Apparatus for sorting abnormal battery cell

1 . An apparatus for sorting an abnormal battery cell, the apparatus comprising:

a transfer device including a moveable transfer path, battery cells being transferred along the moveable transfer path;

a sorting jig on the transfer device, the moveable transfer path of the transfer device being moveable through the sorting jig, the sorting jig including an insertion portion facing the moveable transfer path of the transfer device, and the insertion portion having a shape and a size equal to an outer shape and a size of a predetermined battery cell;

an alarm on the transfer device, the alarm being configured to notify if the abnormal battery cell among the battery cells has a shape or a size larger than the outer shape and the size of the predetermined battery cell; and

a marker configured to mark the abnormal battery cell in response to operation of the alarm.

2 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 1 , further comprising a guide portion on the transfer device, the guide portion being configured to guide the battery cells along the moveable transfer path and to be inserted into the insertion portion.

3 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 2 , wherein:

the transfer device includes a continuously moveable transfer path between two side frames, the sorting jig being attached to the two side frames, and

the guide portion includes:

a first guide protrusion at one edge of the moveable transfer path of the transfer device and attached to one of the two side frames, the first guide protrusion including a first inclined surface on a side surface thereof and configured to guide the battery cells toward the insertion portion; and

a second guide protrusion at another edge of the moveable transfer path of the transfer device and attached to another of the two side frames, the second guide protrusion including a second inclined surface on a side surface facing the first inclined surface and configured to guide the battery cells toward the insertion portion.

4 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 3 , wherein the alarm includes a detection sensor on the sorting jig, the detection sensor being configured to sense a state in which the abnormal battery cell is detected and not inserted into the insertion portion of the sorting jig.

5 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 4 , wherein the alarm further includes an alarm portion configured to receive a sensing signal from the detection sensor to notify an operator.

6 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 5 , wherein the alarm portion is an alarm display configured to receive a signal from the detection sensor to visually alert an operator.

7 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 5 , wherein the alarm portion is an alarm speaker configured to receive a signal from the detection sensor to audibly alert an operator.

8 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 1 , further comprising a remover adjacent to the sorting jig, the remover including a pressure plate along the moveable transfer path and adjacent to the insertion portion, the pressure plate being configured to remove the abnormal battery cell from the transfer device.

9 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 8 , wherein the remover includes:

a cylinder member on a side surface of the transfer device and adjacent to the sorting jig, the cylinder member including a moveable rod and being configured to receive a sensing signal from the alarm and to operate the moveable rod; and

a pressure plate coupled to the moveable rod of the cylinder member, the pressure plate being configured to press the abnormal battery cell.

10 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the sorting jig includes:

a jig body on the transfer device, the jig body including the insertion portion; and

a clamping member connecting the jig body to the transfer device.

11 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the transfer device is a conveyor, the moveable transfer path being a conveyor belt configured to move toward the sorting jig.

12 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the marker includes:

a driving portion configured to receive a sensing signal of the abnormal battery cell from the alarm and to provide a driving force; and

a marking plate configured to move forward and backward by the driving force of the driving portion to contact and to mark a surface of the abnormal battery cell.

13 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 3 , wherein the first guide protrusion and the second guide protrusion are on opposite sides of the insertion portion.

14 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 13 , wherein each of the first guide protrusion and the second guide protrusion has a non-overlapping relationship with the insertion portion.

15 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 13 , wherein:

each of the first and seconds guide protrusions is in contact with a surface of the sorting jig including the insertion portion,

the first and second inclined surfaces of the first and second guide protrusions, respectively, face away from the sorting jig, and

ends of the first and second guide protrusions facing and contacting the sorting jig are aligned with opposite edges of the insertion part of the sorting jig.

16 . The apparatus for sorting the abnormal battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the sorting jig includes:

a jig body attached to a supporting frame of the moveable transfer path of the transfer device, the jig body having five surfaces arranged into a volumetric container with an empty space therein, and a bottom of the jig body being open and overlapping the moveable transfer path of the transfer device; and

the insertion portion in one of the five surfaces of the jig body, the insertion portion being oriented to face a movement direction of the moveable transfer path of the transfer device, and the moveable transfer path of the transfer device being configured to continuously move through the sorting jig.