JP7626014B2 - Lead acid battery with packaging - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lead-acid battery with packaging.

Lead-acid batteries have an exhaust port because gas is generated during charging and discharging. The lead-acid battery described in Patent Document 1 has an exhaust hole (exhaust port) formed in the battery vent plug.

JP 2019-023999 A

If a lead-acid battery falls over or is handled at an angle during delivery or transportation, electrolyte (dilute sulfuric acid) may leak from the exhaust port, and end users or delivery workers (hereinafter referred to as end users, etc.) may come into contact with the electrolyte. For this reason, it was necessary to take measures.

The lead-acid battery with packaging comprises a lead-acid battery having a gas exhaust port and a packaging body for packaging the lead-acid battery, the packaging body being a packaging film that covers the entire lead-acid battery and has at least one ventilation hole.

In the configuration of the present invention, the entire lead-acid battery is covered with a film, so even if electrolyte leaks from the exhaust port, it is possible to prevent end users and others from coming into contact with the electrolyte. In addition, the film has an air vent, so gas generated in the lead-acid battery can be exhausted to the outside of the packaging.

Perspective view of a lead-acid battery Partial cross-sectional view of a lead-acid battery Cross-sectional view showing the exhaust path of a lead-acid battery Diagram showing where to attach the detection sheet A diagram showing the results of dropping electrolyte onto the detection sheet. A perspective view of a packaging box containing a lead-acid battery FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a packing procedure for a package according to the first embodiment; Shrink-wrap illustration Cross-sectional view of a lead-acid battery with packaging according to embodiment 1 Effect explanatory diagram of the lead-acid battery with packaging according to the first embodiment FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a packing procedure for a package according to a second embodiment. Cross-sectional view of a lead-acid battery with packaging according to a second embodiment Effect explanatory diagram of lead-acid battery with packaging according to embodiment 2 Perspective view of lead-acid battery (EN type) Cross-sectional view showing the exhaust path of a lead-acid battery (EN type)

<Embodiment 1>
A packaging-attached lead-acid battery 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 10. The packaging-attached lead-acid battery 1 includes a lead-acid battery 10 and a packaging body 35 for packaging the lead-acid battery 10.

1. Structure of lead-acid battery 10 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of lead-acid battery 10, and Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of lead-acid battery 10. As shown in Fig. 1, lead-acid battery 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped having a top surface 10A, a side surface 10B, and a bottom surface 10C. The arrows in Fig. 1 indicate the up-down direction. Lead-acid battery 10 is used with the bottom surface 10C placed horizontally.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lead-acid battery 10 includes a plate group 11, an electrolyte W, a battery case 12 that contains the plate group 11 and the electrolyte W and is open at the top, a lid 20 that seals the opening of the battery case 12, and terminals 21P and 21N.

The battery case 12 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped container with an opening on the top surface, and is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The battery case 12 has partition walls 13. The interior of the battery case 12 is divided by the partition walls 13 into a number of cell chambers 14. Each of the cell chambers 14 contains a plate group 11.

The opening of the battery case 12 is sealed with a lid 20 having a shape corresponding to the opening. The peripheral portion of the underside of the lid 20 and the peripheral portion of the opening of the battery case 12 are joined by, for example, thermal welding. Terminal portions 21P and 21N are provided on the lid 20.

The lid 20 has refill ports 22 extending vertically through it at positions corresponding to each cell chamber 14, and the lid 20 is provided with liquid port plugs 30 that seal the refill ports 22. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the lid 20 has six liquid port plugs 30 arranged in a row. When refilling the lead-acid battery 10, the liquid port plugs 30 are removed and refill liquid is supplied through the refill ports 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vent plug 30 has a generally cylindrical shape and is provided with an exhaust port 31 that penetrates vertically. The exhaust port 31 has the function of discharging oxygen gas and hydrogen gas (hereinafter simply referred to as "gas") generated in the battery case as the lead-acid battery 10 is charged and discharged (including self-discharge) to the outside of the lead-acid battery 10.

The vent plug 30 holds a splash guard 32 and a filter 33 inside the exhaust port 31. The splash guard 32 has multiple splash guard plates. The splash guard plates divide the internal space of the vent plug 30 into a maze shape, preventing the electrolyte W from leaking out easily.

The filter 33 is located inside the vent plug 30 and above the splash guard 32. The filter 33 prevents water vapor from escaping from the lead-acid battery 10 and prevents external sparks from entering.

The gas generated in the battery case 12 is discharged to the outside of the lead-acid battery 10 through the path indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3. If the lead-acid battery 10 is tilted or tipped over, the electrolyte W may leak to the outside from the exhaust port 31 through the same path as the gas. In the following explanation, the leakage of the electrolyte W from the exhaust port 31 of the lead-acid battery 10 will be referred to as "leakage."

2. Regarding the packaging body 35 of the lead-acid battery 10 The packaging body 35 is used for packaging the lead-acid battery 10 during delivery and storage, and includes a packaging film 40, a packaging box 50, and a detection sheet 45 (see FIG. 9 ). The packaging film 40 is a thin film made of a transparent synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, and has the property of shrinking when heated. The packaging film 40 is acid-resistant and is not altered by the electrolyte W (dilute sulfuric acid). The packaging film 40 covers the entire lead-acid battery 10.

The packaging film 40 has at least one tiny ventilation hole 41. The diameter of the ventilation hole 41 is smaller than a droplet of the electrolyte W after shrinkage, which will be described later, and is, for example, 1 mm or less.

After shrinkage, the portion of the packaging film 40 facing the top surface 10A is the first surface 40A, the portion facing the side surface 10B is the second surface 40B, and the portion facing the bottom surface 10C is the third surface 40C. The ventilation hole 41 is provided only on the first surface 40A. There are no ventilation holes 41 on the second surface 40B and the third surface 40C. The packaging film 40 is transparent, and the end user can visually check the lead-acid battery 10 without opening the packaging film 40.

3. Detection sheet 45 Next, the detection sheet 45 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. An adhesive is applied to one side of the detection sheet 45, and the detection sheet 45 can be attached and fixed at any desired location. In this embodiment, the detection sheet 45 is attached to the lid 20, and all six exhaust ports 31 are covered with a single detection sheet 45 cut into a rectangular shape.

The detection sheet 45 has the property of discoloring when it comes into contact with electrolyte W. Figure 5 shows the color change when electrolyte W is dropped near the center of a detection sheet 45 cut to an arbitrary size. When electrolyte W comes into contact with the detection sheet 45, it soaks in, and the soaked part discolors, becoming discolored area 46. In Figure 5, the center part of the detection sheet 45 is discolored area 46, and the area around discolored area 46 is undiscolored area 47. The color difference is particularly large at the boundary between discolored area 46 and undiscolored area 47. Even if time passes after the dropping of electrolyte W and the detection sheet 45 dries, the color of discolored area 46 does not return to its original color.

When a detection sheet 45 is attached over the exhaust port 31 as shown in FIG. 4, if a liquid leak occurs, the electrolyte W will soak into the detection sheet 45, and the soaked area will discolor to become a discolored area 46. If an end user or the like visually recognizes the discolored area 46, it can be determined that a liquid leak is occurring or has occurred in the past.

The detection sheet 45 can be made of absorbent paper, such as ordinary high-quality paper, cut to any size. Figure 5 is a photograph of the detection sheet 45 in green high-quality paper. By using colored paper, not limited to green, as the detection sheet 45, the visibility of discolored areas can be improved, making it easier to recognize the occurrence of a liquid leak.

The adhesive applied to one side of the detection sheet 45 is a type of adhesive that has a weak adhesive strength and is easily removable, such as the type commonly used for sticky notes. When the detection sheet 45 is no longer needed, it can be easily removed. In addition, because the adhesive strength is weak, the detection sheet 45 does not impede the exhaust of gas from the exhaust port 31.

6 is a cardboard box for packaging the lead-acid battery 10. The packaging box 50 is formed by folding a cardboard plate of a predetermined shape, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape surrounded by a top surface 50A, side surfaces 50B, and a bottom surface 50C. The lead-acid battery 10 wrapped in a packaging film 40 is accommodated in the internal space of the packaging box 50.

The top surface 50A is made up of two flaps, a first flap 51 and a second flap 52. The two flaps function as a lid to open and close the opening on the top surface 50A side of the packaging box 50.

The second flap 52 has a rectangular opening window 53. When the lead-acid battery 10 is placed inside the packaging box 50 and the lid of the packaging box 50 is closed, the window 53 is located above the detection sheet 45. An end user or the like can visually check the detection sheet 45 placed inside the packaging box 50 through the window 53.

5. Packaging Procedure for Lead-Acid Battery 10 The procedure for packaging the lead-acid battery 10 in the packaging body 35 will be described with reference to (A) to (E) of Figure 7.

(A) A detection sheet 45 is attached from above to the lead-acid battery 10 before packaging so as to cover all six exhaust ports 31 (B). Next, the entire lead-acid battery 10 is shrink-wrapped in packaging film 40 (C). Next, the shrink-wrapped lead-acid battery 10 is placed in a packaging box 50 (D). Next, the first flap 51 and the second flap 52 are closed (E).

Here, the shrink packaging process will be described with reference to (A) to (C) in FIG. 8. Shrink packaging is a packaging method in which the packaged item is covered with a shrink film that has the property of shrinking when heated, such as the packaging film 40 described above, and then the shrink film is heated to shrink and adhere to the packaged item.

First, the lead-acid battery 10 is wrapped in a packing film 40, and then the edges of the packing film 40 are sealed by bonding using a method such as heat welding. In this way, the lead-acid battery 10 and air are contained inside the airtight bag-shaped packing film 40, as shown in FIG. 8(A). In addition, the packing film 40 in the portion facing the top surface 10A is pierced with a needle-shaped object or the like to form an air vent 41.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8(B), the packing film 40 is heated by blowing hot air around it. The packing film 40 shrinks as the temperature rises, and adheres to the side surface 10B and bottom surface 10C of the lead-acid battery 10 as shown in FIG. 8(C). On the top surface 10A, the terminals 21P, 21N extend upward from the top surface 10A, so the packing film 40 becomes tent-shaped with the terminals 21P, 21N as pillars. The air that filled the inside of the packing film 40 before heating is discharged through the ventilation holes 41 as the packing film 40 shrinks.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the lead-acid battery 1 with packaging, which has been packaged according to the procedures shown in Figures 7 and 8. The packaging film 40 covers the entire lead-acid battery 10, to which the detection sheet 45 has been attached, from the outside. The packaging box 50 further covers the lead-acid battery 10, which is covered with the packaging film 40, from the outside. The ventilation hole 41 is present only on the first surface 40A, and is not present on the second surface 40B or the third surface 40C.

6. Description of Effects In the lead-acid battery 1 with packaging, the lead-acid battery 10 is entirely covered by the packaging film 40. Therefore, even if the lead-acid battery 10 falls over or is handled in an inclined state during delivery or transportation, causing the electrolyte W to leak from the exhaust port 31, end users and the like are less likely to come into contact with the electrolyte W compared to when there is no packaging film 40.

In addition, the packaging film 40 has a ventilation hole 41, ensuring breathability, and gas generated inside the lead-acid battery 10 can be discharged outside the packaging film 40 through the exhaust port 31 and the ventilation hole 41.

The packaged lead-acid battery 1 has a packaging box 50 that contains a lead-acid battery 10 covered with a packaging film 40.

As shown in FIG. 10, even if the electrolyte W leaks from the ventilation hole 41 of the packaging film 40, the leaked electrolyte W is absorbed by the packaging box 50, making it even more difficult for end users and others to come into contact with the electrolyte W.

In the lead-acid battery 1 with packaging, the ventilation hole 41 is provided only in the portion of the packaging film 40 that covers the top surface 10A of the lead-acid battery 10 (first surface 40A), and is not provided in the portion that covers the side surface 10B of the lead-acid battery 10 (second surface 40B).

When the packaged lead-acid battery 1 is tipped over and the top surface 10A is laid on its side, there is a possibility that the electrolyte will leak from the exhaust port 31. At this time, the electrolyte W flows down along the top surface 10A to the side surface 10B and tends to accumulate between the side surface 10B and the second surface 40B. The ventilation port 41 is provided only on the first surface 40A, avoiding the second surface 40B where the electrolyte W tends to accumulate. Therefore, even if the lead-acid battery 10 is tipped over or the like and leakage occurs, the leaked electrolyte W is unlikely to reach the ventilation port 41, and the end user is unlikely to come into contact with the electrolyte W.

In the lead-acid battery 1 with packaging, a detection sheet 45 that changes color when it comes into contact with the electrolyte W is attached to the exhaust port 31.

When a leak occurs and electrolyte W leaks from the exhaust port 31, the electrolyte W comes into contact with the detection sheet 45 and soaks in, causing the detection sheet 45 to discolor at the soaked area. End users, etc. can determine whether a leak has occurred by visually checking whether or not there is a discolored area 46 on the detection sheet 45. This makes it more difficult for end users, etc. to come into contact with the electrolyte W.

In the packaged lead-acid battery 1, the packaging film 40 is transparent, and the packaging box 50 has a window 53 opening at a position opposite the exhaust port 31. End users and the like can visually check whether or not the detection sheet 45 has discolored from outside the packaging box 50 through the window 53 and the packaging film 40.

In this way, the end user can determine whether or not a leak has occurred in the lead-acid battery 10 without opening the packaging box 50 or unpacking the packaging film 40. This makes it difficult for the end user to come into contact with the electrolyte W.

<Embodiment 2>
11 to 13, a packaging-attached lead-acid battery 101 according to embodiment 2 will be described. Hereinafter, in embodiment 2, components that are substantially the same as those in embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The procedure for packaging the packaging body 135 will be described with reference to Figures 11 (A) to (D). (A) A detection sheet 45 is attached to the lead-acid battery 10 before packaging from above so as to cover the six exhaust ports 31 (B). Next, the lead-acid battery 10 is placed from above into the packaging box 150, and the first flap 151 and second flap 152 are closed (C). Next, the entire packaging box 150 is shrink-wrapped with film 140 (D).

Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the packaged lead-acid battery 101 packaged according to the above procedure. The packaging box 150 contains the lead-acid battery 10 with the detection sheet 45 attached. The film 140 further covers the entire packaging box 150 from the outside.

After shrinkage, the portion of the packaging film 140 facing the top surface 10A is the first surface 140A, the portion facing the side surface 10B is the second surface 140B, and the portion facing the bottom surface 10C is the third surface 140C. The ventilation holes 141 are provided only on the first surface 140A, and not on the second surface 140B or the third surface 140C.

The difference between packaging body 35 and packaging body 135 is the order in which each component (packaging film and packaging box) covers the lead-acid battery 10. In packaging body 35, as shown in FIG. 9, the order from closest to the lead-acid battery 10 is the packaging film 40, followed by the packaging box 50. In contrast, in packaging body 135, as shown in FIG. 12, the order from closest to the lead-acid battery 10 is the packaging box 150, followed by the film 140.

The effect of the packaged lead-acid battery 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 13. If leakage occurs in the lead-acid battery 10, the electrolyte W is absorbed or blocked by the packaging box 50 that covers the immediate outside of the lead-acid battery 10. The electrolyte W that is not completely absorbed or blocked by the packaging box 150 reaches the outside of the packaging box 150, but the outside of the packaging box 150 is covered with the film 140. The film 140 does not allow the electrolyte W to pass through except through the ventilation holes 141, so the amount of electrolyte W that leaks outside the film 140 can be reduced. This makes it less likely for end users and the like to come into contact with the electrolyte W.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, in addition to the embodiments described below, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the lead-acid battery 10 to be packaged is a so-called JIS type, in which the exhaust port 31 is located on the top surface 10A of the lead-acid battery 10. In addition to this, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called EN type lead-acid battery 60, as shown in FIG. 14.

In an EN-type lead-acid battery 60, gas generated in each cell is not discharged above the vent plugs 63, but is discharged laterally inside the lid 61. The gas discharged from the multiple vent plugs 63 passes through the inside of the lid 61 and is discharged collectively from an exhaust port 62 provided on the side of the lid 61. The gas exhaust path inside the lead-acid battery 60 is shown by the arrows in Figure 15. When the lead-acid battery 60 leaks, the electrolyte W leaks out from the exhaust port 62 via the same path as the gas exhaust path.

The present invention can also be applied to an EN type lead-acid battery 60 by attaching a detection sheet to the exhaust port 62 on the side of the lid 61 and positioning the window of the packaging box opposite the exhaust port 62.

(2) In the above embodiment, the vents 41, 141 are provided on the first surfaces 40A, 140A. The vents may be provided on the second surfaces 40B, 140B or the third surfaces 40C, 140C, which are surfaces other than the first surfaces 40A, 140A. In this way, even if electrolyte W leaks from the lead-acid battery 60, end users are less likely to come into contact with the electrolyte compared to the case where there is no film.

(3) In the above embodiment, the six exhaust ports 31 are covered by one detection sheet 45, but each exhaust port 31 may be covered by a single detection sheet. Also, two or more exhaust ports 31 may be covered by a single detection sheet.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example was given of applying adhesive to one side of the detection sheet 45 and attaching and fixing it to the lid 20, but it may also be fixed using adhesive tape.

(5) In the above embodiment, a case where fine paper is used as the detection sheet 45 has been described. The detection sheet 45 can be made of paper other than fine paper, litmus paper, or any other material that changes color when it comes into contact with the electrolyte W.

(6) In the above embodiment, the lead-acid battery 10 and the packaging box 50 are packaged by shrink packaging using the packaging film 40. However, the lead-acid battery 10, etc. may be packaged by means other than shrink packaging. Furthermore, when the lead-acid battery 10, etc. is packaged by means other than shrink packaging and there is no need to exhaust the air inside the packaging film 40, the vent hole 41 may be formed after packaging.

(7) In the above embodiment, the top surface 50A of the packaging box 50 is formed of two flaps (first flap 51 and second flap 52), but the top surface 50A may be formed of only one flap.

(8) In the above embodiment, the window portion 53 is provided in the second flap 52, but the window portion may be provided in the first flap 51. Also, the window portion may be provided in both of the two flaps.

(9) In the above embodiment, the lead-acid battery 10 is placed from above in a packaging box 50 that is open at the top, but the opening of the packaging box may be on the side or bottom.

(10) The window portion 53 only needs to be open at a position where the detection sheet 45 can be seen from the outside, and the position of the window portion 53 in the packaging box 50 is not limited to the top surface 50A.

(11) In the above embodiment, shrink packaging is performed using packaging film 40 as a packaging means for covering the entire lead-acid battery 10, but shrink packaging is only one example, and the lead-acid battery 10 may be packaged using other packaging means.

Reference Signs List 1 Lead-acid battery with packaging 10 Lead-acid battery 10A Top surface 20 Lid 30 Vent plug 31 Exhaust port 35 Packaging 40 Film 40A First surface 41 Vent 45 Detection sheet 50 Packaging box 53 Window portion

Claims (5)

a lead-acid battery having a gas exhaust port;
A packaging body for packaging the lead-acid battery,
The packaging body includes a packaging film that covers the entire lead-acid battery and has at least one ventilation hole;
the vent hole is provided only in a portion of the packaging film that covers a top surface of the lead-acid battery,
The lead-acid battery with packaging, wherein the vent hole has a diameter of 1 mm or less . The lead-acid battery with packaging according to claim 1,
The packaging includes a packaging box that houses the lead-acid battery covered with the packaging film. a lead-acid battery having a gas exhaust port;
A packaging body for packaging the lead-acid battery,
The packaging body is
A packaging box that houses the lead-acid battery;
A packaging film covering the entire packaging box and having at least one ventilation hole ;
the vent hole is provided only in a portion of the packaging film that covers a top surface of the lead-acid battery,
The lead-acid battery with packaging, wherein the vent hole has a diameter of 1 mm or less . The lead-acid battery with packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The package includes a detection sheet that changes color when it comes into contact with an electrolyte,
The detection sheet is attached to the exhaust port. The lead-acid battery with packaging according to claim 4 ,
The lead-acid battery is covered with the packaging film, or a packaging box that contains the lead-acid battery,
The packaging box has a window opening at a position opposite to the exhaust port,
The packaging film is transparent.

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