- E-Mobility
- Battery cell | Forming and aging
- Rack conceptual design
Rack conceptual design
Forming and maturing, the subsequent step, are among the most important process steps in the production of lithium-ion cells. During forming, the manufactured cells are charged and discharged for the first time. Aging, also called maturing, of the cells serves to ensure quality. The cell characteristics and cell performance are monitored by regularly measuring the open circuit voltage of the cell over a period of up to three weeks. There are two different conceptual designs, rack and chamber. The cells are transported in a goods carrier and contacted in the rack compartment or chamber. The rack conceptual design features an open arrangement and the cells are stored and retrieved automatically by transport carriages. Due to the high level of scalability, this conceptual design is especially suitable for aging of cells, which requires a lot of space.
| System availability | Performance | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track & Trace – RFID |  |
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| Track & Trace – multicode reader | |
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| Object and position detection in the goods carrier | |
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| Controlling pushers | |
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| Condition monitoring on the fan | |
Track & Trace – RFID
Controlling the material flow and ensuring traceability
In production, intralogistics and conveying, automated identification has become a standard. The same applies to forming and aging of cells. To ensure a smooth process when loading and unloading chambers, the material flow must be controlled. This is ideally done with an RFID system, which leads to increased system availability and traceability of the cells during the forming and aging process.
Ensuring system availability
Enhancing performance
Solution
ifm offers a selection of different RFID systems for every application, including production control in assembly and conveying technology, handling, packaging and filling systems.
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Track & Trace – multicode reader
Controlling the material flow and ensuring traceability
In production, intralogistics and conveying, automated identification has become a standard. The same applies to forming and aging of cells. To ensure a smooth process when loading and unloading racks, the material flow must be controlled. This task can be performed by a code reader and doing so will lead to increased system availability and traceability of the cells during the forming and aging process.
Ensuring system availability
Enhancing performance
Solution
The multicode reader O2I now also detects fonts and characters in addition to the familiar 1D and 2D codes. It ensures reliable identification even under difficult conditions, e.g. in case of changing extraneous light or shiny surfaces. At the touch of a button, the sensor automatically does the focussing, exposure setting and code type recognition so it is ready to use in just a few seconds. This saves time and money and increases the availability of your system.
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Object and position detection in the goods carrier
Reliably detecting incorrectly inserted cells
If the rack conceptual design is provided for forming, ensure that all cells are correctly inserted and no cells are tilted or protruding out from the goods carrier, etc., so that the cells in the chamber can reliably make contact.
Enhancing performance
Solution
The compact OJ laser sensors are designed to provide reliable position detection in feeding, assembly and handling applications with limited space. If distance measurements are required, O1D and OGD sensors are also suitable.
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Controlling pushers
Performing the conveyor line change reliably
The pusher is used to change conveyor lines without a stop. The goods carrier is scanned by a photoelectric sensor and activates the pneumatically driven cylinder to push the conveyed goods . To detect end piston positions in pneumatic cylinders reliably and precisely, cylinder sensors are used.
Enhancing performance
Solution
The photoelectric sensors of the O5 series feature long ranges and a versatile installation and mounting concept in the red light, infra-red light and laser variants. Fast and easy assembly at the touch of a button saves time and increases system availability.
Cylinder sensors from ifm reliably detect the piston position. They can be fixed to almost any T-slot, C-slot, clean-line, tie rod, integrated profile or trapezoidal slot cylinder. The self-adhesive fixing mechanism enables fast assembly and easy adjustment. That saves time when exchanging devices and increases system availability.
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Condition monitoring on the fan
Ensuring continuous ventilation
Asymmetrical fan blades and a rising bearing temperature may indicate mechanical problems that should be rectified. Vibration sensors from ifm can monitor vibrations and temperatures of exhaust air fan bearings, saving your exhaust air fan from a catastrophic failure and thereby increasing system availability.
Ensuring system availability
Solutions
Thanks to continuous diagnostics, condition-based maintenance based on actual needs is possible instead of fixed maintenance intervals. This lowers costs. Early detection by means of vibration diagnostics and channel speed monitoring on rolling bearings detects motor damage promptly, making it possible to prevent unplanned downtimes.
