01) corresponding to the unique-machine-readable-code and directs the tested-electric-cells (05) to the un-loading platform (05e). The database (01), herein, can be a database of a computer device disposed on or in-vicinity of the grouping and orienting system (100) or can be a server database. The database (01) can be any known database that receive and transmit data from any known wired and wireless communication systems as known in the art.

[011] The pick-and-drop-unit (10) is defined to pick the tested-electric-cells (05) from the un-loading-platform (05e). In an exemplary embodiment, the pick-and-drop-unit (10) is a known gantry unit which is defined with a support-structure (not shown) and a gantry-mechanism (11a). The support-structure has a pick-up-portion (11ai) which is defined above the unloading-platform (06) and a drop-portion (11aii). The gantry-mechanism (11a) is movable on the support-structure from the pick-up-portion (11ai) to the drop-portion (11aii). In one embodiment, the support structure is a rigid frame that is positioned on the frame assembly (30). The gantry-mechanism (11a) is defined to pick tested-electric-cells (05) from the unloading-platform (06) as known in the art. Moreover, the role of the pick-and-drop-unit (10) is to pick-up the tested-electric-cells (05) from the un-loading-platform (05e) and drop the picked tested-electric-cells (05) on the grouping-unit (40). Thus, the pick-and-drop-unit (10) is a mechanical mechanism which pick-ups the tested-electric-cells (05), moves the tested-electric-cells (05) in a linear axis and drops the tested-electric-cells (05). Though the present disclosure discloses the use of the support-structure and the gantry-mechanism (11a) for picking and dropping the tested-electric-cells (05) from the un-loading-platform (05e) and the grouping-unit (40) respectively, the present disclosure is not limited to the use of the support-structure and the gantry-mechanism (11a) and any mechanism (like overhead-crane, robotic arm and the like) that can pick and drop the tested-electric-cells (05) are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[012] The control-unit (20) is provided for the grouping and orienting system (100) to control operations of pick and drop by the pick-and-drop-unit (10), the grouping-unit (40), the size-adjustment-mechanisms (50) and the orientation-system (60). The control-unit (20) is also in communication with the database (01).

[013] The frame-assembly (30) is disposed on the ground (G). The frame-assembly provides rigid support to the grouping-unit (40) and the size-adjustment-mechanisms (50). In one embodiment, the frame-assembly (30) is disposed in-vicinity-of or adjacent to the un-loading-platform (05e).

[014] The grouping-unit (40) is operated by the control-unit (20). The grouping-unit (40) is defined with a set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41), a set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) and an pulley-unit (43). Figures 3 and 4 represents the grouping-unit (40).

[015] The set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) is disposed on the frame-assembly (30). The set (A, B, C, D) herein represents parallelly disposed first-conveyor-unit (41). The set is not limited to four numbers (A, B, C, D) as represented and can be any number either one or more than one. Each set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) is stored in the database (01). Each set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) is defined with unique-cell-configuration. For example, set A is defined with voltage of 10-10.9 and internal resistance of less than 0.5, set B is defined with voltage of 11-11.9 and internal resistance less than 1, set C is defined with voltage of 12-12.9 and internal resistance of less than 1.5 and set D is defined with voltage of 13-13.9 and internal resistance of less than 2. Thus, the tested-electric-cells (05) based on the cell-configurations of internal resistances and voltages are disposed is set A, B, C or D depending on the cell-configurations defined for set A, B, C and D. For example, of a tested-electric-cell (05) is tested to have voltage of 12.5 and internal resistance of 1.3, the tested-electric-cell (05) is to be positioned in the set C as set C is defined with the voltage of 12-12.9 and internal resistance of less than 1.5. Thus, set A, B, C, D herein represents parallelly disposed first-conveyor-unit (41) which accommodates different cell-configurations to group the tested-electric-cells (05). Each first-conveyor-unit (41) is defined with spaced-apart-first-cleats-conveyors (41a, 41b, 41c). The space between the first-cleats-conveyors (41a, 41b, 41c) is denoted by (S) in Figure 3. Herein the present invention three first-cleats-conveyors numbered with 41a, 41b and 41c are described, however, the number of first-cleats-conveyors are not limited to three and any number greater than two first-cleats-conveyors can be provided which are spaced apart. Each first-cleats-conveyors (41a, 41b, 41c) are defined with first-cleats (41i). The advantage of using the first-cleats (41i) is that the adjacently disposed tested-electric-cells (05) do not touch each other and hence prevents structural dent and damage due to undesired-collision. Each set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) is controllably-driven by a first-driver-unit (41d). The operations (ON and OFF) of the first-driver-unit (41d) is controlled by the control-unit (20). The control-unit (20) also operates the speed and continuous progression of the first-driver-unit (41d). The control-unit (20) operates the pick-and-drop-unit (10) to drop the tested-electric-cells (05) in the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) based on the cell-configuration to form group of the tested-electric-cells (05). The pick-and-drop-unit (10) randomly drops tested-electric cells (05) in the respective set (A, B, C, D) such that the tested-electric-cells (05) either fills adjacently (represented by X in Figure 1) disposed first-cleats (41i) or fills non-adjacent (represented by Y in Figure 1) first-cleats (41i) for adjacent first-cleats to remain vacant.

[016] The set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) is disposed on the frame-assembly (30). The set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) is equivalent and corresponds to the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) which together forms grouping. The set (E, F, G, H) herein represents parallelly disposed second-conveyor-unit (42). The set is not limited to four numbers (E, F, G, H) as represented and can be any number equivalent to the first set (A, B, C, D). Each set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) receives tested-electric-cells (05) from the corresponding set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41). Each of the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) is defined with spaced-apart-second-cleats-conveyors (42a, 42b) defined with second-cleats (42i). The advantage of using the second-cleats (42i) is that the adjacently disposed tested-electric-cells (05) do not touch each other and hence prevents structural dent and damage due to undesired-collision. The second-cleats (42i) is disposed between the space (S) of the spaced-apart-first-cleats (41i) such the tested-electric-cells (05) are carried/progresses from the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) to the corresponding set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42). Each set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) is controllably-driven by a second-driver-unit (42d). The second-driver-unit (42) is controlled by the control-unit (20). The operations (ON and OFF) of the second-driver-unit (42d) is controlled by the control-unit (20). The control-unit (20) also operates the speed and intermittent progression (time-based progression) of the second-driver-unit (42d). As the second-cleats (42i) progresses intermittently and the first-cleats (41i) progresses continuously, the tested-electric-cells (05) transmits from the first-cleats (41i) to the second-cleats (42i) to form adjacently-disposed-group of tested-electric-cells (05). Thus, the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) groups the tested-electric-cells (05) such that no space remains between adjacently disposed second-cleats (42i).

[017] The pulley-unit (43) is defined to support the other-ends of the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) and the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42). The pulley-unit (43) includes one single shaft (43a) rotatably supported by supports (43b), a keyed-pulley (43c) and a free-wheeling pulley (43d). The keyed-pulley (43c) is rotatable with the rotation of the shaft (43a) and the first-conveyor-unit (41) is wound around the keyed-pulley (43c). The free-wheeling pulley (43c) is free-wheeling (not keyed with shaft - 43a) on the shaft (43a) and the second-conveyor-unit (42) is wound around the free-wheeling pulley (43d). The single shaft (43a) allows the first-conveyor-unit (41) and the second-conveyor-unit (42) to be in vicinity with each other to enable easy and smooth transfer of tested-electric-cells (05) from the first-conveyor-unit (41) to the second-conveyor-unit (42).

[018] As both i.e. the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) and the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) are disposed on same pulley-unit (43) which is disposed between the first-driver-unit (41) and the second-driver-unit (42), the advantage achieved is using fewer number of components as supported by a common pulley-unit (43) and allows the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) and the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) close-to/in-vicinity of each other which enables easy and smooth transfer of the tested-electric-cells (05) from the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) to the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42).

[019] Thus, the advantage achieved by the grouping-unit (40) is that the tested-electric cells (05) are grouped/sorted in the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) based on the cell-configurations such that there may or may not be space between adjacently disposed tested-electric-cells (05) and then the sorted tested-electric cells (05) are grouped such that the tested-electric-cells (05) are adjacently disposed without any space in-between. Also, the common pulley-unit (43) between the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) and the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) reduces the number of components.

[020] The size-adjustment-mechanisms (50) are adaptable structures to accommodate different sizes of testing-electric-cells (05) and hence is advantageous as conventional systems does not have adaptable structures to accommodate different sizes of testing-electric-cells (05). Each size-adjustment-mechanism (50) is provided for each assembly (A) of the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b). Each size-adjustment-mechanism (50) is defined with screws (51i and 51ii), a left-hand-nut (52), a right-hand-nut (53), a left-hand-side-guide (54) and a right-hand-side-guide (55). The screw (51i) are defined with left-hand-threads (51a) and the screw (51ii) is defined with right-hand-threads (51b) which is disposed on a mount (51c). The mount (51c) is disposed on the frame-assembly (30). The screw (51) is rotated by a rotating-device (51d). The left-hand-nut (52) is movable on the left-hand-threads (51a) upon rotation of the screw (51). The right-hand-nut (53) is movable on the right-hand-threads (51b) upon rotation of the screw (51). The left-hand-side-guide (54) is operable by the left-hand-nut (52). The right-hand-side-guide (55) is operable by the right-hand nut (53). The assembly (A) of the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b) is disposed between the left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55). The rotation of the screw (51) in a first direction moves the left-hand-nut (52) towards the right-hand-nut (53) for reducing space between the left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55). Similarly, the rotation of the screw (51) in a second direction moves the left-hand-nut (52) away the right-hand-nut (53) for increasing space between the left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55). The first direction is opposite to the second direction. For example, if the first direction is clockwise then the second direction is counter-clockwise and vice-versa.

[021] With reference to Figures 9 to 19, the orientation-system (60) is disclosed that changes the orientation of the tested-electric-cells (05) from the horizontal position to the vertical position. The orientation-system (60) is defined with a linear-displacement-unit (61), a gripper-unit (62), a vertical-displacement-unit (63) and a rotational-unit (64). The linear-displacement-unit (61) is defined with an overhead-track (61a), a linear-motion-actuator (61b) and a linear-movement-mechanism (61c). The overhead-track (61a) is disposed overhead of the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42). More specifically, the overhead-track (61a) are supported by legs (61ai). The legs (61ai) are positioned on the frame-assembly (30).

[022] The linear-motion-actuator (61b) is operated by the control-unit (20). The linear-motion-actuator (61b) operates the linear-motion-mechanism (61c) to linearly move the vertical-displacement-unit (63), the rotational-unit (64) and the gripper-unit (62) on the overhead-track (61a) to reach the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) so that the grouped electric-tested-cells (05) from disposed on any of the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) are gripped by the gripper-unit (62). Thus, the role of the linear-motion-actuator (61b) is to linearly move the gripper-unit (62) to the desired set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42). Typically, the linear-movement-mechanism (61c) supports a pair of bearing-blocks (61d) which is movably disposed on the overhead-track (61a). The linear-motion-actuator (61b) is in functional connection with one of the bearing-block (61di) from the bearing-blocks (61d).

[023] The gripper-unit (62) grips grouped tested-electric-cells (05) from the second-cleats-conveyors (42a, 42b) of respective set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42).

[024] The vertical-displacement-unit (63) is operated by the control-unit (20). The vertical-displacement-unit (63) lowers the gripper-unit (62) to grip horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells (05) from the second-conveyor unit (42) and lifts gripped horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells (05).

[025] The rotational-unit (64) is operated by the control-unit (20). The rotational-unit (64) rotates to orient the gripped horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells (05) from to gripped vertically positioned tested-electric-cells (05).

[026] In accordance with one embodiment, the linear-displacement-unit (61) is defined with the linear-motion-mechanism (61c) on which the pair of bearing-blocks (61d) which is disposed on the overhead-track (61a). The linear-motion-actuator (61b) is in-line with the bearing-block (61di) from the bearing-blocks (61d), thus power is supplied to one bearing-block (61di).

[027] Typically, the rotational-unit (64) is formed by a turning-shaft (64a) and a rotor-assembly (64b). The turning-shaft (64a) is rotatably supported in the bearing-blocks (61d). The rotor-assembly (64b) is defined to turn the turning-shaft (64a). Typically, the vertical-displacement-unit (63) is formed by an assembly of a cylinder (63a) and a guide-rod (63b). The assembly of the cylinder (63a) and the guide-rod (63b) is in connection with the turning-shaft (64a) by the cylinder-mounting-plate (63c). The assembly is operated by the control-unit (20) for vertical-displacement. The assembly is attached with a spacer-plate (63d) and spacer-block (63e).

[028] The gripper-unit (62) is formed by a gripper-mounting-top-plate (62a), a gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b), a gripper-actuator (62c), a gripper-screw (62d), left-hand-nuts (62e), right-hand-nuts (62f), a rail (62g) and gripper-jaws (62h). The gripper-mounting-top-plate (62a) is in connection with the spacer-block (63e). The gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b) is in connection with the gripper-mounting-top-plate (62a). The gripper-actuator (62c) is disposed on the gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b). The gripper-screw (62d) is defined with series of left-hand-threads (62di) and right-hand-threads (62dii) [which are connected by a connecting plate (62diii)] and is rotated by the gripper-actuator (62c). The left-hand-nuts (62e) is movable on the left-hand-threads (62di). The right-hand-nuts (62f) movable on the right-hand-threads (62dii). A set (S) is formed by the left-hand-nuts (62e) and the right-hand-nuts (62f) on the gripper-screw (62d). The rail (62g) is disposed on the gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b) through mounting blocks (62bi) and supports the gripper-actuator (62c), the gripper-screw (62d), the left-hand-nuts (62e) and the right-hand-nuts (62f). The gripper-jaws (62h) is in functional connection with the left-hand-nuts (62e) and the right-hand-nuts (62f). The gripper-jaws (62h) grips grouped tested-electric-cells (05) when the gripper-actuator (62c) is rotated in a first direction. The gripper-jaws (62h) releases grouped tested-electric-cells (05) when the gripper-actuator (62c) is rotated in a second direction. In one embodiment, the gripper-jaws (62h) includes a bracket (62hi), a v-plunger (62hii), a bolt (62hiii) and a spring (62hiv). The v-plunger (62hii) is fitted in the bracket (62hi), by using the bolt (62hiii), and is v-shaped to provide sufficient grip to the cylindrical shape of the tested-electric-cells (05). The spring (62hiv) enables withstanding compression forces on the v-plunger (62hii) experienced during gripping. Additionally, in one embodiment, a stopper (62ci) is provided that restricts motion.

[029] The working of the grouping and orienting system (100) is disclosed. Initially, based on the size of the tested-electric-cells (05) to be grouped and oriented are sensed by a sensor (not shown) or manually fed in a computing device (not shown). The control-unit (20) receives the size of the tested-electric-cells (05) and accordingly signals the size-adjustment-mechanisms (50) for adjustment, namely, either increasing the space between the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b), reducing the space between the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b) or maintaining the space between the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b). When the space between the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b) is to be maintained, then the rotating-device (51d) is not operated by the control-unit (20). When the space between the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b) is either to be increased or decreased, then the control-unit (20) signals to operates the rotating-device (51d) either in clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction. Upon rotation of the rotating device (51d) the screw (51) starts rotating (either clockwise or counter-clockwise). The rotation of the screw (51) allows the left-hand-nut (52) and the right-hand-nut (53) to move towards each other (when the screw (51) rotates in clockwise direction) and the left-hand-nut (52) and the right-hand-nut (53) to move away from each other (when the screw (51) rotates in counter-clockwise direction). The left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55) moves towards and away from each other depending upon the movement of the left-hand-nut (52) and the right-hand-nut (53). When the left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55) moves towards each other then small-sized tested-electric-cells (05) are held therebetween. When the left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55) moves towards each other than comparatively big-sized tested-electric-cells (05) are held therebetween. Thus, depending on the size of the tested-electric-cells (05), the left-hand-side-guide (54) and the right-hand-side-guide (55) are operated to accommodate the tested-electric-cells (05) on the first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and the second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b).

[030] Once, the size-adjustment-mechanisms (50) are operated and adjusted according to the size of the tested-electric-cells (05), then the pick-and-drop-unit (10) is operated by the control-unit (20) to operate that picks the tested-electric-cells (05) from the un-loading platform (05e) and drops on the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) depending on the cell-configurations. Thus, the tested-electric-cells (05) of like-cell-configuration is positioned on the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41). The pick-and-drop-unit (10) may drop the tested-electric-cells (05) on the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) such that after dropping the tested-electric-cells (05) may fill adjacently disposed first-cleats (41i) [as represented by ‘X’] and/or fill non-adjacent first-cleats (41i) for adjacent first-cleats to remain vacant [as represented by ‘Y’]. The control-unit (20) operates continuous rotation of the first-driver-unit (41d) and intermittent rotation of the second-driver-unit (42d). Due to continuous rotation of the set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) and intermittent rotation of the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42), the tested-electric-cells (05) are conveyed from the first-conveyor-unit (41) to the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) such that the tested-electric-cells (05) are adjacently disposed without any space between the tested-electric-cells (05).

[031] Once the tested-electric-cells (05) are adjacently grouped and disposed by the grouping-unit (40), the orientation-system (60) picks the tested-electric-cells (05) which are horizontally positioned on the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) and rotates the tested-electric-cells (05) for vertical positioning. The vertically-positioned tested-electric-cells (05) are then carried by a robotic-unit (not shown) for further processing like packaging. The role of the orientation-system (60) is to linearly move the gripper-unit (62) near the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) as directed by the control-unit (20). The vertical-displacement-unit (63) is lowered so that the gripper-unit (62) can grip the grouped tested-electric-cells (05) from the set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42). More specifically, once the control-unit (20) directs the gripper-unit (62) to reach the set E, or set F, set G or set H and after reaching, the control-unit (20) signals lowers the gripper-unit (62) by actuating assembly of the cylinder (63a) and the guide-rod (63b). The actuation of the cylinder (63a) causes movement of the gripper-unit (62) on the guide-rod (63b). Once the gripper-unit (63b) is lowered, then the control-unit (20) actuates the gripper-actuator (62c), in the first direction (assuming clockwise direction) which rotates the gripper-screw (62d). The rotation of the gripper-screw (62d) causes inwards movement of the left-hand-nuts (62e) on the left-hand-threads (62di) and right-hand-nuts (62f) on the right-hand-threads (62dii) which causes the gripper-jaws (62h) to grip the grouped tested-electric-cells (05). The gripper-jaws (62h) are horizontally adjusted by enabling movement of the gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b) on the rail (62g). After, gripping of the grouped tested-electric-cells (05), the gripper-unit (62) is lifted on the guide-rod (63b) by operating the actuating the cylinder (63a). The control-unit (20) signals the rotor-assembly (64b) to turn the turning-shaft (64a) which in-turn turns the gripper-unit (62) such that the horizontally gripped grouped tested-electric-cells (05) are turned vertically.

[032] The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments, steps or alternatives may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. , Claims:We Claim:

1) A grouping and orienting system (100) for tested-electric-cells (05), wherein said tested-electric-cells (05) are obtained by positioning electric-cells (05) on a cell-loading-conveyor (05a) on which electric-cells (05) are cleaned in a cleaning-unit (05b), scanned by a scanner-unit (05c) to collect a unique-machine-readable-code defined on each of the electric-cells (05) and stored in a database (01), tested in a test-unit (05d) to obtain the tested-electric-cells (05) by collecting cell-configurations of internal-resistance and voltage of each electric-cells (05) and stored in said database (01) corresponding to the unique-machine-readable-code and direct the tested-electric-cells (05) to said un-loading platform (05e), said grouping and orienting system (100) comprising:
• a pick-and-drop-unit (10) define to pick the tested-electric-cells (05) from said un-loading-platform (05e);
characterized in that:
• a control-unit (20) to control pick and drop operations of said pick-and-drop-unit (10);
• a frame-assembly (30) disposed on the ground (G);
• a grouping-unit (40), operated by said control-unit (20), defined with:
o a set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) disposed on said frame-assembly (30), each set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) stored in said database (01) and defined with unique-cell-configuration,
-wherein, each of said set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) is defined with spaced-apart-first-cleats-conveyors (41a, 41b, 41c) defined with first-cleats (41i),
-wherein, each set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) controllably-driven by a first-driver-unit (41d), wherein said first-driver-unit (41d) is controlled by said control-unit (20),
-wherein, said control-unit (20) operate said pick-and-drop-unit (10) to drop the tested-electric-cells (05) in said set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) based on the cell-configuration to form group of the tested-electric-cells (05),
-wherein, the tested-electric-cells (05) fill adjacently disposed first-cleats (41i) and fill non-adjacent first-cleats (41i) for adjacent first-cleats to remain vacant;
o a set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) disposed on said frame-assembly (30),
-wherein, each of said set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) is defined with spaced-apart-second-cleats-conveyors (42a, 42b) defined with second-cleats (42i),
-wherein, each set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42) is controllably-driven by a second-driver-unit (42d), wherein said second-driver-unit (42) is controlled by said control-unit (42d),
-wherein, said second-cleats (42i) is disposed between the spaced-apart-first-cleats (41i); and
-wherein, said second-cleats (42i) progresses intermittently and said first-cleats (41i) progresses continuously and the tested-electric-cells (05) transmit from said first-cleats (41i) to said second-cleats (42i) to form adjacently-disposed-group of tested-electric-cells (05); and
o an pulley-unit (43) defined to support said set (A, B, C, D) of first-conveyor-unit (41) and said set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42);
• size-adjustment-mechanisms (50), each side-adjustment-mechanism (50) provided for each assembly (A) of said first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and said second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b), each size-adjustment-mechanism (50) defined with:
o screws (51i, 51ii), said screw (51i) defined with left-hand-threads (51a) and said screws (51ii) defined with right-hand-threads (51b) and said screws (51i, 51ii) disposed on a mount (51c) and rotated by a rotating-device (51d), wherein, said mount (51c) is disposed on said frame-assembly (30);
o a left-hand-nut (52) movable on said left-hand-threads (51a);
o a right-hand-nut (53) movable on said right-hand-threads (51b);
o a left-hand-side-guide (54) operable by said left-hand-nut (52);
o a right-hand-side-guide (55) operable by said right-hand nut (53);
wherein, said assembly (A) of said first-cleats-conveyor (41a, 41b, 41c) and said second-cleats-conveyor (42a, 42b) disposed between said left-hand-side-guide (54) and said right-hand-side-guide (55),
wherein, rotation of said screw (51i) in a first direction moves said left-hand-nut (52) towards said right-hand-nut (53) for reducing space between said left-hand-side-guide (54) and said right-hand-side-guide (55),
wherein, rotation of said screw (51ii) in a second direction moves said left-hand-nut (52) away said right-hand-nut (53) for increasing space between said left-hand-side-guide (54) and said right-hand-side-guide (55),
wherein, the first direction is opposite to the second direction;
• an-orientation-system (60) defined with a linear-displacement-unit (61), a gripper-unit (62), a vertical-displacement-unit (63) and a rotational-unit (64),
wherein, said linear-displacement-unit (61) is defined with an overhead-track (61a), a linear-motion-actuator (61b) and a linear-movement-mechanism (61c),
wherein, said overhead-track (61a) is disposed overhead of said set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42),
wherein, said linear-motion-actuator (61b), operated by said control-unit (20), operates said linear-motion-mechanism (61c) to linearly move said vertical-displacement-unit (63), said rotational-unit (64) and said gripper-unit (62) on said overhead-track (61a) to reach said set (E, F, G, H) of second-conveyor-unit (42),
wherein, said gripper-unit (62) grips grouped tested-electric-cells (05) from said second-cleats-conveyors (42a, 42b),
wherein, said vertical-displacement-unit (63), operated by said control-unit (20), lowers said gripper-unit (62) to grip horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells (05) from said second-conveyor unit (42) and lifts gripped horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells (05),
wherein, said rotational-unit (64), operated by said control-unit (20), rotates to orient said gripped horizontally-positioned tested-electric-cells (05) from to gripped vertically positioned tested-electric-cells (05).

2) The grouping and orienting system (100), for tested-electric-cells (05) disposed on an unloading-platform (06) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pick-and-drop-unit (10) is a gantry-unit defined with:
a. a support-structure with a pick-up-portion (11ai) defined above said unloading-platform (06) and a drop-portion (11aii); and
b. a gantry-mechanism (11a) movable on said support-structure from said pick-up-portion (11ai) to said drop-portion (11aii), said gantry-mechanism (11a) configured to pick tested-electric-cells (05) from the unloading-platform (06).

3) The grouping and orienting system (100), for tested-electric-cells (05) disposed on an unloading-platform (06) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linear-displacement-unit (61) is in connection with:
a. a pair of bearing-blocks (61d) movably disposed on said overhead-track (61a), wherein, said linear-motion-actuator (61b) is in functional connection with a bearing-block (61di) from said bearing-blocks (61d);
said rotational-unit (64) is formed by:
a. a turning-shaft (64a) is rotatably supported in said bearing-blocks (61d); and
b. a rotor-assembly (64b) defined to turn said turning-shaft (64a);
said vertical-displacement-unit (63) is formed by:
a. an assembly of a cylinder (63a) and a guide-rod (63b) in connection with said turning-shaft (64a) by a cylinder-mounting-plate (63c), said assembly operated by said control-unit (20) for vertical-displacement, said assembly attached with a spacer-plate (63d) and spacer-block (63e);
said gripper-unit (62) is formed by:
a. a gripper-mounting-top-plate (62a) in connection with said spacer-block (63e);
b. a gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b) in connection with said gripper-mounting-top-plate (62a);
c. a gripper-actuator (62c) disposed on said gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b);
d. a gripper-screw (62d) defined with series of left-hand-threads (62di) and right-hand-threads (62dii) and rotated by said gripper-actuator (62c);
e. left-hand-nuts (62e) movable on said left-hand-threads (62di);
f. right-hand-nuts (62f) movable on said right-hand-threads (62dii),
wherein, a set (S) is formed by said left-hand-nuts (62e) and said right-hand-nuts (62f) on said gripper-screw (62d);
g. a rail (62g) disposed on said gripper-mounting-bottom-plate (62b) through mounting blocks (62bi) and supports said gripper-actuator (62c), said gripper-screw (62d), said left-hand-nuts (62e) and said right-hand-nuts (62f); and
h. gripper-jaws (62h) in functional connection with said left-hand-nuts (62e) and said right-hand-nuts (62f),
-grips grouped tested-electric-cells (05) when said gripper-actuator (62c) is rotated in a first direction, and
-releases grouped tested-electric-cells (05) when said gripper-actuator (62c) is rotated in a second direction.