US 6,781,344 B1 · Battery tester and sorting apparatus

Abstract

A battery testing and sorting apparatus that includes an upwardly inclined conveyor having a conveyor drive for moving batteries to be tested and sorted. The conveyor includes a battery feeding section disposed along the conveyor for positioning the batteries laterally onto the conveyor so that terminals of the batteries are in a horizontal orientation on the conveyor. A testing section is disposed along the conveyor upstream from the battery feeding section for testing the electrical condition of the batteries as they move along the conveyor. A sorting section is disposed along the conveyor upstream from the testing section for ejecting the batteries from the conveyor according to the electrical condition of the batteries determined by the testing section. In this manner, a battery testing and sorting apparatus is provided for continuously sorting large quantities of batteries into groups based on the electrical condition of the batteries.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A battery testing and sorting apparatus for testing the electrical condition of a battery and sorting the battery according to its electrical condition, said apparatus comprising:

a conveyor adapted for receiving batteries and moving the batteries for testing and sorting;
a battery feeding section disposed along the length of said conveyor for positioning the battery laterally onto said conveyor so that terminals of the battery are in a horizontal orientation on the conveyor;
at least one position sensor disposed along said conveyor for detecting proper lateral placement of the battery on said conveyor at said battery feeding section;
a testing section disposed along the length of said conveyor following said battery feeding section for testing the electrical condition of the battery;
and
a sorting section disposed along the length of said conveyor following said testing section and operatively associated with said testing section for ejecting the battery from the conveyor according to the electrical condition of the battery determined by said testing section;
whereby a battery testing and sorting apparatus is provided for continuously sorting large quantities of batteries into groups based on the electrical condition of the battery.

4 more elements

A battery testing and sorting apparatus for testing the electrical condition of batteries and sorting the batteries according to their electrical condition, said apparatus comprising:

a conveyor having a conveyor drive for moving the conveyor to receive, test and sort batteries;
a battery feeding section disposed along the length of said conveyor having a battery feeder for positioning batteries between cleats extending outward from said conveyor so that terminals of the batteries are in a horizontal orientation on the conveyor;
said cleats spaced apart to allow only a single battery to be received on said conveyor at said battery feeding section between any two of said cleats;
a cleat sensor disposed along said conveyor for sensing the passing of cleats and generating a cleat signal for each passing cleat;
a control unit operatively associated with said cleat sensor for receiving said cleat signal from said cleat sensor for determining the interval between said cleats;
said control unit signaling said conveyor drive to stop the advancement of the conveyor when the interval between said cleats exceeds a designated interval so that the batteries are prevented from improperly feeding onto the conveyor or being improperly ejected from the conveyor;
a testing section disposed along the length of said conveyor following said battery feeding section having a battery tester for testing the electrical condition of the batteries;
and
a sorting section disposed along the length of said conveyor following said testing section having an ejector for ejecting the batteries from said conveyor according to the electrical condition of the batteries.

6 more elements

A method for testing the electrical condition of a battery and sorting the battery according to its electrical condition comprising the steps of:

providing a conveyor having a conveyor drive for moving the conveyor to receive, test and sort batteries;
providing a battery feeder operatively associated with said conveyor;
feeding a battery laterally onto said conveyor from said battery feeder so that terminals of the battery are in a horizontal orientation on the conveyor;
sensing the position of the battery on the conveyor at said battery feeder for proper alignment prior to advancing the conveyor;
providing a battery tester of along said conveyor following said battery feeder;
advancing the battery on said conveyor from said battery feeder to said battery tester for testing;
testing the electrical condition of the battery on said conveyor to determine the electrical condition of the battery;
providing at least one ejector along said conveyor following said battery tester for sorting batteries;
advancing the battery on said conveyor from said battery tester to said ejector;
and
ejecting the battery from said conveyor into a grouping based on the battery's electrical condition determined by said battery tester;
whereby a method is provided for testing and sorting large quantities of batteries into groups based on the electrical condition of the batteries.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Battery tester and sorting apparatus

Life of this patent

Battery tester and sorting apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30