EP-4742088-A1 - CODE READER AND CODE READING METHOD USING SAME

EP4742088A1EP 4742088 A1EP4742088 A1EP 4742088A1EP-4742088-A1

Abstract

The present technology provides a code reader including a vision device configured to identify an identification code of an article, a lower frame located below the vision device and configured to provide a passage through which the article is moved, an alignment jig detachably mounted in the lower frame and accommodated in the passage of the lower frame, and a fixing holder at a reference position, in which the vision device is aligned to the reference position by inserting the alignment jig into the fixing holder.

Inventors

KIM, JEONG JIN
PARK, KYOUNG CHAN
PARK, YEONG HEON
LEE, HEE WON
HAN, HYUNG WOOK
LEE, SEOK HUN
JANG, SEONG WON
KIM, MIN SU
JUNG, Tae Kwang

Assignees

LG Energy Solution, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240920

Claims (15)

A code reader comprising: a vision device configured to identify an identification code of an article; a lower frame provided below the vision device and configured to provide a passage through which the article is moved; an alignment jig detachably mounted in the lower frame and accommodated in the passage of the lower frame; and a fixing holder at a reference position, wherein the vision device is aligned to the reference position by inserting the alignment jig into the fixing holder.
The code reader of claim 1, wherein the passage of the lower frame extends horizontally across the lower frame.
The code reader of claim 1, wherein the alignment jig comprises: a fastening blade extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame; and an alignment pillar connected to a central part of the fastening blade and configured to be inserted into the fixing holder.
The code reader of claim 3, wherein the alignment pillar protrudes downward from the lower frame.
The code reader of claim 3, wherein a first end portion and a second end portion of the fastening blade, which are opposite to each other, are fastened to the lower frame by bolts.
The code reader of claim 5, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion of the fastening blade are exposed to the outside of the lower frame.
The code reader of claim 3, further comprising an upper frame configured to accommodate the vision device and provided on the lower frame, wherein the lower frame comprises: an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame; a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communication with the passage of the lower frame; and a side plate extending from an edge of the upper cover plate to an edge of the lower cover plate.
The code reader of claim 7, wherein the fastening blade is detachably fastened to the upper cover plate.
The code reader of claim 7, wherein the upper frame is mounted on a vertical movement guide to be movable in a vertical direction.
The code reader of claim 9, wherein the lower frame and the alignment jig are moved together with the upper frame in the vertical direction when the upper frame is moved in the vertical direction.
The code reader of claim 1, wherein the article is a can in which battery cells are accommodated.
A code reading method comprising: mounting an alignment jig in a passage of a lower frame provided below a vision device; aligning the vision device to a reference position by inserting the alignment jig into a fixing holder at the reference position; separating the alignment jig from the lower frame; putting an article with an identification code into the passage of the lower frame; and identifying the identification code of the article by the vision device.
The code reading method of claim 12, wherein the article is a can in which battery cells are accommodated.
The code reading method of claim 12, wherein the passage of the lower frame extends horizontally across the lower frame, and the alignment jig comprises: a fastening blade extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame; and an alignment pillar connected to a central part of the fastening blade and configured to be inserted into the fixing holder.
The code reading method of claim 14, wherein an upper frame accommodates the vision device and is provided on the lower frame, wherein the lower frame comprises: an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame; a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communication with the passage of the lower frame; and a side plate extending from an edge of the upper cover plate to an edge of the lower cover plate, and the fastening blade is detachably fastened to the upper cover plate.

Description

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to a code reader and a code reading method using the same. This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0126166, filed on September 21, 2023, and the entire content of the Korean patent application is incorporated herein by reference. [Background Art] Secondary batteries are rechargeable unlike primary batteries and can be manufactured to have a small size and a large capacity and therefore have recently been researched and developed many times. With the development of technologies for electric vehicles, mobile devices, etc. and an increasing demand therefor, the demand for secondary batteries as energy sources is sharply increasing. Secondary battery production processes may be carried out by various types of equipment, such as a notching equipment for performing a notching process, a laminating equipment for performing a laminating process, a stacking equipment for performing a stacking process, and a packaging equipment for performing a packaging process. When a problem occurs in a battery cell of a secondary battery, each of battery cells of the secondary battery should be individually managed in each of the secondary battery production processes to specify the cause of the problem. Therefore, there is a need for a method of uniquely specifying each of the battery cells of the secondary battery in the secondary battery production processes and effectively identifying the battery cells of the secondary battery in each process. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem] The present invention is directed to providing a code reader and a code reading method using the same. [Technical Solution] An aspect of the present invention provides a code reader including a vision device configured to identify an identification code of an article, a lower frame located below the vision device and configured to provide a passage through which the article is moved, an alignment jig detachably mounted in the lower frame and accommodated in the passage of the lower frame, and a fixing holder at a reference position, in which the vision device is aligned to the reference position by inserting the alignment jig into the fixing holder. In example embodiments, the passage of the lower frame may extend horizontally across the lower frame. In example embodiments, the alignment jig may include a fastening blade extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame, and an alignment pillar connected to a central part of the fastening blade and configured to be inserted into the fixing holder. In example embodiments, the alignment pillar may protrude downward from the lower frame. In example embodiments, a first end portion and a second end portion of the fastening blade, which are opposite to each other, may be fastened to the lower frame by bolts. In example embodiments, the first end portion and the second end portion of the fastening blade may be exposed to the outside of the lower frame. In example embodiments, the code reader may further include an upper frame configured to accommodate the vision device and provided on the lower frame, and the lower frame may include an upper cover plate connected to the upper frame, a lower cover plate facing the upper cover plate and having an opening for communication with the passage of the lower frame, and a side plate extending from an edge of the upper cover plate to an edge of the lower cover plate. In example embodiments, the fastening blade may be detachably fastened to the upper cover plate. In example embodiments, the upper frame may be mounted on a vertical movement guide to be movable in a vertical direction. In example embodiments, the lower frame and the alignment jig may be moved together with the upper frame in the vertical direction when the upper frame is moved in the vertical direction. In example embodiments, the article may be a can in which battery cells are accommodated. An aspect of the present invention provides a code reading method including mounting an alignment jig in a passage of a lower frame provided below a vision device, aligning the vision device to a reference position by inserting the alignment jig into a fixing holder at the reference position, separating the alignment jig from the lower frame, putting an article with an identification code into the passage of the lower frame, and identifying the identification code of the article by the vision device. In example embodiments, the article may be a can in which battery cells are accommodated. In example embodiments, the passage of the lower frame may extend horizontally across the lower frame, and the alignment jig may include a fastening blade extending along the passage of the lower frame and detachably fastened to the lower frame and an alignment pillar connected to a central part of the fastening blade and configured to be inserted into the fixing holder. In example embodiments,