JP2022176778A - Charge/discharge inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce contact resistance between a terminal of a charge/discharge inspection device and an electrode of an object secondary battery by reliably crimping the terminal to the electrode.SOLUTION: In a charge/discharge inspection device for energizing a secondary battery 5 via terminal members 1, 2 while clamping an electrode 52 projecting from a body 51 of the secondary battery 5 by the pair of terminal members 1, 2, the terminal members 1, 2 include: base parts 11, 21 that can be displaced so as to project toward the secondary battery 5 and to approach or be separated from the electrode 52 along a direction Y that crosses or is orthogonal to an extension direction X thereof; and connection parts 12, 22 that are bent or curved in the direction Y that crosses or is orthogonal to the extension direction X of the base parts 11, 21 from tip sides of the base parts 11, 21, and performs crimping by allowing end edges 13, 23 thereof to bump against the electrode 52 when energizing the secondary battery 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a charge/discharge inspection device that charges or discharges a secondary battery, activates the secondary battery, and performs a performance test.

In recent years, secondary batteries that can be recharged and used repeatedly, typified by lithium ion batteries and the like, have been used in various electric devices, battery devices, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and the like. The technical development of secondary batteries is progressing rapidly, and efforts are being made to improve energy density, reduce size, reduce weight, and extend life. On the other hand, the manufacturing process has come to require extremely high precision, and ensuring reliability has become important.

In general, lithium-ion batteries, etc., are used in the form of assembled batteries in which single cells are combined in series in order to ensure high output, because the output voltage value of a single battery is low and its applications are limited. There are many. In the charge/discharge test at the time of battery manufacture, even if one battery in the assembled battery is defective, the performance of the entire assembled battery is affected, so all the individual batteries are inspected. In addition, such secondary batteries require activation of internal electrodes after assembly, and for this purpose, multiple charge/discharge tests are performed on individual batteries.

An individual laminated secondary battery is formed by protruding positive and negative electrodes (tab leads) laterally from its main body. The existing charge/discharge inspection device clamps the electrode of the target secondary battery with a terminal that has a structure like a clip or clothespin, and tests the secondary battery in that state (for example, the following patent (see literature).

JP 2014-059177 A

During the charge/discharge test, it is required to reduce the contact resistance between the electrodes of the secondary battery and the terminals of the charge/discharge inspection device as much as possible. This is because the higher the contact resistance, the greater the Joule heat generated during the energization. In particular, when a charge-discharge test is performed on a large-capacity secondary battery, the current flowing through the terminals and electrodes increases, and the amount of heat generated is proportional to that, so reducing the contact resistance is extremely important. In addition, an insulating oxide film is inevitably formed on the surface of an electrode made of a metal material such as aluminum. Under such circumstances, there is a demand for securely crimping the terminal of the charge/discharge inspection device to the electrode of the secondary battery and, if possible, scraping off the oxide film on the surface of the electrode and the contaminants adhering to it. .

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a charge/discharge inspection device that energizes the secondary battery through a pair of terminal members while holding an electrode protruding from the main body of the secondary battery between the terminal members. At least one of a pair of terminal members extends toward the secondary battery and is displaceable along a direction intersecting or orthogonal to the extending direction so as to approach or separate from the electrode; and a contact portion that is bent or curved in a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the extending direction of the base portion from the tip side of the base portion, and that the end edge of the contact portion abuts and crimps the electrode when the secondary battery is energized. We constructed a charge/discharge inspection device that

When the terminal member of this charge/discharge inspection device is crimped to the electrode of the secondary battery, the base and/or the contact portion is elastically deformed, and the edge of the contact portion in contact with the electrode scrapes the surface of the electrode. As a result, the oxide film on the electrode surface and/or the contaminants adhering to the electrode surface can be removed, and the contact resistance between the electrode and the terminal can be further reduced.

The angle formed by the base portion of the terminal member and the contact portion is preferably a right angle, a substantially right angle, a substantially right angle, or an obtuse angle larger than the right angle. Thus, in the process in which the contact portion of the terminal member abuts and crimps the electrode, the edge of the contact portion is displaced relative to the surface of the electrode of the secondary battery in a direction closer to the main body of the secondary battery. do. In other words, there is no need to apply a load that pulls the electrode out of the main body of the secondary battery.

If the base portion and the contact portion of the terminal member are formed by overlapping or parallel or substantially parallel metal plates, the contact portion and the base portion and/or the contact portion can be The contact area with the electrode of the secondary battery can be expanded.

A plurality of irregularities are formed on the edge of the contact portion of the terminal member, and if the apexes of the projections are press-fitted to the electrodes of the secondary battery, the apexes form an oxide film on the surface of the electrode and/or Alternatively, contaminants adhering to the electrode surface can be effectively removed.

The contact portion of the terminal member extends in a direction intersecting or orthogonal to each of the extension direction of the base portion and the displacement direction of the base portion, and the contact portion is provided at a plurality of portions along the extension direction. If the cutout is formed to divide the base portion and/or the contact portion, the contact area between the contact portion and the electrode of the secondary battery can be increased while ensuring the elastic deformability of the base portion and/or the contact portion.

According to the present invention, the terminals of the charge/discharge inspection device can be securely crimped to the electrodes of the target secondary battery, and the contact resistance between the two can be reduced.

The perspective view which shows the terminal member of the charging/discharging test|inspection apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the state which the terminal member of the charging/discharging test|inspection apparatus of the same embodiment does not clamp the electrode of a secondary battery. The front view which shows the state which the terminal member of the charging/discharging test|inspection apparatus of the same embodiment does not clamp the electrode of a secondary battery. The top view which shows the state which the terminal member of the charging/discharging test|inspection apparatus of the same embodiment has clamped the electrode of the secondary battery. The front view which shows the state which the terminal member of the charging/discharging test|inspection apparatus of the same embodiment has clamped the electrode of the secondary battery.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The charge/discharge inspection apparatus of the present embodiment is used to perform inspection involving charging and discharging of a secondary battery 5 typified by a lithium ion battery 5 . In the charge/discharge test, the terminal 0 provided in the charge/discharge inspection device is connected to the electrode (tab lead) 52 of the target secondary battery 5, the process of charging the secondary battery 5, and the secondary battery 5 Executes a process to discharge the accumulated electric charge. Then, the voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the secondary battery 5 during that time is measured.

1 to 5 show a terminal 0 provided in the charge/discharge inspection device of this embodiment. The electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5 has a flat plate shape, protrudes from the side of the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5 along the X-axis direction, and extends along the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis. there is A terminal 0 of the charge/discharge inspection device connected thereto has a pair of terminal members 1 and 2, which sandwich an electrode 52 of the target secondary battery 5 therebetween.

Each of the terminal members 1 and 2 has base portions 11 and 21 extending along the X-axis direction toward the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5, and X-axis extending from the tip side of the base portions 11 and 21 toward the electrode 52. and connecting portions 12, 22 bent or curved along the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the Z-axis, and the edges 13, 23 of the connecting portions 12, 22 abut on the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5. . As shown in FIG. 2, the angle θ between the bases 11 and 21 and the connecting portions 12 and 22, that is, the extending direction of the bases 11 and 21 and the extending direction of the connecting portions 12 and 22 make The angle θ is set to a right angle, a substantially right angle, or an obtuse angle slightly larger than a right angle.

Each of the terminal members 1 and 2 is formed by a plurality of overlapping metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b and 20c. These metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c can be elastically deformed independently of each other. As shown in FIG. 2, when the terminal members 1 and 2 do not sandwich the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5, the plurality of metal plates 10a, 10b and 10c forming the bases 11 and 21 of the terminal members 1 and 2 are held together. , 20a, 20b, and 20c are in contact with each other along the Y-axis direction.

On the other hand, the plurality of metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c forming the connecting portions 12, 22 are slightly separated from each other along the X-axis direction. The edges 13, 23 of the metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c forming the connecting portions 12, 22 are formed with triangular or sawtooth wave-like irregularities. The apex portion of the projection comes into strong contact with the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5 .

The metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, and 20c forming the bases 11 and 21 and the connection portions 12 and 22 of the terminal members 1 and 2 expand along the Z-axis direction. In addition, slit-shaped cutouts 14 and 24 are formed so as to divide the metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, and 20c into a plurality of parts along the Z-axis direction. The cutouts 14 and 24 extend along the Y-axis direction over the entire area of the connecting portions 12 and 22, reach the front portions of the base portions 11 and 21 connected thereto, and extend continuously along the X-axis direction. there is

As in the known charge/discharge inspection device, the bases 11 and 22 of the terminal members 1 and 2 are provided with a voltage line 41 for measuring the voltage of the secondary battery 5 during the charge/discharge test and a voltage line 41 for measuring the voltage of the secondary battery 5 during the charge/discharge test. A current line 42 is connected for applying a current for charging the secondary battery 5 or passing a current for discharging from the secondary battery 5 . Due to the four-terminal measurement, there is a slight gap between one terminal member 1 and the other terminal member 2 and they are not in contact with each other.

The proximal ends of the bases 11 and 21 of the terminal members 1 and 2 are supported by supports 31 and 32 made of insulators such as resin. In addition, the pair of terminal members 1, 2 and supports 31, 32 are moved in the Y-axis direction so that one of them 1, 31 is relatively to the other 2, 32 via an arbitrary drive mechanism (not shown). Displacement is possible.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the terminal members 1 , 2 move parallel in the Y-axis direction and separate from each other, the edges 13 , 23 of the connecting portions 12 , 22 of the terminal members 1 , 22 become the electrodes of the secondary battery 5 . Do not touch the surface of 52. In this state, the edges 13 and 23 of the plurality of metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, and 20c, which constitute the connecting portions 12 and 22 and are arranged along the X-axis direction, are shown in FIG. As indicated by the dashed line, those further from the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5 are positioned on the outer side away from the electrode 52 , and those closer to the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5 are positioned on the inner side closer to the electrode 52 . there is

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the terminal members 1 and 2 move in parallel in the Y-axis direction toward the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5, and as a result, both of them approach each other. Edges 13 and 23 are in pressure contact with both surfaces of electrode 52 , and electrode 52 is sandwiched between both terminal members 1 and 2 . More specifically, the edges 13, 23 of the outermost (closest to the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5) metal plates 10a, 20a first contact the electrode 52, and then the edges 13 of the intermediate metal plates 10b, 20b. , 23 abut the electrode 52 , after which the edges 13 , 23 of the innermost (farthest from the body 51 of the secondary battery 5 ) metal plates 10 c , 20 c abut the electrode 52 .

Furthermore, at this time, the terminal members 1 and 2 are elastically deformed, and as shown in FIG. They are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction, and the distal end sides of the base portions 11 and 21 are biased outward along the Y-axis direction compared to the proximal end sides. At the same time, the edges 13, 23 of the metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c forming the connecting portions 12, 22 are closer to the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5 along the X-axis direction ( downward).

In the above process, the electrodes of the secondary battery 5 are securely attached to the electrodes of the secondary battery 5 by the edges 13, 23 (particularly, the peaks of the unevenness) of the metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c, which act like leaf springs. By grasping and rubbing the surface of the electrode 52, the oxide film on the surface of the electrode 52 and dirt adhering thereto can be scraped off.

In this embodiment, an electrode 52 projecting from the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5 is sandwiched between a pair of terminal members 1 and 2, and the secondary battery 5 is energized through the terminal members 1 and 2. One or both of the terminal members 1 and 2 extend toward the secondary battery 5 and approach or approach the electrode 52 along a direction Y that intersects or is perpendicular to the extending direction X. Bases 11, 21 that can be displaced away from each other, and a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the extending direction X of the bases 11, 21 from the distal end side of the bases 11, 21 toward the electrode 52 before contacting the electrode 52. It is bent or curved in the Y direction, and can be displaced together with the bases 11 and 21 so as to approach or separate from the electrode 52. When the secondary battery 5 is energized, the edges 13 and 23 of the electrode 52 can be displaced. A charging/discharging inspection device comprising connecting portions 12 and 22 that are crimped against each other is constructed.

According to the present embodiment, the terminal 0 of the charge/discharge inspection device can be securely crimped to the electrode 52 of the target secondary battery 5 with a strong pressure, and the contact resistance therebetween can be reduced. Moreover, when the terminal members 1 and 2 are crimped to the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5, the base portions 11 and 21 and/or the connection portions 12 and 22 are elastically deformed, and the ends of the connection portions 12 and 22 in contact with the electrode 52 are deformed. The edges 13 and 23 scrape the surface of the electrode 52 to remove the oxide film on the surface of the electrode 52 and/or dirt adhering to the surface of the electrode 52 . Therefore, the contact resistance between the electrode 52 and the terminal 0 can be further reduced.

The angle θ between the bases 11 and 21 and the connecting portions 12 and 22 of the terminal members 1 and 2 is a right angle, a substantially right angle, or an obtuse angle larger than a right angle. In the process of contacting and crimping the connecting portions 12 and 22 to the electrode 52, the edges 13 and 23 of the connecting portions 12 and 22 are moved relative to the surface of the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5. is displaced toward the body 51 of the . In other words, there is no need to apply a load that pulls the electrode 52 out of the main body 51 of the secondary battery 5 .

The base portions 11, 21 and the connection portions 12, 22 of the terminal members 1, 2 are formed by overlapping or parallel or substantially parallel metal plates 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c. Therefore, the contact area between the connection portions 12 and 22 and the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5 can be increased while securing the elastic deformability of the base portions 11 and 21 and/or the connection portions 12 and 22 .

A plurality of projections and depressions are formed on the edges 13 and 23 of the connection portions 12 and 22 of the terminal members 1 and 2, and the apex portions of the projections are crimped to the electrodes 52 of the secondary battery 5, so that the apex portions can effectively remove the oxide film on the surface of the electrode 52 and/or contaminants adhering to the surface of the electrode 52 .

The connection portions 12 and 22 of the terminal members 1 and 2 extend in a direction Z that intersects or is orthogonal to each of the extension direction X of the base portions 11 and 21 and the displacement direction Y of the base portions 11 and 21, Notches 14 and 24 are formed in the connecting portions 12 and 22 to divide them into a plurality of portions along the expansion direction Z. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the contact area between the connection portions 12 and 22 and the electrode 52 of the secondary battery 5 can be increased while securing the elastic deformability of the base portions 11 and 21 and/or the connection portions 12 and 22 .

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above. The specific configuration of each part can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a charge/discharge inspection device that charges or discharges a secondary battery to activate the secondary battery and perform a performance test.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0... Terminal of a charge/discharge inspection apparatus 1, 2... Terminal member 10a, 10b, 10c, 20a, 20b, 20c... Metal plate 11, 21... Base 12, 22... Connection part 13, 23... Edge 14, 24... Notch 5 Battery 51 Body 52 Electrode X Extension direction of base Y Displacement direction of base Z Extension direction of connection θ Angle of internal corner

Claims (5)

A charge/discharge inspection device that energizes the secondary battery through a pair of terminal members while holding an electrode protruding from the main body of the secondary battery between the terminal members,
At least one of the pair of terminal members,
a base that extends toward the secondary battery and is displaceable along a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the extending direction so as to approach or separate from the electrode;
a contact portion that is bent or curved from the tip side of the base portion in a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the extending direction of the base portion, and that the edge of the contact portion abuts and crimps the electrode when the secondary battery is energized; charge/discharge inspection equipment. 2. The charge/discharge inspection device according to claim 1, wherein an angle of an internal corner formed by said base portion of said terminal member and said contact portion is a right angle, a substantially right angle, or an obtuse angle larger than a right angle. 3. The charge/discharge inspection device according to claim 1, wherein said base portion and said contact portion of said terminal member are formed by overlapping or parallel or substantially parallel metal plates. 4. The charge/discharge inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of irregularities are formed on the edge of said contact portion of said terminal member, and the apexes of the projections are press-fitted to said electrode of said secondary battery. The contact portion of the terminal member extends in a direction intersecting or orthogonal to each of the extension direction of the base portion and the displacement direction of the base portion, and the contact portion is provided at a plurality of portions along the extension direction. 5. The charge/discharge inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a notch is formed to divide the battery into two.

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