Battery cell storage apparatus and storage apparatus transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9905820-B2
Application number	US-201314371237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2013
Priority date	Feb 13, 2012
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A battery cell storage apparatus includes a plurality of sheet-formed middle plates, a plurality of middle plate holding members and a fixing member. The plurality of sheet-formed middle plates are aligned so as to store flat cells therebetween. The plurality of middle plate holding members are aligned in a direction of alignment of the sheet-formed middle plates, and each sheet-formed middle plate holding member of the plurality of middle plate holding members holding a respective sheet-formed middle plate of the plurality of sheet-formed middle plates in a direction perpendicular to the direction of alignment. The fixing member is configured to fix the flat cells stored between the sheet-formed middle plates by sandwiching the flat cells together with the sheet-formed middle plates.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery cell transport system for removing a battery cell stored in a battery cell storage apparatus, the battery cell storage apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sheet-formed middle plates;
a fixing member configured to fix the battery cell stored between the sheet-formed middle plates by sandwiching the battery cell together with the sheet-formed middle plates;
a plurality of middle plate holding members, each middle plate holding member of the plurality of middle plate holding members configured to hold a respective sheet-formed middle plate of the plurality of sheet-formed middle plates; and
a device configured to move the plurality of middle plate holding members toward and away from the sheet-formed middle plates such that the plurality of middle plate holding members are configured to detachably hold the sheet-formed middle plates,
wherein the fixing member is movable such that as a distance between each of the sheet-formed middle plates is widened and the plurality of middle plate holding members are detached from the sheet-formed middle plates, the battery cell can be removed from the battery cell storage apparatus.

2. The battery cell transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members are linked so that a distance between each of the sheet-formed middle plates can be changed in an arrangement direction of the sheet-formed middle plates.

3. The battery cell transport system according to claim 2 , wherein
the fixing member is configured to perform a releasing operation in which the sandwiching of the sheet-formed middle plates and the battery cell is released prior to removal of the battery cell, enabling a distance between the plurality of middle plate holding members in which the plurality of sheet-formed middle plates are held to be widened, and, after storage of the battery cell, the fixing member is configured to perform a pressing operation in which the sheet-formed middle plates and the battery cell are sandwiched while being pressed.

4. The battery cell transport system according to claim 3 , wherein
the fixing member is configured to perform the releasing operation prior to roll-pressing of the battery cell by rollers, and to perform the pressing operation after roll-pressing.

5. The battery cell transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members are configured to release the sheet-formed middle plates.

6. The battery cell transport system according to claim 5 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members have gaps between adjacent middle plate holding members extending towards each of the middle plates, and the sheet-formed middle plates are held in the gaps.

7. The battery cell transport system according to claim 6 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members include first plate holding members protruding towards the middle plates a first distance, and second holding members protruding towards the middle plates a second distance, the second distance being less than or equal to the first distance.

8. The battery cell transport system according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a transport apparatus configured to transport the battery cell storage apparatus from before to after the roll-pressing of the battery cell,
the battery cell transport system being configured to remove the battery cell prior to the roll-pressing,
the transport apparatus being configured to transport the battery cell storage apparatus during the roll-pressing, and
the battery cell storage apparatus being configured to store the battery cell after the roll-pressing.

9. The battery cell transport system according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members are configured to release the sheet-formed middle plates.

10. The battery cell transport system according to claim 3 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members are configured to release the sheet-formed middle plates.

11. The battery cell transport system according to claim 4 , wherein
the plurality of middle plate holding members are configured to release the sheet-formed middle plates.

12. The battery cell transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the plurality of middle plate holding members is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of alignment.

13. The battery cell transport system according to claim 1 , wherein
a transverse location of each of the plurality of sheet-formed middle plates is restricted by through-rods disposed at opposite ends of each of the plurality of sheet-formed middle plates.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor
• Automotive Energy Supply Corp

Inventors

• Yasooka Takeshi

Classifications

• H01M50/291

  characterised by their shape · CPC title

• H01M50/264

  for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames · CPC title

• H01M50/211

  adapted for pouch cells · CPC title

• H01M2/1061

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M2/1016

  Electricity · mapped topic